Johannesburg – Rugby fans in the city witnessed a dramatic showdown on Tuesday as the New Zealand All Blacks overcame a strong Lions challenge to win 41‑35 at Ellis Park. The Lions led for more than an hour, but a late surge by the All Blacks turned the tide.
Early dominance by the Lions
The Lions opened the match with a quick try from scrumhalf Nico Steyn after a dummy move by captain Francke Horn. By the seventh minute they were already up 14‑0 and maintained the lead into halftime. Their conditioning, honed from the United Rugby Championship quarter‑finals on May 30, gave them a physical edge early on.
All Blacks struggle and regroup
New Zealand entered the game with only three players from their recent test win over South Africa and relied heavily on six injury replacements, including two arrivals on Monday and debut prop Saula Ma’u. Their defense faltered, allowing the Lions to extend the lead to 35‑17 in the 47th minute.
Despite the setback, the All Blacks showed why they have swept all four South African provincial sides on this tour. Veteran flanker Ethan Blackadder, whose father Todd toured with the 1996 All Blacks, began to find his rhythm, and fly‑half Richie Mo’unga, back from Japan, steadied the backline.
Late‑game heroics
In the final thirty minutes the All Blacks scored four consecutive tries. Winger Rieko Ioane crossed twice, Blackadder added a try that gave New Zealand its first lead in the 62nd minute, and winger Emoni Narawa sealed the comeback with a try in the 79th minute.
Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett combined for three successful conversions, while Lions kicker Chris Smith converted all five of his side’s tries and added a long‑range penalty.
Key performances
Blackadder’s try highlighted his growing influence, and Narawa’s speed proved decisive. The Lions’ standout was 22‑year‑old Siba Mahashe, who intercepted a pass and ran untouched for a try, earning player‑of‑the‑match honors.
Both teams displayed high‑level handling, but a forward‑pass nullified a potential Lions try by winger Fehi Fineanganofo at halftime.
Looking ahead
The All Blacks will face the Springboks again in Cape Town for the second test on Saturday. South Africa’s captain Siya Kolisi, cleared after a grade‑two hamstring tear, is expected to lead the Springboks, while Paul de Villiers has been dropped from the match‑day squad.
With the All Blacks now unbeaten on their South African tour, the upcoming test will be a crucial measure of their resilience and depth as they continue to dominate provincial opposition.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
