Rugby365 previews the second Greatest Rivalry Test with a tight Springbok victory prediction — South Africa by three. The analytical thread runs through the first Test: the Boks were competitive in set-piece, lineout, territory and possession, but haemorrhaged 21 turnovers that gifted the All Blacks easy ball and a flattering 33-16 scoreline. Matfield's view — that the performance was better than the result, but the errors were uncharacteristic and fixable — frames the outlook for Cape Town. The key changes: Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts at 10 with Pollard ruled out, Kolbe returns on the wing, and Kolisi is back in the six jersey after missing Ellis Park. Thomas du Toit rates Kolisi's return as more than symbolic, pointing to the emotional and structural lift he brings to both the experienced and younger players in the squad. Rennie expects the Boks to run the same gameplan — set-piece pressure, aerial contest, time in the 22 — and New Zealand's answer will likely come through Savea, Will Jordan and Jordie Barrett, who were all influential in the first Test. DHL Stadium's record since 2021 (five wins from six) and last year's 18-12 result against the All Blacks at the same venue add context to the home advantage argument.
Cape Town must deliver: Boks back Kolisi's return and error correction to level the series
Rugby365 calls South Africa by three in Cape Town, with the analytical case built around error correction — 21 turnovers undid an otherwise competitive Springbok performance in the first Test — and the impact of Kolisi's return alongside Feinberg-Mngomezulu starting at 10.
Kolisi treats Barbarians clash as a full Test match ahead of Gqeberha opener
Siya Kolisi insists the Springboks are treating Saturday's Barbarians clash in Gqeberha as a full Test match, with internal competition, positional battles and the season opener's importance all cited as the camp's driving forces.
Erasmus: winning stays non-negotiable, whatever the World Cup build-up demands
Erasmus has made his 2025 season intent explicit: rotation and World Cup-building happen inside a framework where winning remains the non-negotiable baseline. The piece breaks down what that means for squad management, the veterans' standing, and why the All Blacks series carries extra weight.
Erasmus draws the line: World Cup planning won't come at the cost of winning
Erasmus is unambiguous: squad-building and World Cup prep don't override the drive to win. The piece breaks down how he's balancing depth rotation with a clear selection hierarchy, and what this season's fixture list — England, then four All Blacks Tests — demands of a squad that's broadened over two years and is now being refined.
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.
Dobson: Kolbe returning to win trophies, not to wind down
John Dobson says Cheslin Kolbe has made a major financial sacrifice to return to the Stormers, motivated by winning trophies rather than winding down his career, while warning the franchise is close to its limit on high-profile signings.