Aaron Smith has been impressed by Dave Rennie's directness in front of the cameras, contrasting it favourably with Robertson's more guarded approach. Having played under Rennie at U20 level, Smith sees the openness as a genuine cultural shift rather than a media tactic. On the rugby itself, Smith is measured about the Ellis Park result — he's flagged the points New Zealand left on the board through the boot as a concern, and he's not buying the idea that a 33-16 scoreline reflects the full gap between the sides. His read is that the Boks will be sharper in Cape Town, that their attack showed enough dangerous moments to warrant respect, and that the altitude and emotional weight of the first Test will have taken more out of the All Blacks than the scoreboard suggested.
Aaron Smith: Rennie's honesty is refreshing — but the Boks will be a different beast in Cape Town
Smith praises Rennie's refreshing candour while tempering the Ellis Park result — he expects a tighter, more dangerous Springbok side in Cape Town and thinks New Zealand left real points out there through the boot.
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
Hansen's Right to Back Himself — But the Boks' Five-Match Streak Tells a Different Story
Jean de Villiers acknowledges Hansen's logic but argues last year's results and performances make it hard to see the All Blacks closing the gap on the Boks — and the panel get genuinely animated over what a 2-2 series tiebreaker would even look like.
Keo & Zels: Stubborn All Blacks policy make Boks smile
The boys love that New Zealand keep picking their second-best, long may it continue.
All Blacks' loosehead crisis hands Springboks a ready-made weapon in Greatest Rivalry Series
Jeff Wilson has publicly identified loosehead prop as the All Blacks' most dangerous weakness ahead of four consecutive Tests against the Springboks — with Williams likely out, Tu'ungafasi's future uncertain, and the remaining options short on caps and experience. Set against the depth Erasmus has built across the prop positions, this piece maps out why scrum time could be where the Greatest Rivalry Series is decided.
Stephen Donald: Robertson copied the Boks — Rennie must go back to All Blacks DNA
Stephen Donald backs Hansen's anti-copycat argument, saying Robertson erred by chasing the Springbok blueprint rather than New Zealand's tempo-based strengths — and expects Rennie to correct that course ahead of a blockbuster four-Test series in South Africa.