The Erasmus-Peyper press conference ahead of the first Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks has split rugby commentary along predictable lines — but the more interesting divide is within the same broadcast desk. Israel Dagg admits he's increasingly drawn to Erasmus's media theatre, calling the 'thug life' approach great for the game. His co-host Scotty Stevenson is having none of it, arguing that bringing Peyper out to field questions about set-piece timing was a deliberate strawman — sidestepping the actual criticism, which is about slowing ball in open play, not procedural delays at lineouts and scrums. Stevenson's read is that Erasmus successfully shifted the debate to a question he could win, while the real question about Springbok cynicism in game flow went unanswered.
Dagg warming to Rassie while Stevenson calls out the 'strawman'
Israel Dagg says he's warming to Erasmus's media approach, but co-host Scotty Stevenson argues the Peyper press conference was a calculated strawman — deflecting from legitimate questions about in-play slowing tactics onto a set-piece timing argument the Boks could easily defend.
- Rassie Erasmus
- Springboks
- New Zealand
- Rugby Championship
Erasmus welcomes clarity on Tony Brown's post-2027 departure: 'We've made the mistake in the past'
Tony Brown will join the All Blacks coaching staff in 2028 after his Springbok contract expires at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with Rassie Erasmus welcoming the early clarity as SA Rugby looks to avoid the contractual uncertainty that complicated preparations for France 2023.
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.
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.