Springboks v All Blacks a US World Cup preview in Baltimore as thrilling series goes down to the wire

Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' will culminate on US soil on Saturday, a staging post on the road to America hosting the World Cup in 2031

When New Zealand and South Africa kick off at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, there will be more at stake than victory in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry", the four-Test series the Springboks lead 2-1. For World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin, the game is a key staging post on the road to the 2031 World Cup, which the US will host - a journey that could include Six Nations games on American soil.

We've been in a long process with venues and cities, over the last two years," Gilpin said, of the build to World Cup kick-off. We've still got 25-plus cities involved in that process, which is fantastic in terms of engagement and enthusiasm.