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League: Rugby World CupSport: RugbyCountry: GlobalCategory: Scores & Results

South Africa and New Zealand meet in Baltimore for final test

4 sources • 3 min read • Latest: Sep 13, 2026, 10:14 AM

Last updated Sep 13, 2026

South Africa and New Zealand meet in Baltimore for final test
Summary

South Africa and New Zealand prepare for the fourth test of their series at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore this Saturday. The Springboks currently lead the four-match series 2-1 following a 29-24 victory in Soweto last weekend. This fixture marks a significant event for World Rugby as it serves as a development opportunity ahead of the 2031 World Cup hosted in the United States. Organizers expect a sell-out crowd of 71,000 for the match, which would set a new attendance record for rugby in the country. World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin continues to evaluate potential venues and logistics for the upcoming tournament while managing the transition of international rugby to American soil. Following this series, the focus for both nations shifts toward the World Cup next year in Australia.

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By the Numbers
  • •South Africa enters the final test holding a 2-1 series lead over New Zealand.
  • •The match takes place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
  • •A sell-out crowd of 71,000 is anticipated for the event.
  • •The fixture is a designated staging post for the 2031 World Cup preparation in the United States.
Latest Updates
  • 3:26 AMYahoo Sports — South Africa and NZ rugby captains see record crowd as a 2031 US World Cup 'appetizer'
  • 9:00 AMThe Guardian Sport — Springboks v All Blacks a US World Cup preview in Baltimore as thrilling series goes down to the wire
  • 9:00 AMYahoo Sports — Springboks v All Blacks a US World Cup preview in Baltimore as thrilling series goes down to the wire
What they're saying
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‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ will culminate on US soil on Saturday, a staging post on the road to America hosting the World Cup in 2031 When New Zealand and South Africa kick off at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, there will be more at stake than victory in “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry”, the four-Test series the Springboks lead 2-1. For World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin, the game is a key staging post on the road to the 2031 World Cup, which the US will host – a journey that could include Six Nations games on American soil. “We’ve been in a long process with venues and cities, over the last two years,” Gilpin said, of the build to World Cup kick-off. “We’ve still got 25-plus cities involved in that process, which is fantastic in terms of engagement and enthusiasm. Continue reading...

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The captains of South Africa and New Zealand hoped Saturday’s final Greatest Rivalry rugby test, before almost 70,000 fans at Baltimore’s M&T Stadium, would whet American appetites for the 2031 World Cup, which the United States will host. Saturday's crowd of 68,173 was the largest ever for a rugby international in the U.S. From the colors speckled among the crowd, most were in the green of South Africa with a few black jerseys of New Zealand and a balance of interested neutrals. Saturday's large and enthusiastic crowd suggested there might yet be a foothold for rugby in America, on ground strongly populated by baseball, basketball and football.

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The captains of South Africa and New Zealand hoped Saturday's final Greatest Rivalry rugby Test, in front of almost 70,000 fans at NFL side Baltimore Ravens' stadium, would whet American appetites for the 2031 Rugby World Cup, which the United States will host.

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