BALTIMORE (AP) — South Africa finally spread its wings in the rugby test series with New Zealand and coach Rassie Erasmus wants his side to fly high in the finale.
The Springboks, from 1-0 down, seek to win the series 3-1 on Saturday at the NFL home of the 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 (lost), three tries in the second test (won) and four in the third test (won) last Saturday in Johannesburg 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.
“Damian (de Allende) was good on Saturday, Jesse (Kriel) was very good, Ethan (Hooker) did well, so I think the guys are getting better,” Erasmus said on Monday at the team announcement.
He praised the changes in their evolving attack coached by former All Black Tony Brown.
“Tony has worked really hard since the loss in the first test,” Erasmus said. “We don't just want to score maul tries or scrum tries, we also want to use other opportunities so we've been working hard at that.”
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.”
Erasmus made only two changes to the side which beat New Zealand 29-24 last Saturday for the fourth test.
Damian Willemse returned to fullback for the injured Cheslin Kolbe, and scrumhalf Morné van den Berg was given his first start in the series, dropping Cobus Reinach to the reserves.
The forward pack remained the same.
“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 fantasic impact” off the bench.
“He deserves a chance to start,” the coach added.
Kolbe's injury and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's yellow card drew Manie Libbok in at flyhalf from the 10th minute, and he excelled. But Erasmus wasn't persuaded to retain Libbok at flyhalf and Feinberg-Nngomezulu at fullback in Baltimore.
"Manie definitely did really well for us,” the coach said. "There are some areas where Sacha's not 100% hit his straps for us yet. But we must remember he was out for a very long time (after ankle surgery in May) and it's only his fourth game back.
“Manie, we feel he can come on after five minutes if Sacha gets injured, and we know he can handle the pressure, but we might need him later in the game like we did last weekend.”
Erasmus said he could have played flyhalf Handre Pollard, who was withdrawn from the second test because of a calf injury. But he added Pollard and lock Franco Mostert, who has been sidelined since June, were on track to face Australia on Sept. 26 in Perth.
New Zealand names its side on Thursday and changes are guaranteed after series-ending injuries to captain and No. 8 Ardie Savea (shoulder), flanker Luke Jacobson (elbow) and center Quinn Tupaea (knee).
South Africa: Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Ethan Hooker, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morné van den Berg; Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Ruan Nortjé, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nché. Reserves: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, André Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok.
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South Africa's Damian Willemse, center, is being tackled by New Zealand's Luke Jacobson, right, and his teammate George Bower during a second Test rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand, in Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
