Rugby: the Springboks in steamroller mode ahead of the 2027 World Cup

Saturday, September 12, in Baltimore, South Africa thrashed the All Blacks 43-28 in the final round of “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry,” an unprecedented four-test series contested between the two nations. Trailing at halftime (17-14), Rassie Erasmus’s men imposed their physical strength in the second half, scoring two tries in quick succession through Malcolm Marx and then Pieter-Steph du Toit to decisively turn the match in their favor.

This win allows the Boks to claim the series 3-1, after losing the very first clash and then stringing together three consecutive wins, including two in South Africa. This is the sixth time in history that South Africa has won a test-match series against the All Blacks, compared to five for their opponents.

A historic World Rugby ranking record

Beyond the sporting symbolism, this victory has concrete consequences for the global hierarchy. The Springboks now sit at 95.09 points in the World Rugby rankings, their highest total since the rankings were established in 2003, a figure higher than after any of their last three world titles (90.82 in 2007, 94.20 in 2019, 94.54 in 2023).

Their lead over New Zealand, second with 91.15 points, has soared to 3.95 points, something never seen since July 2021. Ireland (88.08) and France (87.43) follow behind, but remain well adrift.

A team in full control of its abilities

This performance comes after an already exceptional 2025: the Springboks retained their Rugby Championship title, inflicted a record defeat on the All Blacks, completed successful tours in France and Ireland, and blew away the score against Wales in Cardiff. The only blemishes on this near-perfect record: a home defeat to Australia and a frustrating loss in Auckland, where South Africa has still not won for nearly 90 years.

On a collective level, the strength of the South African squad lies in a rare depth of roster, symbolized by the famous “time bomb” of their bench, and in a scrum that remains as dominant as ever. Iconic captain Siya Kolisi continues to embody this golden generation, while key players like Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, or Cheslin Kolbe remain world-class at their positions.

Goal: a historic treble in Australia

With a year to go before the 2027 World Cup, no other team currently seems able to match this South African side for any length of time. A third straight world title would give the Springboks a unique place in rugby history, as they already hold the record for titles won with four. The question remains whether the competition (New Zealand, Ireland, France, or Australia, the host country) will manage to close the gap by then. A first clue could emerge as soon as November, when a much-anticipated clash with France’s XV takes place.