Springboks ready for new-look All Blacks challenge, says skipper Kolisi

New Zealand and South Africa prepare for the marquee match in their four-game series, set to take place at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday. The Springboks will be defending a 2-1 series lead after a tough series in South Africa. The high-profile clash is expected to draw a full house, marking the most significant rugby fixture ever staged in the United States.

While both teams have previously played one-off matches in the US, this represents the first time a US fixture has been included in a significant Test series between these rugby powerhouses. As part of broader initiatives backed by World Rugby to increase interest in the sport among American audiences, the match's financial success is being touted as a potential blueprint for future events.

World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin has suggested that this fixture could become a regular occurrence leading up to the 2031 Rugby World Cup and even propose staging a Six Nations match in the United States in the future. With ticket prices projected to average around $200 (R3,200) and an estimated $8 million (R130 million) in financial returns for both teams, the match has been dubbed "The Money Game."

Despite the non-traditional setting, both the Springboks and All Blacks remain unfazed, acknowledging that a neutral ground still adheres to the same 70 by 100-meter dimensions.