Mzwandile Stick and Pieter-Steph du Toit have been speaking ahead of Saturday's Greatest Rivalry opener, and both are framing this four-Test series with the same weight they'd give a Lions series or World Cup knockouts — high praise that signals the Boks aren't treating it as a glorified Rugby Championship warm-up. Stick's tactical read is pointed: expect New Zealand to probe the set piece hard, and the Boks will need to be sharp at lineout and scrum to stay in front of the All Blacks' backline threats. The piece also doubles as a tribute to Damian de Allende ahead of his 100th cap, with Stick and Du Toit both emphatic that his value has always been understood internally, even when the outside noise ran the other way. Du Toit — one cap behind at 99 — adds a personal note on facing the haka, echoing Tony Brown's cultural briefing earlier in the week.
Stick and Du Toit set the tone ahead of Ellis Park opener
Stick and Du Toit preview Saturday's Ellis Park opener with genuine reverence — framing the four-Test series on par with a Lions tour, flagging the set piece as the key battleground, and paying tribute to Damian de Allende ahead of his 100th cap.
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.
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.
Erasmus welcomes Brown clarity, vows not to repeat 2023 contract mistake
Rassie Erasmus has welcomed the early confirmation of Tony Brown's post-2027 move to the All Blacks, saying SA Rugby is determined not to repeat the mistake of leaving coaching futures unresolved in a World Cup year — a situation that played out with Jacques Nienaber and Felix Jones before the 2023 tournament.
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.
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.