Kitshoff has weighed in on the scrum controversy that ran through the Greatest Rivalry Series, flatly rejecting Rennie's accusation that Ox Nche was walking around in the set-piece. Speaking at the launch of his autobiography, Kitshoff backed Daan Human's insistence that the Bok scrum culture is built entirely around straight, legal dominance — no dark arts, no tricks. His point is that walking around isn't just frowned upon; it's treated as a disciplinary offim in Human's system, which Kitshoff experienced first-hand across five seasons in the green-and-gold. He also notes that the scrum chaos in Baltimore nearly drew Bok penalties until assistant referee intervention — which adds texture to the officiating debate Rennie ultimately lost with World Rugby. As a broader frame, Kitshoff draws a parallel between the current All Blacks and where the Boks were in 2017–18: new management, rebuilding, and under pressure — a comparison that will resonate with anyone who remembers how dark that period felt before Erasmus turned things around.
Kitshoff: Walking around in scrums is a cardinal sin in Springbok rugby
Kitshoff dismisses Rennie's walking-around accusations, backing Human's straight-scrum philosophy and drawing a pointed parallel between today's All Blacks and the pre-Erasmus Boks.
- Springboks
- New Zealand
- Rassie Erasmus
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.
Mulder's '95 Warning: Don't Sleep on the All Blacks
1995 World Cup winner Japie Mulder warns against writing off the All Blacks ahead of the four-Test series, drawing on South Africa's own underdog story to argue the gap in rankings doesn't guarantee a comfortable series win.
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.
So how deep is the Springbok squad?
Lekker! Hola! Head to https://squarespace.com/squidgerugby to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code SQUIDGERUGBY