Cheslin Kolbe successfully converted all seven of his kicks, including four penalties and three conversions, as South Africa secured a 1-1 draw in the four-Test Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand. The match, played five days after Kolbe was initially left out of the squad due to hamstring and ankle injuries sustained in the previous game against the All Blacks, saw the world champions edged in tries, four to three.

South Africa’s head coach Rassie Erasmus reinstated Kolbe into the lineup on Friday, a decision that proved pivotal in the Boks’ performance. Kolbe’s accurate kicking, combined with tries from Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, and returning captain Siya Kolisi, contributed significantly to South Africa reclaiming the top spot in the world rugby rankings, which New Zealand had briefly taken following their previous encounter.

Kolbe reflected on the team’s approach, emphasizing the importance of capitalizing on scoring opportunities: “We could feel the mood from South African fans. In Test match rugby, you need to take every point that is given to you. Last week we did not capitalise on that.”

New Zealand managed to score two tries in the second half through full-back Damian McKenzie and winger Leroy Carter. Despite their efforts, the All Blacks fell short in the encounter. Captain Ardie Savea described the result as a “bitter pill to swallow” but acknowledged the team's resilience, adding, “We stuck in there but we came up short — we have to regroup and go again.”

The series remains evenly poised as both teams prepare for the upcoming fixtures, with South Africa temporarily reinstated as the world’s number one team in rugby union.