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)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison Friday in the first verdict from eight criminal trials over the martial law debacle that forced him out of office and other allegations.

Yoon was impeached, arrested and dismissed as president after his short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024 triggered huge public protests calling for his ouster.

The most significant criminal charge against him alleges that his martial law enforcement amounted to a rebellion, and the independent counsel has requested the death sentence in the case that is to be decided in a ruling next month.

In Friday's case, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon for defying attempts to detain him, fabricating the martial law proclamation and sidestepping a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting.

Yoon has maintained he didn’t intend to place the country under military rule for an extended period, saying his decree was only meant to inform the people about the danger of the liberal-controlled parliament obstructing his agenda. But investigators have viewed Yoon’s decree as an attempt to bolster and prolong his rule, charging him with rebellion, abuse of power and other criminal offenses.

Judge Baek Dae-hyun said in the televised ruling that imposing “a grave punishment” was necessary because Yoon hasn’t shown remorse and has only repeated “hard-to-comprehend excuses.” The judge also restoring legal systems damaged by Yoon’s action was necessary.

Yoon, who can appeal the ruling, hasn’t immediately publicly responded to the ruling. But when the independent counsel demanded a 10-year prison term in the case, Yoon’s defense team accused them of being politically driven and lacking legal grounds to demand such “an excessive” sentence.

Prison sentences in the multiple, smaller trials Yoon faces would matter if he is spared the death penalty or life imprisonment at the rebellion trial.

Park SungBae, a lawyer who specializes in criminal law, said there is little chance the court would decide Yoon should face the death penalty in the rebellion case. He said the court will likely issue a life sentence or a sentence of 30 years or more in prison.

South Korea has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1997 and courts rarely hand down death sentences. Park said the court would take into account that Yoon’s decree didn’t cause casualties and didn’t last long, although Yoon hasn’t shown genuine remorse for his action.

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shouts slogans outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waits for a bus carrying former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs as police officers stand guard outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A picture of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is placed on a board as supporters gather outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)