Murray Mexted's pre-series assessment cuts to something deeper than a style-guide comparison. He argues the defining South African rugby trait isn't physicality alone — it's the ability to channel intensity with surgical focus during the game, then switch it off completely afterwards. Crucially, he extends that observation beyond the Boks to provincial level, suggesting it's a cultural characteristic baked into South African rugby at every tier. On the tactical clash itself, Mexted frames the series as a genuine philosophical collision: Bok defence versus All Blacks attack. He sees it as the clearest yardstick Robertson's squad has faced — a test that will identify which All Blacks are actually at the level needed to compete for a World Cup.