Luke Jacobson pinpointed the fatal flaw in his All Blacks’ 29-24 defeat to the Springboks on Saturday night, the inability to bank points and build pressure when it mattered most in a pulsating third Test of the Greatest Rivalry Series in Soweto.

The stand-in skipper’s assessment cut to the heart of New Zealand’s frustrations at a rain-soaked stadium, where the visitors squandered golden opportunities to seize control of a Test match that swung on critical moments and defensive lapses.

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With the contest delicately poised at 12-12, Will Jordan’s try appeared to hand the All Blacks the platform to kick on. Instead, the Springboks responded with brutal efficiency, Jesse Kriel slicing through hapless centre Leroy Carter to restore parity almost immediately, a hammer blow that shifted momentum decisively towards the home side.

Carter’s costly night

For Carter, it was the second defensive breakdown of the evening, and one that Jacobson believes proved pivotal in the contest’s final outcome.

“Yeah, that’s tough. It’s a big part of scoring points is being able to bank them and be able to exit out of your half. Something we weren’t able to do well there, and the Springboks hit us back straight away,” Jacobson told reporters in the post match wash up.

“And, yeah, they were able to wrestle back a lot of momentum after that and probably put us under the pump a little bit. It was a really pivotal point of the Test match that came back to hurt us.”

The inability to absorb pressure after scoring proved a recurring theme for the All Blacks, who repeatedly allowed South Africa back into the arm-wrestle when clearance and game management were paramount.

Rennie laments fine margins

New Zealand coach Dave Rennie echoed his captain’s frustrations, pointing to another crucial moment that tilted the scales in the Springboks’ favour.

“It’s frustrating because there’s a lot of effort out there, and maybe we weren’t quite clinical enough first half, and then couldn’t wrestle momentum back when it mattered second half,” Rennie noted.

“So it’s key moments. A big moment today was Will Jordan kicking it dead. That’s just unlucky. It was a good option, but you come back for a scrum, which is a penalty to them, where they drive however many metres to score.”

Jordan’s misjudged clearance kick exemplified the fine margins that separate these old foes. What appeared a sound tactical decision instead gifted the Springboks prime attacking field position, which their formidable pack duly exploited to devastating effect.

Baltimore decider looms

The result leaves the series tantalisingly poised heading into the final Test in Baltimore, where both sides will look to claim bragging rights in rugby’s most enduring rivalry.

For the All Blacks, the challenge is clear, sharpen their game management, tighten their defensive patterns, and find a way to sustain pressure when opportunities arise. The Springboks, meanwhile, will draw confidence from their ability to weather the storm and capitalise when their opponents blinked.

Kick-off on Saturday is at 23:10, with everything to play for as the Greatest Rivalry Series reaches its climax on American soil.