THE Springboks opened their Rugby Championship campaign in fine style, beating the All Blacks 26-10 at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
The ferocity of the Springboks constantly unsettled the All Blacks, who were lucky to trail only 3-10 at half-time having been outplayed in the opening 40 minutes.
New Zealand did win more possession in the second half but basic errors cost them and their only try, from replacement loose forward Shannon Frizell, arrived when South Africa were reduced to 14 men.
Wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, the scorer of the first South African try, was red-carded on 75 minutes after fouling airborne flyhalf Beauden Barrett.
Hooker Malcolm Marx was warmly greeted by the sell-out 40,000 crowd in recognition of him winning his 50th cap when he ran onto the field ahead of his teammates in the northeastern city.
There was a dramatic start to the opening match of the southern hemisphere
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