South Africa v New Zealand LIVE: Rugby Championship result and reaction

South Africa scored two late tries to come back from a 10-point deficit and edge New Zealand 31-27 in a bruising Rugby Championship clash at Ellis Park on Saturday that came close to matching the intensity of last year’s World Cup final.

The All Blacks outscored their hosts by four tries to three but the boot of new Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu proved the difference as he contributed 16 points in the first meeting between the teams since October’s Paris clash which South Africa won 12-11.

Bongi Mbonambi, Kwagga Smith and Grant Williams scored the home tries while Feinberg-Mngomezulu was successful with four penalties and two conversions.

So today’s result means that South Africa have three wins from three, after their mini-tour Down Under and a win in Johannesburg.

The full results are below:

Australia 7-33 South Africa

New Zealand 30-38 Argentina

New Zealand 42-10 Argentina

Australia 12-30 South Africa

South Africa 31-27 New Zealand

Rassie Erasmus say that he is “very proud, but New Zealand, they can feel sad, because it was such a great game”.

“They controlled it for most of the game, we snuck in at the end. But well done to them and well done to our guys as well.

“We will lose some matches, but as long as we have this character against a team like New Zealand, I’m happy.

“It was the players, it was the guys making the plans, the guys seeing [things]. It wasn’t really on the coaches, it was the players.”

Man of the match Pietr-Steph Du Toit begins by telling reporters that he wants to thank the “wonderful crowd”.

“We definitely have the most respect for them [New Zealand] and it’s an unbelievable team, and the way they play their game, they inspire us as well.

“We definitely try to build character. We’ve got a lot of young guys, so I don’t think yoy get a game with more pressure,so well done to everyone.”

Here’s that moment from Grant Williams that won the match in the end.

All Blacks captain Scott Barrett is next to speak to the media.

“Well done to the Springboks – it showed the class team they are,” he says.

“We weren’t quite good enough. We were good for 62 minutes,and it’s an 80-minute game.

“There were two key moments after kick-offs where we couldn’t quite get out of our half and they punished us. It was a huge effort, [we’re] certainly proud – but just not quite tonight.

“We’ll regroup pretty quickly. Some guys have played here for the first time. It’s intense and we’ll have to be better next week.”

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi is first in front of the cameras. He starts by thanking the crowd.

“On behalf of the team, we just want to say: thank you for the support, not just tonight but you’ve carried us through so many battles.

“We play for a lot but you people are our number one motivation. We appreciate you every single day. Please don’t stop. When times are tough, please keep supporting us. We cannot do it without you.

“We respect the All Blacks. No matter what people say about them, when they need to turn up, they turn up. We believe in ourselves, we didn’t panic, and we did what we wanted.

“They were catching us on the exit. After the first try in the second half, we picked it up. I’m really proud of the boys but the job is not done.

He finishes by saying: “It’s 30 years of freedom and I want to say congratulations to South Africa. But we know there are many people who are still not free. Hopefully the next celebrations celebrate women who are free from gender-based violence”.

Well, what an exhilarating match we’ve just seen. We’ll bring you the reaction as we get it.

In terms of what that means for the Championship table, the standings are below.

1 – South Africa – P3, W3, 14pts

2 – New Zealand –P3, W1, L2, 6pts

3 – Argentina –P2, W1, L1, 4pts

4 – Australia – P2, L2, 0pts

The ball is kicked out and South Africa take the win! 31-27 to the home side!

What a game! The Springboks looked out of it but the yellow card was vital, as was the All Blacks’ inability to convert when it mattered most just before that sin bin.

South Africa kick deep but the All Blacks know they have to carry. A knock-on is called against the Springboks, but Feinberg-Mngomezulu manages to regain possession from the cross-kick!

All South Africa have to do now is wind down the clock!