South Africa cemented its place as the world’s number one team, absolutely rolling New Zealand 3-1 in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series. After dropping the opening Test in Johannesburg, the world champions went on a rampage, winning three straight games and sealing the series with a comfortable 43-28 victory right here in Baltimore. If you thought the Springboks were done dominating, think again. This series was a statement.
South Africa’s Pack: Unstoppable Force Meets Immovable Will
Listen, folks, Tony Brown came in as attack coach in 2024, all about that “cohesive attacking shape” and “sharp ball movement.” Yeah, they tried to play expansive a couple of times. But when push came to shove, especially after getting outscored in tries in the first two Tests, the Springboks flipped the switch. They went straight back to what they do best: that brutal, beautiful pack-power trump card that won them back-to-back World Cups. We’re talking about pure, unadulterated dominance.
Nothing showed that more clearly than the monster maul that kicked off inside New Zealand’s 22, ending with Malcolm Marx peeling off to score the decisive try. That was a thing of beauty, if you ask me! And don’t forget the penalty try from a scrum in the first half. Schalk Brits, a 2019 World Cup winner, put it perfectly: “I don’t care if it is beautiful or not. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I love a maul and scrum.” He’s not wrong! Their power was just too much for the All Blacks, and it’s a familiar formula they know can bring them three straight World Cups. With veterans like Marx (32), Eben Etzebeth (34), Pieter-Steph du Toit (34), Siya Kolisi (35), Damian de Allende (34), and Cheslin Kolbe (32) still starting, this experienced core isn’t slowing down.
All Blacks Show a Glimmer, Feinberg-Mngomezulu Still Searching
Now, let’s give the All Blacks some credit. They might have lost the series, but they showed some real fight, especially under Dave Rennie, who had to hit the ground running after Scott Robertson’s dismissal in January. That stunning 33-16 Test win over South Africa at Ellis Park? That injected some serious jeopardy into the series and proved Rennie isn’t just some “not flashy” appointment. They’ve still got signs of promise. You can feel it.
On the Springboks side, fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu returned from an injury suffered at the end of May to start all four Tests. He was even initially set for the bench in the second match before Handre Pollard pulled out. While he definitely got better as the series went on, you have to admit, he lacked those “usual flashes of individual brilliance” we’ve come to expect. It leaves you wondering, will South Africa turn back to the 32-year-old Pollard, just like they did in 2023, when the biggest occasions call for closing out games? That’s a huge question heading into next year.
So, what’s next? This series replaced this year’s Rugby Championship, and we’ll see it again in 2029. But the real talk is the Rugby World Cup next year. South Africa just reminded everyone why they’re the world’s best, and they’ve got their eyes locked on history. It’s gonna be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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