With the four-Test Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series kicking off in August, Planet Rugby has put together an early combined XV from both squads — and the Springboks account for nine of the fifteen spots. The Bok spine is largely intact: Willemse at 15 (his Nations Championship form edging out Damian McKenzie), SFM at 10 despite fitness concerns, and a back row of Kolisi, PSDT and Savea — though Savea's inclusion comes with the caveat that he'll miss the early Tests under Rennie's rotation plan. The tightest calls come in the engine room, where Nortje pips Scott Barrett and RG Snyman, and at 12, where Jordie Barrett's playmaking range sees off De Allende and Esterhuizen. The All Blacks' strongest contributions come at 9 (Roigard, uncontested), 14 (Jordan, now the ABs' all-time Test try scorer), and 12, with Cam Roigard identified as New Zealand's single most critical player if they're to trouble the world champions.
Planet Rugby's combined Bok-All Black XV: South Africa dominate, but who makes the cut?
Planet Rugby's combined Bok-All Black XV ahead of the four-Test series gives South Africa nine of fifteen spots, with SFM, Willemse and a Bok-dominated forward pack leading the way — Roigard and Jordie Barrett carry the All Black case.
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.
Boks' Ellis Park demolition of England reveals genuine depth — and sharp halftime adaptability
Cardinelli argues the Ellis Park rout matters less for the scoreline than for what it revealed: a Bok group capable of genuine halftime tactical adjustment — the quality conspicuously absent in the 2025 Wallabies loss — while operating well short of their first-choice squad. The piece weighs what the win tells us about depth, Libbok's revival, and the fringe players who will matter when the All Blacks series rotation bites.
Kolisi treats Barbarians clash as a full Test match ahead of Gqeberha opener
Siya Kolisi insists the Springboks are treating Saturday's Barbarians clash in Gqeberha as a full Test match, with internal competition, positional battles and the season opener's importance all cited as the camp's driving forces.
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.