Springboks win inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series as Erasmus plays down All Blacks gap

In Baltimore, the final Test of the Springboks and All Blacks series ignited the world of rugby. Both coaches, Rassie Erasmus and Dave Rennie, emphasized that this clash mattered as much as the previous three Tests in South Africa. The Springboks had previously won two out of the three matches, while the All Blacks claimed the opening fixture in Johannesburg.

Should the All Blacks emerge victorious in Baltimore, the series could end in a draw. However, the disappointment of losing in South Africa would be replaced by another opportunity to beat the world champions. The Baltimore Test is simply a contest between the Springboks and All Blacks, with the 80 minutes to come determining the outcome.

This rivalry, spanning over 105 years and 113 matches, remains the greatest in rugby history, with every game introducing a new chapter and narrative. The Springboks aim to achieve a third consecutive win against the All Blacks for the first time since 2009, while the All Blacks have not lost three consecutive Tests since 2022.