Heyneke Meyer's read on the four-Test series centres on two structural advantages he believes the Boks hold over the All Blacks: squad depth and set-piece supremacy. He's particularly pointed about New Zealand's selection constraints — their policy of picking only NZ-based players has cost them genuine depth, and he names Mo'unga and Aaron Smith as examples of quality that won't be available to Rennie. Meyer also frames Rennie's timing as unfortunate; inheriting an All Blacks squad mid-rebuild and immediately facing world champions in South Africa is a tough ask. On the Bok side, Meyer argues the expanded eligibility policy has transformed the squad's competitive ceiling, and that the modern game's emphasis on set-piece and maul play suits South Africa better than it does an All Blacks side that prefers continuity. He draws on his own coaching record against New Zealand — ahead with 20 minutes to go more than once, but never quite fit or deep enough to close it out — to underline what's changed. His bottom line: close series, but back the Boks at home.
Meyer: Bok depth and set-piece dominance give edge in Greatest Rivalry series
Meyer tips the Boks to take the series, pointing to superior depth and a set-piece that he rates as the best in the world — and arguing that New Zealand's NZ-only selection policy has left Rennie without the resources to match it.
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.
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.
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.