South Africa captain Siya Kolisi expressed his delight after leading the Springboks to a record-breaking victory over fierce rivals New Zealand in the Rugby Championship.
In a dramatic Round 4 clash, South Africa inflicted a stunning 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks, marking New Zealand’s heaviest loss in their proud rugby history. The victory was particularly sweet for the world champions, who had fallen 24-17 to the same opponents just a week earlier at Eden Park.
The rematch, held at Wellington’s Regional Stadium, began with the All Blacks taking the lead through Leroy Carter in the 17th minute. However, South Africa quickly struck back and gradually took control of the match. By halftime, momentum had swung in favour of the Springboks, and the second half saw them completely dominate both in attack and defense.
South Africa’s tries came from Cheslin Kolbe, who scored twice, Damian Willemse, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, and Andre Esterhuizen. Manie Libbok added the conversions to cap off a clinical display. The All Blacks, unable to cope with the relentless pressure, watched the scoreline balloon against them in front of their home crowd.
Speaking after the game, Kolisi praised his teammates for their resilience and belief. “We didn’t give up. We played fearlessly. We didn’t want to hold back. We knew what we had to do and we believed in ourselves – that was the most important thing,” said the skipper, highlighting the spirit that drove the Springboks to the famous win.
On the other hand, New Zealand’s captain admitted his side was second-best on the day, acknowledging that his team struggled to adapt to South Africa’s improvements and intensity.
The result leaves the Rugby Championship finely poised, with all four competing nations—South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina—holding identical records of two wins and two losses after four rounds. With two matchdays remaining, the competition is wide open.
Upcoming fixtures promise more drama as New Zealand host Australia at Eden Park and South Africa welcome Argentina to Durban on September 27. The final round on October 4 will see Australia face New Zealand in Perth, while Argentina take on South Africa at Twickenham Stadium in London
