Springboks vs All Blacks: Is Baltimore at altitude?
· The South African
The Springboks and All Blacks are in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States for the final chapter of their ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ series Test.
One question has been doing the rounds ahead of Saturday’s Test: Is Baltimore at altitude?
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The short answer is NO.
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At sea level
Baltimore sits at a very low elevation compared with the high-altitude venues the teams have visited during the South African leg of the tour.
M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, is located in the city at just 3 metres of elevation above sea level.
That makes Saturday’s Test a dramatically different environment from Johannesburg, where the Springboks and All Blacks played the opening and third Tests.
The first Test was played at Ellis Park, where the altitude is well over 1 700 metres above sea level. The All Blacks won that encounter 33-16.
The third Test at FNB Stadium was also played in Johannesburg, with the Springboks claiming a 29-24 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the four-Test series.
Meanwhile, the second Test, played at the Cape Town Stadium (which is situated at sea level), was won 33-26 by the Springboks.
Time will tell whether that bodes well for Rassie Erasmus’ team.
Now the rivalry moves across the Atlantic.
No altitude advantage – or disadvantage – in Baltimore
Unlike Johannesburg, Baltimore does not present the same altitude challenge.
At sea-level or low-altitude venues, the air is denser than on Johannesburg’s highveld. That means players generally have more oxygen available with each breath, while the effects associated with exercising at altitude are greatly reduced.
The Springboks have already experienced the contrast between the highveld and coastal conditions during the series, while the All Blacks have had to adapt to South Africa’s altitude, travel demands and changing environments.
A historic Test in the USA
The match at M&T Bank Stadium will be the fourth and final Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series – and the first time the two sides will face one another on American soil.
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The stadium has a capacity of 70 257 and a full-house is expected for the occasion.
The match kicks off at 23:00 (SA time).
The Springboks arrive with the advantage after overturning the series following their opening defeat.
New Zealand won the first Test 33-16 at Ellis Park before South Africa responded with victories in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
The All Blacks therefore need a win in Baltimore to draw the four-Test series, while another Springboks victory would see South Africa finish the rivalry with a 3-1 series triumph.
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Teams
South Africa15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok
New Zealand15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Beauden Barrett
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)