All Blacks expecting the unexpected as series comes down to the wire
The All Blacks are preparing for a tactical shift from the Springboks in the final Test of their series in Baltimore. South Africa's coaching staff has signaled an intent to move away from their traditional forward-heavy game plan toward a more expansive attacking style.
Why it matters
High-stakes international rugby matches have significant cultural and economic impacts on the participating nations.
<p>A new-look All Blacks loose forward trio will be primed for another direct approach from the Springboks in the fourth Test in Baltimore on Sunday in the knowledge that the world champions may attempt to go off script at times.</p> <p>The All Blacks will tomorrow travel from Washington DC to a city in Maryland made famous by television series The Wire which was written by a former Baltimore crime reporter and they would be foolish to ignore the clues pointing to a more expansive game plan from the Boks in the final Test of the series.</p> <p>South Africa’s attack was far more effective in the <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/09/06/saveas-injury-adds-to-all-blacks-woes-after-defeat-to-boks/" target="_blank">recent third Test in Soweto </a>and they appear to want to continue with a more expansive approach.
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