The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has congratulated the Springboks on their 18-12 triumph against the All Blacks.

‘Congratulations Bokke! Mzansi is very proud!’ the department said in social media post on X.

Saturday’s win at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town is a second consecutive win for the Springboks against New Zealand in the 2024 Castle Lager Rugby Championship.

‘The Boks outscored New Zealand by two tries to zero, clear proof of their eventual dominance, but they will be the first to admit that it was not the way they planned to execute the game plan. Like at Emirates Airline Park last weekend, the All Blacks led at the break, this time 9-3, but they could not maintain that, while a second yellow card by the visitors late in the game cost them dearly,’ SA Rugby said in a match report.

The win saw the Boks clinch the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009.

‘It was also the Boks’ fourth win in a row over the Kiwis, the first time they achieved this in the professional era, and as a re
sult, they won back the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009.’

Meanwhile, the Springbok Women were also in action on Saturday, winning their match against the Barbarians Women’s side in Cape Town.

The Springbok Women claimed a 59-17 victory over their opponents.

In Friday’s match against Uganda, the men’s national football side Bafana Bafana drew 2-2 with their counterparts in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at Orlando Stadium.

‘Uganda had thought that they were on the cusp of a famous victory in South Africa, but debutant Thalente Mbatha had other ideas and snatched the precious equaliser deep in the referee’s optional time to ensure a sharing of the spoils,’ said the South African Football Association (SAFA) in a statement.

In a post of X, DSAC Minister, Gayton McKenzie commended the team for their fighting spirit.

‘Thanks for the great fight back Bafana Bafana ! You didn’t leave us heartbroken,’ said the Minister adding that the team’s performance ‘made us jump for joy’.

Sourc
e: South African Government News Agency