Rugby365 picks out the defining moments from the inaugural Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series, and it's a decent mix of on-field brilliance and off-field theatre. The Lions' near-upset — leading 35-17 before the All Blacks clawed back a 41-35 win — stands out as the franchise highlight, a performance that made the Sharks' and Bulls' pre-match excuses look even more hollow. Kolbe's 18-point haul in Cape Town gets its due as the pivotal moment that kept the series alive, while the Baltimore finale earns praise for the Boks going full 'Tonyball' — expansive, dominant, and a second 40-plus point demolition of the All Blacks in 12 months. Off the field, the piece traces the All Blacks' mind-game cycle — the 'play fast' narrative, then the scrum-walking accusations — and the moment it all collapsed when Erasmus answered Rennie's scrum complaints with a blunt F-bomb that pretty much ended the psychological warfare. Ma'a Nonu's solo Kapa o Pango response to the haka, in a Sharks jersey, rounds out the five as the series' most enduring image regardless of the 54-0 scoreline that followed.
Five moments that defined the RGR series — from Nonu's haka response to Erasmus's F-bomb
A retrospective on the RGR series' five standout moments — the Lions' near-heist, Kolbe carrying Cape Town, the Boks' Baltimore masterclass, Erasmus's F-bomb press conference, and Nonu's unforgettable haka response.
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.
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.