South Africa Defeats New Zealand 18-12 in Rugby Championship

South Africa defeated New Zealand 18-12 in a tightly contested Rugby Championship match in Cape Town, marking their fourth consecutive victory over the All Blacks for the first time in 75 years. The Springboks, who trailed 9-3 at halftime, saw tries from captain Siya Kolisi and Malcolm Marx in the second half, cementing their position at the top of the championship standings with 18 points. New Zealand's Damian McKenzie, who scored all of his team's points, missed crucial penalty opportunities that could have shifted the game's outcome. This win also allowed South Africa to reclaim the Freedom Cup, a trophy they hadn't held since 2009. The Springboks are now on the brink of clinching the Rugby Championship title, needing only to avoid defeat against Argentina in their upcoming match. Both teams struggled with penalties throughout the game, but South Africa's depth and late-game performance proved decisive.