South Africa runs over New Zealand in front of North American record 68,173 in Baltimore rugby match

Key Points:

• South Africa defeated New Zealand 43-28 in front of a North American rugby record crowd of 68,173 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, winning the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series 3-1.
• The match showcased high-quality test rugby, with South Africa demonstrating powerful offense and gold-standard defense, raising the bar for other nations aiming to challenge them ahead of the 2024 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
• The event featured cultural highlights such as South Africa’s Zulu warriors and New Zealand’s traditional haka, emphasizing rugby’s growing appeal in the United States ahead of the 2031 men’s and 2033 women’s Rugby World Cups to be held there.
• South Africa’s coach Rassie Erasmus utilized squad depth effectively, while captain Siya Kolisi praised the mutual respect between the teams and expressed gratitude to fans for their support both in the U.S. and South Africa.
• Despite New Zealand’s strong attacking efforts and a late consolation try by Beauden Barrett, South Africa maintained control throughout, underscoring their status as favorites for a third consecutive World Cup title.