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          The Rugby Championship 2025
          New ZealandNew ZealandNZL
          10
          13/09FT
          43
          South AfricaSouth AfricaSOU
          • Leroy Carter(18')
          • Damian McKenzie(19')
          • Damian McKenzie(29')
          • Cheslin Kolbe(25', 43')
          • Damian Willemse(61')
          • Kwagga Smith(69')
          • RG Snyman(73')
          • Andre Esterhuizen(79')
          • Manie Libbok(26', 44', 62', 74', 80')
          • Manie Libbok(47')
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          Springboks inflict All Blacks' record defeat

          RG Snyman celebrates after scoring a try for the Springboks. Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
          • PA
          Multiple Authors
          Sep 13, 2025, 08:37 PM
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          New Zealand suffered their heaviest ever defeat as they were beaten 43-10 by South Africa in Wellington.

          The All Blacks took a slender 10-7 lead at half-time after debutant Leroy Carter went over just 17 minutes in, with Damian McKenzie converting and scoring a penalty before Cheslin Kolbe crossed for the Springboks.

          Kolbe scored again two minutes into the second half to set the tone for a dominant South Africa performance, with Damian Willemse, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman and Andre Esterhuizen adding further tries. Manie Libbok finished with four conversions and a penalty.

          The ruthless second-half display saw 36 points scored in total to ensure South Africa retained the Freedom Cup with a record-breaking win.

          New Zealand's previous heaviest defeat also came against the Springboks, 35-7 at Twickenham in a warm-up fixture for the 2023 World Cup, with Smith also among the try-scorers on that occasion.

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          Standings

          Rugby Championship
          RTeamGPPDP
          1SOU6+5719
          2NZL6+819
          3AUS6-1311
          4ARG6-5210
          Full Table

          The Rugby Championship 2025 News

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