Tavatavanawai's 137-metre masterclass powers All Blacks comeback at Ellis Park

Timoci Tavatavanawai delivered one of the standout individual performances of the All Blacks’ Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, running for 137 metres on 13 carries as New Zealand completed a comeback victory over the Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The powerful midfielder led the game with eight tackle busts, three linebreaks and four offloads, adding two turnovers steals in a display that carried extra significance given he had been dropped in July and was reported to have been challenged over his fitness levels ahead of his return to the squad.

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie was measured but clearly impressed when speaking to reporters after the final whistle. “He ended up coming off because of cramps; we were pretty keen for him to go 80 if he could,” Rennie said. “Whenever he’s close to the ball, he’s really strong; he’s good post-tackle, and he hits hard, and he carried very well tonight. I thought he went well. He maybe ran out of puff late in the piece, but at altitude, there were quite a few people running through treacle tonight.”

Tavatavanawai was withdrawn in the 64th minute, replaced by Josh Jacomb alongside Anton Lienert-Brown, as the coaching staff managed minutes with Saturday’s Test against the Springboks in Cape Town firmly in mind.

The substitution patterns throughout the match were closely scrutinised for clues about the Cape Town line-up. Prop Xavier Numia was introduced reluctantly at the 70-minute mark after Ethan de Groot was ruled out, with the coaches keen to preserve him ahead of the Test. Captain Patrick Tuipulotu, who started alongside Sam Darry before being replaced by Jamie Hannah, left the field at the 48-minute mark — an early exit that suggests he is in line to feature against the Springboks following Josh Lord’s injury.

Tuipulotu reflected on a Lions side that tested the All Blacks more than the scoreline might suggest. “They really tested us at the set-piece and especially around the breakdown,” he said. “Not good things for heading into a Test match, but the guys on the field really enjoyed it. We seemed a bit calm, even though there was some chaos and they were up on the scoreboard.”

The skipper was unequivocal about his own readiness for Saturday. “Into the Test match, I’m ready to go. It was just 40 minutes, but altitude’s a different thing, so hopefully I’ll feel better,” he said.

The Lions, playing in front of a vocal Johannesburg crowd, outperformed expectations and pushed the All Blacks deep into the contest before the visitors’ class told in the closing stages.