Kolisi drives South Africa to 33-26 win over New Zealand in second Test to level series
Siya Kolisi inspired South Africa to a 33-26 victory over New Zealand in the second Test of the series on 29 August 2026, levelling the series at one apiece. The win followed a physical, confrontational performance from the Springboks and a late All Blacks comeback that left the tie finely balanced.
South Africa produced a far more recognisable display after last week’s humbling, blending direct forward play and aggressive defence, while coach Rassie Erasmus again made provocative selection calls in the build-up. Erasmus named his side on Monday, recalled Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at fly-half 24 hours before kick-off, and controversially started Gerhard Steenekamp, Deon Fourie and Thomas du Toit in the front row, with Ox Nché, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw moved to the bench. Whether the front-row change so close to kick-off is permitted under the tour agreement between the unions was put in doubt and the coach’s move echoed World Cup rules that require medical justification for similar late swaps.
The match opened with immediate Springboks pressure when Jordie Barrett failed to clear sufficiently from the kick-off, leading to a lineout-driven maul and an early try for Jesse Kriel inside two minutes. New Zealand responded on 16 minutes with a try begun by quick passing that freed Will Jordan on the right and saw Cam Roigard released inside, demonstrating the All Blacks’ attacking threat. Cheslin Kolbe reduced the deficit with a penalty before another South African maul produced Damian de Allende’s close-range score.
New Zealand struck back again when Ardie Savea powered through the middle, allowing Damian McKenzie to finish in the right-hand corner, underlining the All Blacks’ capacity for a rapid reply. Late in the first half Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Kolbe combined to force a South Africa scrum five metres out; Nché and Marx were introduced on 36 minutes and promptly won two penalties to set up Siya Kolisi for a crucial try and stretch their half-time lead to 10 points. Marx then made a thunderous tackle on Luke Jacobson to end a high-intensity half.
Early in the second half Kolbe extended the lead with a penalty, and Marx’s jackal at a breakdown created another opportunity for points soon after. Eben Etzebeth produced a pivotal lineout steal as New Zealand threatened momentum on the hour mark, but Leroy Carter’s quick finish on the left narrowed the gap to 11. Another Marx penalty at the breakdown added to South Africa’s tally and Kolbe added a further three points as the match swung between tight defence and decisive moments at the breakdown.
Ardie Savea’s power returned late when he bustled over to set up a grandstand finish, leaving the final stages tense before South Africa held on for the seven-point victory. Malcolm Marx’s influence after his introduction was singled out in the report as a catalyst for South Africa’s physical control in both breakdowns and tackles.
The series is now level at one apiece and the third Test is scheduled for Johannesburg, though the report noted there was talk of relocating that fixture to Manila.