South Africa complete Freedom Cup glory with 18-12 win over New Zealand

South Africa 18-12 New Zealand, Cape Town

South Africa have successfully claimed the Freedom Cup for the first time in 15 years as they edged out New Zealand 18-12 in the fourth round of the Rugby Championship in Cape Town on Saturday.

This was also the fourth successive win for the Springboks and the second over New Zealand in the ongoing Rugby Championship as they now have 18 points - 11 more than second placed All Blacks as they strengthen their chance of winning the title.

All of New Zealand's points came through penalty kicks from Damian McKenzie as they were handed early advantage with Jasper Wiese sin-binned in the 14th minute for tackling Cortez Ratima without the ball. The New Zealand fly-half landed the three-pointer for the first points in the game making it 0-3.

Two minutes later, New Zealand were down to 14 players temporarily with this time Sevu Reece yellow carded for a dangerous tackle on Willie Le Roux and in the 25th minute Codie Taylor left the field with a head injury. As Grant Williams was penalised for not rolling away, McKenzie kicked a 47m penalty kick to double New Zealand's tally to 0-6 before Ardie Savea's illegal tackle allowed Handre Pollard to kick a three-pointer.

With the break approaching, Nortjé was penalised for coming in at the side and McKenzie kicked his third successful penalty goal to ensure New Zealand completed the opening half with a 3-9 lead.

The 46th minute saw Tyrel Lomax caught offside as they were denied an early try but soon they went into the lead in the 49th minute when Malcolm Marx set up skipper Siya Kolisi over the line and Pollard improved it to make it 10-9 and shortly Sacha Mngomezulu kicked a penalty goal to extend South Africa's lead to four points which came down to one with McKenzie kicking his fourth penalty goal in the 58th minute.

The 62nd minute saw Le Roux yellow carded out in an aerial challenge and McKenzie's penalty hit the post as New Zealand continued to trail by one point. As South Africa did well not to concede a point, they were handed a boost as New Zealand's Lomax was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle on Cheslin Kolbe and shortly Marx went over for the decisive try to complete a thrilling 18-12 win for the Boks.

Team line up:

South Africa : Willie le Roux; Canan Moodie, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Handré Pollard, Grant Williams; Ox Nché, Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Ruan Nortjé, Siya Kolisi (captain), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese

Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Kwagga Smith, Elrigh Louw, Jaden Hendrikse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Lukhanyo Am

New Zealand: Will Jordan; Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Tele'a; Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima; Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett (captain), Tupou Vaa'i, Wallace Sititi, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea

Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Fletcher Newel, Sam Darry, Luke Jacobson, TJ Perenara, Anton Lienert-Brown, Beauden Barrett