South Africa clinched a 3-1 series victory over New Zealand after a 43-28 win in Baltimore on Saturday, before a North American rugby record crowd of 68,173 at M&T Bank Stadium, cementing their status as Rugby World Cup favourites.
Historic Baltimore Clash Seals Series for the Springboks
The inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series concluded on North American soil with a high-intensity showcase. A crowd of 68,173 watched South Africa produce a blistering performance of power and precision at M&T Bank Stadium. Coach Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks wrapped up the four-game series with three wins to one.
The afternoon began with intense pre-game pageantry.
South Africa opened the scoring when fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotted a penalty after a high tackle just three minutes in. New Zealand responded as Taylor ran an intelligent angle to score the match’s first try, converted by Damian McKenzie. However, South Africa quickly reclaimed momentum through their forwards. Centre Damian de Allende grounded the ball after a powerful maul, setting the tone for a dominant physical display.
Power Play and Tactical Shifts Define the Series
The series narrative shifted after the opening Test in Johannesburg. New Zealand secured a 33-16 victory in the first Test, exposing vulnerabilities and briefly costing the Springboks their world number-one ranking. In response, Erasmus’ side narrowed their focus, leveraging their set piece and unmatched power to win subsequent matches in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and eventually Baltimore.
In Baltimore, the Springboks blended their traditional forward dominance with an expansive running game. Scrum-half Morné van den Berg scored after an eight-minute delay caused by a communications outage for match officials. After halftime, Erasmus utilized his bench strength. Malcolm Marx and Pieter-Steph du Toit scored quick-fire tries, followed later by scores from Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cameron Hanekom. Beauden Barrett added a late consolation try for New Zealand before the final hooter.
“We know we sometimes annoy other people around the world for the way we go about things, or the angle we take on issues, but we really care the most about South African people.”
Rassie Erasmus, South Africa coach
That us-versus-the-world ethos remains a cornerstone of Erasmus’ management style.
World Cup Implications and Global Growth
The high-stakes series offered a clear preview of next year’s tournament. South Africa are currently the favorites to win next year’s World Cup in Australia, bringing a level of pressure unfamiliar to a squad that historically prefers flying under the radar.
“We hate being the favourite, we almost have to have our backs against the wall. We prefer not to have the eyes on us and move under the radar. I think that is the best way for any team.”
Brits
While New Zealand will head home to address issues in their scrum, lineout, and aerial game ahead of a potential World Cup quarter-final meeting, Brits argues that France and South Africa stand apart in their ability to grind with forwards or play an expansive game.
World Rugby views the Baltimore showcase as a vital stepping stone. With the 2031 men’s World Cup and 2033 women’s tournament scheduled for the United States, packed stadia like M&T Bank Stadium demonstrate the sport’s growing commercial and fan appeal in North America.
“It was a special week to see you guys come out and support us in numbers. We are so grateful. To the New Zealand supporters, too — thank you for coming to our beautiful country and embracing our culture.”
Siya Kolisi, South Africa captain
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