Gavin Rich makes a pointed argument that staging the RGR trophy decider in Baltimore was a strategic and cultural mistake — the real series climax was FNB Stadium in front of 86,000 fans, and moving the trophy lift offshore for economic reasons mirrors exactly the kind of money-over-game logic that Doc Danie Craven warned about when rugby went professional. Rich draws a direct parallel with the (so far rejected) idea of hosting an Ashes Test in India, arguing the Baltimore game should have been a standalone exhibition rather than the series finale. On the rugby itself, he's unambiguous: the Boks have been the clearly superior team across games two and three, physically dominant and increasingly clinical in the final quarter, and a 3-0 series lead would not have been a false reflection of the gap between the sides. The opening-game loss in Joburg he puts squarely down to cohesion issues after a long lay-off, not All Black superiority. Rich also pivots to a genuinely interesting domestic angle — Griquas winning back-to-back Currie Cup titles would make their exclusion from the Champions Cup in favour of the Cheetahs increasingly hard to justify, and he floats the idea of a combined central South Africa franchise as a more competitive EPCR entry.
Baltimore anti-climax, Bok dominance, and a Currie Cup worth watching
Rich argues Baltimore was the wrong venue for the RGR trophy lift, rates Bok dominance as understated by the scorelines, and raises a pointed question about whether Griquas deserve the Cheetahs' Champions Cup spot if they win a second successive Currie Cup.
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.
Erasmus welcomes clarity on Tony Brown's post-2027 departure: 'We've made the mistake in the past'
Tony Brown will join the All Blacks coaching staff in 2028 after his Springbok contract expires at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with Rassie Erasmus welcoming the early clarity as SA Rugby looks to avoid the contractual uncertainty that complicated preparations for France 2023.
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.
Keo & Zels: Stubborn All Blacks policy make Boks smile
The boys love that New Zealand keep picking their second-best, long may it continue.