In a commanding display, South Africa secured a 43-28 victory over New Zealand in Baltimore, clinching the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test series with a 3-1 win. The Springboks showcased their strength with a dominant second-half performance, pulling away after a closely contested start. Key contributions came from Damian de Allende, who scored in both halves, along with tries from Morne van den Berg, Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Cameron Hanekom.
New Zealand, while showing some resistance, struggled to match the intensity and skill of the Springboks. Codie Taylor, Will Jordan, Ethan Blackadder, and Beauden Barrett managed to put points on the board for the All Blacks. However, South Africa’s superiority in the breakdown, set-piece, and aerial contests proved decisive in maintaining their lead.
The All Blacks briefly sparked hopes of a comeback by narrowing the gap to 29-21. Yet, a spectacular solo effort from Arendse, who sprinted from deep within his own half, weaving past defenders to score, reasserted South Africa’s control over the match. This pivotal moment effectively dashed New Zealand’s chances of overturning the deficit.
During the match, play was halted for more than eight minutes due to a communication issue with the match officials. Despite this interruption, the outcome remained unchanged as South Africa continued to dominate proceedings.
This victory not only reinforces South Africa’s standing as world champions but also provides a platform for New Zealand to evaluate their performance and build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The series highlighted areas of strength for both teams, though the Springboks’ triumph underscores their current supremacy in the rivalry.