Springboks, All Blacks clash in groundbreaking US decider
BALTIMORE: New Zealand and South Africa collide in a heavyweight finale to their four-match series in Baltimore on Saturday in the latest ambitious bid to grow rugby’s audience in the United States.
Baltimore hosted a record-breaking rugby clash between New Zealand and South Africa on Saturday, marking the first time such a high-profile match has been incorporated into a Test series between two of rugby's superpowers. The All Blacks and Springboks fought for supremacy in a series the All Blacks claimed 2-1, with the final match at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens.
The 70,000-capacity stadium was sold out for the game, dubbed "The Money Game" due to substantial financial returns expected for both unions. World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin sees the match as a potential model for future fixtures in the United States, including a Six Nations game, to boost rugby's popularity in the country. Despite the unfamiliar setting, both teams are undeterred, with Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus noting that it is simply a 70 by 100 meters pitch.
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