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 harder in the series‑deciding match on American soil. South Africa entered the fourth Test trailing 1-0, but they have already demonstrated a marked improvement, moving from a single try in the opening match to three in the second and four in the third, showcasing a more expansive and confident style of play. Erasmus believes the final showdown in Baltimore – the home of the NFL’s Ravens – offers a perfect stage for the Boks to seal a 3-1 series victory, while New Zealand are eager to level the score and claim a historic series draw, something that has not happened in the traditional rivalry for three decades.
The Springboks’ resurgence has been underpinned by their classic set‑piece dominance. A penalty try awarded after a crushing scrum and a powerful line‑out maul that drove New Zealand back to their own try‑line highlighted the forward pack’s physical superiority.
Yet, the forwards were not operating in isolation; two well‑executed back‑line tries added a new dimension to South Africa’s attack, proving that the team can blend brute strength with flair. Erasmus praised several individual performances during the team announcement on Monday. "Damian de Allende was impressive on Saturday, Jesse Kriel was outstanding, and Ethan Hooker did a great job – the whole group is improving," he said.
He also reflected on the first Test, suggesting that the Springboks may have been overly pre‑occupied with containing the All Blacks rather than taking the initiative, even though they held the upper hand for the first hour at Ellis Park. "In the end, you simply have 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 need more points than they do. Containing them is extremely tough – just ask any of our franchises or France." For the upcoming fourth Test, Erasmus has made two notable changes to the line‑up that defeated New Zealand 29‑24 last weekend.
Injured wing Cheslin Kolbe has been replaced by Damian Willemse at full‑back, while scrum‑half Morné van den Berg earns his first start of the series, pushing veteran Cobus Reinach onto the bench. The forward pack remains unchanged, reflecting Erasmus’s confidence in the unit that has been the backbone of South Africa’s resurgence.
The coach’s willingness to tweak his squad has been evident throughout the series. Prior to the second Test, the front row originally named – Ox Nché, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw – was altered just an hour before kickoff, with Gerhard Steenekamp, Deon Fourie and Thomas du Toit taking the field and the original trio moving to the bench. Erasmus defended the consistency of his selections for the final match, stating, "We feel the team is well settled and everyone has delivered in their roles over the last two games, so keeping the same match‑day squad and putting Damian back in his regular position makes sense." Kolbe’s injury, a broken jaw sustained while making a tackle, forced him out of the squad.
He had previously covered for Willemse when the latter suffered a hamstring strain in the second Test. "It’s great to have Willemse back," Erasmus added.
"He knows his teammates inside out, so it will simply be a matter of him picking up where he left off." The No 9 jersey now belongs to Van den Berg, rewarded for the "fantastic impact" he made off the bench in earlier matches. His promotion underscores Erasmus’s belief in rewarding form and momentum over seniority. On the New Zealand side, the headline news is the return of fly‑half Richie Mo'unga, who will make his first Test appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final after a stint playing club rugby in Japan.
His inclusion adds creativity and experience to the All Blacks’ backline. Conversely, winger Ruben Love has been omitted from the 23‑man squad altogether. The All Blacks have also been forced to reshuffle due to injuries sustained in the series‑ending matches. Captain and No 8 Ardie Savea is out with a shoulder injury, flanker Luke Jacobson has an elbow problem, and centre Quinn Tupaea is sidelined with a knee issue.
Lock Fabian Holland is unavailable because of illness. In response, 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. Veterans Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane return to the bench, providing depth and experience. Head coach Dave Rennie emphasized that the squad changes were anticipated.
"We always expected a number of adjustments for this match. Every player has worked incredibly hard over the past seven weeks to prepare for the seven games we have played so far, and all those selected for this Test fully deserve it," he said. "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 line‑ups for the final Test 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 showdown in Baltimore promises to be a thrilling conclusion to a series that has seen both teams evolve, adapt, and fight fiercely for supremacy. Whether the Springboks can sustain their newfound attacking flair and leverage their set‑piece power, or the All Blacks can rally around their returning playmakers and overcome injury setbacks, the outcome will shape the narrative of Southern Hemisphere rugby for years to come.