South Africa edges All Blacks in thrilling series finale to claim trophy

BALTIMORE — South Africa claimed the Rugby Championship trophy with a commanding victory over New Zealand, finishing their tour series with a 3-1 advantage after a hard-fought final test match.

The Springboks' 43-28 triumph marked the culmination of an intense four-match campaign that remained genuinely competitive throughout. According to the South African camp, the outcome hung in the balance until approximately 10 minutes from full-time, when the hosts finally pulled away decisively.

The series victory underscores South Africa's continued dominance in the southern hemisphere rugby landscape. Despite New Zealand's traditional strength and pedigree, the Springboks proved their capacity to perform under pressure in a closely contested engagement that was decided only in its closing stages.

With the trophy secured, South Africa completed a successful tour that demonstrated the squad's ability to maintain intensity across multiple tests against one of rugby's most formidable opponents. The 15-point final margin belied the competitive nature of the encounter, reflecting the narrow margins that separated the teams for most of the match.