The Springboks and All Blacks are level twelve-twelve at halftime at FNB Stadium after an extremely physical and competitive first forty minutes in which there was scarcely anything between the two teams.
Three tries were scored in the first half, with Kurt-Lee Arendse crossing for South Africa before the Springboks were later awarded a penalty try after an extremely dominant scrum.
The All Blacks meanwhile crossed twice through Ardie Savea and took the lead twice as a result.
Savea had to leave the field before halftime after suffering a shoulder injury. The severity of the injury was not immediately clear, but his absence could play a major role in the second half.
All Blacks enjoy more possession
Although the score is level, the All Blacks had the majority of the ball for large parts of the first half.
The Springboks had to defend considerably more and had to make more than double the tackles of their opponents.
New Zealand looked dangerous with ball in hand and could regularly put the Springboks under pressure, but the Boks managed to stay within striking distance.
It will however be a concern for South Africa that they had to use so much energy in defence.
Bok scrum strikes back hard
The major turning point came just before halftime when the Springboks began to enforce their traditional strength at the scrum.
A massive Bok scrum placed the All Blacks under enormous pressure and South Africa were eventually rewarded with a penalty try.
This brought the score to twelve-twelve and ensured that the Springboks could enter the changeroom with new momentum.
The Springboks would probably have hoped to be ahead at halftime, especially in front of a home crowd at FNB Stadium, but they will be satisfied that despite New Zealand's possession they remain level.
Springboks and All Blacks: everything on the line after halftime
The second half will now be decisive.
The Boks' performances after halftime this year have not always been their strongest part of matches, and they will need to deliver a more complete forty minutes this time if they want to overcome the All Blacks.
New Zealand meanwhile have shown that they remain dangerous when they can move the ball quickly and place the Springbok defence under continuous pressure.
With the score at twelve-twelve the match is still wide open.
The Boks will hope that their scrum dominance and the energy of the FNB Stadium crowd can give them the advantage in the second half.
Everything is still on the line between rugby's two great arch-rivals.
Also read: Springboks versus All Blacks: all eyes on FNB Stadium today
Photo: SA Rugby
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
