Ardie Savea celebrates after scoring the match-winning try. Photo /Getty
Ardie Savea celebrates after scoring the match-winning try. Photo /Getty
Down 30-18 with eight minutes to play, the All Blacks scored two converted tries to steal a win over the Springboks in Pretoria.
This is how they pulled off the comeback:
72 minutes - South Africa 30 All Blacks 18
During a break in play the Springboks bring off halfback Faf de Klerk and hooker Malcolm Marx to a standing ovation from the Loftus Versfeld crowd. Both players have had big tests up until this point. The crowd believes they've done enough to earn a second win over the All Blacks in 2018.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks have a scrum on halfway and are put under immediate pressure from the Springboks and start going backwards before TJ Perenara quickly gets the ball away. The All Blacks surge over the advantage line through replacement first five-eighths Richie Mo'unga. Within three quick phases the All Blacks make 20 metres.
The All Blacks earn a penalty when Bongi Mbonambi and Pieter-Steph du Toit lift Ofa Tu'ungafasi in a dangerous tackle. They put him down gently but it's enough for referee Angus Gardner to blow the whistle. Mo'unga kicks for the corner and the All Blacks have an attacking lineout with seven minutes to play.
73 minutes - South Africa 30 All Blacks 18
The lineout is just seven metres out from the tryline and Nathan Harris finds Kieran Read at the front. 'The All Blacks are running out of time. They've got to score twice," says Sky commentator Grant Nisbett. Harris, Ryan Crotty and Ardie Savea all have short runs but can't do much before Patrick Tuipulotu gets a half break and makes a few metres putting the All Blacks five metres short.
A couple of phases later Tuipulotu has another attempt out wide and lands two metre shy before the ball comes back in field and Scott Barrett is tackled a metre short. Mo'unga and Perenara also have attempts but can't break the line before Scott Barrett fakes a short run across field and quickly darts forward to dive over. On the 14th phase and after 10 different All Blacks got their hands on the ball, the try is scored near the posts. Mo'unga converts.
Dejected South Africa's players look on at the end of the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria. Photo / AP
76 minutes - South Africa 30 All Blacks 25
"They're entitled to walk back," referee Gardner is heard saying to the All Blacks, who seem to be complaining about the Springboks lack of urgency to get the test re-started.
Handre Pollard kicks deep and Crotty makes the catch and runs the ball back. Perenara kicks high but Damian Willemse makes a strong play under pressure. With just over three minutes to play the Springboks just need to hold possession for a second straight win over the All Blacks.
After almost losing the ball, the Springboks look to settle things down at ruck time. Vincent Koch gets the ball and goes the ground but Savea is quickly over the top of him. The Springboks are late to support their man and Savea earns a crucial penalty, quite possibly the key moment of the match.
With no South African players back deep, Mo'unga kicks for the corner and at first it looks like he's had a shocker as the ball doesn't find touch on the full. But the bounce of the ball works in his favour as it rolls perfectly towards the sideline and gives the All Blacks a lineout just five metres out.
New Zealand's players celebrate at the end the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. Photo / AP
78 minutes - South Africa 30 All Blacks 25
Contrasting shots of the coaches boxes. Steve Hansen looks quite calm as the All Blacks walk up to set up the lineout while his counterpart Rassie Erasmus looks a little bit nervous with a shaky hand.
"We've been in this corner before Marshy," Sky commentator Jeff Wilson says to former teammate Justin Marshall, referencing the famous 1996 win when the All Blacks held on in the same corner of Loftus Versfeld to record their first ever series win in South Africa.
Harris throws to Read again and the All Blacks drive and get a penalty advantage as the Springboks attempt to collapse the maul. With the All Blacks a metre out, Read gets ready to pick up the ball and points to his left, with Scott Barrett supporting him on his left hip they surge ahead and provide quick ball for Savea who dives all of 30 centimetres to score the winner.
79 minutes - South Africa 30 All Blacks 30
There's still 60 seconds left on the clock when Savea scores but Mo'unga takes his time with the match-winning conversion. The Springboks charge but it goes over.
"Is that fulltime?" Garner asks his time keeper before blowing the whistle on a thrilling test match.
Ardie Savea celebrates after scoring the match-winning try. Photo /Getty
Fulltime: All Blacks 32 South Africa 30
Scenes of jubilant All Blacks and dejected Springboks fans and supporters.
"That ladies and gentlemen is the end of the game. The All Blacks win 32-30. Well played". Cue Bob Marley's 'Don't Worry About a Thing'.
"How does it feel?" All Blacks skipper Kieran Read is asked by Sky's Wilson.
"I'm not really too sure. I guess immense relief. So proud of our men. This doesn't come easy. You have to really stick at it. A lot of sides would have just rolled over potentially but we backed ourselves, kept going."
