Springboks Beat New Zealand 43-28 to Win Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry

The Springboks defeated New Zealand 43-28 in Baltimore to secure a 3-1 series victory and become the first winners of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry trophy.

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9/13/20262 min read

Springboks Beat New Zealand 43-28 to Win Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry

The Springboks have been crowned the winners of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry after defeating New Zealand 43-28 in Baltimore, United States, on Saturday, September 12.

South Africa’s victory at M&T Bank Stadium secured a 3-1 series win over the All Blacks and saw the Springboks claim the first-ever Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry trophy.

The result completed a dramatic four-Test series between the two rugby giants. New Zealand won the opening Test 33-16 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, but South Africa responded by winning the next three matches.

The Springboks won the second Test 33-26 in Cape Town before defeating the All Blacks 29-24 at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg to take a 2-1 lead in the series. They then finished the job with a 43-28 victory in Baltimore.

Springboks Pull Away in Baltimore

The final Test was played at M&T Bank Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, in front of 68,173 spectators.

South Africa scored six tries during the match, while New Zealand crossed the line four times. The All Blacks made a strong start and stayed in the contest, but the Springboks produced a powerful second-half performance to pull away and secure the victory.

Morné van den Berg was named Player of the Match after an impressive performance for South Africa. Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cameron Hanekom were also among the Springboks who made a major impact during the second half.

A Historic Rivalry in the United States

The Baltimore Test marked the first time the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry was played in the United States.

The match was the final chapter of the 2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, which brought the All Blacks to South Africa for the first full-scale tour between the nations in 30 years. The tour included four Tests against the Springboks as well as matches against South Africa’s four franchise teams: the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions.

The move to Baltimore was also part of a wider effort to grow rugby in the United States ahead of the country hosting the 2031 men’s Rugby World Cup and the 2033 women’s Rugby World Cup.

Springboks Lift the First-Ever Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Trophy

The 3-1 series victory means South Africa are the first winners of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry trophy.

The trophy was created specifically for the revived rivalry and is made up of two halves that connect magnetically. The design represents the relationship between the Springboks and All Blacks and the unique rivalry between the two nations. The winner of the series receives both halves of the trophy.

For the Springboks, the victory adds another memorable chapter to their rivalry with New Zealand and gives them the first Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry title.

South Africa’s comeback from losing the opening Test to winning the next three has capped off a successful 2026 tour and once again highlighted the intensity of one of rugby’s biggest international rivalries.