The Boks' approach to the haka has quietly shifted, and Tony Brown is the reason. Erasmus revealed that Brown ran a session for the squad explaining what the haka actually does — not to the opposition, but to the All Blacks themselves. The takeaway: you can't nullify it, so stop trying to counter it and start appreciating it. Where previous Bok teams met it with stony defiance — and some coaches considered turning their backs — the current squad is encouraged to stand still, take it in, and enjoy it as a privilege. That's also why Erasmus is publicly asking crowds to stay silent during the haka; he wants the players to feel the full weight of it before the chaos of the game begins. The piece also captures a candid Erasmus admitting genuine nerves ahead of the Greatest Rivalry opener — pointing at Willemse as exhibit A — while framing the series as one of the most emotionally charged experiences in the game.