Six Springboks ruled out of final All Blacks Test as Rassie Erasmus confirms injury update
Rugby NewsSunday, 06 September 2026 at 09:11
The Springboks will travel to the United States without six members of their squad after Rassie Erasmus confirmed a major personnel update following Saturday’s 29-24 victory over the All Blacks.
⭐ Save us to your Google Favourites for nonstop RUCK content!
South Africa moved 2-1 ahead in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry at FNB Stadium, but the bruising encounter has come at a cost ahead of the fourth and final Test in Baltimore.
Cheslin Kolbe headlines the list of players staying behind after suffering a fractured jaw during the opening stages of Saturday’s victory.
Erasmus confirmed after the match that the 32-year-old will play no part in the series finale.
Six Springboks staying behind
Alongside Kolbe, Carlu Sadie, Boan Venter, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Cobus Wiese and Ben-Jason Dixon will not make the trip to the United States.
Dixon continues to experience concussion symptoms, while the decision also significantly reduces Erasmus’ available front-row depth with props Sadie, Venter and Mchunu all remaining in South Africa.
Kolbe's absence is the most significant fresh blow.
The two-time World Cup winner lasted only nine minutes at FNB Stadium before being forced from the action.
Erasmus subsequently confirmed the extent of the injury, saying: “Cheslin broke his jaw.”
The injury ends Kolbe's involvement in the series after he had produced a man-of-the-match display in South Africa's second-Test victory in Cape Town.
Reinforcements for Rassie
There is, however, considerably better news elsewhere in the Springbok squad.
Damian Willemse, Grant Williams and Canan Moodie are fit to travel, while Aphelele Fassi is also expected to be available for selection.
Scrum-half Herschel Jantjies will also travel following Kolbe's injury, giving Erasmus another option in the backline.
Grant Williams' versatility could prove particularly valuable, with Erasmus confirming that the scrum-half can provide cover on the wing.
Series finale
South Africa head to Baltimore knowing victory would complete a 3-1 series triumph over their greatest rivals.
The Springboks took control of the series with Saturday's dramatic win in Soweto, with tries from Kurt-Lee Arendse, a penalty try, Jesse Kriel and Malcolm Marx helping them edge a fiercely contested encounter.
However, Erasmus insisted there remains plenty of work to do.
The All Blacks have injury problems of their own, with captain Ardie Savea ruled out of the Baltimore Test following a shoulder injury.
The fourth and final Test takes place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, 12 September.
EDITORS PICKS:
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
Loading
