The All Blacks didn’t just win the 100th Test against the Springboks, they won a match for rugby’s future.
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Rugby, not even international rugby, can survive when a match is reduced to a kick-a-thon.
In a game that went down to the wire, the All Blacks prevailed 19-17 after a cannon of a penalty kick from Jordie Barrett in the 78th minute.
The Springboks had one late chance, as Duane Vermeulen — a modern great and someone who epitomises South African rugby — charged down the right-hand touchline as the world champions were forced to run the ball out of their own half in the final minute.
Moments later, Springbok forward Franco Mostert lost control of the ball on the All Blacks’ 10m line. The game lost in a single turnover.
The All Blacks kicked the ball out and secured a historic victory against a Boks side that brought venom and fire to go along with their rope-a-dope style of play.