South Africa vs. New Zealand: Score, Report from 2015 Rugby Championship Clash

New Zealand worked their magic once again on Saturday to seal a 27-20 comeback win against hosts South Africa and extend their winning start to the 2015 Rugby Championship.

The Springboks scored through Wille Le Roux and Jesse Kriel, but Richie McCaw's 73rd-minute try completed the All Blacks' revival after Ben Smith and Dane Coles had crossed over. The All Blacks' official Twitter account celebrated their win:

After falling to Australia in Brisbane last Saturday, the Springboks were under extreme pressure to ensure their Rugby Championship dream didn't die with a second defeat in as many matches.

Meyer's men had clearly learned from the mistakes committed at Suncorp Stadium and looked a lot more determined to start in the ascendancy in front of a home crowd.

And to the surprise of some, it was indeed the Ellis Park hosts who enjoyed more of the fluidity in possession early on, setting up Le Roux to score after just nine minutes thanks to a sumptuously smooth passing phase.

After scoring on debut against the Wallabies last week, outside centre Kriel was a key component in the try's creation and RTE's Ryle Nugent already sees the midfielder as a similar talent to Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll:

It might be premature for such comparisons with the Bulls prospect playing just his second Test, but in the absence of an injured Jean de Villiers, South Africans will assuredly be glad to see his partnership with Damian de Allende thriving so.

While Kriel and De Allende sit as some of the Springboks' newer weapons, James Broadhurst and Lima Sopoaga were making their Test debuts at Ellis Park and looked shaky for patches of their outings.

With Handre Pollard adding a penalty to his conversion, South Africa led 10-3 with seconds remaining in the half, looking toward the clock with anticipation as they hoped to gather their thoughts at the break.

Themba Hadebe/Associated Press

That chance wouldn't come, however, as a quick counter move saw Ben Smith ghost in for a hooter-beating try in the 40th minute, Sopoaga converting to level the score.

It was a familiar demonstration of just how undeniably stubborn New Zealand tend to be in those clutch minutes of any fixture. Matthew Savides of the Sunday Times took note of the All Blacks' undying habit:

Despite looking the more impressive side for much of the first period and making a heavy impression in the opponents' half, South Africa had failed to clinch the half-time lead that once looked quite assured.

Meyer's men came out firing in the second half, and it was Kriel once again who provided the spark, this time finishing a chance carved open by Pollard, impressing Out On The Full's Emma Thurston:

"

Kriel, what a line. Fair to say @Springboks have their @RugbyWorldCup Centres sorted! #RSAvNZL

— Emma Thurston (@EmmaThurston23) July 25, 2015"

As had been the case throughout the fixture, though, there was no time for respite, and New Zealand may have found some Springboks complacent when Dane Coles swiftly responded with a try just three minutes later.

Rugby writer Brendan Gallagher agreed the Hurricanes hooker showed a pair of heels not befitting any hooker, dotting down after showing a shocking bit of pace:

Pollard slotted a penalty attempt to send the hosts back in front by three points, but their 20-17 lead wasn't to be considered safe with 20 minutes remaining.

Against no other opponent is that the case more so than New Zealand, who found their stride late against Argentina last Friday to really pile on some damage.

And who else but captain McCaw would be the man to clinch a crucial win for his team on his 140th Test appearance?

Far from the attractive running seen in Saturday's other tries, McCaw capitalised from a lineout routine at close range, collecting to burrow down and give New Zealand their first lead of the fixture:

Sopoaga added the extras once more to steer the All Blacks ahead 24-20 before notching another penalty in the 80th minute, leaving South Africa to rue another missed Rugby Championship opportunity.

Losing a deserved lead for the second week in a row will undoubtedly damage the Springboks' morale, with many new faces in the side evidently requiring a lesson or two in how to see out a lead.

While Hansen is sure to be pleased with the result, the New Zealand tactician may rightly seek more of his men from this point, with the world champions leaving themselves open to punishment a tad too easily.

With another win in the books, however, the Rugby Championship title holders can enjoy a week's rest before they head to Sydney for their tournament closer while South Africa debate what went wrong prior to a meeting with Argentina on August 8.