Steven Kitshoff has pointed to a stat Felix Jones regularly cites — that the tight five completing more work in a Test match wins more often than not — as the decisive factor in the four-Test series against the All Blacks. Speaking on the For The Love of Rugby SA podcast alongside Trevor Nyakane, Kitshoff argued that the Boks' front row depth is well-suited to meeting that challenge, singling out Thomas du Toit, Zachary Porthen, Boan Venter, and Gerhard Steenekamp for their carrying and defensive work rates beyond the set-piece. He also flagged the scrum itself as a significant battleground, noting that the All Blacks' backline speed puts a premium on front rowers who can make tackles in the midfield and slow ball at the ruck. On the hooker depth, Kitshoff's only mild concern is that just Grobbelaar and Marx qualify as specialist options — though he backed both.
Kitshoff's key prediction: tight-five work rate will decide the Greatest Rivalry series
Kitshoff predicts the tight-five work rate stat — a Felix Jones favourite — will be the defining factor in the Greatest Rivalry series, and breaks down why the Bok front row depth is built for exactly that battle.
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.
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.
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.