Planet Rugby breaks down Rennie's selection for the series decider in Soweto, rating his calls across the squad. The key themes: Rennie's loyalty to the Roigard-Love axis is being tested by Mo'unga's return and Beauden Barrett's continued exclusion, yet the piece argues the head coach is justified in staying the course for now. Aumua's elevation to hooker starter is framed as overdue recognition of a player finally delivering on his potential, while Lakai's promotion into the loose trio gives him his biggest stage yet. The losers column is headlined by Rieko Ioane — still locked out of the 23 despite his tour form — and the unlucky Blackadder, whose illness ended what looked like a genuine shot at selection after a standout Lions display. The piece also flags that De Groot and Lord's absence is more than cosmetic: with Amashukeli expected to be far firmer at scrum and lineout than Gardner was in Cape Town, the All Blacks may feel that loss where it hurts most. Tuipulotu's drop from the 23 in direct response to lineout failures adds another tactical layer worth reading about ahead of a game where set-piece will again dominate.
All Blacks Test III selection: Winners and losers as Rennie holds his nerve
Planet Rugby's winners-and-losers breakdown of Rennie's Soweto selection — covering the Ioane snub, Blackadder's bad luck, Aumua's promotion, and why the absences of De Groot and Lord could sting harder than expected given the likely refereeing approach at scrum and lineout.
The All Blacks' 'slow poison' is now their trick — and the Boks need an antidote
Across all five tour matches, New Zealand have shown a consistent ability to break South African teams with late, high-intensity finishes — a trait historically associated with the Boks themselves. De Koning argues that if the Springboks lose focus again in Cape Town, the consequences will be identical to Ellis Park.
Jake White: Henry's All Blacks return is a 'masterстroke' — and he's no ordinary selector
White calls Henry's return a masterstroke — not because of his selector credentials, but because of the psychological and cultural weight he brings to a rebuilding All Blacks camp. White also makes a pointed broader argument about the game's failure to learn from history, using his own 2007 World Cup experience as a case study.
Keo & Zels: Stubborn All Blacks policy make Boks smile
The boys love that New Zealand keep picking their second-best, long may it continue.
TMOs are killing the game — and school rugby proves it
A sharp column using the disallowed Mahashe try as the centrepiece of a broader argument that TMOs have abandoned their 'clear and obvious' brief — applied forensic scrutiny to one try while waving through questionable scores elsewhere in the same game. Also covers New Zealand's overseas eligibility self-sabotage and the URC final-round permutations.
TMO overreach is killing the game — and the Lions paid the price
The Mahashe disallowed try becomes a flashpoint for a wider argument that TMOs have abandoned the 'clear and obvious' mandate in favour of forensic overreach — with the Lions and the spectacle of the game paying the price. The column also takes aim at the All Blacks' overseas-player policy and previews the URC playoff picture.