Wellington’s Cake Tin was the venue for the Springboks’ most memorable Test of 2025, where Rassie Erasmus’ men put the All Blacks to the sword.
On 13 September, the world champions claimed a remarkable 43-10 victory, handing New Zealand their heaviest-ever defeat and delivering a thunderous statement in the Castle Rugby Championship.
What made the win even more striking was how it unfolded.
After a tense opening half, the Boks detonated after the break. The All Blacks were shut out completely in the second half as South Africa piled on 36 unanswered points, turning a competitive contest into a one-sided demolition.
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Five second-half tries followed, with winger Cheslin Kolbe carving open the defence twice as the Boks ran riot.
Playing at inside centre, Willemse delivered his best performance in the green and gold. He scored a try, got an assist, made linebreaks and contributed defensively.
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The performance stood in stark contrast to the previous week’s defeat in Auckland.
In Wellington, the Springboks were ruthless. They dominated the aerial contest, imposed themselves physically, and punished every All Black error with clinical precision.
Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
