Justin Marshall's take on the Rugby Championship series cuts through the noise around Rennie's scrummaging complaints: the All Blacks simply have to accept the Boks' set-piece superiority and find ways to neutralise it rather than contest it. His argument centres on limiting scrum opportunities — keeping the game away from set-piece confrontations — and staying out of the Bok 22, where South Africa were averaging a staggering 5.2 points per entry before the series. Marshall points to the first Test as the template: only one scrum in the first 16 minutes kept the All Blacks competitive. The Boks had just five put-ins in the third Test in Soweto, but each one produced an All Blacks infringement — four penalties and a penalty try — which shaped the 29-24 result. Marshall's bottom line for Baltimore: slash the error rate, reduce scrum count, and exploit the 13 tries the All Blacks have already scored in three Tests to show the blitz defence can be beaten out wide.
Marshall: All Blacks must accept Bok scrum dominance and work around it
Marshall argues the All Blacks need to stop debating the Bok scrum's legality and start neutralising it — by reducing scrum count, cutting errors, and keeping the game away from set-piece and the Bok 22, where South Africa are averaging 5.2 points per entry.
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.
Erasmus welcomes clarity on Tony Brown's post-2027 departure: 'We've made the mistake in the past'
Tony Brown will join the All Blacks coaching staff in 2028 after his Springbok contract expires at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with Rassie Erasmus welcoming the early clarity as SA Rugby looks to avoid the contractual uncertainty that complicated preparations for France 2023.
Tony Brown to join All Blacks backroom staff in 2028 after Springbok contract ends
NZR have confirmed Tony Brown will join the All Blacks' backroom staff in 2028 on a two-year contract, with the Springboks attack coach set to depart after the 2027 Rugby World Cup. It is the third time NZR have pursued Brown, having previously been rejected during the Foster and Robertson eras.
Keo & Zels: Stubborn All Blacks policy make Boks smile
The boys love that New Zealand keep picking their second-best, long may it continue.