After a sluggish start to the series, the Springboks finally found their rhythm in the second and third Tests against the All Blacks, and head coach Rassie Erasmus is now urging his side to push even further in the decisive match on American soil. South Africa entered the final encounter trailing 1-0 and are looking to overturn the deficit and claim a 3-1 series victory on Saturday at the stadium that hosts the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. Meanwhile, New Zealand are eager to level the series, hoping to split the first traditional three‑match test series between the two nations in three decades.
The Springboks' attacking evolution was evident across the three games. They managed a solitary try in the opening Test, which they ultimately lost, but responded with three tries in the second Test – a performance that secured a win – and then exploded for four tries in the third Test, showcasing their most expansive rugby yet. Their classic set‑piece dominance remained a cornerstone of the victory: a penalty try awarded after a dominant scrum and a line‑out maul that drove the ball all the way to the New Zealand try‑line highlighted the forwards' physical superiority.
Yet, the backline also shone, crossing the line twice with well‑executed moves that underlined the team's growing confidence. "Damian de Allende was impressive on Saturday, Jesse Kriel was outstanding, and Ethan Hooker did a great job – the whole group is improving," Erasmus said during the Monday team announcement.
He added that the Springboks may have concentrated too heavily on neutralising the All Blacks in the first Test, missing opportunities to take calculated risks when they dominated the early stages at Ellis Park. "In the end, you simply need to outscore your opponent," Erasmus explained.
"If that means they score four tries and you kick five drop‑goals like Jannie de Beer did at the 1999 World Cup against England, you just have to make sure you accumulate more points than they do. Containing New Zealand is a monumental task – just look at what our franchises and even France have struggled with." For the fourth Test, Erasmus has made two notable adjustments to the line‑up that secured a 29‑24 win over New Zealand last weekend.
Damian Willemse returns to the full‑back position, filling the void left by the injured wing Cheslin Kolbe, while scrum‑half Morné van den Berg earns his first start of the series, displacing veteran Cobus Reinach onto the bench. The forward pack remains unchanged, reflecting Erasmus's confidence in the set‑piece unit that has been the bedrock of South Africa's resurgence.
However, the coach's willingness to make late changes suggests the lineup may still evolve. In the lead‑up to the second Test, the front row originally named as Ox Nché, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw was altered just an hour before kickoff, with Gerhard Steenekamp, Deon Fourie and Thomas du Toit stepping onto the field and the initial trio relegated to the bench. Erasmus defended his approach, stating, "We feel the squad is settled and each player has delivered in his role over the past two matches, so retaining the same match‑day fifteen and returning Damian to his regular spot makes sense." Kolbe's jaw fracture, sustained while making a tackle, forced him out of the squad, while Willemse's hamstring issue in the second Test also raised concerns.
Erasmus praised Willemse's return, noting, "He knows the teammates around him intimately, so it will simply be a matter of him picking up where he left off last week." The No 9 jersey also sees a change: van den Berg is rewarded for the "fantastic impact" he made off the bench, earning a starting role. On the New Zealand side, the headline story is the comeback of fly‑half Richie Mo'unga, who makes his first Test appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final after a stint in Japanese club rugby.
Meanwhile, winger Ruben Love is omitted from the 23‑man squad entirely. Injuries have forced further alterations for the All Blacks. Captain and No 8 Ardie Savea is sidelined with a shoulder injury, flanker Luke Jacobson is out with an elbow problem, and centre Quinn Tupaea has withdrawn due to a knee issue.
Lock Fabian Holland is also unavailable because of illness. As a result, hooker Codie Taylor steps in as captain, while prop Fletcher Newell, lock Patrick Tuipulotu, back‑rower Ethan Blackadder and centre Anton Lienert‑Brown each earn their first starts of the series. Veteran backs Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane return to the bench.
Head coach Dave Rennie emphasized the depth of preparation, saying, "We always anticipated a number of changes for this match. Every player here has worked incredibly hard over the last seven weeks to prepare for the seven games we've played so far, and all those selected for this Test fully deserve it.
We have everything to play for on Saturday – it is our chance to draw the series and finish the tour with a performance we can be proud of." The announced line‑ups are as follows: South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt‑Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu, 9 Morné van den Berg; 1 Ox Nché, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Wilco Louw, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Ruan Nortjé, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Pieter‑Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese. Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 André Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok. New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Anton Lienert‑Brown, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Cam Roigard; 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 5 Sam Darry, 6 Tupou Vaa'i, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 8 Peter Lakai. Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Beauden Barrett.
All matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with kick‑off times listed for the UK and Ireland. The final Test promises a high‑stakes climax as both teams vie for pride, points, and a chance to finish the series on a high note, making the Baltimore showdown a must‑watch event for rugby fans worldwide.