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, but they have already demonstrated a marked improvement, turning a narrow defeat in the opening Test into a 3-1 series lead after a hard‑fought win on Saturday at the stadium that normally hosts the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. The All Blacks, meanwhile, are eager to level the series and secure a historic draw in the first traditional three‑match series between the two nations in three decades.
In the first Test, the Springboks managed only a single try, which proved insufficient to overcome New Zealand's early dominance. The second Test saw a dramatic turnaround, with South Africa crossing the line three times and claiming a vital victory.
By the third Test, the Boks were at their most expansive, registering four tries and showcasing a blend of forward power and backline flair that left the opposition scrambling. Their classic set‑piece superiority was on full display: a penalty try awarded after a crushing scrum and a line‑out maul that marched the ball straight to the New Zealand posts underscored the physical edge the South Africans possess. Yet, the forwards were not the only contributors – two well‑executed back‑line moves resulted in additional scores, highlighting a more rounded attacking approach.
"Damian de Allende was impressive on Saturday, Jesse Kriel was outstanding, and Ethan Hooker performed well – the whole group is improving," Erasmus said during Monday's squad announcement. He added that the team may have concentrated too heavily on neutralising the All Blacks in the first Test, neglecting the opportunity to take calculated risks when they controlled the early phases at Ellis Park. "At the end of the day you just need to outscore your opposition," Erasmus explained.
"If that means they score four tries and you kick five drop‑goals, like Jannie de Beer did against England in the 1999 World Cup, you simply need to finish with more points than them. Containing them is incredibly tough – just look at what our franchises and France have experienced." For the upcoming fourth Test, Erasmus has made two notable adjustments to the line‑up that secured a 29‑24 win last weekend. Damian Willemse is back at full‑back, replacing the injured wing star Cheslin Kolbe, 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' confidence in the unit that has delivered consistently throughout the tour. Erasmus' selection policy has been fluid since the opening loss, with several late changes illustrating his willingness to experiment. Prior to the second Test, the front row was announced as Ox Nché, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw, only to be altered an hour before kickoff in favour of Gerhard Steenekamp, Deon Fourie and Thomas du Toit, relegating the original trio to the bench. "We feel the team is well settled and each player has fulfilled his role in the last two matches, so maintaining the same match‑day squad and returning Damian to his regular position makes sense," Erasmus said.
Kolbe suffered a broken jaw in a tackle and was unable to return, while Willemse had previously missed the second Test due to a hamstring issue. "It's great to have Willemse back," Erasmus noted.
"He knows his teammates inside out, so it will simply be a matter of picking up where he left off last week." The No 9 jersey also sees a change, with Van den Berg rewarded for the "fantastic impact" he made off the bench in previous games. On the New Zealand side, the headline story is the return 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. Veteran winger Ruben Love has been omitted from the match‑day 23 entirely. Injury concerns have forced New Zealand to reshuffle their roster dramatically.
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. Consequently, 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.
Former stars Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane return to the bench, providing experienced depth. Head coach Dave Rennie acknowledged the inevitable turnover, stating, "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 end the tour with a performance to be proud of." The line‑ups for the final showdown 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‑octane contest, as both coaches balance continuity with strategic tweaks, aiming to either seal a series win or force a memorable draw in front of an expanding American audience.