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All Blacks beat Springboks to save Ian Foster’s job, highlights, report

New Zealand ended a three-match losing streak with a 35-23 Rugby Championship second-round win over South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

A last-minute try by lock Scott Barrett sealed victory for the All Blacks after a thriller, and may have saved the job of embattled coach Ian Foster.

Foster has been under fire after five losses in six matches ahead of the Johannesburg showdown, including a 16-point loss to Rugby World Cup champions the Springboks last weekend.

But a much-improved All Blacks side turned the tables after a thriller in which South Africa led by one point with six minutes remaining before conceding two converted tries.

New Zealand’s coach Ian Foster (C) embraces Aaron Smith as they celebrate after victory in South Africa in Johannesburg on August 13, 2022. Photo: AFPSource: AFP

New Zealand recovered from a poor start, with full-back Jordie Barrett knocking on within 40 seconds, to control the early stages.

South Africa suffered an early blow with only 10 minutes gone when groggy winger Jesse Kriel was forced to retire and veteran full-back Willie le Roux came on.

Fortunately for full-back Damian Willemse, there was no score as he sat on the touchline due to a yellow card while a sell-out 61,519 crowd roared on the home side.

The first points in an arm wrestle came on 25 minutes when recalled fly-half Richie Mo’unga slotted a penalty for the visitors.

His successful kick triggered a period of away dominance in which captain and flanker Sam Cane and hooker Samson Taukei’aho scored tries, the second of which Mo’unga converted.

– South African concerns –

When New Zealand moved the ball wide, winger Will Jordan sent Cane over in the corner for his second try against South Africa.

Taukei’aho then used his strength to power over from close range and this time Mo’unga split the posts with his kick for a 15-point lead five minutes before half-time.

New Zealand’s lock Scott Barrett reacts against South Africa at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on August 13, 2022. Photo: AFPSource: AFP

An indication of South Africa’s concerns was a series of the first-half substitutions with hooker Malcolm Marx, prop Steven Kitshoff and No. 8 Jasper Wiese introduced.

The hosts needed to score quickly, and they did with center Lukhanyo Am diving over and fly-half Handre Pollard converting.

Pollard had not missed a kick at goal in his last two Tests — against Wales in Cape Town and New Zealand in Mbombela — and he maintained his record in first-half added time.

Opting to kick for goal from the halfway line, his kick just made it and as the teams trooped off the field a 15-point New Zealand advantage had been cut to 15-10.

The second half became a thriller with South Africa finally edging in front at 23-21 when Pollard kicked a penalty on 68 minutes.

But intense All Blacks pressure led to tries from center David Havili and lock Scott Barrett and Mo’unga converted both to get the visitors back on the winning trail.

Wing Makazole Mapimpi was the other Springbok try scorer as Pollard accumulated 13 points from two conversions and three penalties.dl/iwd

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All Blacks lose to Springboks, Ian Foster, score, result, highlights

Under-fire New Zealand rugby coach Ian Foster said he believed his All Blacks team took “a step up” despite losing 26-10 to South Africa in the Rugby Championship opener in Mbombela on Saturday.

Foster, under pressure after the All Blacks lost a home series against Ireland last month, said there had been encouraging aspects in the latest performance.

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The New Zealand team performs the Haka as South African players look on at the Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela on August 6, 2022. Photo: AFPSource: AFP

The loss to the Springboks was the fifth in six matches after three defeats by Ireland and another by France.

Foster has lost nine of 25 matches in charge of the three-time world champions while predecessor Steve Hansen suffered 10 defeats in 107 Tests.

An All Blacks assistant coach during the eight-year reign of Hansen, Foster was a controversial appointment ahead of Canterbury Crusaders coach Scott Robertson.

“It was a step up from our last series,” said Foster.

“The lineout worked well, our maul defense was good and our overall defense was pretty solid but the timing in terms of attack was a bit off.”

Kurt-Lee Arendse of South Africa scores against the All Blacks at Mbombela Stadium on August 06, 2022 in Nelspruit, South Africa. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

He said a string of penalties conceded by the All Blacks in the first 20 minutes had hurt his team.

“I felt we were not getting the rub of the green in the first 20 minutes, so that put us behind a little.”

He said the third quarter of the match, after the All Blacks were fortunate to trail only 10-3 at half-time, it was critical.

“We had to get back into the game but all the Springboks did carry hard and clean hard and earn a couple of penalties. Good on them, that is their game. It is a pressure game.” Foster acknowledged that the intensity of the match played in front of a passionate sell-out home crowd of 42,367 had affected some of the new players in the touring squad.

“Some of our guys who are here for the first time — that is what you have to go through and experience.”

Ian Foster (C) is under huge pressure after the All Blacks lost three straight matches. Photo: AFPSource: AFP

Foster said that although there was not much time before a second-round match against the Springboks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg next Saturday, he was confident of an improved performance.

“As the game unfolded, a few opportunities opened up. There were some handling errors but we made a few good strides. But we have to provide it next week.”

SuperSport TV analyst and former Springbok captain and hooker John Smit said it had been a “commanding performance” by the home team.

“We won the kicking game and the error game. This is a Springbok team that knows what they do well and they stick to it.”

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