The popular narrative heading into the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series was that South Africa's depth would tell as the tour wore on and All Black bodies broke down. Gavin Rich argues that narrative is being tested. Yes, Rennie is juggling injuries — Segner the latest to be sent home — but the All Blacks' midweek 41-35 comeback win over the Lions, from 35-17 down, revealed individual quality that complicates the depth argument. Ethan Blackadder was exceptional, scoring two tries and dominating the breakdown, while Reiko Ioane is looking increasingly at home at outside centre. Both could push into Rennie's test plans for the remaining matches at FNB Stadium and Baltimore. The Lions were competitive until the 77th minute and Siba Mahashe announced himself to a wider audience, but Rich's broader point cuts both ways: South African franchise rugby has the talent, but the tour's pre-season scheduling meant the All Blacks rarely faced anyone close to full strength. The Stormers were nine Boks short; the Lions were the closest to full complement, and they nearly pulled it off. The Boks may still get the depth dividend they're banking on — but they shouldn't count on the tourists running dry just yet.
Blackadder, Ioane and the midweek warning signs the Boks can't ignore
Rich challenges the assumption that All Black tour attrition will hand the Boks an inevitable edge, pointing to Blackadder and Ioane's performances in the midweek win over the Lions as evidence Rennie has more options than the injury list suggests — while also noting how close to full-strength SA franchise sides came when properly matched.
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.
Keo & Zels: Stubborn All Blacks policy make Boks smile
The boys love that New Zealand keep picking their second-best, long may it continue.
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.