South Africa's Dramatic Comeback against New Zealand in Rugby Championship

South Africa staged a remarkable comeback to defeat New Zealand 31-27 in the Rugby Championship. They overturned a 10-point deficit with just 11 minutes remaining, demonstrating exceptional forward power. South Africa's captain, Siya Kolisi, praised the team's resilience and belief. New Zealand captain Scott Barrett acknowledged missed opportunities and errors.

In a dramatic turn of events, South Africa managed to clinch a 31-27 victory over New Zealand in the Rugby Championship on Saturday. Despite trailing by 10 points with just 11 minutes left on the clock, the South African team showcased their formidable forward power to come out on top at Ellis Park.

South African captain Siya Kolisi, visibly swollen from a head knock, lauded his team's resilience and self-belief. 'We knew they could have a fast start, but we believe in ourselves, and we didn't panic,' Kolisi stated post-match. He emphasized the importance of persistence, drawing from past experiences to guide them to victory.

The win has strengthened South Africa's position in the southern hemisphere championship standings. Meanwhile, New Zealand, with a storied history of dominance, have now lost two out of their three matches this season. Their captain Scott Barrett pointed to key moments of lapse post-kickoff that allowed South Africa to exploit their weaknesses and ultimately seal the victory.

In a bold move, South Africa fielded relatively inexperienced players like Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at flyhalf and Aphelele Fassi at fullback. 'That's how you learn what a guy is made of,' commented South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus. 'We will lose some matches, but as long as we keep showing this character against a team like New Zealand, I'm happy.'

(With inputs from agencies.)