Angus Opperman's player-by-player breakdown of the Springboks' 29-24 win over New Zealand awards the highest marks to Ethan Hooker (9.5) and Morne van den Berg (9), both of whom made try-saving interventions at critical moments. The front row — Nche, Marx, and Louw — were consistently excellent, with the scrum a genuine weapon that produced a penalty try. Feinberg-Mngomezulu had a mixed afternoon (6.5), picking up a yellow card that directly gifted Savea a try, though his workrate with ball in hand was notable. Cameron Hanekom's cameo earned an 8.5 and a pointed observation that he's staked his claim as the second-choice No.8 for the 2027 World Cup cycle. Perhaps the most consequential storyline from the ratings: Libbok's performance off the bench — linebreak, good kicking game despite one costly miss — has Opperman tipping him to start in Baltimore.
Player Ratings: Boks edge All Blacks 29-24 in Soweto
Opperman rates every Bok from the 29-24 Soweto win, with Hooker, van den Berg and the front row leading the grades — and Libbok's bench cameo raising the prospect of a starting berth in Baltimore.
Brown confirms post-2027 All Blacks move but eyes World Cup glory with Boks first
Springbok attack coach Tony Brown will join Dave Rennie's All Blacks staff from 2028, but remains committed to helping South Africa win a third successive World Cup title before his departure.
Tony Brown to join All Blacks backroom staff in 2028 after Springbok contract ends
NZR have confirmed Tony Brown will join the All Blacks' backroom staff in 2028 on a two-year contract, with the Springboks attack coach set to depart after the 2027 Rugby World Cup. It is the third time NZR have pursued Brown, having previously been rejected during the Foster and Robertson eras.
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.
The Barbarians hit-out is a key cog in Rassie's World Cup machine
Nel makes the case that the Barbarians fixture is less about the result and more about Erasmus stress-testing depth, blooding uncapped talent, and keeping the World Cup-winning core fresh — all with 2027 firmly in mind.