Digby Ioane's assessment of the Wallabies' current trajectory is worth attention — not because it's a famous name talking up his old team, but because his reasoning is specific. Speaking after the Perth win over the Boks, Ioane points to Kiss's man-management style as the foundation of the turnaround: a coach who treats player welfare as central to performance, not peripheral to it. Combined with a looming NRL return (Nawaqanitawase back ahead of the 2027 World Cup) and genuine competition for spots across the backline — Ioane flags the 13 jersey as particularly open — he sees a squad still finding its ceiling rather than one that's peaked. The 42-38 result isn't dismissed as a fluke; Ioane calls it the best Wallabies performance he's seen in this cycle, against the best team in the world. For Bok supporters trying to gauge whether Perth was a one-off or a sign of a structurally improved Wallabies, this piece offers useful context from someone who knows the environment.
Digby Ioane: Why the Wallabies' momentum is real and Kiss is the right man
Digby Ioane argues the Wallabies' revival under Kiss is built on genuine cultural and structural foundations — not just a hot streak — with the Perth win over the Boks framed as the clearest proof yet of where this squad is heading.
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.
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
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.
Rassie's Nations Championship reckoning: the July squads that will shape RWC 2027
A demographic deep-dive into the seven leading RWC 2027 contenders argues the Nations Championship compresses the selection cycle by a year, placing Erasmus at the sharpest decision point: defend the title with the 2023 spine or finally acknowledge the cost of carrying an ageing pack into Australian conditions.
Ntlabakanye handed 18-month ban that rules him out of 2027 Rugby World Cup
Lions prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye has been suspended for 18 months following doping violations involving Anastrozole and DHEA, with the ban running until 13 November 2027 — the day of the Rugby World Cup final — ruling him out of the tournament.