Steve Hansen has been watching the Rennie era closely and likes what he sees — a group that looks more settled and clearer in their identity than they did under Robertson. His read on Rieko Ioane is a useful lens: a player who lost his place, had a productive sabbatical at Leinster, and has returned visibly reinvigorated. Hansen credits both the personal reset and the coaching change for that shift. His broader point is that Rennie has found a style the players believe in, which matters enormously for on-field execution. The caveat Hansen adds is worth noting ahead of the Ellis Park Test: the fun-versus-stimulation balance is a knife edge, and the Springboks are precisely the kind of opposition that exposes any looseness in a team that's been winning comfortably.
Hansen sees a happier, more cohesive All Blacks under Rennie — but issues a caution
Hansen identifies a clear mood and cohesion shift in the All Blacks under Rennie, using Ioane's revival as a case study — but warns that the balance between enjoyment and discipline will be tested when the Tests against the Springboks begin.
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.