After a flat beginning, South Africa finally spread their wings in the Test series against New Zealand in Tests two and three, and head coach Rassie Erasmus wants his side to fly high in the finale on US soil.
The Springboks, from 1-0 down, seek to win the series 3-1 on Saturday at the home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, while the All Blacks are hoping to square the first traditional series between them in 30 years.
South Africa scored one try in the first Test which they lost, three tries in the second Test which they won, and four in last weekend’s third Test where they were at their most expansive yet.
Their traditional set-piece strength was decisive – a penalty try from a pushover scrum and a lineout maul that marched New Zealand back to its posts – but the forwards’ fearsome power was complemented by two well-taken backline tries.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights as New Zealand scored five tries to beat South Africa at Ellis Park in the series opener
“Damian [de Allende] was good on Saturday, Jesse [Kriel] was very good, Ethan [Hooker] did well, so the guys are getting better,” Erasmus said on Monday at the team announcement.
Erasmus believed they might have put too much focus in the first Test on stopping New Zealand and not taking more risks in a game they controlled for the first hour at Ellis Park.
“At the end of the day you just need to outscore your opposition,” Erasmus said. “If it means they score four tries and you kick five drop-goals like Jannie de Beer at the 1999 World Cup against England, you just need to score more points than them.
“To try and contain them is extremely difficult – just ask our franchises and France.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights of the second Test as the Springboks levelled the series
Only two SA changes made…for now! | Mo’unga returns for All Blacks
Erasmus has made two changes to the side which beat New Zealand 29-24 last Saturday for this weekend’s fourth Test.
Damian Willemse returns to full-back for the injured Cheslin Kolbe, and scrum-half Morné van den Berg was given his first start in the series, dropping Cobus Reinach to the bench.
The forward pack remains the same.
Yet, that may not be the end of things as since first Test defeat, Erasmus has played fast and loose in terms of making late changes to his team selections.
Before the second Test, named in the front row for the Springboks were Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw. Just one hour before kick-off, that was changed to Gerhard Steenekamp, Deon Fourie and Thomas du Toit with the original three dropping to the bench.
“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,” Erasmus said.
Kolbe broke his jaw making a tackle. He covered for Willemse, who suffered a hamstring problem in the second Test.
“It’s good to have [Willemse] back,” Erasmus said. “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.”
As for the No 9 jersey, Erasmus rewarded Van den Berg for “a fantastic impact” off the bench.
For New Zealand, the headline team news is the return of Richie Mo’unga at fly-half in what will be his first Test appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, having moved to play club rugby in Japan in the intervening years. Ruben Love drops out of the matchday 23 altogether.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The All Blacks perform a spine-chilling haka at Ellis Park ahead of the opening Test against South Africa
Further changes were guaranteed after series-ending injuries to captain and No 8 Ardie Savea (shoulder), flanker Luke Jacobson (elbow) and centre Quinn Tupaea (knee). Lock Fabian Holland is also unavailable due to illness.
Hooker Codie Taylor comes in from the cold to captain the side, while prop Fletcher Newell, lock Patrick Tuipulotu, back-row Ethan Blackadder and centre Anton Lienert-Brown come in for their first starts of the series. Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane return to the bench.
“We always planned for there to be a number of changes for this match. Every player here has worked incredibly hard over the last seven weeks to prepare the team for the seven games we’ve played so far, and all those selected for this Test fully deserve it,” head coach Dave Rennie said.
“We have everything to play for on Saturday. It is our chance to draw the series and end the tour with a performance to be proud of.”
South Africa team for fourth Test:
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morné van den Berg; 1 Ox Nché, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Wilco Louw, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Ruan Nortjé, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 André Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok.
All Blacks team for fourth Test:
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Cam Roigard; 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 5 Sam Darry, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 8 Peter Lakai.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Beauden Barrett.
South Africa vs New Zealand Test series schedule
All games live on Sky Sports; kick-off times UK and Ireland
