Dave Rennie's post-match breakdown of the 29-24 loss centres on a single Will Jordan moment — booting the ball dead from inside his own half — that handed the Boks a scrum, a penalty, a lineout, and ultimately Marx's match-winning drive. Rennie argues the All Blacks had been successfully playing high-tempo rugby in the first half to exploit tired Bok forwards, but mid-second half errors repeatedly reset the game into set-piece territory where the Springboks were dominant. He concedes discipline was a problem and that the Boks were noticeably stronger at the breakdown and scrum than in the first two Tests. Despite going 2-1 down in the series, Rennie maintains the gap between the sides is slim — pointing to the first Test as evidence that small margins are deciding outcomes either way.
Rennie pinpoints Jordan's kick dead as the turning point in Soweto
Rennie identifies Will Jordan's kick dead as the match-turning error in Soweto, arguing the All Blacks lost the set-piece battle after half-time and lacked the discipline and clinical edge to hold momentum when it mattered — while insisting the series margin flatters the Boks.
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.
Erasmus welcomes clarity on Tony Brown's post-2027 departure: 'We've made the mistake in the past'
Tony Brown will join the All Blacks coaching staff in 2028 after his Springbok contract expires at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with Rassie Erasmus welcoming the early clarity as SA Rugby looks to avoid the contractual uncertainty that complicated preparations for France 2023.
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.
Keo & Zels: Stubborn All Blacks policy make Boks smile
The boys love that New Zealand keep picking their second-best, long may it continue.