South Africa beats New Zealand 43-10, inflicting the All Blacks' heaviest test loss

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — South Africa beat New Zealand 43-10 on Saturday, inflicting the All Blacks' heaviest-ever test loss, retaining the Freedom Cup and re-energizing its Rugby Championship campaign.

Cheslin Kolbe scored a try in each half and Damian Willemse, Kwagga Smith, R.G. Snyman and Andre Esterhuizen also touched down at the end of ambitious and clinical attacks as South Africa ran in six tries to one.

New Zealand won the first test 24-17 last weekend but the Springboks were transformed Saturday. They were more physical in defense and more decisive in attack, reviving their chances in the Rugby Championship.

Australia leads the tournament with 11 points but South Africa and New Zealand are both one point back.

New Zealand scored first through winger Leroy Carter on debut and led 10-7 at halftime. But from there, the Springboks scored five tries and 36 unanswered points.

“We had a very positive mindset. After reviewing last week’s game we knew exactly where we went wrong at Eden Park,” said Willemse, who was a key part of the Springboks’ attack. “Tonight we were much more clinical.”

Head coach Rassie Erasmus made five backline changes after the first test and the Springboks lost two backs to injury in the first half. Despite that, combinations were sharper and their attack fed on field position provided by superb set pieces.

The Springboks depended on a kicking game last weekend, but this weekend the All Blacks were forced to kick repeatedly as they found themselves trapped in their own half and deprived of possession. The 46 tackles missed by New Zealand contributed to South Africa's dominance with ball in hand.

“They put great pressure on us,” All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said. “I want to congratulate South Africa and we've got a lot to work on obviously.”

Both teams set out to play at a high tempo and to work the ball to the outside channels. The Springboks’ combinations were sharp and the backline looked constantly dangerous.

The All Blacks owed their win last week to their fast start: they scored two tries in the first 17 minutes for a 14-0 lead. This week, the Springboks started strongest, repeatedly testing the All Blacks’ defense. The All Blacks faded under the constant need to make tackles.

There was a heavy injury toll in the first half. The Springboks lost lock Lood de Jager, replaced by Snyman, flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, replaced by Manie Libbock, and fullback Aphelele Fassi, replaced by Esterhuizen. New Zealand lost scrumhalf Noah Hotham, replaced by Finlay Christie.

The All Blacks tried to move the ball wide but were hampered by South Africa’s rush defense which they cracked only once. In the 18th minute, they produced a sweeping movement that ranged between both touchlines and included loose forwards in the wide channels. Carter took the last pass to score on debut.

Kolbe intercepted Billy Proctor’s pass in the 23rd minute and went almost 80 meters for the Springboks’ only try of the first half.

At the start of the second half, the All Blacks' scrum gave way. The Springboks won a penalty and Siya Kolisi sliced through the New Zealand defense, setting up Kolbe’s second try. Libbock converted and added a penalty for a 17-10 lead.

Then the floodgates opened. A lineout turnover in the 61st gave the Springboks possession five meters from the All Blacks line. After probing with the forwards, the backs attacked and Libbock passed to Willemse who scored.

Smith’s try was the best one of the match. Winger Ethan Hooker ignited a counter-attack from deep inside South Africa’s half. With the All Blacks retreating, Libbock cross-kicked to Pieter-Steph du Toit whose pass found Smith at pace.

Late tries to Esterhuizen and Snyman completed a record victory.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi waves to supporters after defeating the All Blacks in their Rugby Championship test match in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kerry Marshall)

Ox Nche of South Africa runs at the defence during their Rugby Championship test match against the All Blacks in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Masanori Udagawa)

Cheslin Kolbe of South Africa scores a try during their Rugby Championship test match against the All Blacks in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Marty Melville)

South Africa RG Snyman scores a try their Rugby Championship test match against New Zealand in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Marty Melville)

All Blacks Jordie Barrett, left, jumps for the ball with South Africa's Ethan Hooker during their Rugby Championship test match in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Marty Melville)

Cheslin Kolbe of South Africa dives over to score a try during their Rugby Championship test match against the All Blacks in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Masanori Udagawa)

All Blacks Beauden Barrett, right, is tackled by South Africa's Ethan Hooker during their Rugby Championship test match in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Marty Melville)

South Africa Damian Williamse celebrates after scoring a try during their Rugby Championship test match against New Zealand in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Marty Melville)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Francisco Alvarez homered twice and rookie Nolan McLean retired his first 15 batters as the New York Mets snapped a three-game skid Friday night with a 10-3 rout of the San Francisco Giants.

Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien each had three of New York's season-high 15 hits after the Mets totaled only three runs in their previous three games. Mark Vientos reached base safely four times, but slugger Juan Soto exited early with right calf tightness.

Soto will have imaging done Saturday, manager Carlos Mendoza said.

Semien launched his first homer for the Mets and drove in three runs. Bichette opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first.

McLean (1-0) took a perfect game into the sixth before walking Harrison Bader and Patrick Bailey to begin the inning. Jerar Encarnacion flied out to right field, but Willy Adames doubled to right-center to bring home Bader and end McLean’s night.

The right-hander was charged with two runs (one earned). He struck out four. Four relievers combined to finish a five-hitter.

Run-scoring singles by Bichette and Semien off Tyler Mahle (0-2) gave the Mets a 2-0 lead in the first.

Semien drilled a two-run homer to center off Mahle in the fourth. One out later, Alvarez also took Mahle deep to center.

Alvarez led off the Mets’ three-run seventh with a homer to left off JT Brubaker, giving the catcher three home runs this season and six career multihomer games.

Soto singled in the first and appeared to slow up while running from first to third on Bichette’s RBI single. He was forced out at home when Brett Baty grounded into a 1-2-3 double play, and Tyrone Taylor replaced Soto in left field for the bottom of the inning.

The 27-year-old Soto has hit safely in all eight games this season. He's in the second season of a record $765 million, 15-year contract with the Mets. He had 43 homers and 105 RBIs last season.

Mets RHP Clay Holmes (1-0) faces Giants RHP Landen Roupp on Saturday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez (4) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) and pitcher Luis García (40) celebrate after the team's victory over the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

New York Mets' Marcus Semien, center, celebrates with Carson Benge, left, after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean throws to a San Francisco Giants batter during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez (4) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)