All Blacks Stage Epic Comeback to Defeat Lions and Stay Unbeaten in South Africa

All Blacks Stage Epic Comeback to Defeat Lions and Stay Unbeaten in South Africa

New Zealand staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming an 18-point deficit in the second half to secure a thrilling 41-35 victory against the Lions at Ellis Park. This win keeps the All Blacks unbeaten on their tour of South Africa, where they have faced four provincial opponents. The match showcased New Zealand's resilience, as they managed to outscore the Lions with seven tries to five. Key contributors included Ethan Blackadder, Rieko Ioane, and Emoni Narawa, each scoring two tries, while Noah Hotham added another. On the other side, the Lions had their own set of try scorers: Nico Steyn, Sibabalwe Mahashe, Kelly Mpeku, Erich Cronje, and captain Francke Horn. Flyhalf Chris Smith successfully converted all their tries, keeping the home side competitive throughout the match. Notably, Richie Mo’unga returned to the New Zealand lineup for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final, contributing two conversions, while Beauden Barrett added another conversion to the tally. This victory follows a strong performance by the All Blacks, who previously upset the Springboks with a 33-16 win at the same venue in the first Test of their tour.

Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-08-25