The narrative coming out of New Zealand after three lopsided warm-up wins is that the All Blacks are primed to overwhelm the Springboks. This piece methodically dismantles that reading by laying out exactly what those results actually measured. The Stormers, Sharks, and Bulls were all in pre-season, had been inactive for two months, and were each missing upwards of 15 frontline players — the bulk of them on Bok duty. The Sharks effectively fielded an Under-23 side; the Bulls leaned on veterans like Coetzee, Le Roux, and Papier to provide individual resistance while their younger players were overrun. The All Blacks looked dominant, but they were never genuinely tested. Even Rennie acknowledges the Ellis Park Test is a "significant" step up. The argument here is that Erasmus will have quietly absorbed useful intelligence from those performances — particularly the first half against the Stormers and the second half against the Bulls — while the All Blacks may be arriving with a false sense of how ready they are.
All Blacks' warm-up form means nothing — here's why
The All Blacks' three-from-three tour warm-up record is largely meaningless — each franchise was depleted, rusty, and missing most of their Springbok-contracted players. This piece breaks down exactly who was absent for each side and argues that Erasmus has been watching carefully while the All Blacks have yet to face a real test.
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.
Tony Brown to join All Blacks backroom staff in 2028 after Springbok contract ends
NZR have confirmed Tony Brown will join the All Blacks' backroom staff in 2028 on a two-year contract, with the Springboks attack coach set to depart after the 2027 Rugby World Cup. It is the third time NZR have pursued Brown, having previously been rejected during the Foster and Robertson eras.
Matthee 'never really been out of the team' as Stormers back him to fill Feinberg-Mngomezulu void against Leinster
Jurie Matthee starts at flyhalf for the Stormers in Saturday's URC semifinal against Leinster in Dublin after Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was ruled out for three months with an ankle injury. Assistant coach Rito Hlungwani says Matthee's integration into the starting side will be seamless, pointing to his consistent involvement in training and a strong record when called upon, including man-of-the-match performances against Benetton in Treviso and the Bulls away. Wing Seabelo Senatla, concussed against Cardiff, also misses the trip.