The piece explores the unlikely but genuine friendship between Kolisi and Savea — two captains who attended church together a fortnight ago yet will be leading fierce rivals at DHL Stadium this weekend. Kolisi is quoted saying rugby never comes up when they meet; their conversations revolve around faith, family, and the pressures of life off the field. What makes the feature interesting is how Kolisi frames their on-field intensity as an expression of that mutual respect — giving your best against a friend is how you honour the friendship. Savea, for his part, describes facing the Boks as one of the most demanding tests in international rugby, and offers a measured scouting take on the Bok loose trio, including a note on Simon Parker as a 'quiet battler' who does his work without fanfare. The piece doesn't break tactical ground, but it captures something genuine about the human texture of the Boks-All Blacks rivalry heading into Cape Town.
Friends at church, enemies on the field: Kolisi and Savea on their rivalry
Kolisi and Savea's church outing two weeks ago was no PR stunt — the two captains have built a real friendship around faith and family, not rugby. The piece unpacks how that relationship coexists with genuine on-field intensity, with both men framing the Cape Town Test as a chance to honour that respect by competing at their absolute best.
- Siya Kolisi
- Springboks
- New Zealand
- DHL Stadium
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.
Kolisi treats Barbarians clash as a full Test match ahead of Gqeberha opener
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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.
Keo & Zels: Stubborn All Blacks policy make Boks smile
The boys love that New Zealand keep picking their second-best, long may it continue.
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.