John Kirwan is pushing back against any suggestion that the 3-1 series loss to the Springboks reflects a coaching problem, arguing the All Blacks are playing with genuine direction and that Rennie has the full support of players and public alike. His read on the series: the Boks' experience handling high-pressure moments — built over years — is what separated the sides, not a structural flaw in New Zealand's setup. That said, Kirwan is clear-eyed about the reality: results need to follow through the Bledisloe and the November tour, or the goodwill around Rennie won't hold. His main prescription is stability in the second row — he singles out a Lord-Holland combination — as the platform for locking in the wider 23 over the next few months. The piece is essentially a defence of Rennie's tenure, but it's one that comes with a quiet urgency attached.
Kirwan backs Rennie but admits All Blacks must win now
Kirwan defends Rennie after the 3-1 series loss, blaming Bok pressure-management experience rather than All Blacks coaching — but warns results in the Bledisloe and November tour are now non-negotiable.
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.