The piece offers a thorough post-tour assessment of where the All Blacks stand under Rennie following the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against the Boks. The core argument is this: Rennie has successfully restored an expansive, ball-in-hand identity that Robertson had abandoned, and the attacking improvement is real — Will Jordan (four Test tries), Cam Roigard's tempo, and Jordie Barrett's defensive excellence all reflect a team playing with genuine confidence in their skill set. But the analysis lands a firm caveat: the aesthetic improvement counts for little while the set-piece and kick receipt remain liabilities. The same front row that held the Boks at bay in the 2023 World Cup final was routinely shunted backwards across all four Tests, and the aerial game — Robertson's persistent problem — hasn't improved under the new regime either. The piece raises the uncomfortable question of whether South Africa's scrum is simply in a different bracket to everyone else, but notes England were competitive at Ellis Park and gave the All Blacks forwards a tough time at Twickenham in November — suggesting the scrum issue is a genuine All Blacks problem, not just Springbok dominance. The conclusion is measured: Rennie gets a pass mark for the tour, trending in the right direction, but if the forward platform doesn't improve before the World Cup, the attacking flair won't save them.
Rennie's All Blacks have identity — but do they have the fundamentals to back it up?
Rennie has given the All Blacks an attacking identity and genuine confidence with ball in hand — but the set-piece and aerial game remain unresolved problems that could undermine the whole project if left unchecked heading toward the World Cup.
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.
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.
Hansen: Wellington told us more about the All Blacks than the Springboks
Hansen argues the Wellington result revealed more about All Black confusion than Springbok dominance, while cautioning against scoreline fixation — and backing the new-look All Blacks to learn from the Greatest Rivalry tour.
World Rugby scraps home weighting in first rankings overhaul since 2003
World Rugby will eliminate home weighting from its rankings points calculation from July 1, 2026 — the first major change to the system since its 2003 introduction — citing the surge in Tests played at neutral venues, including the Springboks vs All Blacks Baltimore clash.