Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
- The Boks lead the All Blacks 2-1 and can seal the series with another victory in Baltimore on Saturday.
- Rassie Erasmus made only two starting changes, with Damian Willemse returning and Morné van den Berg starting at scrumhalf.
The Springboks are expecting a huge fightback from the All Blacks when the rivals meet in Baltimore on Saturday.
South Africa lead the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series 2-1 and can lift the trophy with another victory at M&T Bank Stadium.
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has again kept changes to a minimum.
Damian Willemse returns from injury at fullback after Cheslin Kolbe was ruled out.
Scrumhalves Morné van den Berg and Cobus Reinach also swap places, with Van den Berg earning a start after impressing from the bench in Soweto.
The Boks lost the opening Test at Ellis Park before fighting back with victories in Cape Town and Soweto.
They are now chasing a third straight win over New Zealand.
Erasmus warned that the All Blacks will be desperate to avoid a 3-1 series defeat.
“They are a proud team who showed last week that they will never stop fighting until the final whistle,” he said. “We are under no illusions about the magnitude of the challenge ahead this weekend.”
But Erasmus said the Boks are just as determined to finish the series strongly.
“We are equally determined to finish the series strongly and give everything to lift the trophy,” he said.
He said the team would need a complete performance for the full 80 minutes.
South Africa have won six of their seven Tests this season, with their only defeat coming against New Zealand in the opening match of this series.
After Baltimore, the Boks travel to Perth to face Australia before a month-long break and their end-of-year tour of the UK and Europe.
Pictured above: Rassie Erasmus.
Image source: @Springboks/X
