Springboks and All Blacks to catch SAME flight to United States

The Springboks and All Blacks will go from fierce rivals on the rugby field to travelling companions in the space of 24 hours.

In one of the more unusual twists of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, South Africa and New Zealand will board the same charter flight to Baltimore after their third Test at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday, 5 September.

The two heavyweight rugby nations are locked in a four-Test series, with the final match to be played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, 12 September.

Kick-off is at 23:00 (SA time).

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But before they can resume hostilities on American soil, the players and coaching staff will spend hours travelling together across the Atlantic.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus admitted that the unusual arrangement was something of a novelty.

“It’s kind of a weird thing to do,” Erasmus said.

“We fly on the same charter on Sunday, us and New Zealand on the same plane.

“The day before we were coming hard at each other and now we’re sitting on a plane together for 12 or 15 hours.”

From rivals to travelling companions

The timing makes the journey even more intriguing.

The Springboks and All Blacks will first go head-to-head in front of a massive crowd at FNB Stadium, with the third Test expected to be another bruising chapter in one of international rugby’s greatest rivalries.

Then, almost immediately after the final whistle, the two squads will switch from opponents to passengers.

Instead of separate team aircraft, they will share the same charter flight heading to the United States.

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It is an unusual situation, but not entirely unprecedented for Erasmus.

“We have done it a few times with the Pumas when we have played them in South Africa, and the next week had a return game in Argentina,” he previously explained.

The long journey will also put an added emphasis on recovery.

“It’s an interesting experience, but recovery is going to be important,” Erasmus said.

“It’s the same for both teams.”

With four Tests being played in four weeks, the physical demands on both squads are considerable.

Springboks welcome reinforcements

The Springboks will also have several players returning to the squad for the Baltimore clash.

Handré Pollard, Grant Williams and Canan Moodie are expected to travel to the United States and be available for selection.

Pollard has been sidelined with a calf injury, while Williams has recovered from the grade-one hamstring injury he suffered in the opening Test.

Moodie has also returned from a hamstring injury sustained against Argentina.

“Handré, Grant Williams and Canan Moodie will be on the plane to Baltimore,” Erasmus confirmed.

“They’ll be ready for selection next week.”

That means the Springboks could have valuable reinforcements for what is set to be a historic Test.

A first for the rivalry

The Baltimore match will be the first time the Springboks and All Blacks have played each other on American soil.

The game will be staged at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.

For Erasmus, however, the change of continent will not change the fundamentals.

“We play in stadiums all over the world. The field is still 70 metres by 100 metres,” he said.

“It’s something different for us to experience, and for the people who can get tickets to see the players in person. We’re really looking forward to it.”

Once they arrive in Baltimore, the friendship of the flight will be forgotten and the rivalry will resume.