De Allende sent off as All Blacks edge Newlands thriller

Damian de Allende was shown a late red card as New Zealand beat a spirited South Africa side 25-24 in an enthralling encounter at Newlands to finish the Rugby Championship with a 100 per cent record.

The world champions consigned the Springboks to a humiliating record 57-0 hammering at North Harbour Stadium last month, but it was a very different story in an almighty tussle in Cape Town three weeks later.

South Africa threw everything at the All Blacks and led with 10 minutes remaining, but Damian McKenzie went over to add to a controversial Ryan Crotty try and a Rieko Ioane breakaway score before De Allende was dismissed after being deemed to have elbowed Lima Sopoaga in the head.

The outstanding Malcolm Marx scored South Africa’s third try with just a minute to play after Ross Cronje and Jean-Luc du Preez also dotted down in the second half, but their three-year wait for a win over New Zealand goes on.

New Zealand lost Beauden Barrett, who went off for a head injury assessment and did not return, and Nehe Milner-Skudder (shoulder) to injury in the first half but the champions just about did enough to make it six wins out of six.

Australia will finish runners-up to New Zealand if they beat Argentina in the final match of the tournament later on Saturday.

What a game, what a comeback from #Springboks, what a way to end the @CastleLagerSA Rugby Champs. Well done all! #LoveRugby @MTNza @FNBSA pic.twitter.com/9iJaeTLxRL

— Springboks (@Springboks) October 7, 2017

Elton Jantjies and Barrett slotted over penalties in a frantic start before Ioane looked to have scored a superb solo try, but lost control as he reached out to try and touch down following a blistering run down the left wing.

Jantjies missed a great chance to restore South Africa’s advantage from the tee and it was the Rugby Championship holders who were in front at 8-3 when Crotty was contentiously awarded a try just after the half-hour mark.

There was doubt over whether the centre had control when he dived on a loose ball following sloppy work from Jesse Kriel, but the try was awarded after a long consultation between referee Jerome Garces and the TMO.

McKenzie stepped up to drag his conversion attempt wide with Barrett off the field and Milner-Skudder left the field clutching his left shoulder before a breathless first half finally ended following 10 minutes of extra time.

The Springboks, backed by a raucous crowd, applied the pressure at the start of the second half and were rewarded when Cronje ploughed the ball against the foot of the post for their first try and Jantjies was left with a simple kick to put them back in front at 10-8.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen responded by replacing the entire front row before Lima Sopoaga missed a penalty from long range, but Ioane showed a rapid turn of foot after intercepting to race away for a superb try.

Sopoaga added the extras to give the All Blacks a five-point cushion, yet the magnificent Springboks were not finished and a gripping Test swung back in their favour when Du Preez went over following great work from Handre Pollard and Marx 14 minutes from time.

The Test was on a knife edge and New Zealand showed why they are the best team on the planet by responding again, the nippy McKenzie darting through a gap to go over after taking a clever offload from David Havili and Sopoaga landed the conversion.

There was more drama when substitute De Allende was somewhat harshly dismissed after catching Sopoaga when he attempted to charge down a drop-goal attempt that was off target and, although the brilliant Marx provided another late twist by scoring a richly deserved try that Jantjies converted, New Zealand saw out yet another win.