South Africa edged New Zealand 31-29 in a test featuring four lead changes in the last 10 minutes, with Elton Jantjies kicking the winning penalty.
It was not until fullback Jordie Barrett kicked his fourth penalty with two minutes left on the clock that the All Blacks took the lead for the final time.
For the first time in 127 years, a black man captained the South African national team, the Springboks, to a Rugby World Cup victory. But his story should not fool us into thinking South Africa has overcome its racist past.
Flyhalf Pollard and hooker Marx were surprise omissions from coach Rassie Erasmus’s starting side last week against Australia, which the Wallabies won 23-18 in Brisbane.
The Springboks have already gone some way to banishing the memories of their barren years since the last World Cup under coach Allister Coetzee.
Les Bleus, who won the four previous clashes against the South Africans at the ground, fell behind after six minutes and never looked likely to snap a losing streak on this tour.
They faced an under-strength French side, but South Africa's national rugby team, the Springboks, made sure they took their opportunities against them in the first of three tests in Pretoria.
The All Blacks will for the first time in 2019 encounter the Springboks in the group stages of Rugby's premier tournament while England finds itself up against France and Argentina.
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