After the 33-16 demolition at Ellis Park, Rennie isn't hiding from the areas where the All Blacks were hurt — particularly at scrum time, where he's confirmed they've already been in contact with World Rugby over specific issues. He's also flagging discipline as a priority fix, acknowledging that soft early penalties gifted the Boks too many entries into their 22. The broader picture from his comments: despite the scoreline, the Boks actually won several statistical battles — post-contact metres, ball carries, lineout, territory, possession — which Rennie will be factoring into his preparation. His warning is twofold: expect a sharper All Blacks performance in Cape Town, but he's equally clear-eyed that the Boks will bounce back hard, pointing to last year's Wellington response as a reference point his squad has specifically discussed.
Rennie flags scrum fix and discipline reset ahead of Cape Town Test
Rennie has flagged scrum improvements and discipline as his two main targets for the Cape Town Test, while acknowledging the Boks won several key statistical battles at Ellis Park despite the scoreline — and warning his squad to expect a fierce Bok response.
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.