Nick Mallett argues that the Springboks' halfback pairing for the Cape Town Test against the All Blacks is a critical selection call — not just in personnel terms but in terms of game-management philosophy. His case for Morné van den Berg centres on the ability of the nine and ten combination to build pressure off dominant front-foot ball and translate set-piece control into points. Mallett's view is that van den Berg is significantly undervalued in the current conversation around South Africa's scrumhalf depth.
Mallett makes the case for Morné at nine against the All Blacks
Mallett argues Morné van den Berg is underrated and makes the case for a halfback pairing that can convert Springbok forward dominance into wins against the All Blacks in Cape Town.
- Springboks
- Cape Town Stadium
- New Zealand
- Morné van den Berg
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.