South Africa Defeat New Zealand to Reclaim Freedom Cup After 15 Years

The Springboks continued their dominant run in the 2024 Rugby Championship, clinching a hard-fought 18-12 victory over the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday. In a tense and gripping encounter, the reigning world champions outlasted their fierce rivals, scoring two tries to none to secure a significant win.

As the scoreline suggests, it was a tightly contested battle, with momentum shifting back and forth between the two rugby powerhouses. The match was a bruising affair, characterized by intense physicality and high-pressure moments. However, the Springboks finished stronger, crossing the try-line twice to swing the match in their favor.

South African captain Siya Kolisi and hooker Malcolm Marx each powered their way over the whitewash, delivering the crucial tries for the Boks. Handré Pollard, always reliable with the boot, added a conversion and a penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking. Youngster Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu also contributed, successfully slotting a penalty to extend South Africa’s lead.

New Zealand's points all came from the reliable boot of Damian McKenzie, who landed four penalties to keep the All Blacks within striking distance. However, their inability to score tries proved costly, as the Springbok defense held firm in key moments.

This win is monumental for the Springboks, as it puts them on the verge of capturing the Rugby Championship title. Even more significantly, the victory saw South Africa reclaim the Freedom Cup for the first time in 15 years, a symbol of their growing dominance over their arch-rivals.

The victory also marks South Africa’s second consecutive triumph over New Zealand in the tournament and their fourth successive win overall against the All Blacks. The Springboks, energized by their home crowd, set the tone early on with dominant scrummaging, putting the All Blacks under immediate pressure in the opening 10 minutes.

The Boks’ resilience and ability to manage key moments throughout the match were evident, as they held off the typically fast-paced All Blacks and secured an important win. With this result, South Africa stands on the brink of adding another Rugby Championship trophy to their illustrious collection.