Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made two changes to the team that beat the All Blacks in the third test in Johannesburg for Saturday’s fourth and final Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour game in Baltimore, USA.
And that in itself is a statement.
The fact the Boks decided to only make two changes, and keep to the same squad that has done duty throughout this game is a testament to the fact that they want to go in for the kill, and want to win the series 3-1 and make a statement with the final game of a long and arduous tour.
So in comes Damian Willemse, back from a hamstring injury and taking his place at fullback while Morne van den Berg’s cameo in Johannesburg means he starts the test in Baltimore after an excellent performance.
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Rassie Erasmus has named his Springbok team for the final Test of #RugbysGreatestRivalry in Baltimore on Saturday night 🇿🇦🚨 pic.twitter.com/zOFIAlzXFo
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 7, 2026
But while more changes were expected, including a reshuffle in the midfield, Erasmus has stuck to his guns, to ensure the Boks finish with a win and a 3-1 series victory in the end.
“Morné made a fantastic impact when he took the field last week, and he deserves a chance to start, so Cobus switches to the bench where he will add experience and skill in this vital match,” Erasmus said.
“We've been tracking him for a while. He's not a young player. I think he's 27 or something like that already, so he's not a youngster to break through. But we've always tracked him, and I think he's just been unfortunate with injuries and also some really good nines that played ahead of him or got opportunities ahead of him. And now with Grant being injured, a few guys are injured.
“He got his trip down, and whenever he's been inside the camp, he's always contributed positively, even if he's not playing, even if he's just helping, contributing with analysis and stuff. And after his last injury, we thought it was going to be a tough year for him to get back into the mix, but he really did his rehab really well, and he's back to full fitness. I think last week when he got his opportunity, he really did well, and we think he deserves a start.”
Erasmus also said it was an easy decision to include Willemse.
“Damian started the first two tests and had it not been for a niggle last week, he would have also started that match, so it’s good to have him back,” Erasmus said.
“He is a quality player, and 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.”
BOKS WILL 'GIVE EVERYTHING' TO LIFT TROPHY
Erasmus said the lack of changes wasn’t to be looked into too deeply.
“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 for the closing match of the series,” said Erasmus.
“These players also know exactly what to expect from a very determined All Blacks team, who will give everything to draw the series this weekend.
“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.
“That said, we are equally determined to finish the series strongly and give everything to lift the trophy, and the players are excited about the match.”
POLLARD, MOSTERT SET TO PLAY AGAINST AUSTRALIA
Erasmus said that Handre Pollard and Franco Mostert would probably make their return in the September 26 match against Australia.
“I think the first one is obviously Handre. He's ready. We could have selected Handre as well, and he'll probably play against Australia. Consistency, probably, and then also the game is different the last 30 minutes when everybody's a little bit more tired. There's obviously more gaps in forwards that's a little bit more heavy-footed and they struggle to fill the gaps. But then also, apart from Sascha, obviously Handre’s skill that he has and many things that he can do well, he's a really good defender, and that's normally one of the big things that the All Blacks try to get a real fast start.
“Mane did it really well for us, but Sacha, obviously there's some areas where he's not 100% hitting his straps for us yet, but we must remember he was out for a very long time and it's only his fourth game back, only his third full game that he's played. And Manie, we feel he can come on after five minutes if Sascha gets injured, and we know he can handle the pressure, but we might need him later in the game like we did last weekend.”
The match kicks off at 11pm SA time (5pm EDT) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Springbok fans looking at Saturday's 23:00 (CAT) kick-off like 😏🍿#SSRugby | #RugbysGreatestRivalry https://t.co/OjK6G3tZ0Z pic.twitter.com/TGJTGGIUIG
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 7, 2026
SPRINGBOK TEAM TO FACE THE ALL BLACK IN BALTIMORE:
15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 54 caps, 76 pts (8t, 9c, 4p, 2dg)
14 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars) – 34 caps, 130 pts (26t)
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 93 caps, 125 pts (25t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 102 caps, 60 pts (12t)
11 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 12 caps, 10 pts (2t)
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 23 caps, 184 pts (9t, 47c, 15p)
9 Morne van den Berg (10bet Lions) – 9 caps, 25 pts (5t)
8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 48 caps, 20 pts (4t)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 101 caps, 70 pts (14t)
6 Siya Kolisi (captain, DHL Stormers) – 106 caps, 75 pts (15t)
5 Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears) - 23 caps, 5 pts (1t)
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 145 caps, 45 pts (9t)
3 Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers) – 34 caps, 10 pts (2t)
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 92 caps, 140 pts (28t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 51 caps, 0 pts
Replacements:
16 Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) – 15 caps, 10 pts (2t)
17 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 22 caps, 10 pts (2t)
18 Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 36 caps, 10 pts (2t)
19 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 76 caps, 25 pts (5t)
20 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 34 caps, 30 pts (6t)
21 Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) – 5 caps, 5 pts (1t)
22 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 56 caps, 100 pts (20t)
23 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 33 caps, 143 pts (2t, 47c, 13p)
STATS & FACTS
Springbok record against New Zealand:
Played: 113, Won: 45, Lost: 64, Drawn: 4. Points for: 1 928; Points against: 2 352; Tries scored: 188; Tries conceded: 261. Win per cent: 39,8 per cent.
MISCELLANEOUS
- Eben Etzebeth will extend his record as the most capped Springbok player of all time to 146 caps when he takes the field
- The loose trio of Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese will extend the record they set last week to overtake Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, and Duane Vermeuelen (17) as the loose trio with the most test starts to 19 matches.
- The Springboks have only played three test matches in the USA in history where they defeated the USA 38-7 in 1981 and 43-10 in 2001, while they suffered a narrow 22-20 defeat against Wales in Washington DC in 2018, which was Erasmus’s first test in charge as head coach.
- This match will mark the first Springbok test in history to be played in Baltimore.
- Jasper Wiese requires only one more test match appearance after this encounter to join the group of players who have earned 50 test caps.
- The Springboks have won seven of the last nine matches against the All Blacks dating back to August 2023.
- The 2031 Rugby World Cup will be hosted in the USA.
- The total test caps in the Springbok starting line-up is 927. There are 327 caps in the backline, with 600 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 277 caps.
- The average caps per player in the backline is 47, the forwards 75, while the players on the bench average 35.