The Springboks defeated New Zealand 43-28 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, sealing the four-Test series 3-1. It was the first traditional series between the rivals in 30 years and a commanding finale on American soil.
Breathless opening, then dominance
After an early Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalty, New Zealand struck first through a Cody Taylor try for a 7-3 lead. South Africa responded with force off a scrum as Damien De Allende barrelled over, making it 10-7 inside 15 minutes. Morné van den Berg then threw a dummy from a driving maul to score, extending the lead to 17-7.
New Zealand refused to fade. After 32 phases just before half-time, Will Jordan crossed for his 55th Test try to cut the margin to 17-14 at the break.
Arendse sparks the decisive burst
Malcolm Marx and Steph du Toit scored converted tries early in the second half, surging South Africa to a 29-14 advantage. Ethan Blackadder replied for the All Blacks, narrowing the gap to 29-21 and raising tension with less than half an hour left.
A New Zealand knock-on then gifted Kurt-Lee Arendse an opening. He showed quick footwork to race away and dive under the posts, stretching the lead to 36-21. Four minutes later Cameron Hanekom crossed, and at 43-21 the series was decided.
Beauden Barrett's late try was only a consolation. "When Kurt-Lee started burning – I thought when Kurt-Lee scored that try, that was pivotal," head coach Rassie Erasmus said afterwards. The victory marked Erasmus' 100th Test in charge and drew a crowd of 68,173, the largest ever for a rugby union match in the United States.
South Africa overturned a first-Test defeat in Johannesburg to win three straight, confirming a series triumph that began on home soil and finished with a spectacle in Baltimore.
