Rugby's Greatest Rivalry · Fourth Test · Series decider
Springboks v All Blacks
Kick-off 23:00 SAST · 17:00 EDT113Played
45SA wins
64NZ wins
4Drawn
39.8%SA win rate
Boks have won seven of the last nine meetings since August 2023. The first Springbok Test ever played in Baltimore, and only their fourth in the United States.
Formation — tap a number
Set-piece shape · scrum to backline
Johannesburg put the Boks 2–1 up: 29–24, four tries apiece, settled by a penalty try just before half-time and Feinberg-Mngomezulu's boot. Erasmus has changed two — Willemse back at fullback for the injured Kolbe, and Van den Berg promoted to start at nine. Win here and South Africa take the inaugural trophy; lose and the series is drawn.
Back ThreeWillemse returns at 15 — Kolbe injured
15DWDamian Willemse
Fullback
DHL Stormers
Back in his regular position with Kolbe ruled out. Erasmus: “Damian started the first two Tests and had it not been for a niggle last week, he would have started that one too.”
54 caps · 76 pts · 8 tries
14KAKurt-Lee Arendse 26 tries in 34
Right Wing
Mitsubishi Dynaboars
Opened the scoring in Johannesburg on 21 minutes — a try in his first start of the series.
34 caps · 130 pts · 26 tries
11EHEthan Hooker
Left Wing
Hollywoodbets Sharks
Holds the left wing for all four Tests of the series — the physical option out wide.
12 caps · 10 pts · 2 tries
MidfieldUnchanged for a third straight Test
13JKJesse Kriel 2× RWC winner Fucking Legend
Outside Centre
Canon Eagles
Scored again last week, on 56 minutes. Has crossed in each of the last two Tests.
≈1.86 m · 95 kg
93 caps · 125 pts · 25 tries
12DADamian de Allende Centurion
Inside Centre
Wild Knights
Third straight start alongside Kriel. Two World Cups and 102 caps of midfield ballast.
≈1.89 m · 101 kg
102 caps · 60 pts · 12 tries
HalfbacksVan den Berg promoted, Reinach to the bench
10SMSacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Flyhalf
DHL Stormers
Kicked two conversions and the 70th-minute penalty that settled Johannesburg. Has owned the 10 jersey since Pollard withdrew.
23 caps · 184 pts · 9 tries
9MBMorné van den Berg First start of the series
Scrumhalf
10bet Lions
Promoted off the back of last week's cameo. Erasmus: “Morne made a fantastic impact when he took the field last week, and he deserves a chance to start.”
9 caps · 25 pts · 5 tries
Loose TrioA record 19th start together
8JWJasper Wiese
Number 8
Urayasu D-Rocks
One more Test after this and he joins the 50-cap club.
≈1.85 m · 110 kg
48 caps · 20 pts · 4 tries
7PTPieter-Steph du Toit Centurion Fucking Legend
Flanker
Toyota Verblitz
101 caps and still the highest-workrate forward on the field.
≈2.00 m · 117 kg
101 caps · 70 pts · 14 tries
6SKSiya Kolisi Captain Fucking Legend
Flanker
DHL Stormers
Leads the side out for a 19th start beside Du Toit and Wiese — extending the Springbok record for a loose trio, with the series trophy on the line.
106 caps · 75 pts · 15 tries
Second RowEtzebeth moves to 146 caps
5RNRuan Nortjé
Lock
Kubota Spears
Runs the lineout. Eleven from eleven on their own throw in Johannesburg.
≈1.98 m · 106 kg
23 caps · 5 pts · 1 tries
4EEEben Etzebeth Most-capped Bok Fucking Legend
Lock
Hollywoodbets Sharks
Extends his own record to 146 caps. “It's a special series and we want to win it.”
≈2.03 m · 117 kg
145 caps · 45 pts · 9 tries
Front RowUnchanged from Johannesburg
3WLWilco Louw
Tighthead Prop
DHL Stormers
Anchors a scrum that went five from five last week.
≈1.83 m · 132 kg
34 caps · 10 pts · 2 tries
2MMMalcolm Marx 2025 Player of the Year
Hooker
Kubota Spears
Scored the 65th-minute try that put the Boks clear in Johannesburg.
≈1.88 m · 115 kg
92 caps · 140 pts · 28 tries
1ONOx Nché Fucking Legend
Loosehead Prop
Hollywoodbets Sharks
Fourth Test of the series at loosehead — the scrum has not gone backwards yet.
≈1.79 m · 116 kg
51 caps · 0 pts · 0 tries
Bomb Squad
6–2 SPLIT
16DFDeon Fourie Oldest Bok ever Fucking Legend
Hooker / Flank
DHL Stormers
At 39, another week added to his record as the oldest Springbok to play a Test.
15 caps · 10 pts · 2 tries
17GSGerhard Steenekamp
Loosehead Prop
Vodacom Bulls
Fresh scrummaging legs for the last quarter of a series decider.
22 caps · 10 pts · 2 tries
18TTThomas du Toit
Tighthead Prop
Hollywoodbets Sharks
Erasmus on the bench front row: they “know how to deal with pressure”.
36 caps · 10 pts · 2 tries
19LJLood de Jager
Lock
Wild Knights
World Cup-winning second-rower, lineout cover off the bench.
76 caps · 25 pts · 5 tries
20AEAndré Esterhuizen
Flank / Centre
Hollywoodbets Sharks
The hybrid who lets the Boks change shape without changing numbers.
34 caps · 30 pts · 6 tries
21CHCameron Hanekom
Loose Forward
Vodacom Bulls
Five caps, and impact carries when the game stretches.
5 caps · 5 pts · 1 tries
22CRCobus Reinach
Scrumhalf
DHL Stormers
Drops to the bench after three starts. Erasmus: “Cobus switches to the bench where he will add experience and skill in this vital match.”
56 caps · 100 pts · 20 tries
23MLManie Libbok RWC winner
Flyhalf
Kintetsu Liners
Covers flyhalf and fullback — the running playmaker of the group.
≈1.80 m · 78 kg
33 caps · 143 pts · 2 tries
Formation — tap a number
Set-piece shape · scrum to backline
New Zealand must win to square the series, and Rennie has rung the changes to do it. Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea are out injured and Fabian Holland is ill; Newell, Tuipulotu, Blackadder, Mo'unga and Lienert-Brown all make their first starts of the series, and De Groot and Lord return from concussion protocols. Codie Taylor captains. Rennie: “It is our chance to draw the series and end the tour with a performance to be proud of.”
Back ThreeMoorby into the starting left wing
15DMDamian McKenzie
Fullback
Chiefs
Kicked the 83rd-minute conversion in Johannesburg. Counter-attacking spark and a second kicking option.
≈1.75 m · 81 kg
80 caps · 392 pts · 24 tries
14WJWill Jordan 54 Test tries
Right Wing
Crusaders
Scored on 55 minutes last week. Sixty caps and one of the best strike rates in the game.
≈1.88 m · 94 kg
60 caps · 270 pts · 54 tries
11JMJosh Moorby
Left Wing
Hurricanes
Moves from bench cover into the starting left wing for his fourth Test.
4 caps · 5 pts · 1 tries
MidfieldLienert-Brown starts, Tupaea injured
13ABAnton Lienert-Brown First start of the series
Outside Centre
Chiefs
Steps up from the bench with Quinn Tupaea injured — 93 caps of midfield experience.
93 caps · 85 pts · 17 tries
12JBJordie Barrett
Inside Centre
Hurricanes
The one constant in the All Blacks midfield across all four Tests.
≈1.96 m · 104 kg
84 caps · 306 pts · 26 tries
HalfbacksMo'unga returns at flyhalf
10RMRichie Mo'unga Test return
Flyhalf
Crusaders
Returns at flyhalf for his first appearance of the series — 464 Test points of game management for a match New Zealand must win.
≈1.76 m
56 caps · 464 pts · 11 tries
9CRCam Roigard
Scrumhalf
Hurricanes
Fourth straight start at nine. Running threat straight off the base.
23 caps · 80 pts · 16 tries
Loose TrioSavea and Jacobson out — Vaa'i back to six
8PLPeter Lakai
Number 8
Hurricanes
Shifts from six to the back of the scrum with Savea ruled out.
13 caps · 10 pts · 2 tries
7EBEthan Blackadder First start of the series
Flanker
Crusaders
Into the seven jersey with Jacobson injured. Son of former All Blacks captain Todd Blackadder.
≈1.90 m
14 caps · 0 pts · 0 tries
6TVTupou Vaa'i
Blindside Flanker
Chiefs
Shifts back to blindside now Tuipulotu is available to partner Darry at lock.
≈1.98 m · 112 kg
50 caps · 30 pts · 6 tries
Second RowTuipulotu in alongside Darry
5SDSam Darry
Lock
Blues
Keeps the five jersey for a second straight Test.
≈2.03 m · 110 kg
11 caps · 10 pts · 2 tries
4PTPatrick Tuipulotu First start of the series
Lock
Blues
The 58-cap veteran comes in to shore up the second row for the decider.
58 caps · 40 pts · 8 tries
Front RowDe Groot and Newell start, Taylor captains
3FNFletcher Newell First start of the series
Tighthead Prop
Crusaders
Swaps with Lomax to take the starting tighthead spot in his 40th Test.
40 caps · 10 pts · 2 tries
2CTCodie Taylor Captain
Hooker
Crusaders
Returns as starting hooker and takes the captaincy with Ardie Savea out injured.
111 caps · 115 pts · 23 tries
1EGEthan de Groot
Loosehead Prop
Highlanders
Back in the side having cleared World Rugby concussion protocols after leaving the field in the first Test.
≈1.90 m
44 caps · 25 pts · 5 tries
Impact
5–3 SPLIT
16AAAsafo Aumua
Hooker
Hurricanes
Shifts to the reserves with Taylor restored to the starting side.
25 caps · 15 pts · 3 tries
17XNXavier Numia
Loosehead Prop
Hurricanes
Bench loosehead cover.
4 caps · 0 pts · 0 tries
18TLTyrel Lomax
Tighthead Prop
Hurricanes
Drops to the bench after three starts as the props switch round.
≈1.88 m · 120 kg
54 caps · 0 pts · 0 tries
19JLJosh Lord
Lock
Chiefs
Returns to the 23, also through concussion protocols since the first Test.
≈2.03 m
16 caps · 0 pts · 0 tries
20WSWallace Sititi
Loose Forward
Chiefs
Loose-forward impact for a second straight week.
≈1.87 m
22 caps · 5 pts · 1 tries
21KPKyle Preston
Scrumhalf
Crusaders
Keeps the bench nine role.
4 caps · 0 pts · 0 tries
22RIRieko Ioane 39 Test tries
Centre
Blues
Back in the 23 as backs cover after being left out entirely in Johannesburg.
≈1.89 m
88 caps · 195 pts · 39 tries
23BBBeauden Barrett Most-capped All Black
Flyhalf / Fullback
Blues
144 Tests and 828 points. Enters the series at the last, as cover across the back line.
≈1.87 m
144 caps · 828 pts · 45 tries
Third Test · FNB Stadium, Johannesburg · 5 Sep 2026
South Africa 29 — 24 New Zealand
Four tries each. The Boks made 170 tackles to 106 and won every scrum and lineout on their own ball; New Zealand passed 161 times to 97 and could not turn it into the extra score.
SpringboksAll Blacks
4Tries4
2Conversions2
1Penalty goals0
4Clean breaks5
2Offloads11
97Passes161
17Kicks from hand18
11/11Lineouts won11/12
5/5Scrums won11/11
170Tackles made106
67Breakdowns102
3Ball steals0
11Penalties conceded12
1Yellow cards1