Dave Rennie isn't hiding his frustration with the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw, which has the world's top two ranked sides — the Springboks and All Blacks — potentially colliding in the quarter-finals, with the winner then facing France. Speaking ahead of the second Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney, Rennie drew the obvious comparison to football's World Cup, where the top sides meet in the semis, not the last eight. It's the same structural complaint that surrounded 2023's controversial draw, and the format expansion that was supposed to fix it appears to have produced a similar headache. Rennie is pragmatic about it — you have to beat everyone to win the title anyway — but his 'crazy' label will resonate with anyone who thinks the draw should protect the integrity of the knockout rounds. Worth reading for the full context on how the new 2027 format has generated its own controversy, and what Rennie's current priorities are as a relatively new All Blacks head coach building toward a World Cup year.
Rennie calls out 'crazy' RWC draw as Boks-All Blacks quarter-final looms
Rennie has publicly called out the 2027 RWC draw after it produced a likely Springboks-All Blacks quarter-final clash — the same structural problem that plagued 2023 — and the piece unpacks his frustration alongside his broader focus as he beds in as All Blacks coach ahead of World Cup year.
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.
Springboks lead World Rugby rankings by 3.61 points ahead of Nations Championship
South Africa top the World Rugby rankings on 93.94 points, 3.61 clear of New Zealand, as the Springboks head into the inaugural Nations Championship. World Rugby has also confirmed the removal of home weighting from the rankings system from 1 July 2026.
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.