Springboks Beat All Blacks 43-28 in Baltimore to Seal Series 3-1
South Africa have completed a 3-1 series win over New Zealand, beating the All Blacks 43-28 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore in front of the largest crowd ever to watch a rugby union match in the United States.
The Springboks scored six tries to four, winning the final three Tests after losing the opener at Ellis Park.
Two Tries in Three Minutes
The sides went in at half-time with South Africa holding a 17-14 lead, a scoreline close to the pattern of the entire series.
The match turned early in the second half. South Africa scored twice inside three minutes, the first after 48 minutes when a scrum penalty led to a kick to the corner and Malcolm Marx finished off the resulting lineout maul. From the restart, another scrum penalty allowed Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to run into space inside the New Zealand 22, and the forwards drove Pieter-Steph du Toit over to open a 15-point lead.
Kurt-Lee Arendse then produced the individual moment of the match, seizing on a loose ball inside his own half and running more than 50 metres to score. Scrum-half Morne van den Berg, who also crossed and kicked well, was named man of the match.
New Zealand kept coming, with Codie Taylor and Ethan Blackadder both scoring, and briefly cut the gap to 29-21. They created less than in any of the previous three Tests.
South Africa were again dominant at scrum, lineout and breakdown, where they repeatedly won turnovers. The All Blacks struggled with handling in humid conditions.
A Rivalry Renewed
The result closes a seven-week series that took both squads more than 40,000 kilometres and produced 232 points. New Zealand toured South Africa in August for their first full-scale tour there in 30 years, reviving a format that once defined the international game, before both sides crossed the Atlantic for the finale.
New Zealand won the opener 33-16 at Ellis Park. South Africa responded with a 33-26 win in Cape Town and a 29-24 victory back in Johannesburg before the Baltimore match.
There was an awkward moment for a fixture designed to sell the sport to a new audience when the referee lost communication with the television match official for ten minutes. Play resumed after the two captains agreed there would be no TMO involvement unless foul play occurred, in which case a phone call would be made. The TMO returned in the second half.
Dan Carter and Schalk Burger presented the Greatest Rivalry trophy, which Siya Kolisi lifted.
Where Both Sides Stand
The series confirmed South Africa's position at the top of the world rankings and leaves New Zealand with work to do before a likely World Cup meeting next year.
New Zealand were without captain Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea through injury for the final Test, with Fabian Holland unavailable through illness. Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ethan Blackadder, Richie Mo'unga and Anton Lienert-Brown all made their first starts of the series.
Baltimore is positioning itself as a host city should the United States stage the 2031 Rugby World Cup, and the turnout will strengthen that case.
