Springbok player Cheslin Kolbe ruled out for eight weeks due to jaw injury ahead of URC matches

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi emphasized that South Africa does not intend to settle for a draw in the series against the All Blacks, as they prepare for the final match in Baltimore against an updated All Blacks team.

Kolisi stated that the Springboks aim to fully realize their potential to defeat the All Blacks in the fourth and final test match, which will take place on Saturday. The series currently stands at 2-1 following Springboks victories in Cape Town and Soweto.

However, Kolisi insists that the team's mentality is focused solely on winning the series outright, rather than just maintaining the current advantage. 'We definitely want to win the series. We don't want a draw. We want to win the series for South Africa,' said the Springboks captain. 'That is our mindset heading into this week.'

The All Blacks have made several changes for the decisive match, the most noticeable of which is the return of world-renowned playmaker Richie Mo'unga, as well as increased experience in their backline. Kolisi noted that the Springboks expected Mo'unga's selection and are well aware of the threat posed by a player of his caliber.

'Richie Mo'unga, we know he is world-renowned. I think the coaching staff anticipated this selection,' he commented. 'He is a world-class player, and we greatly appreciate how he plays.'

Kolisi also predicts that New Zealand will adopt a more open approach in ball possession, especially given Mo'unga's leadership in attack. 'I think the All Blacks will be even bolder in terms of ball retention, attempts to use space, and wide channels,' he stated. 'We know how dangerous they are. We have played against them many times. We have done our homework.'

Nevertheless, the captain stressed that South Africa's main goal is to impose its own physical dominance, rather than trying to predict the opponent's actions. 'The main thing for us is to ensure we execute our game, to ensure we beat them physically on match day.'

The four-match series created a unique tactical challenge for both teams, as each side had three consecutive matches to study the opponent before the final on Saturday. 'You play with the same team four times, so they will learn you throughout the game, and you will learn them too,' Kolisi explained. 'So you need to find other things, other ways, or other weaknesses in them that you can exploit.'

Eight changes made by New Zealand after the Soweto match added another layer of complexity to the confrontation. 'We are playing almost against a new team compared to last week, and that creates a different dynamic,' said Kolisi. 'These weekend could be different from the previous three games, but it is always exciting.'

The Springboks captain dismissed suggestions that external noise or pressure would affect their tactical plan. 'The expectations we carry are what we want to achieve for each other. What everyone says outside our circle doesn't really matter. We do what we want for ourselves. We know who we are, and we stick to our style of play.'

This does not mean a rigid game plan, as Kolisi emphasized the versatility of the squad—from traditional set-piece battles to open play in the backline. 'We have seen what we have done over many years. We can play in a 70s-style game, and then we have guys we can give freedom in attack. Our system is designed to give us freedom. It doesn't say: 'Play like this.' It just creates opportunities for us to play.'

Acknowledging the physical toll of three heavy matches, Kolisi highlighted the necessity of giving maximum effort at the M&T Bank Stadium. 'The physical load will make it harder for the body,' he admitted. 'So we just have to make sure we finish strongly tomorrow.'

As a large number of South African expatriates gathered in Maryland, Kolisi added a final word to the fans lining the streets of Baltimore and those watching at home: 'I see that many South Africans have arrived, and there is a good atmosphere. We want to do our part to represent them.'

Despite Cheslin Kolbe sustaining a jaw fracture, which forces him to miss the final match of the series in Baltimore, Rassie Erasmus highly praised the epic victory of the Springboks over the All Blacks with a score of 29-24. This victory allowed the Springboks to take a 2-1 lead in the greatest rugby rivalry.

The Greatest Rugby Rivalry

Rassie Erasmus called the match an 'epic' battle, but he reported that Cheslin Kolbe was injured and will be unable to participate in next week's match in Baltimore. The victory achieved in Soccer City gave the Springboks the lead in the confrontation, but it came at the cost of losing key players on both sides in a match played in an extremely tense atmosphere.

Although the All Blacks still have a chance to level the score in Baltimore, Erasmus realizes that his team will require another monumental effort in the USA.

'It was truly an epic test match,' said Erasmus, his voice hoarse after eighty minutes as he directed his players via microphone. 'The All Blacks can still level the score in Baltimore, but obviously, we are happy tonight.'

The second half of the match saw the Springboks lose Kolbe, and New Zealand suffered a serious blow when captain Ardie Savea was forced off the field.

Erasmus added, 'I don't want to complain again because I got into trouble for it, and I apologize for that,' he said with a smile. 'But yes, it was epic. It was intense. It was a really good test match in every sense of the word, because we were pushed to the limit.'

He continued, 'Both teams lost vital players. We lost Cheslin, and I regret to tell you that he has a fractured jaw, so obviously, he won't travel to the USA. They lost their captain, Savea.'

'It was a fierce battle in all departments, and the final score showed how close it was. We are just happy we won. Now both teams are flying to the USA, and we understand that we must repeat this in Baltimore.'

Erasmus was particularly impressed by the All Blacks' ability to retain possession and create opportunities from play after infringements. He noted, 'They handle the ball brilliantly. None of us can say they don't retain the ball; they play according to their strengths.'

The Springboks also faced a yellow card for Sacha Feinberg-Musengomozulu, which exacerbated the setbacks caused by Kolbe's injury. Erasmus mentioned, 'Last week we lost Damian Willemse in the first half, and this week it was Cheslin, and then we had a yellow card for Sacha.'

'This put us under pressure, and we had to develop plans,' he added. The teams were tied 12-12 at halftime, but Erasmus admitted that the Springboks could not fully utilize the conditions before the break and knew that the wind would be a factor after the rest.

'Fortunately, the score was level at halftime, 12-12, but then we realized we were playing against the wind,' he said. 'I don't think we fully utilized that to our advantage in the first half. There were some penalties that Sacha could have kicked from distance, and our play wasn't the cleanest. Obviously, we were nervous, and they were nervous. This was the world's first team against the world's second team. We are not sitting here thinking we are amazing. We know we have a lot of work to do before Baltimore.'

Cezlin Kolbe, a back for the Springboks, took selfies with fans at the stadium in Cape Town after the second game of the 2026 Rugby World Cup 'Greatest Rivalry' series, which South Africans won 33-26.

Kolbe noted that the team might have felt the nation's mood of disappointment during the week leading up to the decisive victory over the All Blacks in Cape Town, and they were determined to give their fans a reason to celebrate.

The Springboks managed to recover from a shocking 33-16 defeat in Ellis Park by securing a tight 33-26 win at the stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, leveling the 'Greatest Rivalry' series at 1-1.

For Kolbe, this match held special significance. Being from Cape Town and starting his rugby career in the city, the opportunity to play for the Springboks against New Zealand in front of a full home crowd was a childhood dream come true.

Kolbe stated: 'Cape Town is obviously a special place for me because I was born here. I started my rugby career here.' He added: 'Getting the chance to play for the Springboks against New Zealand in Cape Town is a huge event. Every test match is important, but just traveling to training and to the game tonight to see the people coming out to support the guys, that is truly special.' He emphasized: 'We must never take for granted what this team can do for the country and for the people.'

After a tough week following the major loss in Ellis Park, Kolbe reported that the players sensed the change in atmosphere at home. He said: 'We felt negativity—or not negativity, but less energy during the week due to last week's loss.' He continued: 'As I always say, if we lose, it's 'Blou Maandag' (Blue Monday). We felt it, but we just wanted to fix it tonight. It wasn't easy at all. We needed to stay in the fight.'

Kolbe played an important role in the victory and also established himself as a useful option for scoring points, taking on greater responsibility with his Japanese club throughout the season. The small winger said that scoring goals was not a skill he suddenly added to his game, but rather a capability he had been developing throughout his professional career. 'Regarding kicks, I worked on it and trained since the beginning of my professional career. I just keep working on it,' he said.

However, his experience as a primary kicker in Japan helped refine his technique. Kolbe noted: 'Taking responsibility for scoring throughout the season definitely contributed to my kicking style and technique. I can also thank the coaches in Japan because they work hard with me. Tony (Brown) in the Springboks slightly changed some things for me so I could achieve more consistency.'

Kolbe acknowledged that there is no substitute for constant hard work, regardless of how confident he feels in his range. 'Obviously, you don't step onto the field wanting to miss a kick. You do everything possible to contribute to the team's success,' he stated. 'I will just continue to monitor working on this skill throughout the week. Hopefully, it pays off on the weekend.'

When asked how far he thinks he can kick, Kolbe was less certain. He joked: 'I don't know. I think most balls today just go past the posts. I can't give you an honest radar reading of how far I can go.'

For Kolbe, developing another skill is simply part of being a modern professional rugby player. 'You always need to bring something new to the team. You need to develop and grow as a player and individually too,' he said. 'Ultimately, it contributes to the team's success. I am sincerely blessed with talent that I am grateful for. I will just continue to work hard and do my best.'

Despite the victory being very pleasant, Kolbe was already looking ahead to the next challenge, warning that the All Blacks would respond just as the Springboks reacted after the loss in Ellis Park. 'When you lose, the team comes to prove its point. That happened to us tonight.' He added: 'Now we just need to keep our feet on the ground, get back on Monday, and see where we didn't capitalize on opportunities. New Zealand is a good, quality team. They attack very well and passed us several times. We definitely need to look at where we can improve and become better as a team.'

Nevertheless, the event itself will remain unforgettable for Kolbe. 'For me, honestly, every test match is special. This one today, the greatest rivalry of the tour,' he said. 'I think we are going back 30 years to when this started. For us, as a group, getting the chance to be part of the greatest rivalry is incredible. It is huge for South Africa, for global sport in general. I can definitely say this match is among the best.'

Since the series is now tied, Kolbe knows that motivation will not be abundant in either side when the rivals meet again. However, at the moment, he believes the main lesson from Cape Town is the determination and fight shown by the Springboks when they were in a desperate situation. 'I think just the determination, the fight of every player tonight was incredible.'