Springboks braced for fierce All Blacks response in Baltimore

Despite holding a 2-1 lead in the Greatest Rivalry Series, Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has warned South Africa to expect an aggressive response from the All Blacks in Saturday’s deciding match in Baltimore.

New Zealand will have the chance to level the series in the United States, and Erasmus believes their determination will make the final contest especially demanding. The Springboks have already faced the All Blacks in each of the past three weeks, but he insists that the previous meetings will offer little comfort as both teams prepare for another physical battle.

“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,” Erasmus said when naming his team on Monday.

South Africa’s focus, he added, remains firmly on securing another victory and closing out the series with the trophy. The Springboks will be seeking to maintain their advantage rather than allow New Zealand to force a deciding outcome.

“We are equally determined to finish the series strongly and give everything to lift the trophy, and the players are excited about the match,” said Erasmus.

Erasmus expects the occasion to demand a complete performance from his side, with South Africa needing to maintain its intensity in both attack and defence throughout 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 demanding schedule has also created an additional challenge for both squads. Erasmus confirmed that the teams flew for nine hours to Spain before continuing their journeys across the Atlantic to the United States. The travel demands mean careful preparation and recovery will be important before the final game.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 23:00 on Saturday.

Erasmus has also explained Krappies’ promotion to No 9, saying: “He deserves a chance to start.” Willemse returns for the Baltimore encounter as Erasmus opts for continuity in his selection.

With South Africa one win away from claiming the Greatest Rivalry Series, New Zealand must produce a victory to draw level. Erasmus, however, expects the All Blacks to fight until the final whistle, just as they did last week, and has made clear that the Springboks are prepared to match that intensity over the full 80 minutes.