Springboks' last Ellis Park team in 31-27 All Blacks win

The Springboks beat the All Blacks 31-27 in their most recent meeting at Ellis Park on 31 August 2024. The Johannesburg encounter was the 16th between the sides at the stadium, with their next fixture set to be the 111th in the rivalry.

South Africa’s points came from three tries. Bongi Mbonambi crossed first, while replacements Kwagga Smith and Grant Williams also scored. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu supplied the rest of the Springboks’ total through two conversions and four penalties.

New Zealand answered with four tries, two conversions and a penalty, but still finished four points short. The result remains the latest Ellis Park outcome between the two teams as they prepare to meet there again on Saturday, 22 August.

The Springbok team from that previous meeting was led by captain Siya Kolisi. Aphelele Fassi started at fullback, with Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende and Kurt-Lee Arendse completing the backline alongside Feinberg-Mngomezulu and scrumhalf Cobus Reinach.

Jasper Wiese was selected at eighthman, with Ben-Jason Dixon and Kolisi in the loose-forward positions. Ruan Nortje and Pieter-Steph du Toit formed the lock pairing, while Frans Malherbe, Mbonambi and Ox Nche made up the front row.

Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Elrigh Louw, Smith, Williams and Handré Pollard were listed among the replacements. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus delayed naming his team for the upcoming match until Thursday afternoon, leaving the previous Ellis Park XV as the latest reference point before the rematch.