Wynona Louw picks her standout performers from the four-Test Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series, which the Boks recovered to win 3-1 after a shocking opening defeat. Malcolm Marx tops the list as the best player on the planet — his ground work, maul dominance and aerial presence across three Tests were simply on another level. Cheslin Kolbe earns a spot on the back of four tries in three matches and relentless off-the-ball work, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu gets credit for consistent aerial and counter-attacking influence across the series. Steven Kitshoff's scrum engine earns inclusion despite a quieter final Test, and Ox Nché's monster shove for the FNB Stadium penalty try is highlighted as a series-defining moment. Handré Pollard's physical dominance and tackling output — finishing as the Boks' top tackler in Baltimore — makes him one of the most consistent performers, and Siya Kolisi's injury is framed as a turning point given his sensational early-series form. On the All Blacks side, Jordie Barrett's aerial and backline authority is acknowledged, and Cam Roigard's quick service and shot-calling are rated highly — though Louw notes his theatrics will unfortunately overshadow his brilliance in the series retrospective. Manie Libbok's impact off the bench also earns a mention for the spark and passing vision he brought when introduced.
The 10 players who defined the RGR series
Louw ranks the 10 players who shaped the RGR series — Marx leads an analysis that spans Bok scrum dominance, Kolbe's relentless work rate, and a balanced look at the All Blacks' standouts, including a pointed aside on Roigard's legacy from the series.
Boks' Ellis Park demolition of England reveals genuine depth — and sharp halftime adaptability
Cardinelli argues the Ellis Park rout matters less for the scoreline than for what it revealed: a Bok group capable of genuine halftime tactical adjustment — the quality conspicuously absent in the 2025 Wallabies loss — while operating well short of their first-choice squad. The piece weighs what the win tells us about depth, Libbok's revival, and the fringe players who will matter when the All Blacks series rotation bites.
Erasmus: winning stays non-negotiable, whatever the World Cup build-up demands
Erasmus has made his 2025 season intent explicit: rotation and World Cup-building happen inside a framework where winning remains the non-negotiable baseline. The piece breaks down what that means for squad management, the veterans' standing, and why the All Blacks series carries extra weight.
Quan Horn at 10: Squad management necessity or a glimpse of future utility?
Horn at flyhalf is partly injury-forced, partly deliberate — Erasmus wants a dual 10/15 option to unlock 6-2 bench splits, and the Barbarians match is his testing ground.
Erasmus draws the line: World Cup planning won't come at the cost of winning
Erasmus is unambiguous: squad-building and World Cup prep don't override the drive to win. The piece breaks down how he's balancing depth rotation with a clear selection hierarchy, and what this season's fixture list — England, then four All Blacks Tests — demands of a squad that's broadened over two years and is now being refined.
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.