Steve Hansen is reading the warm Cape Town reception as more than organic goodwill — he believes the All Blacks have made a deliberate effort to present themselves respectfully and court South African fans ahead of a high-stakes three-Test series against the Boks. The backdrop is a social media backlash from Bok supporters over footage of South Africans wearing All Blacks jerseys at DHL Stadium. Hansen contextualises it historically, noting New Zealand's long status as a second team for many South Africans, while acknowledging the Boks have done real work to unify the country behind one rugby identity. Ewen McKenzie adds the Wallabies' perspective, tracing that Cape Town warmth back to Australia's 1992 post-apartheid tour, but affirms the All Blacks-Springbok relationship occupies a different tier entirely — one he describes as unparalleled.
Hansen: All Blacks charm offensive in SA is no accident
Hansen says the All Blacks' charm offensive on their SA tour is deliberate — and contextualises the Cape Town reception amid social media backlash from Bok fans who spotted locals in All Blacks jerseys.
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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.
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.
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.