NZ pundit Mark Watson has gone hard on Cheslin Kolbe for his altercation with Leroy Carter in the Cape Town Test, arguing the incident was an unprovoked punch that should have drawn at least a yellow card. Watson is unambiguous — Carter did nothing to provoke it, the officials let Kolbe off, and he believes Rassie knows it too. Whether it was a punch or a push remains contested, but the referee's inaction is Watson's central grievance.
More interesting analytically is Watson's critique of Dave Rennie's selection philosophy. He argues the All Blacks are increasingly building their team around neutralising Springbok strengths rather than playing to their own DNA — pointing specifically to the back-row configuration and the omission of players like Lakai, Segner, and Sititi. For Springbok supporters, the piece is worth reading for the insight into how New Zealand's rugby commentariat is processing back-to-back losses and the internal tension it's creating around Rennie's approach.