As the Springboks and All Blacks prepare to travel to Baltimore for the concluding match of their thrilling rugby test series, they will do so without two of their star players: South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe and New Zealand's Ardie Savea. Both athletes sustained serious injuries during the third test on Saturday, which saw the Springboks secure a narrow 29-24 victory, taking a 2-1 lead in the four-test series.
Cheslin Kolbe, who has been a standout performer and the Springboks' reliable goalkicker throughout the series, suffered a broken jaw after a collision with New Zealand's Luke Jacobson. Meanwhile, Savea, the captain of the All Blacks, is likely facing a dislocated right shoulder following a tackle by Jasper Wiese. In addition to these injuries, New Zealand center Quinn Tupaea also sustained damage to his medial collateral ligament (MCL), further depleting the All Blacks' squad ahead of the final match scheduled for next Saturday at the NFL's Baltimore Ravens stadium.
Despite the setbacks, neither team plans to make replacements for the injured players, indicating a commitment to the current squad as they head into the decisive match. Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus expressed relief at his team's performance in the third test, particularly after they had lost the first match of the series. "It was epic, it was intense," Erasmus remarked. "We’re just happy we won." He attributed the success to the depth of understanding and experience within the Springboks team, which he has overseen since 2018, contrasting it with the relatively shorter tenure of New Zealand coach Dave Rennie.
Rennie acknowledged the fine margins that separated the two teams, expressing frustration at missed opportunities and errors that ultimately cost the All Blacks the match. "It’s frustrating because there was a lot of effort out there, but we just weren’t clinical in that first half and couldn’t wrestle momentum back when it mattered in that second half," he stated. The All Blacks had taken a brief lead in the second half at 17-12, only to relinquish it moments later when South Africa's Jesse Kriel capitalized on a defensive lapse.
Rennie also pointed to critical moments that shifted the game's momentum, including a miscommunication that allowed Malcolm Marx to score from a driving maul. "We scrambled to try and get in front of it, and they kept rolling through us. It was the only maul that troubled us today. It’s disappointing," he added, reflecting on the team's inability to recover from pivotal plays.
With the series hanging in the balance, both teams will need to adapt quickly to their new circumstances as they look to secure victory in Baltimore. The absence of Kolbe and Savea will undoubtedly be felt, but it also presents an opportunity for other players to step up and make their mark in this high-stakes matchup.
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