In a tense and thrilling match hosted in Johannesburg, the South African rugby team was declared the winner of the third stage with a ۲-۱ victory in a four-game series. However, this victory came at a cost, as two major stars of the field were forced to leave the game due to injuries.
Painful Injuries
Kolbe, the ۳۲-year-old winger from South Africa and two-time Rugby World Cup champion, left the field after ۱۰ minutes of play due to a jaw injury. Meanwhile, Damian Willemse was unable to take the field due to a hamstring strain.
On the other side of the field, Ardie Savea, the captain of New Zealand and the team's number eight, established himself as one of the stars of the match by scoring two goals in the first half, but was sidelined from the last game of this series in Baltimore due to a shoulder injury.
A Breathtaking Battle
South Africa's head coach, Erasmus, said in a post-match interview: "It was a tough battle in all areas. We are happy to have won and we appreciate the performance of the opposing team." He also referred to the opponent's style of play, stating: "We play in a specific way, and they play in another. Sometimes we win, and sometimes they do. This is part of the appeal of rugby."
New Zealand's head coach, Dave Rennie, also expressed concern about the fluctuations in the game, saying: "In the second half, we had some unnecessary fouls that gave the opponent the opportunity to take control of the game. In the decisive moments, they put us under pressure."
Ethan Hawker, the South African winger and the standout player of the match, after receiving the Player of the Match award, emphasized the importance of focusing on his own team, stating: "We try to focus more on ourselves than on our opponents. This is the key to our success."
