In a decisive display, South Africa clinched the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test series against New Zealand by winning the final game 43-28 in Baltimore, thus securing a 3-1 series victory. The Springboks demonstrated their prowess particularly in the second half, pulling away after a closely contested opening period. Damian de Allende led the scoring with tries in both halves, while teammates Morne van den Berg, Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Cameron Hanekom also contributed to the scoreboard.
The New Zealand All Blacks managed to respond with tries from Codie Taylor, Will Jordan, Ethan Blackadder, and Beauden Barrett, but ultimately struggled to match the Springboks’ intensity and skill, especially in key areas like the breakdown, set-piece, and aerial battles. Despite a spirited effort, New Zealand found themselves constantly on the back foot as South Africa capitalized on every opportunity to extend their lead.
The All Blacks did mount a brief resurgence, narrowing the gap to 29-21, which suggested a potential comeback. However, a brilliant individual effort from Kurt-Lee Arendse dashed their hopes. Arendse embarked on a stunning run from deep within his own territory, evading defenders to score and re-establish South Africa’s commanding position in the match.
An unforeseen interruption occurred when a communication failure among match officials halted the game for over eight minutes. Nevertheless, this disruption had no impact on the final result, as South Africa maintained control throughout. The Springboks’ victory not only underscored their dominance in the rivalry but also solidified their standing as reigning world champions.
As the series concludes, New Zealand will aim to take lessons from the positives observed during these encounters as they set their sights on preparing for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Meanwhile, South Africa, buoyed by this triumph, reinforces its status as a formidable force on the global rugby stage.