Murray Mexted argues that Rennie has already made a measurable difference to the All Blacks' attacking game, restoring the point-of-contact shifting and high-skill ball movement that stalled under Robertson. His bold claim — that the All Blacks now edge even the French in moving the ball — frames the four-Test series against the Springboks as a stylistic collision rather than a tactical arms race. Mexted expects Erasmus's side to back their own game rather than chase the All Blacks into open rugby, which sets up an interesting question about how much the Boks' defence will be tested by a New Zealand side that has been drilling execution under pressure as a core principle.
AnalysisSpringboksPlanet Rugby
Mexted: Rennie's All Blacks are now the world's best ball-movers — but don't expect the Boks to bite
Mexted argues Rennie has already sharpened the All Blacks into the world's premier ball-moving side — and ahead of the four-Test series, he expects the Boks to resist any temptation to match them at that game.
- New Zealand
- France
- Springboks
- Rassie Erasmus
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So how deep is the Springbok squad?
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