The piece argues that while South Africa's 2-1 series lead over the All Blacks is deserved — built on scrum dominance and the driving maul — the Baltimore decider matters more as a World Cup barometer than as a series clincher. The Boks were competitive across all four tests but conceded 13 tries in three games, a defensive leak that Erasmus openly acknowledged will need fixing before next year's tournament. The analysis notes that Baltimore is where we'll see meaningful squad rotation, making those selection calls as revealing as any scoreline. Erasmus's framing — that the series remains alive, that the game is flipping important — reinforces the point that the Boks won't be taking a victory lap in the US. Kolisi's assessment adds an intriguing layer: he believes the first test, a loss, was actually their best performance, and that this squad has more in the tank — which is either measured confidence or genuine self-awareness about where the ceiling is.
Boks lead the Greatest Rivalry 2-1, but Baltimore is where the real questions get answered
South Africa's Greatest Rivalry series win over the All Blacks is built on set-piece dominance, but 13 tries conceded in three games flags a defensive problem that Baltimore won't fix alone — the piece argues the US decider is really about World Cup squad depth and whether the Boks can sustain their level without their first-choice combinations.
- Springboks
- New Zealand
- Rassie Erasmus
- Siya Kolisi
- Rugby World Cup
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.
Brown confirms post-2027 All Blacks move but eyes World Cup glory with Boks first
Springbok attack coach Tony Brown will join Dave Rennie's All Blacks staff from 2028, but remains committed to helping South Africa win a third successive World Cup title before his departure.
Rassie Erasmus to receive Order of Ikhamanga — South Africa's highest national honour
Rassie Erasmus will receive the Order of Ikhamanga — South Africa's highest national honour — from President Cyril Ramaphosa at an investiture ceremony on 19 May, recognising his role in the Springboks' back-to-back World Cup titles and his contribution to national unity.
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.