Steve Hansen's post-series verdict is worth reading if you want a sharp outside view of where the Springboks genuinely hurt the All Blacks across the three Tests. His central point is blunt: South Africa's scrum and maul were unstoppable, and until New Zealand can get set-piece parity — at scrum and lineout — they won't beat the Boks when it matters. He notes the All Blacks were forced to steal ball off the front of the lineout all series, which handed the Boks' defensive system easy reads and stifled any ability to build momentum. Hansen's framing is instructive for Springbok fans because it confirms the Boks' structural dominance was the decisive factor, not margins of error from individuals — though he does single out Leroy Carter's missed tackles in midfield as costing the All Blacks roughly 14 points and, with it, the series.
Hansen: Boks have laid bare exactly what the All Blacks must fix before the World Cup
Hansen argues South Africa's set-piece dominance was the series-defining factor, and that the All Blacks won't challenge the Boks at the World Cup until they solve their scrum and lineout problems — a clear-eyed read of exactly where Rassie's system is hurting opponents most.
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.