Jon Cardinelli's argument is straightforward but well-supported: the 43-28 series-clinching win in Baltimore wasn't just a result — it was a demonstration of genuine all-court rugby. The Boks have now won eight of their last 10 against the All Blacks, and Cardinelli's case rests on what separates them from every other team: they aren't wedded to a single identity. They scrum, they maul, they kick-chase, and they counterattack from deep — Arendse's Baltimore try cited as proof they're as dangerous from broken play as from a five-metre scrum. The parallel with Wellington last year is striking: 43 points and six tries in two very different conditions, which tells you something about the system's depth rather than circumstance.
For the All Blacks, Cardinelli draws a pointed historical parallel: the 2009 series losses to the Boks preceded New Zealand's golden era precisely because they addressed the set-piece and kicking deficiencies those defeats exposed. He's essentially asking Rennie's side to look in that same mirror — scrums under pressure, lineout leakage, and aerial contest losses are recurring problems that tempo-based attack can't paper over forever. The broader takeaway for Bok supporters: this squad, already a year out from the home World Cup, may not have peaked yet.