Springboks sprint home to clinch Greatest Rivalry series in Baltimore

After seven weeks, over 40,000 kilometres, 419 points, and countless renditions of Sister Bettina, Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry culminated in Baltimore in front of the biggest crowd ever to watch a rugby game in the United States.

Rassie Erasmus’ men added another historic trophy to their well-stocked cabinet after 80 breathless minutes, racing out to a 43-28 win thanks to an electric second half.

The Springboks sent an early warning shot by running out of their 22 from the kick-off, quickly earning a penalty after making some metres down the left wing. A Tupou Vaa’i high tackle in the second minute saw Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu step up to the tee and claim the first three points of the game from a comfortable angle.

An Eben Etzebeth steal postponed the All Blacks‘ first points of the game, but only until the eighth minute, when they were able to overload the left edge for the second time and get within scoring range. From there, Codie Taylor ran a smart line and collected the ball with enough separation to reach the whitewash.

New Zealand advanced twice more, but South Africa repelled them with steals, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s dangerous feet added dynamism to a physical Springbok attack. With the Bok set-piece contributing its usual accuracy, the South Africans charged ahead and scored through centurion Damian de Allende.

A New Zealand break was called back in the 20th minute, and South Africa punished the penalty by going to the corner, mounting a strong driving maul before Morne van den Berg sold a dummy and exploited the gap he created close to the line.

The Springboks set up camp in the Kiwi half for much of the third quarter, winning every contestable kick and maintaining possession with their breakdown accuracy. At least for New Zealand, the scrum was holding steady.

The All Blacks got their chance when a South African kick went out on the full, and the Kiwis launched a breathless near 40-phase attack that slowly gained 40 metres before Will Jordan found an angle to reach the line. The seven points left the Springboks leading 17-14 at the break.

Kurt-Lee Arendse quickly set the second-half alight with a pair of electric runs, breaking the line on both and only getting caught by desperate New Zealand defence. A Springbok scrum penalty followed, and New Zealand changed their entire front row.

The substitutions couldn’t stop the Bok maul, though, which overcame a still period to rumble over the line and hand Malcolm Marx the try; his last contribution to the series.

A scrum just a minute after play resumed was the launchpad for Feinberg-Mngomezulu to make the next break of the game, making it into the Kiwi 22, and South Africa’s big men went to work from there. A few damaging collisions later, De Allende crashed over for his second of the game.

Play broke open the moment the clock ticked into the 60th minute and New Zealand stole a South African lineout, with Peter Lakai breaking through. Wallace Sititi threw an offload that landed in Jesse Kriel’s arms. From there, Ethan Hooker won the race to a chip ahead, but the ball was won back by Will Jordan at the breakdown. New Zealand kicked to the corner, and Ethan Blackadder claimed his first Test try after some strong phase play.

The All Blacks then set up camp in the Springbok half, but one opportunity was ended by a needless holding-on penalty in the ruck, and another was ended by some desperate Springbok defence.

The Kiwis were threatening once more through McKenzie, but the pass to Moorby was spilled and picked up by Arendse, who made one superb step and had far too much pace in open field to be caught on his way to the line. The five points pushed the Springboks’ lead to 15 with seven minutes to play.

Another frantic period of play put the cherry on top for the Springboks, with Cameron Hanekom winning a breakdown steal shortly after New Zealand had tidied up a chip ahead, bouncing out of the ruck contest with the ball and reaching the line.

Beauden Barrett claimed a consolation try in the 79th minute, bringing the final scoreline to 43-28. Baltimore’s sea of green celebrated as the iconic group of South Africans climbed onto another podium, and Siya Kolisi raised another piece of hard-earned silverware.