With Dave Rennie naming his 23 for the first Test of the Greatest Rivalry series, this Planet Rugby piece breaks down who's up and who's out. The standout winner is Ruben Love, whose rapid rise — Hurricanes Super Rugby title, Nations Championship starts, now a first Springbok Test at fly-half — marks him as the legitimate long-term answer at 10. Josh Moorby's wing inclusion is another reward for sustained form, while Damian McKenzie's recovery from an ankle sprain gives Rennie a crucial tactical cover option if Love needs shifting. The biggest loser is Beauden Barrett, dropped entirely from the 23 after 147 caps — the piece frames it as potentially terminal for his international career. Rieko Ioane also misses the matchday squad, with Quinn Tupaea preferred at 13, and the piece notes the World Cup clock is ticking loudly for him. Three injuries — Ratima (PCL), Numia (Achilles), Caleb Clarke (shoulder tendon rupture) — further shaped the selection, with Kyle Preston stepping into the bench scrum-half role as a result.
All Blacks squad winners and losers ahead of Springbok opener
Rennie's squad for the Springbok opener features Ruben Love's biggest career test at 10, Beauden Barrett dropped after 147 caps, Rieko Ioane out of the 23, and three significant injury absentees reshaping the bench.
Brown confirms post-2027 All Blacks move but eyes World Cup glory with Boks first
Springbok attack coach Tony Brown will join Dave Rennie's All Blacks staff from 2028, but remains committed to helping South Africa win a third successive World Cup title before his departure.
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.
Erasmus: 'We don't see the Nations Championship as a competition'
Erasmus says the Boks won't adjust their approach to chase Nations Championship log points — each Test is treated as a standalone match, with squad rotation across the window as the priority over competition standings.
Smith vows England will 'leave it all out there' against Springboks
Marcus Smith says England's 36-man squad, arriving in Johannesburg on Thursday, are targeting a historic win over the Springboks in the Nations Championship opener, having trained in oxygen masks to prepare for the Highveld.
Erasmus warns Boks: England bring youth, experience and tactical unpredictability to Ellis Park
Rassie Erasmus has praised England's touring squad as young, experienced and tactically unpredictable ahead of the Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park on 4 July, while Siya Kolisi returns as captain for a fixture that marked his first Test captaincy in 2018.