Veteran hooker Codie Taylor was named captain of a much-changed All Blacks side for the series finale against the Springboks in Baltimore, according to Planetrugby. Having been left out of the starting team for the third Test in Soweto, Taylor was recalled to the starting lineup and given the captaincy armband following a wave of squad changes and injuries under head coach Dave Rennie.
Codie Taylor Steps Up as All Blacks Captain for Baltimore Showdown
The All Blacks entered the final match trailing 2-1 in the four-Test series after taking an initial 1-0 lead with a 33-16 victory in Johannesburg on August 22. South Africa subsequently claimed victories in Cape Town (33-26) and Soweto (29-24) to secure the series advantage before the teams traveled to the United States.
Injury Setbacks and Squad Overhaul Force Changes
New Zealand’s preparations for the decisive clash were heavily impacted by physical setbacks. The All Blacks lost captain Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson, and Quinn Tupaea to injuries, while Fabian Holland was ruled out due to illness. Savea suffered a dislocated shoulder after scoring twice in Johannesburg, and Tupaea sustained an MCL injury, opening the door for Taylor to take over leadership responsibilities.
In addition to Taylor’s promotion, the selection was marked by the long-awaited return of Richie Mo’unga to the starting lineup at flyhalf. According to Briefly, the 32-year-old Mo’unga started his first Test since the 2023 World Cup final against South Africa. Head coach Dave Rennie noted that the flyhalf was always planned to feature in Baltimore regardless of the series standing, stating that the player had prepared well throughout the week.
The sweeping changes extended across the squad, with Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ethan Blackadder, and Anton Lienert-Brown making their first Test starts of the series. Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord also returned to the side after clearing World Rugby’s concussion protocols.
Historic US Venue and Financial Stakes
The series finale marked the first time the All Blacks played a Test at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, the home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. The venue drew a record-breaking Test rugby attendance of 68,173 spectators, a milestone that Taylor suggested bodes well for the region as the country prepares to host the Rugby World Cup in 2031.
Beyond the sporting stakes of leveling the four-Test series, the fixture carried significant commercial value. Moving the fourth Test to the United States was projected to be highly lucrative, with both the Springboks and All Blacks unions reportedly positioned to pocket an additional R90 million compared with hosting the match in South Africa. The financial package and venue selection also aligned with World Rugby’s broader efforts to expand the game’s presence in the United States ahead of the 2031 tournament.
Match Outcome and Reflections
Despite a resilient effort that saw New Zealand trail by just three points at halftime, the All Blacks were ultimately defeated 43-28 in the second half, leaving them behind by a 15-point margin at the final whistle.
Reflecting on the tour and the defeat, Taylor maintained an optimistic outlook on the team’s trajectory. Reflecting on the first game, we probably created a few more moments in that second half and applied a lot of pressure, and then we probably fell short to a few crucial moments in those last three Tests and South Africa are just a bloody good side,
Taylor said, as reported by Planetrugby. He added that the group has grown significantly off the field and viewed the challenging campaign as a positive stepping stone toward future competitions.
