Victor Matfield is bullish about 2027, arguing that only the Springboks, All Blacks, and France have the depth and consistency to win three consecutive high-pressure knockout matches — the benchmark he sees as the real World Cup test. He views the All Blacks' tour of South Africa as genuinely useful preparation for Rennie's side, which he rates as a genuine threat. Nick Mallett takes the argument a step further: given the draw, if the Boks navigate a likely QF against the All Blacks and a probable SF against France, whoever awaits in the final will be a step down in class. His blunt read — the final is the Boks' easiest game. Matfield backs that up with a squad management point, noting that rotating through pool play to arrive at the knockout rounds with fresh legs is precisely what separates contenders from winners, and that this Bok squad visibly grows stronger as the pressure builds.
Matfield and Mallett: Only Three Teams Can Win 2027, and the Final Is the Boks' Easiest Game
Matfield sees a three-horse World Cup race — Boks, All Blacks, France — with the ability to win three brutal knockout games back-to-back as the decisive filter. Mallett adds the spicy take that if South Africa gets through the QF and SF, the final itself will be their most manageable match.
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.
Springboks lead World Rugby rankings by 3.61 points ahead of Nations Championship
South Africa top the World Rugby rankings on 93.94 points, 3.61 clear of New Zealand, as the Springboks head into the inaugural Nations Championship. World Rugby has also confirmed the removal of home weighting from the rankings system from 1 July 2026.
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.