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Wiese relishing one last shot at New Zealand to wrap up series in Baltimore

Jasper Wiese has had 38 carries in the first three tests
Jasper Wiese has had 38 carries in the first three testsGALLO IMAGES / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

South Africa number eight Jasper Wiese is relishing the physical contest against old foes New ⁠Zealand in unfamiliar surroundings in Baltimore on Saturday as the battered and bruised sides meet for the fourth weekend in ‌a row.

The Springboks lead the four-game Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series 2-1 heading into ‌the final fixture, with both sides having lost key players ‌to injury in what has been an intriguing sequence of matches full ‌of blood and thunder.

Wiese is the battering ram for the ‌South Africans with his strong carries and will be asked to go hard again at the All Blacks defence. Not that he minds.

"The physical contest is ‌always the nicest part for me," Wiese ⁠told reporters on Tuesday. "Sometimes you ‌are getting dominated, and sometimes you dominate. You won’t win every contact point.

"The ​All Blacks are a physical team, we know that. I am always sore after the game but you take ​a few painkillers on the Sunday and get the body going again on the Monday. Then rinse and repeat."

New Zealand will ⁠be without their skipper ​Ardie Savea after he dislocated a shoulder in the Springboks’ 29-24 win in Soweto last weekend. Wiese admits that will be a loss for their rivals, but says whoever replaces him will be a ‌tough opponent too.

"Ardie is a massive pillar in their team, but I don’t think our preparation changes much," he said. "The other loose forwards there are just as experienced as he is and have played in big games as well. We give all our opponents respect.

"They are going to be desperate in this game, we know that is coming. They are going to come out guns blazing this weekend."

The All Blacks are embarking upon their first full tour of South Africa since 1996! Marketed as the 'Greatest Rivalry' series, the winner will come out not only with the bragging rights but World Rugby's number one ranking. Keep up to date throughout August and September with news, previews and more. 

All tour fixtures | All tour results | Rugby match previewsRugby news

Wiese admits walking around Baltimore is not quite the same ‌experience as Pretoria or Auckland in terms of rugby fans.

"We ​have not spent a lot of time outside the hotel yet," ‌he said. "We had a few people recognise us, not me necessarily but the guys I walk with.

"Hopefully we can show them this weekend what rugby is about. The sport is not as big here, but those in the stadium will ⁠see a game with heart."

The ⁠Springboks named their team on ‌Monday, making two changes to the starting XV.

Nick Said has been covering African sport for almost three decades, specialising in football, rugby and cricket. He is based in Cape Town, South Africa and you can follow him on X and LinkedIn.

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