New Zealand forwards coach Jason Ryan has been candid about the corrective work done since the 3-1 series loss to South Africa, pointing to specific improvements in maul defence, ball-carrying and breakdown efficiency. The All Blacks take those lessons into Murrayfield against a Scotland side Ryan rates as genuinely dangerous — not least because New Zealand's discipline nearly cost them last time out. The tour is already complicated by a lengthy injury and unavailability list that includes Ardie Savea and Richie Mo'unga, forcing Dave Rennie's staff to find combinations under pressure. Ryan is also flagging the need for sharper decision-making in European conditions, particularly around when to offload. The piece is essentially an audit of how much ground New Zealand have covered since the Springboks exposed them — and whether that progress holds up against a well-drilled Scotland.
All Blacks banking on Springbok lessons as November tour begins
Jason Ryan outlines the specific fixes New Zealand have made since the Springbok series defeat — maul defence, breakdown work, offload discipline — and why a depleted All Blacks squad will need all of it at Murrayfield against a Scotland side capable of making them pay.
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.