Mike Blair acknowledges the stat that should concern Bok fans heading into the Baltimore decider: the All Blacks have outscored South Africa 13 tries to eight across the series, with 12 linebreaks in three Tests. The problem for New Zealand isn't the attacking shape — it's converting that dominance into scoreboard pressure. Blair points to a telling detail: just one penalty goal kicked across three Tests, meaning the All Blacks have been leaving points on the field every time they don't finish. His concern is also tactical — turnovers inside the Bok 22 reset into set-pieces, which slows the game and feeds exactly the kind of attritional rugby South Africa thrive in. The message is that the All Blacks aren't broken, but they need to be more clinical and more varied in how they cash in pressure if they're going to square the series.
All Blacks are scoring tries — just not enough points
The All Blacks lead the series in tries and linebreaks but trail 1-2 on the scoreboard — Blair's analysis of why converting pressure into points, not just line-breaks, is the key variable heading into Baltimore.
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.