Jan de Koning breaks down the statistical contrasts across the first two Tests and argues that the series hinges on small margins both coaching staffs saw coming. The piece draws a sharp distinction between Test one — where New Zealand controlled tempo, dismantled the rush defence with wide ball movement and tactical kicking, and won despite less possession — and Test two, where the Boks reverted to their power game, out-kicked the All Blacks nearly 2:1 at the ruck, earned 4.0 points per red-zone entry (up from 0.7), and let Kolbe's flawless boot do the rest. The All Blacks' line-break count and passing volume looked dominant on paper, but their inability to convert pressure into points — compounded by costly penalties — handed the Boks the win. Heading into Soccer City, de Koning expects the Boks to double down on suffocating defence and high kick-volume, while New Zealand's wide-attack philosophy remains their primary weapon, even if discipline remains a vulnerability.
Soweto decider: How the tactical chess match between the Boks and All Blacks has evolved
A stat-by-stat breakdown of the first two Tests reveals how radically both teams shifted approach — and why red-zone efficiency and Kolbe's boot, not possession, decided the Cape Town result. The piece frames what to expect in the Soweto decider.
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.