Springboks leave it late before edging All Blacks

JOHANNESBURG : South Africa scored two late tries to come back from a 10-point deficit to edge New Zealand 31-27 in a bruising Rugby Championship clash at Ellis Park on Saturday that came close to matching the intensity of last year's World Cup final.

The All Blacks outscored their hosts by four tries to three but the boot of new Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu proved the difference as he contributed 16 points in the first meeting between the two countries since last October's Paris clash which South Africa won 12-11

Bongi Mbonambi, Kwagga Smith and Grant Williams scored the home tries while Feinberg-Mngomezulu was successful with four penalties and two conversions.

Caleb Clarke scored two tries and Codie Taylor and Jordie Barrett for the visitors as Damian McKenzie added a penalty and two conversions.