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Jordan Double Stuns South Africa As New Zealand Clinch Statement Victory

First Test: South Africa 16-33 New Zealand
All Blacks score five tries against world champions

As first courses go, this was a delicious appetiser to a series that looks set to live up to its billing. First blood goes to New Zealand, who withstood a barrage of South Africa scrum pressure and demonstrated a slickness the double world champions could not live with, clinching a first win at Ellis Park since 2022.

It wasn’t a classic, but a statement victory by the All Blacks to which South Africa must respond in the coming weeks. By the end, South Africa had two men in the sin-bin and, given their status as the world’s leading side, this must go down as a disintegration. There will be a backlash – it is hard to remember a time when South Africa were so inaccurate with the ball in hand – but credit New Zealand for producing a masterclass at weathering the storm and taking their chances. It is 30 years since Sean Fitzpatrick led the All Blacks to a first series victory in South Africa, but the class of 2026 are off to a flying start.

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Jordan Double Stuns South Africa As New Zealand Clinch Statement Victory

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