Lima Sopoaga has come out firmly in support of Ruben Love as the All Blacks' first-choice 10 ahead of the Greatest Rivalry series, and his reasoning is worth noting from a Springbok perspective. Love started all three of New Zealand's Nations Championship wins — over France, Italy and Ireland — under Dave Rennie, with neither McKenzie nor Barrett getting a look-in at fly-half. Sopoaga argues Love is thriving precisely because he's a confidence player who arrives on match day having done the work, and that the communication loop from Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea outside him is helping him read and execute under pressure. The more game-time he banks, Sopoaga believes, the more dangerous he becomes — which makes the upcoming Springbok Tests a genuine litmus test for both Love's development and Rennie's reshaping of the All Blacks.
Sopoaga backs Love to handle the Springbok test at 10
Sopoaga endorses Ruben Love as the All Blacks' settled 10 ahead of the Springbok series, arguing he's thriving under Rennie and will only grow the more he plays — a useful read on the threat New Zealand could pose at fly-half.
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.
Fainga'anuku's broken leg rules him out of Nations Championship and clouds Springbok series availability
Leicester Fainga'anuku faces 10 to 12 weeks out after fracturing his fibula in the Crusaders' semi-final defeat to the Chiefs, ruling him out of the Nations Championship and casting doubt over his availability for the opening Tests against the Springboks.
James Doleman to referee South Africa v England as World Rugby confirms Nations Championship officials
James Doleman will referee South Africa v England at Ellis Park on 4 July, with Andrew Brace and Pierre Brousset as assistants, as World Rugby confirms the full list of officials for the July leg of the 2026 Nations Championship.
Umaga wants the All Blacks feared again — and Rennie's the man to do it
Umaga admits the All Blacks have lost their shine and outlines how Rennie's leadership culture — and Savea's role as a players' voice — aims to restore it ahead of a season that ends with four Tests against the Springboks.
Barrett ruled out five months as back surgery wrecks All Blacks captaincy and Springboks tour plans
Scott Barrett requires back surgery and is ruled out for five months, missing the Nations Championship and the All Blacks' four-Test tour of South Africa, leaving Dave Rennie without his captain for the entire upcoming international programme.