South Africa Inflicts Worst-Ever Rugby Test Defeat on New Zealand

South Africa delivered a historic 43-10 defeat to New Zealand in Wellington, marking the All Blacks' worst-ever Test loss in rugby history. The Springboks scored six tries and dominated the second half with 36 unanswered points, overturning New Zealand's 10-7 halftime lead. This defeat broke South Africa's own previous record margin over New Zealand, a 35-7 victory in 2023, and showcased a dominant forward pack and strong bench contributions despite injuries. New Zealand captain Scott Barrett and coach Scott Robertson acknowledged the team's failure to adjust and emphasized the need for responsibility and improvement ahead of upcoming matches. The Rugby Championship standings tightened as all four Southern Hemisphere teams held two wins and two losses after four rounds. South Africa's performance was widely praised for resilience and tactical execution, while New Zealand faced significant pressure to respond in subsequent contests.