Kevin McCallum has compiled five classic matches between the Springboks and All Blacks at Ellis Park.
June 24, 1995
South Africa (9) 15
Penalties: Stransky (3); Drop Goals: Stransky (2)
New Zealand (6) 12
Penalties: Mehrtens (3); Drop Goal: Mehrtens
(After extra time. Full time: 9-9)
You know a game is big when it becomes the only rugby match made into a Hollywood movie directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Matt Damon. The game itself was a tense affair. The talk was about stopping Jonah Lomu and the Springboks did that in numbers. The late Ruben Kruger had a try disallowed by referee Ed Morrison in the first half. Andrew Mehrtens and Joel Stransky swopped penalties and drop goals, until, seven minutes from the end of the second half of extra time, the Bok flyhalf hit THAT drop goal from 30 metres.
August 15, 1992
South Africa (0) 24
Tries: Gerber (2), Muller; Conversions: Botha (3); Penalty: Botha
New Zealand (10) 27
Tries: Z Brooke, Kirwan, Timu; Conversions: Fox (3); Penalties: Fox (2)
The first Test after readmission was an emotional affair both on and off the pitch. Louis Luyt ordered Die Stem to be played before the match – a defiant act that earned him scorn. Danie Craven wrote in the programme notes that “after the long and trying time we suffered, we are now meeting the might of New Zealand. It is such an important encounter that winning or losing is less important than the encounter itself”. Despite a debut try by Pieter Muller and two from Danie Gerber, one the result of a wonderful dummy, the Springboks lost a nail-biter.
August 14, 2004
South Africa: (19) 40
Tries: Joubert (3), Paulse, De Villiers; Conversions: Montgomery (3); Penalties: Montgomery (3)
New Zealand (13) 26
Tries: Muliaina, Rokocoko; Conversions: Mehrtens (2); Penalties: Mehrtens (4)
After the implosion of the 2003 World Cup, Jake White coached belief back into the Boks, with this win the catalyst for victory over the Aussies a week later that sealed the Tri-Nations title. The Boks went down 10-0 early, but Marius Joubert scored two tries and Breyton Paulse one to give them a halftime lead. Ref Nigel Williams was forced to leave the field after 15 minutes, which earned him an ironic cheer from the home fans. Jean de Villiers scored a try in a scrappy second half before Joubert became just the second Bok to score three against the All Blacks.
August 19, 2000
South Africa (33) 46
Tries: Williams, Fleck (2), Swanepoel (2), Delport; Conversions: Van Straaten (5); Penalties: Van Straaten (2)
New Zealand (27) 40
Tries: Umaga (2), Cullen (2); Conversions: Mehrtens (4); Penalties: Mehrtens (3); Drop Goal: Mehrtens
SA had lost four Tests on the trot before this whirlwind of a match. Robbie Fleck put a stop to that with a Man of the Match performance, perhaps his best in a Bok jersey. In 30 minutes, the Boks had scored four tries – more than they had scored in their previous three Tri-Nations matches. They led 33-13 after 35 minutes. It was madness, beautiful madness. Rassie Erasmus was the orchestrator while Cobus Visagie was the enforcer, putting in a hit on Jonah Lomu that left the big man flat.
October 5, 2013
South Africa: (15) 27
Tries: Habana (2), Le Roux, De Villiers; Conversions: Steyn (2); Penalty: Steyn
New Zealand (21) 38
Tries: B Smith, Messam (2), Barrett, Read; Conversions: Cruden (3), Barrett (2); Penalty: Barrett
Welsh referee Nigel Owens summed up this match in one tweet: “That was the greatest game of rugby I have ever had the privilege to referee. Huge credit to both teams for showing what rugby is all about.” It was perhaps the greatest match of the professional era. New Zealand showed their worth by winning despite two yellow cards in the second half, while the Boks, who needed to score a bonus-point win to have any chance of winning the Rugby Championship, were clinical and creative on attack. The title was decided by Barrett’s try after 60 minutes. - Saturday Star