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Springboks players react at full time after their win over new Zealand's All Blacks in a Rugby Championship game on Saturday in Gold Coast, Australia - Reuters
SYDNEY (Reuters): Elton Jantjies kicked a penalty after the final hooter as South Africa snapped a three-match losing streak in dramatic fashion with a 31-29 win over New Zealand in a thrilling final match of the Rugby Championship on Saturday.
The lead changed four times in a frenetic last five minutes on Australia’s Gold Coast but the world champions kept their nerve to deliver Jantjies the opportunity to secure a famous victory from in front of the posts.
The All Blacks were already assured of the championship title after their victory over the Springboks last weekend, but Saturday’s win will send South Africa back above their great rivals to the top of the world rankings.
The victory was a reward for the Springboks showing much more adventure but just as much grit and physicality as they had in their previous three matches in Australia.
The victory should do much to ease the pressure on the Springboks after they were pilloried for the manner of back-to-back losses to Australia and last week’s defeat in Townsville.
The loss snapped a 10-match winning streak for the All Blacks going back to last year but coach Ian Foster said overall he had been pleased with his team.
