South Africa completed a 3-1 series victory over New Zealand after a powerful and precise second-half performance earned the Springboks a 43-28 win at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, in front of a North American rugby record crowd of 68,173.
Second-half burst seals the series
The two southern-hemisphere heavyweights produced a high-quality Test that was level at the interval, but the Springboks turned the match in the opening stages of the second half. Two quick tries — to hooker Malcolm Marx and loose forward Pieter‑Steph du Toit in the 49th and 53rd minutes — pushed South Africa clear and set the tone for the remainder of the game, the reporting said.
New Zealand answered through a try by Ethan Blackadder, but Kurt‑Lee Arendse’s long, decisive run — a break of more than 50 metres that finished in a try — stemmed any momentum the All Blacks could muster and effectively settled the match and the series.
“World Rugby wants to grow the sport in the United States,” the reporting noted, pointing to the match as a showcase event ahead of future global tournaments on the continent.
Atmosphere, pageantry and a statement
The match offered more than rugby alone. A pregame display featuring Zulu warriors accompanied South Africa onto the field, while New Zealand performed the haka, led by captain Codie Taylor, who brandished a māripi as part of the traditional challenge. Those scenes, combined with the record attendance, underlined the growing appetite for top-level rugby in North America, particularly with the 2031 men’s and 2033 women’s Rugby World Cups slated for the United States.
- Final score: South Africa 43, New Zealand 28
- Series: Springboks win the four‑match “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” series 3-1
- Attendance: 68,173 – a North American rugby record
Key moments
Fly‑half Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu opened the scoring for South Africa with an early penalty after being tackled high in the third minute. New Zealand struck back through Taylor’s try to level the contest in a frenetic opening period. The second half, however, belonged to the world champions.
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 3' | Penalty — Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu (South Africa) |
| First half | Try — Codie Taylor (New Zealand) |
| 49' | Try — Malcolm Marx (South Africa) |
| 53' | Try — Pieter‑Steph du Toit (South Africa) |
| Mid second half | Try — Ethan Blackadder (New Zealand) |
| Late second half | Try — Kurt‑Lee Arendse (South Africa) |
What this means for the Springboks and beyond
The victory underlined South Africa’s blend of physicality and cohesion — qualities that have carried them to global success and make them favourites ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia, the reporting said. With only France appearing to carry comparable threats of pace and tactical variety, the Springboks have sent a clear message to rivals: they remain a benchmark for world rugby.
For New Zealand, the series defeat highlights areas to repair before the World Cup. Despite a promising first half and moments of brilliance, an inability to contain South Africa’s ball carriers and finishing plays in key channels proved costly. The All Blacks will take lessons from Baltimore as they regroup.
Beyond the outcome, the contest was a commercial and promotional success for the sport in the United States. Organisers and World Rugby will point to the crowd and the spectacle — the pageantry, the intensity and two of the game’s top teams delivering a full‑blooded Test — as evidence that high‑level international rugby can flourish Stateside.
The Springboks leave Baltimore with the trophy for the inaugural four‑Test series and momentum. For neutrals who watched the game, the result was a reminder that international rugby’s greatest fixtures still produce the drama, physicality and skill that attract new fans around the globe.
