Israel Dagg's read on the All Blacks' 54-0 win over the Sharks zeroes in on something more specific than just kicking in wet conditions — it's about when and where they put boot to ball. His argument is that New Zealand have made their kicking game unpredictable by shifting the ball to the second or third man before grubbing, which isolates a single backfield defender rather than kicking into a clustered retreat. That's a tactical evolution from the more telegraphed kick-from-the-ruck patterns of previous All Blacks sides. Scotty Stevenson adds the broader strategic framing: the All Blacks showed an entirely different tactical face against the Sharks than they did against the Stormers, which leaves Bok analysts guessing about what the Test template actually looks like.
Dagg identifies the kicking wrinkle that should worry Bok analysts
Dagg breaks down why the All Blacks' kicking game against the Sharks was harder to defend than it looked — and why that tactical unpredictability is a genuine Test series concern for the Boks.
Craven Week standouts and the SA Schools squads in full
A performance-by-performance breakdown of the U18 Craven Week, with analysis of the more interesting SA Schools selection calls — including the Sharks' dominance of the main squad's pack and the standout individuals who shaped the tournament.
Rennie rules out Mo'unga for South Africa tour, confirms squad planning well advanced
Dave Rennie has ruled Richie Mo'unga out of the All Blacks' 44-man squad for the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series in South Africa, citing NZR eligibility rules, while confirming the tour squad and match-day planning is already well advanced.
Rennie rules out Mo'unga for Springbok series, confirms squads already set
Dave Rennie has ruled Richie Mo'unga out of New Zealand's 44-man squad for the four-test 'Greatest Rivalry' series against the Springboks, citing eligibility rules, while confirming the All Blacks have already mapped out their squads for all four tour fixtures ahead of the opening test in Johannesburg on 22 August.
Rennie rules out Mo'unga for Springboks series, confirms squad planning well advanced
Dave Rennie has ruled out Richie Mo'unga for the All Blacks' four-test series against the Springboks, confirming the fly-half's NZR eligibility won't be met until October. Rennie says provisional selections are already in place for all four tests, with the series opening in Johannesburg on August 22.
Rennie plans Bomb Squad trial in South Africa as All Blacks target 6-2 bench split
Dave Rennie confirms the All Blacks will trial a 6-2 bench split during their South African tour, with provincial squads for the first four games already picked. Tupou Vaa'i's shift to blindside flanker for the Ireland Nations Championship fixture has also drawn attention as a potential Springbok-specific tactical move.