Erasmus tricks and Kolisi magic inspire Springboks to level series with All Blacks
South Africa's rugby team, the Springboks, defeated New Zealand in the second Test to level their series. The match was marked by high intensity and a controversial last-minute front-row substitution by coach Rassie Erasmus.
Why it matters
This victory represents a significant turnaround for the Springboks following a previous loss and highlights ongoing debates regarding coaching tactics and regulatory compliance in international rugby.
Siya Kolisi inspired South Africa to a thrilling victory against New Zealand./Getty Images Siya Kolisi inspired South Africa to a thrilling victory against New Zealand./Getty Images Rugby union Erasmus tricks and Kolisi magic inspire Springboks to level series with All Blacks Second Test: South Africa 33-26 New Zealand
Head coach changes front-row just before start
Prefer the Guardian on Google The Boks are back. Level at one apiece in the series after a return to what they do best. Blending power and directness, blood and thunder, to edge far enough ahead of New Zealand and withstand a gutsy comeback from the All Blacks. Throw in some brazen mischief from Rassie Erasmus, who swapped his entire front-row just an hour before kick-off, and this was much closer to a trademark Springboks performance after they were unrecognisable a week ago.
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