Springboks vs All Blacks Baltimore: Teams, Kick-Off & Prediction

Springboks vs All Blacks Baltimore: the series finale

The Springboks face the All Blacks at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, 12 September 2026, with kick-off at 23:00 SAST. South Africa lead the four-Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series 2-1, so a Bok win secures the series 3-1 while a New Zealand victory would level it 2-2.

Match detail	Information
Fixture	South Africa vs New Zealand
Date	Saturday, 12 September 2026
Kick-off	23:00 SAST
Venue	M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Series position	South Africa lead 2-1
South African TV	SuperSport

The Baltimore Test is more than an exhibition in a new market. It decides whether South Africa finish the inaugural series with an outright victory or whether New Zealand recover to force a draw. The match also takes one of rugby’s biggest rivalries to the United States, which will host the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031.

How the Springboks took a 2-1 lead

New Zealand opened the series with a 33-16 victory at Ellis Park. South Africa responded by winning 33-26 in Cape Town, before taking the third Test at FNB Stadium in Soweto to move 2-1 ahead.

That makes Baltimore the genuine decider. The Springboks have won the last two Tests, but the opening match remains a reminder of how quickly New Zealand can punish errors and turn disrupted possession into points.

Confirmed Springbok team for Baltimore

Rassie Erasmus has made only two changes to the starting side from the third Test. Damian Willemse returns at fullback in place of the injured Cheslin Kolbe, while Morne van den Berg starts at scrumhalf and Cobus Reinach moves to the bench.

Springboks: Damian Willemse; Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Ethan Hooker; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg; Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain); Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth; Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche.

Replacements: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok.

The selection is a strong vote for continuity. Rather than rotate heavily after three demanding Tests, Erasmus has kept faith with the combinations that put South Africa ahead in the series.

All Blacks injury picture

New Zealand travelled to the United States without three players injured in the third Test. Captain Ardie Savea was ruled out with a dislocated shoulder, Quinn Tupaea suffered a knee injury and Luke Jacobson injured an elbow tendon.

The travelling group still contains substantial experience, including Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, Jordie Barrett, Codie Taylor, Tupou Vaa’i, Will Jordan and Damian McKenzie. The final match-day selection should be checked against New Zealand Rugby before kick-off.

Three battles that could decide the Test

1. South Africa’s scrum against New Zealand’s exits

The Springboks will want their front row and replacement forwards to create pressure that becomes territory and points. New Zealand cannot afford to give South Africa repeated attacking platforms through poor exits or avoidable penalties.

2. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Morne van den Berg

Van den Berg’s promotion gives South Africa a different tempo at scrumhalf, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu remains central to how the Boks balance kicking, carrying and attacking width. Their control against an All Blacks side desperate to level the series will be important.

3. Life without Ardie Savea

Savea’s absence removes New Zealand’s captain and one of their most influential breakdown and carrying threats. The All Blacks still have quality loose forwards, but South Africa will test that reshaped combination around the contact area.

Why Baltimore matters

M&T Bank Stadium is the home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens and has a capacity of more than 70,000. New Zealand Rugby says this will be the All Blacks’ sixth Test on United States soil.

For rugby, the fixture is also a high-profile opportunity to reach an American audience five years before the United States hosts the 2031 Rugby World Cup. For the teams, however, the immediate objective is much simpler: South Africa can win the series; New Zealand can save it.

Our Springboks vs All Blacks prediction

South Africa have the momentum of consecutive victories and have retained almost the entire starting combination from Soweto. New Zealand’s injury losses, particularly Savea, add to the challenge of responding after two defeats.

The neutral venue reduces South Africa’s usual home advantage, and the All Blacks have enough attacking quality to keep the contest close. But the Bok pack, continuity in selection and current series momentum give South Africa the edge.

Prediction: Springboks by 1-10 points.

Treat that as a match prediction, not a guarantee. Betting prices move as team news and markets change, so compare current odds at licensed South African bookmakers and never stake more than you can afford to lose.

How to watch in South Africa

The Baltimore Test is scheduled for 23:00 SAST on Saturday night. SuperSport has confirmed live coverage in South Africa. Because this is a late kick-off, South African viewers should note that the match will run into the early hours of Sunday morning.

Recent Springboks vs All Blacks coverage

BestCasinoSA has followed the series throughout the South African leg. Read our Cape Town Test report, our FNB Stadium preview, and the five lessons from the Soweto Test for more context before Baltimore.

Official sources

Team and fixture information was checked against SA Rugby and New Zealand Rugby. Match-official information is available from World Rugby.

Springboks vs All Blacks Baltimore FAQ

What time is Springboks vs All Blacks in Baltimore?

Kick-off is 23:00 SAST on Saturday, 12 September 2026. The local Baltimore start time is 17:00 EDT.

Where is the match being played?

The fourth Test is at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.

What is the series score?

South Africa lead the four-Test series 2-1. A Springbok victory wins the series outright, while an All Blacks win produces a 2-2 draw.

Who replaces Cheslin Kolbe?

Damian Willemse starts at fullback after Kolbe was ruled out following the third Test.

Is Ardie Savea playing?

No. New Zealand Rugby confirmed that Savea was ruled out after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the third Test.

What is the BestCasinoSA prediction?

Our pre-match prediction is Springboks by 1-10 points, based on South Africa’s series momentum, selection continuity and New Zealand’s injury losses. It remains a prediction rather than a certainty.