The Springboks are just one victory away from securing a historic 3-1 series triumph over the All Blacks when the two rugby giants meet in Baltimore on Saturday night.
The four-Test battle between South Africa and New Zealand reaches its climax in the United States, with everything riding on the final encounter.
Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks enter the Baltimore showdown with the series advantage after two successive victories, while the All Blacks need to respond with a win if they are to force the series into a 2-2 draw.
The match kicks off at 23:00 South African time.
Springboks Stick With Winning Formula
Erasmus has opted for continuity, naming the same starting XV for the third consecutive week as South Africa looks to finish the series on a high.
Damian Willemse starts at fullback, with Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende and Ethan Hooker making up the rest of the backline.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu continues at flyhalf, with Morne van den Berg at scrumhalf.
Up front, Jasper Wiese starts at No 8 alongside Pieter-Steph du Toit and captain Siya Kolisi. Eben Etzebeth and Ruan Nortje form the lock pairing, while Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche complete the front row.
Springboks Starting XV
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok.
All Blacks Make Changes for Series Finale
New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie has made several changes to his side.
The All Blacks have been forced into some alterations because of injuries, while Rennie has also looked to refresh his team following consecutive defeats.
Damian McKenzie starts at fullback, with Will Jordan, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett and Josh Moorby forming the outside backs.
Richie Mo’unga gets the No 10 jersey, while Cam Roigard starts at scrumhalf.
Codie Taylor captains the side from hooker.
New Zealand Starting XV
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Josh Lord, Wallace Sititi, Kyle Preston, Rieko Ioane and Beauden Barrett.
Etzebeth Set for Another Record
One of the biggest individual milestones belongs to Eben Etzebeth.
The veteran lock is set to win his 146th Springbok cap, extending his record as South Africa’s most-capped player.
Meanwhile, Kolisi, Du Toit and Wiese will make history as the loose trio with the most Test starts for the Springboks. Their Baltimore appearance will take their combined starts to 19, moving them beyond the previous mark of 17 held by Francois Louw, Willem Alberts and Duane Vermeulen.
Wiese is also closing in on another milestone and needs just one more Test appearance after this match to reach 50 caps.
Springboks Hold Recent Edge Over All Blacks
South Africa’s overall record against New Zealand remains challenging.
Across 113 Tests, the Springboks have recorded 45 victories, 64 defeats and four draws.
However, recent history paints a much more encouraging picture for South Africa.
The Springboks have won seven of their last nine meetings against the All Blacks dating back to August 2023, underlining how dramatically the balance of power has shifted in recent years.
A Historic Night in Baltimore
Saturday’s encounter will be another landmark occasion for the Springboks.
It will be the first-ever Springbok Test played in Baltimore, adding another chapter to South Africa’s growing rugby footprint in the United States.
The Springboks have played only three previous Tests in the USA. They defeated the United States 38-7 in 1981 and 43-10 in 2001, while Wales edged South Africa 22-20 in Washington DC in 2018 in what was Erasmus’ first Test as Springbok head coach.
The United States will also host the 2031 Rugby World Cup, making high-profile international fixtures such as this increasingly significant for the sport’s growth in the country.
Experience on Both Sides
South Africa will take an enormous amount of experience into the decisive Test.
The starting XV contains 927 combined Test caps, with 327 caps among the backs and 600 among the forwards.
There are another 277 caps available among the replacements.
The average experience is also striking: the Springbok backline averages 47 caps per player, while the forwards average 75. The replacements average 35 caps.
With the series on the line, that experience could prove crucial when the pressure reaches its peak.
Springboks vs All Blacks: Live Scoring
The Baltimore Test promises another intense chapter in one of international rugby’s greatest rivalries.
A Springbok victory would seal a 3-1 series win, while an All Blacks triumph would level the series at 2-2.
Kick-off: 23:00 SA time
Venue: Baltimore, USA
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley and Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
The question is simple: Can the Springboks finish the series with another statement victory over their biggest rivals, or will the All Blacks force a dramatic 2-2 finish?
