The Springboks ended their eight-year wait for a home win over the All Blacks in front of 42 367 fans at Mbombela Stadium this evening.

The New Zealanders were outplayed in every department.

South Africa were solid in the set pieces. But the key to the win was an exceptional defence which frustrated the All Blacks.

The visitors made plethora of unforced errors.

The Springboks scored both their tries off All Black errors.

The boots of Handré Pollard and Jayden Hendrikse drove the New Zealanders back into their own half time and time again.

The All Blacks spent less than four of the 80 minutes in the Bok 22-metre area, so effective was the Boks game plan.

Faf de Klerk was stretchered off the field 30 seconds into the game after he took a knock to the head in a tackle. He was replaced by Jayden Hendrikse.

After a period of sustained attack in the All Black’s 22, the Boks opened the scoring.

In the fifth minute Pollard gave a deft chip kick on the visitors’ 10-metre line which Kurt-Lee Arendse collected off an All Black error and passed to Lukanyo Am. The centre drew the defender and passed back to the right winger who scored in the corner.

Handré Pollard converted.

The Springboks continued to dominate territory. They put the All Blacks under pressure with relentless defence every time the visitors’ had possession.

The Springboks were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute when the All Blacks transgressed in a ruck. Pollard slotted the ball home from 26 metres out.

In the first 20 minutes, the only time the New Zealanders were in the Boks’ 22 was from the kick-off.

The Springboks’ tight defence, spearheaded by dead-eye tackling, kept drew the All Blacks to making unforced errors.

The home team regained territory off the set pieces.

In the 35th minute, Beaudan Barrett put the first points on the board for the All Blacks with a penalty kick after the Boks were caught off-side.

The half-time score was 10-0.

After 40 minutes the New Zealanders had still not crossed the Boks’ 22-metre line, with the exception of the chase from the kick-off.

The Boks played exceptionally intelligent rugby. The All Blacks made errors and poor decisions under pressure.

Arendse’s try came from pressure and quick thinking to thunderous noise from the Mbombela Stadium crowd.

The South Africans were the better team in the first half and held a deserved lead.

An off-side penalty and Pollard’s boot gave the Boks another three points in the 49th minute.

The South African’s continued with precision execution of the game plan.

The ABs entered the Bok 22 for only the second time in the match in the 53rd minute. They conceded a penalty within seconds and were again driven back into their own half by Pollard’s kick.

Two minutes later their third forage into the home 22 also ended with a penalty transgression.

In the 58th minute, with the South Africans attacking in the All Blacks 22, Pollard slotted a drop goal from in front of the post to give his team a 16-3 lead.

The frustrated New Zealand team could not stamp their authority on the game as the clock wound down.

Am won a penalty on the ground for the Boks in the 71st minute and Pollard nailed the three points.

A collision in the air for contesting a high ball put and end to Arendse match on 74 minutes and the Boks were down to 14 men.

The All Blacks eventually scored in the 74th minute after a brilliant break by Caleb Clark led to Shannon Fritzell claiming the five points. Richie Mo’unga converted.

The final minute summed up the match. The All Blacks threw away possession and Willie le Roux hacked the ball forward and chased to dot down a try. Pollard added the two points and the final whistle was blown.

The Springboks won 26-10.

The All Blacks were dismal and could not match the pace and precision of the Bok game.

Over 42 000 supporters at Mbombela Stadium got more than their money’s worth. The Boks were at their best.

EPA/KIM LUDBROOK