Aaron Smith isn't buying the post-Ellis Park narrative. Despite New Zealand's 33-16 win, he's firmly expecting a Boklash in Cape Town — drawing the parallel to the Lions series where the Boks absorbed a first-Test defeat before dismantling their opponents. His core argument is that the pressure dynamic has flipped entirely: the Springboks' handling errors and conservative kicking game were uncharacteristic, the scrum battle was closer than the scoreline suggests, and Erasmus won't send the same side out twice. Smith also anticipates a more expansive Bok approach — less kick-at-the-first-sign-of-trouble, more rugby. For Springbok supporters, this is a useful read on how All Blacks insiders are genuinely bracing for Cape Town rather than talking up a series sweep.
Aaron Smith warns All Blacks: a wounded Springbok is the most dangerous animal in rugby
Aaron Smith expects a classic Boklash at DHL Stadium, warning that pressure has shifted entirely onto New Zealand now that the Boks have nothing to lose — and drawing on the Lions series as a reminder of what happens when this squad gets wounded.
- New Zealand
- Springboks
- Rassie Erasmus
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.
Mulder's '95 Warning: Don't Sleep on the All Blacks
1995 World Cup winner Japie Mulder warns against writing off the All Blacks ahead of the four-Test series, drawing on South Africa's own underdog story to argue the gap in rankings doesn't guarantee a comfortable series win.
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.
So how deep is the Springbok squad?
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