JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that Cheslin Kolbe fractured his jaw and will miss the Springboks' final Test against New Zealand in Baltimore on Saturday, 12 September 2026. The coach also named five other South African players who will remain at home, while stressing that the four-match series is not yet won despite a 2-1 lead.
The update followed South Africa's 29-24 victory at FNB Stadium on 5 September. It moved attention from the Soweto result to the teams' medical lists, travel plans and the unusual prospect of a shared trophy if New Zealand level the series in the United States.
What did Rassie Erasmus say about Cheslin Kolbe? Erasmus said Kolbe fractured his jaw during the first half of South Africa's 29-24 win over New Zealand and will not travel to Baltimore. Five other Springboks are also staying home, while three recently injured backs have been cleared to travel.
A 2-1 lead, not a completed series victory
South Africa's official match-centre result records the 29-24 win over New Zealand at FNB Stadium. The result left the Springboks one victory ahead with one Test remaining, rather than ending the contest outright.
In SuperSport's post-match account, Erasmus rejected suggestions that the Soweto game had completed the series. South Africa cannot lose the series, but New Zealand can win in Baltimore to make it 2-2. The coach explained that a drawn series would result in the trophy being shared.
That distinction is the central point for supporters searching after the third Test.
The Springboks have secured at least a share of the series; they have not yet secured an outright series win. Reuters also reported that Erasmus saw little separation between the teams despite South Africa's second consecutive victory, describing the scoreline as evidence of the contest's narrow margin.
The Baltimore fixture is part of the inaugural edition of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry. SA Rugby's original tour announcement lists four Tests, with the fourth scheduled for 12 September at an international venue. SuperSport has since identified M&T Bank Stadium as the venue and listed an 11 PM South African kick-off.
Kolbe heads the list of six staying home
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Rassie Erasmus Confirms Kolbe Injury Before Baltimore
Sep 6, 2026
Sep 6, 2026
5 min read
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Updated:
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that Cheslin Kolbe fractured his jaw and will miss the Springboks' final Test against New Zealand in Baltimore on Saturday, 12 September 2026. The coach also named five other South African players who will remain at home, while stressing that the four-match series is not yet won despite a 2-1 lead.
The update followed South Africa's 29-24 victory at FNB Stadium on 5 September. It moved attention from the Soweto result to the teams' medical lists, travel plans and the unusual prospect of a shared trophy if New Zealand level the series in the United States.
What did Rassie Erasmus say about Cheslin Kolbe? Erasmus said Kolbe fractured his jaw during the first half of South Africa's 29-24 win over New Zealand and will not travel to Baltimore. Five other Springboks are also staying home, while three recently injured backs have been cleared to travel.
A 2-1 lead, not a completed series victory
South Africa's official match-centre result records the 29-24 win over New Zealand at FNB Stadium. The result left the Springboks one victory ahead with one Test remaining, rather than ending the contest outright.
In SuperSport's post-match account, Erasmus rejected suggestions that the Soweto game had completed the series. South Africa cannot lose the series, but New Zealand can win in Baltimore to make it 2-2. The coach explained that a drawn series would result in the trophy being shared.
That distinction is the central point for supporters searching after the third Test.
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The Springboks have secured at least a share of the series; they have not yet secured an outright series win. Reuters also reported that Erasmus saw little separation between the teams despite South Africa's second consecutive victory, describing the scoreline as evidence of the contest's narrow margin.
The Baltimore fixture is part of the inaugural edition of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry. SA Rugby's original tour announcement lists four Tests, with the fourth scheduled for 12 September at an international venue. SuperSport has since identified M&T Bank Stadium as the venue and listed an 11 PM South African kick-off.
Kolbe heads the list of six staying home
Kolbe left the field during the first half in Soweto. Erasmus later said the wing had fractured his jaw and would not travel to the United States. The diagnosis was independently carried by Reuters through The Straits Times, which reported that the injury occurred before half-time.
The five other Springboks staying behind are props Carlu Sadie, Boan Venter and Ntuthuko Mchunu, together with utility forwards Cobus Wiese and Ben-Jason Dixon. The update did not assign a new diagnosis to each of those five players, so their absence should not be treated as proof of one shared injury cause.
There was better news for the backline. Erasmus said Damian Willemse, Grant Williams and Canan Moodie are fit and will travel after dealing with injuries in recent weeks. Their availability gives the selectors options as they replace Kolbe and prepare for another tight contest.
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The personnel update also adds context to XTRAfrica's earlier report on the Springboks' coaching structure. The Baltimore week will test how Erasmus and his assistants adapt the squad after a physical third Test rather than simply repeat the Soweto combination.
New Zealand also loses Ardie Savea
The All Blacks face a major absence of their own. New Zealand's official third-Test match report says captain Ardie Savea suffered a shoulder injury and will not travel to the United States.
Savea scored two tries before leaving the field. His absence removes one of New Zealand's most influential ball carriers and leaders from a match the visitors must win to share the series. It also means both teams will prepare without a headline player who was forced off in the first half at FNB Stadium.
The official All Blacks account confirms that New Zealand still has a route to a 2-2 finish. That makes selection announcements, captaincy decisions and replacement combinations more consequential than they would be for a ceremonial final match.
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What changes before Baltimore
The immediate story is no longer whether South Africa won in Soweto; that result is settled. The live questions are who replaces Kolbe, how the Springboks use Willemse, Williams and Moodie, and who leads New Zealand without Savea.
Erasmus said both teams would share a flight to the United States before returning to camp. The compressed turnaround gives medical assessment and travel recovery an unusually visible role in the build-up.
For South African viewers, XTRAfrica's broader sports and broadcast guide provides background on following major fixtures, but the official unions and broadcasters remain the controlling sources for the 12 September team sheets and kick-off information.
Until those squads are published, confirmed facts should remain separate from selection guesses. Kolbe and the five named forwards will not travel; Willemse, Williams and Moodie are available; Savea is out for New Zealand; and the series remains open to an outright South African win or a 2-2 draw.
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