South Africa secured a 2-1 series lead over New Zealand with a 29-24 victory in Soweto. The Springboks overcame a 17-12 deficit in the final quarter, powered by a penalty try and tries from Jesse Kriel and Malcolm Marx. New Zealand, chasing a series draw, were hampered by disciplinary issues and the loss of Siya Kolbe.

The teams will meet in a fourth Test in Baltimore next weekend. With Springbok captain Siya Kolisi calling on his team to honour those who died in nearby Soweto during the fight against apartheid, and national pride stung by New Zealand coach Dave Rennie's criticism of their scrum technique, Soccer City was braced for a fast start by the hosts. New Zealand's smarts initially defused the fire and fury inside the cauldron, however.

After a brave Peter Lakai turnover had halted South Africa momentum, Will Jordan streaked clear to switch play to the other 22. South Africa fly-half Feinberg-Mngomezulu was shown yellow for knocking down Ardie Savea's offload and, from the resulting penalty, the All Blacks rolled round the back of a short-range line-out, clearing room for Savea to sweep through some under-staffed fringe defence and score. With Cheslin Kolbe, with a perfect goal-kicking record so far in the series, having departed with a head knock, South Africa had taken a dent to their confidence, as well as the scoreboard.

New Zealand had ducked and dived to minimise the effect of South Africa's set-piece supremacy. Fast strikes from hooker Asafo Aumua had got the ball away from a fast-retreating scrum, while trick plays and the addition of Lakai as a jumping option kept South Africa from competing successfully at the line-out. South Africa built momentum regardless though and All Black discipline frayed as Damian de Allende shrugged off Carter and fed Kurt-Lee Arendse to score in the 21st minute after a string of penalty offences from the away side.

New Zealand pulled back 12-5 ahead soon after with the agility and speed of second rows Sam Darry and Tupou Vaa'i buying territory and Savea on hand to scoop up and scoot over following Arendse's tackle on Carter out wide. It is impossible to keep the South Africa's coshing scrum power out of the game, however. Rennie had accused South Africa's front row of 'walking around' their opposite numbers in their second Test win in Cape Town last weekend.

Marx, Wilco Louw and Ox Nche duly took route one, ploughing through the All Blacks front row to force a penalty try and ensure parity at half-time.