Springboks go 2-1 up in series after edging New Zealand

South Africa edged another ferocious and bruising clash against New Zealand to win the third test 29-24 on Saturday and go 2-1 up in the four-test series dubbed "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry".

Both teams scored four tries in front of 87,976 at Soccer City, with the Springboks coming back after trailing in the first half to add to their narrow success in last weekend’s second test in Cape Town.

Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel and Malcolm Marx scored tries for South Africa plus there was a penalty try awarded to the home side.

New Zealand captain Ardie Savea went over for two of his team's tries with record try scorer Will Jordan and Samisoni Taukei’aho adding the other two for the All Blacks, who won the first test in Johannesburg a fortnight ago.

The fourth and final test is on Saturday September 12 across in the United States in Baltimore.