All Blacks stun South Africa 33-16 at Ellis Park and snap Springboks' 12-test win streak

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — New Zealand stunned South Africa 33-16 with an epic second-half fightback at Ellis Park on Saturday and drew first blood in their historic four-test series.

After surviving a ferocious first half to trail only 13-12, the All Blacks' resolve hardened by new coach Dave Rennie and age-old ability to produce something from nothing turned a tense contest into a rout by five tries to South Africa's one.

An All Blacks scrum that was blown away in the first half eventually held firm in the second half and was the platform for their two last converted tries in the last quarter that gave them their biggest win in South Africa's cathedral of rugby.

“We were under the pump for a big chunk of that game,” Rennie said. “That (defensive) mindset was important, then we were clinical. The set-piece was massive in the end, the scrum came good and was a big part of our success.”

South Africa paid for failing to take its many chances when it had New Zealand on the ropes in the first half. To a crashing halt came South Africa's 12-test winning streak that began 11 months ago by handing New Zealand its heaviest ever defeat, 43-10, in Wellington.

The Springboks' scrum was better than advertised until props Ox Nché and Wilco Louw were substituted. An overconfidence in the set-piece made South Africa waive off numerous kickable penalties at altitude to try and bury the All Blacks with tries. But a backline that struggled to string any passes was easily corralled, and asked too much of the likes of forwards Jasper Wiese, Malcolm Marx and Paul de Villiers.

When New Zealand returned the pressure in the second half, South Africa gave away two yellow cards in the span of a minute and finished with 13 men. The tension in a packed Ellis Park deflated in the last 10 minutes as Springbok supporters realized a comeback wasn't possible.

“We shot ourselves in the foot,” Boks captain Pieter-Steph du Toit said. “Unfortunately, in a game like this, small errors count.”

The series moves to sea level in Cape Town next Saturday and New Zealand is the surprising front-runner in the first full series between the teams in 30 years.

The turning point was just before the hour. Cheslin Kolbe had converted another Boks scrum penalty into a 16-12 lead but, from the restart, New Zealand lock Fabian Holland charged down scrumhalf Grant Williams for a converted try and 19-16.

Two more scrum penalties pinned New Zealand in its 22 and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was held up over the tryline. The Boks had a five-meter attacking scrum but, for the first time in the match, they were penalized for wheeling against New Zealand's replacement front row of George Bower, Asafo Aumua and Fletcher Newell.

“The reserve front row that came on, I think we probably owe them a beer,” All Blacks scrumhalf Cam Roigard said. ”We got a lot of energy from that."

Fullback Damian McKenzie made a huge run from his half and Roigard barely missed the bouncing ball in goal. The attack cost South Africa an injury to Kolbe and exposed the limits of its 6-2 bench split with Williams going to the wing.

Given a five-meter attacking scrum, New Zealand was steadfast and flanker Luke Jacobson scored by blasting through du Toit. Ruben Love's third conversion made it 28-16 with a quarter to go.

English referee Matthew Carley, who had previously overseen South Africa win three of these matchups, frequently over-ruled TMO Mike Adamson. One big call was to yellow card Marco van Staden for cynical play on his tryline, superseding a high tackle by New Zealand captain Ardie Savea on Wiese.

Van Staden was joined in the sin-bin in the next minute by Cobus Reinach for a deliberate knock-on. New Zealand, on attack, ironically chose to scrum and Savea's high miss-out pass gave unmarked winger Will Jordan the last try and his second of the match.

Carley had a firm hand from the start.

New Zealand's Codie Taylor teed up the first penalty by Kolbe but South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth's high tackle put New Zealand on attack. Roigard and Jordan, playing their first match on tour, combined to score beside the right corner flag.

The points came quick. Hybrid André Esterhuizen, just arrived to replace Kurt-Lee Arendse, touched down and South Africa led 10-5.

Trampled by Esterhuizen, winger Josh Moorby in his first test against South Africa supported a touchline break by Tupou Vaa'i to score and New Zealand led for a second time at 12-10.

But the rest of the second quarter was South Africa's and New Zealand somehow conceded only a second Kolbe penalty and not 10 points, at least.

Jordie Barrett knocked the ball from the grasp of Malcolm Marx as he was driving over the line. The effort to stem the Springboks cost New Zealand forwards Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord, who suffered head injuries trying to tackle Wiese.

They reached halftime hanging on, barely.

See AP’s full rugby coverage here

New Zealand's captain Ardie Savea, right, is challenged by South Africa's Paul de Villiers during a Test rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

New Zealand's Will Jordan, front, scores a try as South Africa's Grant Williams tries to defend during a Test rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

New Zealand's players celebrate following a Test rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

New Zealand's Will Jordan, front, scores a try as South Africa's Grant Williams tries to defend during a Test rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

New Zealand's Josh Moorby, right, breaks away from South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit, to score a try during a Test rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

LEXINGTON, S.C. (AP) — An 11-month-old South Carolina boy who authorities say was buried alive in a dog crate by his father was found by rescuers after about 24 hours, crying and covered in dirt, his grandfather said about the dramatic rescue.

But soon after, little Koah Sharp stopped crying, John Comer told The Associated Press on Wednesday night as he recalled the events that played out the day before in the woods on his neighbor's property. The infant was put on the back of a truck and sat up, Comer said.

“I became ecstatic, my hands straight in the air. I’m looking in the sky, jumping up and down, praising God,” Comer said. “And at the same time I hit my knees and I’m just crying.”

Koah was released from a hospital Tuesday night and is expected to make a full recovery, Sheriff Jay Koon said.

The boy’s father, Michael Comer, 25, has been charged with attempted murder. John Comer said he'd opened his home to his son and grandson on Monday after Michael Comer said they needed a place to stay.

Michael Comer has been in custody since Monday, when Koah disappeared. Authorities haven’t revealed anything about Comer’s motive. He was sentenced to probation in October after pleading guilty to domestic violence.

Koah’s parents “have had some situations,” the sheriff said.

“Children,” he said, “sometimes get caught in the middle.”

Dozens of first responders scoured the countryside looking for the boy with reddish blond hair. After a full day of searching, authorities found freshly disturbed soil and heard cries from below ground, the sheriff said.

“As you can imagine, the race was on. Everyone was trying to get him out,” Koon said.

The boy likely survived because of cool temperatures and an air pocket created by a towel that was wrapped around the crate below ground, he said.

Koah was soon freed and “clinging to life,” the sheriff told reporters.

Comer was arrested while hiding in a building in Batesburg-Leesville. It wasn’t immediately known if he has a lawyer who could respond to the charges. A court hearing was planned for Thursday.

“We’re better now that we know that Koah is safe,” his great-aunt, Amber Hammond, told The Associated Press. She was watching as he was freed from the crate.

Authorities said Koah had been in the care of Michael Comer’s mother. She had to run an errand and left the boy in Comer’s care while another caregiver was on the way.

“By the time the caregiver got there, Michael was gone, and Koah was gone with him,” the sheriff said.

Surveillance video from several businesses in the area showed Comer without the baby on Monday afternoon, Koon said.

John Comer said he feels like he was taken advantage of by his son when he asked for a place to stay. But, he said, he is also thankful that he agreed because if they had gone somewhere else they may not have found the boy in time.

“It just seems like he already had this planned out, and he knew what he was doing,” Comer said. “And he took the opportunity to do what he did. And if it hadn’t have been here, I don’t think anybody would have known where he would have went, and this would be a completely different story.”

Hammond said her nephew had talked about taking the baby to New York because “he didn’t want to be in the same state as the mom.” When Koah vanished, she and others assumed that Comer had given the boy to someone.

“We had no idea something like this would happen at all,” Hammond said.

Comer was sentenced to probation in October after pleading guilty to domestic violence and aggravated breach-of-peace charges related to an arrest in July, Lexington County online court records show. Prosecutors dropped a gun charge as part of the plea deal. He also got credit for spending more than two months in jail.

At nearly a year old, Koah has been trying to stand on his own, said Hammond, who cared for him last weekend. And he loves watching Mickey Mouse cartoons.

John Comer said he'd never heard his grandson cry before he was found underground.

“He's always been happy,” he said. “The kid's always got a smile on his face.”

Breed reported from Wake Forest, North Carolina, and McCormack reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press writers Ed White in Detroit, Michael R. Sisak in New York and Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed.

John Comer, the grandfather of 11-month-old Koah Sharp, shows the area where his grandson was found buried alive near his home in Leesville, S.C., Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

Amber Hammond shows a video of her great-nephew, 11-month-old Koah Sharp, on the porch at her home in West Columbia, S.C., on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

Amber Hammond, the great aunt of 11-month-old Koah Sharp, poses on the porch at her her home in West Columbia, S.C., on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. Her nephew is accused of burying his son, 11-month-old Koah Sharp, alive. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

Amber Hammond shows a photo of her great-nephew, 11-month-old Koah Sharp, and her nephew, Michael Comer, at her home in West Columbia, S.C., on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

This photo provided by the Lexington County Sheriff's office in Lexington, S.C. shows Michael Comer on Nov. 10, 2026. (Lexington County Sheriff's Office via AP)