By Adnaan Mohamed
Rassie Erasmus has loaded the Springbok cannon, pointed it at Baltimore and declared war on the All Blacks’ hopes of stealing the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry crown.
With South Africa leading 2-1, the Bok boss has resisted wholesale tinkering and unleashed a battle-hardened XV for Saturday night’s winner-takes-the-trophy showdown at M&T Bank Stadium.
The message from the Bok camp is brutally simple: hold the line, finish the job, lift the cup.
Damian Willemse returns at fullback after recovering from his niggle, while Morne van den Berg is promoted from impact sub to starting scrumhalf. Cheslin Kolbe’s injury has forced the backline change, while Cobus Reinach brings his experience off the bench as the Boks prepare for another heavyweight slugfest with their oldest rivals.
Erasmus has backed the warriors who dragged South Africa into the series lead through two pulsating Tests, banking on continuity as the All Blacks sharpen their swords for one final assault, The Bok coach resisted the temptation to tear up a winning blueprint after two bruising victories, trusting the squad that has weathered the All Black storm and emerged with a 2-1 advantage.
“We feel that the team is well settled and all the players delivered in their respective roles in the last two matches, so we believe selecting the same matchday squad, and naming Damian back in his regular position, makes sense for the closing match of the series,” said Erasmus.
“These players also know exactly what to expect from a very determined All Blacks team, who will give everything to draw the series this weekend.”
Willemse returns after missing the Johannesburg Test through a niggle, bringing 54 caps and a box of attacking tricks to the No 15 jersey.
“Damian started the first two Tests and had it not been for a niggle last week, he would have also started that match, so it’s good to have him back. He is a quality player, and he knows the guys around him very well, so it will simply be a matter of him picking up where he left off before last week.”
Van den Berg gets his chance after an electric cameo last weekend.
“Morne, meanwhile, made a fantastic impact when he took the field last week, and he deserves a chance to start, so Cobus switches to the bench where he will add experience and skill in this vital match.”
The All Blacks are expected to arrive with their pride sharpened into a spear. Erasmus knows the decider could become an 80-minute street fight dressed in rugby jerseys.
“We have faced the All Blacks three weeks in a row, and just like us, they are a proud team who showed last week that they will never stop fighting until the final whistle, so we are under no illusions about the magnitude of the challenge ahead this weekend.
“That said, we are equally determined to finish the series strongly and give everything to lift the trophy, and the players are excited about the match.
“We have no doubt that it’s going to be another epic encounter that will require a full-blown 80-minute effort on attack and defence, so we will manage the players well this week to ensure that they are ready physically and mentally for Saturday.”
The starting XV carries a colossal 927 Test caps, with 600 among the forwards and 327 in the backline. The bench adds another 277.
The trophy is tantalisingly close, the Kiwi comeback machine is expected to arrive with its engine screaming, and Baltimore is about to become the latest battlefield in rugby’s most combustible rivalry.
One Bok victory crowns South Africa inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry champions. One All Black victory blows the series wide open and sends the decider into rugby folklore.
Springboks:
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok.
Stats and facts:
Springbok record against New Zealand:
Played: 113, Won: 45, Lost: 64, Drawn: 4. Points for: 1 928; Points against: 2 352; Tries scored: 188; Tries conceded: 261. Win %: 39,8%.
Miscellaneous:
- Eben Etzebeth will extend his record as the most capped Springbok player of all time to 146 caps when he takes the field.
- The loose trio of Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese will extend the record they set last week to overtake Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, and Duane Vermeuelen (17) as the loose trio with the most Test starts to 19 matches.
- The Springboks have only played three Test matches in the USA in history where they defeated the USA 38-7 in 1981 and 43-10 in 2001, while they suffered a narrow 22-20 defeat against Wales in Washington DC in 2018, which was Erasmus’ first Test in charge as head coach.
- This match will mark the first Springbok Test in history to be played in Baltimore.
- Jasper Wiese requires only one more Test match appearance after this encounter to join the group of players who have earned 50Test caps.
- The Springboks have won seven of the last nine matches against the All Blacks dating back to August 2023.
- The 2031 Rugby World Cup will be hosted in the USA.
- The total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up is 927.There are 327 caps in the backline, with 600 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 277 caps.
- The average caps per player in the backline is 47, the forwards 75, while the players on the bench average 35.