The Springboks have arrived in the United States fresh off a thrilling 29-24 victory over New Zealand at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
The hard-fought win gives South Africa a 2-1 lead in the historic four-match series. Hours after the final whistle, both squads boarded the same transatlantic flight, touching down in Baltimore on Sunday afternoon ahead of the series finale.
Should the Boks win Saturday’s Test at the M&T Bank Stadium, they will clinch the series title. However, a victory for the All Blacks would see the traditional rivals draw the series at two victories apiece.
For rising star Ethan Hooker, who put in a masterful performance to be named Man of the Match, the atmosphere in Johannesburg is something that will live with him forever.
“Playing in front of close to 90 000 people in Soweto was awesome,” Hooker said, reflecting on the packed stadium. “The guys feeding off that atmosphere was something else, and next weekend is going to be awesome too. It’s a neutral venue so it’s going to be closer to 50-50 [in terms of the support], but it is my first time in America, and I’m looking forward to the experience.”
The unique structure of this year's schedule means both sides are navigating uncharted waters, testing the depth and mental fortitude of rugby's two greatest powerhouses.
“We normally have the privilege of facing the All Blacks twice a year, but now we have the chance to play them four times back-to-back,” Hooker added. “It’s tough mentally and physically, but we are all honoured and really privileged to be able to face such a prestigious team four times in a row.”
The Boks found themselves under immense scrutiny after suffering a defeat in the opening game of the series. Facing a potential deficit, the team showed championship composure to turn the tide in the third test.
Responding to the switch the Boks made after that opening loss, Hooker revealed the collective mindset that revived their campaign: “There was quite a bit of pressure, especially after losing the first game, but we knew the third game was always going to be make-or-break for either team.
“We tried to focus on ourselves, what we do, and what works for us, and as a group we said we’re going to put everything into that game, and if we win, great, but if we lose, we’ll go again next week.”
Despite holding the upper hand in the series, Hooker insists the world champions are far from satisfied and are treating the historic Baltimore clash with the ultimate seriousness.
“We still have one game to play, so it’s not done,” Hooker warned. “We want to lift our standards, and we’re going to focus all our energy on that.”