South Africa Clinches Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Series with Victory in Baltimore

South Africa won the inaugural Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series 3-1 after defeating New Zealand 43-28 in Baltimore. The match took place before a US record crowd of more than 68,000 people, many of whom were expatriate South Africans. The Springboks scored six tries to New Zealand's four to secure the win. Coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Siya Kolisi both dedicated the victory to South Africans from all walks of life, including those on farms and in townships.

During the post-match proceedings, Erasmus acknowledged that the team's methods sometimes annoy others around the world, but he stated that the primary motivation for the team is the happiness of the South African people. He noted that the margin between the two teams remains small and that the game was still in the balance at the 60 minute mark. He specifically highlighted a try by wing Kurt-Lee Arendse as a pivotal turning point in the contest.

While the center-right coverage focused heavily on the emotional tributes to the fans and the mutual respect between the two nations, the center-left coverage framed the victory as a demonstration of South African dominance. The center-left report characterized the Springboks as World Cup favorites and analyzed the result in the context of the upcoming tournament, suggesting that other nations like France, England, and Australia face a significant challenge in denying South Africa a third successive World Cup title.