After the 31-27 win in the first Test at Johannesburg's Ellis Park, coach Rassie Erasmus was pleased with how his less experienced players, fullback Aphelele Fassi and first five-eighths Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, came through.
"We wanted those guys to have experience at this level and see whether they can handle it. That's how you learn their characters. Fassi came through with flying colours and Sacha came through."
Erasmus said they needed to keep on building squads. The game could easily have been lost, but these players stood up against the toughest of opponents: the All Blacks.
"New Zealand dominated the whole game and our boys had a few opportunities, but for long spells we were out of the game and, luckily, at the end the boys pulled it through."
"At one stage they [New Zealand] were three tries up and looking at a bonus point win for them. At that stage, we just wanted to deny them a bonus point, and then the boys got into it.
"The Rugby Championship is very important, and we would love to win it, but we will try a few new players again next week.
Captain Siya Kolisi, who may miss the second Test due to a suspected fractured cheekbone, said the support the team received was memorable.
"It's why we're playing. We see how people who live in the streets go crazy when they see us. And then, coming to the stadium and seeing how South Africans come out for this.
"That's what keeps us going. We have a lot of things that we play for personally, but South Africans are what gives us the motivation. It was really beautiful today."
When the All Blacks extended their halftime lead early in the second half after an intercept by second five-eighths Jordie Barrett, Kolisi said they felt they still had enough time to get the win.
"We've been in far worse situations where we were behind by a lot when we've been able to be in front.
"After that try we came together and said, 'OK, cool, amazing intercept. Let's go to the next plan.' Nobody panics."
The game was among the most memorable he had played.