Springboks Beat All Blacks In Baltimore To Win Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series
The Springboks defeated their fierce rivals, the All Blacks, 43–28 in the final Test match at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore to secure a 3–1 series victory in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
It was a stunning comeback for the Boks, who sent shockwaves through South Africa after losing the series opener before bouncing back to win three consecutive Tests. Coach Rassie Erasmus set the tone early with confident squad selections, paving the way for the world’s top two sides to deliver an unforgettable rugby spectacle. In a touching display of mutual respect, both teams gathered in prayer on the field after the final whistle in Baltimore.
The Springboks entered the final match needing only a draw or a win to seal the historic series. Organised by World Rugby to build momentum ahead of the 2031 World Cup in the United States, the showcase drew 68,173 fans to the home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.
South African golfer Louis Oosthuizen served as the nation’s flag bearer, while traditional Impi performers brought authentic South African pre-match festivities to American soil. During a moving rendition of the South African national anthem by Jesse Clegg—son of the late Johnny Clegg—flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was seen in tears, visibly moved by the significance of the moment.
The Springboks drew first blood in the fourth minute via a penalty from Feinberg-Mngomezulu after Tupou Vaa’i was penalised for a high tackle. However, the All Blacks struck back through relentless attacking pressure, with Codie Taylor crossing for the game’s opening try to give New Zealand a 7–3 lead.
South Africa responded by pinning the All Blacks in their own territory, and Damian de Allende dived over in the 15th minute to reclaim the lead. Feinberg-Mngomezulu added the conversion to make it 10–7. Although he missed a subsequent penalty following a scrum infraction, the Boks kept up the pressure. After a brief stoppage for referee communication issues, Morné van den Berg broke away from a powerful maul in the 22nd minute to score, extending South Africa’s lead to 17–7.
While the Springboks ran with intent, the All Blacks looked rattled. South Africa continued to pound away, though Vaa’i managed a crucial breakdown turnover for New Zealand. Despite dominating the aerial battle, the Boks were repeatedly pegged back by knock-ons and failed to fully capitalise on their early dominance.
New Zealand showed their threat before the break when Will Jordan sliced through the South African defense for their second try, closing the gap to 17–12 at halftime. The missed opportunities to pull away were a clear concern for Rassie Erasmus, especially against an All Black side famous for its lethal counter-attacking play.
The Springboks maintained their intensity in the second half. Kurt-Lee Arendse almost scored after a brilliant line-break, only to be denied by a superb tackle from Richie Mo’unga. Opting for a lineout after winning another scrum penalty, South Africa drove over through Malcolm Marx for his 29th career Test try. Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed the conversion, leaving the score at 22–14.
De Allende, who had a standout match, then set up the fourth try by sending Pieter-Steph du Toit through a gap in the defense to push the lead to 29–14. Shortly after, Du Toit knocked on inside the All Blacks’ 22-metre line, giving New Zealand another lifeline. The All Blacks capitalised in the 63rd minute when Ethan Blackadder dived over following a precise kick into the corner by Mo’unga, cutting the deficit to 29–21.
Just as New Zealand threatened to mount a full comeback, an unforced handling error turned the tide. Arendse pounced on the loose ball and raced away in the 72nd minute for a breathtaking try, giving the Boks crucial breathing room. Manie Libbok added the conversion to make it 36–21.
South Africa put the game out of reach when Cameron Hanekom intercepted a pass to score their sixth try, with Libbok converting to extend the lead to 43–21. A late consolation try by Beauden Barrett did little to spoil the party as the Springboks wrapped up a commanding 43–28 victory.
By winning Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, the Springboks add another trophy to a stellar cabinet in recent years that already includes back-to-back Rugby World Cups, Rugby Championship titles, and a British & Irish Lions series victory.
