Victor Matfield reckons the four-Test series against the All Blacks — won 3-1 — had the Boks retreating into their physical, direct DNA out of necessity. Now that the pressure of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry is resolved, he expects Erasmus to let the attacking game breathe. The Baltimore finale, where the Boks spread the ball and posted 43 points, is his exhibit A. Matfield sees the upcoming Wallabies Tests and the Nations Championship as the window for genuine experimentation — not because the core squad is in doubt, but because the spots around it need filling. His read is that virtually every starter from this series books their World Cup ticket, while the next few months are about identifying which younger players — he singles out Van den Berg and Hanekom — can slot into a winning environment and hold their nerve. His broader prediction: a Bok team that is measurably braver with ball in hand between now and 2027.
Matfield: Pressure off, now watch the Boks play
Matfield argues the All Blacks series pressure forced the Boks back to basics, and now expects Erasmus to pursue a more expansive attacking game and rotate aggressively — with the Nations Championship serving as the real World Cup audition for fringe players.
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.
Brown confirms post-2027 All Blacks move but eyes World Cup glory with Boks first
Springbok attack coach Tony Brown will join Dave Rennie's All Blacks staff from 2028, but remains committed to helping South Africa win a third successive World Cup title before his departure.
Rassie's Nations Championship reckoning: the July squads that will shape RWC 2027
A demographic deep-dive into the seven leading RWC 2027 contenders argues the Nations Championship compresses the selection cycle by a year, placing Erasmus at the sharpest decision point: defend the title with the 2023 spine or finally acknowledge the cost of carrying an ageing pack into Australian conditions.
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.