On the I Love Rugby podcast, John Smit dissected why the set-piece battle went so decisively South Africa's way in the Rugby Championship series — but with an important caveat. Smit argues that New Zealand effectively conceded the scrum contest as a deliberate tactical choice, with Rennie's side restricting the Boks to just five scrums in Soweto rather than fronting up. That discipline, Smit says, is a testament to All Blacks ball-handling skill — they simply didn't give turnovers — but he frames the underlying posture as a 'defeatist attitude' from a team that has historically been powerful at the set-piece. On the lineout, he sees the same pattern: quick throws and avoidance rather than a system capable of outwitting the Boks. He's also direct about Rennie's scrum adjustments, arguing the All Blacks coach chose the wrong (and legally questionable) fix given how technically dominant South Africa's scrummage has become. The five scrums the Boks did get yielded five penalties — including the penalty try Smit says he called before it happened — which underlines just how dangerous that weapon becomes when it's given room to operate.
Smit: All Blacks showed 'defeatist attitude' at set-piece but were too smart to give Boks enough scrums
Smit argues New Zealand's set-piece avoidance in the Rugby Championship series reflects a 'defeatist attitude', but credits their ball-handling for limiting the Boks to just five scrums — all five of which went South Africa's way, including the penalty try Smit says he predicted.
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.