All Blacks 19 (Will Jordan try; Jordie Barrett con, 4 pen) Springboks 17 (Sbu Nkosi try; Handre Pollard 4 pens) HT: 13-11.
FULLTIME
Slow clap for Jordie Barrett, whose last-gasp 40m penalty has secured victory for the All Blacks. It was an ugly but tense affai and the All Blacks were far from their best, but they've prevailed in the 100th test between the two proud nations.
Check out the highlights in the video above and a full wrap here.
80 mins - SA at their own 10m line. What can they muster?
Wide they go, knock on! Game over! All Blacks win!
78 mins - Two minutes to hold on here. They secure the restart, weber box kick is taken by SA and they're at hlafway.
76 mins - And for what seems like the 12th time tonight, NZ lose their own lineout. Huge moment there.
All Blacks penalty! Tupaea does brilliantly to get over the ball and win the defensive penalty. Jordie Barrett facing a tough shot, 40m on the angle....NAILS IT!
75 mins - Weber breaks but he's pulled down and the ball spills, back and forth we go - the game opening up now and we end up with an NZ lineout inside the Boks 22m. Ah will you look at that, the Boks need an injury break.
73 mins - Up it goes, and McKenzie can't reel it in. SA ball near the NZ 22m. De Klerk bangs another one into the clouds, NZ can't take it but Sotutu is bale to hack it clear and it ends with NZ on the front foot, 15m out.
72 mins - Boks with the scrum penalty. All going to plan for SA. Prepare for another lineout drive and bomb at the NZ 10m.
69 mins - Boks roll another effective lineout maul and De Klerk sends another one into the clouds. No NZ player near that one, but they're let off with a penalty. Great touchfinder Barrett, NZ 22m lineout on attack.
Again, the short ball at the line goes to ground. The ball is really greasy now, making those ones exceptionally more difficult to collect.
66 mins - Maul from the lineout goes to ground and it's the Boks' penalty advantage. Pollard kicks one from handy range and the see-sawing lead continues. (SA 17-16)
64 mins - The ABs pack does well to roll the maul but Perenara's pass is well off the mark and the ball goes to ground. Boks let off yet again. All Blacks ring the changes, as the Boks send a penalty into the NZ 22m for a lineout.
62 mins - B. Barrett taken in the air as he collected a high ball. NZ will throw the lineout 30m from the Boks line.
59 mins - ABs back on the attack, the Boks 22m looming. SA defence holds but NZ remain patient with some quickly recycled ball which leads to a penalty. This time they call for the kicking tee. 22m on the angle, J. Barrett puts NZ back in front with 20 to play. (61-14)
57 mins - Boks with ball in hand and they're awarded a penalty for what seemd an inoccuous shove in loose play. That's an odd one. Pollard bangs it over from 30m in front and the Boks reclaim the lead. (SA 14-13)
54 mins - NZ attacking lineout. Jordan put into some space. He looks for Bridge out wide but his pass to Bridge is intercepted. We end up at a 50m scrum for SA.
51 mins - The Springboks actually decide to use the ball on attack but it swiftly breaks down. Scrum NZ at their 22m.
48 mins - The Boks go to their favoured offensive weapon - huge bomb goes up in the NZ 22m. Laulala collects it and he's taken high, NZ penalty. Lineout at halfway.
J. Barrett hits a short ball into a big gap but can't hold on. Another NZ error. Scrum SA on the NZ 10m.
46 mins - De Klerk sends it into touch near the 22m and another poor NZ throw is pinched by the Boks. Penalty SA, they'll throw a lineout near the NZ 22m.
44 mins - Again, NZ turn down an easy three for a 5m lineout. Savea looks blindside but he's muscled into touch and the Boks hold on again.
42 mins - Powerful pick and go by the ABs and they win a penalty 10m out. They look immediately to touch, 5m lineout.... and the Boks steal it.
But it's quickly won back at the ruck by S. Barrett. Inches from the line and all the momentum for NZ, but Laulala knocks on with the try line in sight.
41 mins - NZ receive the restart. Boks still down to 14-men for another three minutes. Bridge does well to win a defensive penalty, great work at the breakdown. Early chance for the ABs, lineout at the SA 22m.
Second half underway...
HALFTIME - The Springboks have been able to play their game here, working the clock and the referee to ensure it's been played at their pace. Neverthless, the All Blacks take a slender lead into the sheds, and have opened the Boks defence enough to be heartened heading into the second stanza.
40 mins - A. Ioane unable to hold on to a short ball. One final act of the half, scrum SA in the middle of the ground. Loose ball, one final jaunt from NZ until a forward pas sends them to the sheds.
38 mins - Penalty NZ, one last chance here for NZ to launch from a lineout at the Boks 22m.
But it's untidy at the lineout and the Boks compete and win the ball.
37 mins - B. Barrett returns fire from the restart but only as far as the NZ 22m. Chance here for the Boks.
Pollard launches a bomb and J. Barrett is up to the task, claiming a superb aerial mark.
36 mins - All Blacks work a slick move from the scrum, Jordan streaking into a huge hole bound for the tryline but Nkosi slaps the ball to ground. This could well be a yellow card, that would have been a certain NZ try. There it is - Nkosi off to the bin. Strong argument there it should also have been a penalty try. NZ settle for an easy three points to edge back in front. (NZ 13-11)
34 mins - Penalty advantage cashed in by NZ. They turn down the shot and plug the corner for a 5m lineout. Messy lineout results in an NZ scrum.
32 mins - Pollard with another error off the boot, sending the restart out on the full. Another chance here for NZ, scrum in the centre of the paddock.
30 mins - Well executed setpiece move sparked by B. Barrett and the All Blacks cut them open, down to the Boks 22m they go. Penalty advantage blown up for NZ after Barrett's wipers kick misses its mark. J. Barrett accepts the gift three points. (SA 11-10)
26 mins - De Klerk goes high again, Perenara secures it - eventually -for NZ. But there's another loose carry, as Laulala fumbles. Pollard bungles his kick, sends it dead and we'll go back for an NZ scrum on their own 10m.
24 mins - S. Barrett taken in the air at the lineout. NZ will throw their own a the Boks' 22m. Havili unable to control a pass and the Boks wrestle the ball free, then clear to halfway.
21 mins - De Klerk sends another box kick high but it's too long, comfy mark for Barrett.
Scott Barrett bursts free now, charges 20m before going to ground just 15m from the Boks' line. De Allende pounces and forces a fumble at the ruck. NZ stung at the scrum yet again, and the Boks clear the danger.
19 mins - Penalty at the scrum to the Boks, the ABs ruled to have collapsed it. We move to a lineout at the NZ 22m. Retallick soars to make a crucial steal for the ABs and they clear back to halfway.
17 mins - Enormous tryline defence from the Boks, who walk over the ABs' ball at the ruck and clear the ball. Jordan hit hard in the tackle and spills it, scrum SA at their 10m line. All very much on brand for the world champs here, they'll be pleased with this start.
14 mins - NZ lineout at the 50m. The All Blacks earn their first penalty of the day. Jordie B turns down a 53m shot at goal and they'll move to a lineout 10m out from the SA line.
12 mins - Savea pumps his legs and picks up 10m with a trademark charge over halfway but another defensive penalty goes the Boks' way. Pollard nails another from 40m straight in front. (SA 11-7)
10 mins - Free kick at halfway and Pollard hoists a bomb. Retallick cops a harsh penalty for obstructing a chaser, was nowhere near the ball. Pollard lines up a shot at goal and sends it over from handy range. Boks take the lead. (SA 8-7)
8 mins - Attacking scrum for the All Blacks but Havili is pinged for not releasing after almost piercing the Boks defensive line.
6 mins - TRY SPRINGBOKS to S'bu Nkosi
De Klerk hoists a bomb into the middle of the 22m, George Bridge completely misjudges it, and it bounces perfectly for a streaking Nkosi to score. Perfect response from SA. Conversion misses ( NZ 7-5)
3 mins - TRY ALL BLACKS to Will Jordan
Blackadder's deft offload at the line puts Codie Taylor into the clear and the hooker links with Jordan to run it the final 30m across the chalk. Great start NZ. Jordie Barrett with kicking duties, drills it over the black dot.
2 mins - ABs finally to decide to tuck it. Jordie Barrett almost bursts clear.
1 min - Beauden Barrett gets us started, goes deep with the kick-off. De Klerk goes high immediately, Barrett taps it back into ABs hands. Kicking duel ensues.
We're underway...
7:08pm - Couple of minutes behind schedule here, as TJ Perenara launches into 'Kapa o pango'. Haven't seen this haka in 2021, but what better occasion to dust it off.
7:02pm - Is the South African anthem the world's best? I'd rank it second behind 'La Marseillaise'.
7:01pm - Touching acknowledgement here for the legendary 'Black Panther' Waka Nathan, who passed on Friday.
6:58pm - Both sides have taken the pitch. Did I mention it's warm and sunny? Still 24 degrees in Townsville. Sell out at North Queensland stadium, 25,000-odd in attendence. Anthems and haka imminent.
6:45pm - Conditions, as you'd expect in the north of Queensland, are dry, sunny, and ideal for some fast-paced test rugby.
In case you missed it, there's been a late change to the All Blacks starting line-up, with No. 8 Luke Jacobson ruled out with illness.
Ardie Savea shifts to the back of the scrum, with Ethan Blackadder in to start at openside flanker. Hoskins Sotutu will take a place on the bench.
***
Kia ora and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Rugby Championship clash between the All Blacks and South Africa, who'll square off for the 100th time in test rugby at Townsville.
Exactly two years have passed, since the age-old rivals last met during pool play at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and there's plenty at stake for both sides in the first of two tests in consecutive weeks.
A win for the All Blacks would secure the Rugby Championship title, while the Springboks hope to avoid the ignominy of a third straight defeat, after losing twice to the Wallabies.
Not to mention, the prestige of having your hand raised on such an historic occasion.
We'll have all the action for you from 7pm (NZ time).
In the meantime, get yourself primed by reliving some of the most memorable All Blacks, Boks encounters, as well as blasts from the past from All Black greats 'BeeGee' Williams and Dave Loveridge, who recount some of their experiences against South Africa, both on and off the field.
TAB betting odds: New Zealand $1.18, South Africa $4.85
All Blacks: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Scott Barrett, 6-Akira Ioane, 7- Ethan Blackadder, 8-Ardie Savea (capt), 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-George Bridge, 12-David Havili, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Will Jordan, 15-Jordie Barrett.
Reserves: 16-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17-Karl Tui'inukuafe, 18-Ofa Tuungafasi, 19-Patrick Tuipulotu, 20-Hoskins Sotutu, 21-Brad Weber, 22-Damian McKenzie, 23-Quinn Tupaea.
South Africa: 1-Trevor Nyakane, 2-Bongi Mbonambi, 3-Frans Malherbe, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 5-Lood de Jager, 6-Siya Kolisi (captain), 7-Kwagga Smith, 8-Duane Vermeulen, 9-Faf de Klerk, 10-Handre Pollard, 11-Makazole Mapimpi, 12-Damian de Allende, 13-Lukhanyo Am, 14-S'bu Nkosi, 15-Willie le Roux
Reserves 16-Malcolm Marx, 17-Steven Kitshoff, 18-Vincent Koch, 19-Franco Mostert, 20-Marco van Staden, 21-Herschel Jantjies, 22-Elton Jantjies, 23-Frans Steyn.
'On top of his game': Perenara claims 'go-to' halfback tag against Springboks
By Alex Powell
TJ Perenara has established himself as the All Blacks' first-choice halfback, resulting in his selection in the No.9 jersey to face South Africa at Townsville, asserts coach Ian Foster.
After spending the first part of 2021 playing club rugby in Japan, Perenara, 29, faced a battle to stay in the mix as All Blacks halfback.
Two brilliant Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman seasons from Brad Weber appeared to give the Chiefs halfback inside running as All Blacks back-up halfback, behind Aaron Smith.
But Smith's decision to remain in New Zealand to support his pregnant wife and miss the Rugby Championship has allowed Perenara to return to the fold, competing with Weber and Finlay Christie for the role.
Weber started the Australia tour as Foster's first-choice halfback, but Perenara's back-to-back displays against Argentina over the last two weeks will see him start against South Africa on Saturday.
The South Africa test - the 100th between these rivals - is arguably Foster's biggest, since taking charge of the side in 2020, naming his strongest team to face New Zealand's old foes.
Foster has outlined exactly how Perenara's comeback to the No.9 jersey is solely down to his performances on the field.
And even with Weber in arguably career-best form, the selection headache is a welcome one for the All Blacks coach.
"He's played well, it's quite simple really," Foster says of Perenara. "I thought his last two tests have been high quality.
"He went away and we gave him a focus. He's come back and he's really, I think, on top of his game at the moment.
"We've had a bit of frontfoot ball that's enabled him to operate, but he's been uncomplicated, he's been quick. When you couple that with his experience and some of his decision-making, we've been delighted with his form.
"As I said after the Perth test, Brad's playing really, really well too. We've got the sort of choice that we want to have at the moment."
