Tupou Vaa'i's shift at blindside flanker against Ireland has shifted the conversation around All Blacks selection ahead of next month's Tests in South Africa. Justin Marshall openly admits he got it wrong — he expected Vaa'i to struggle in the wider channels given his tendency to gravitate narrow as a lock — but was impressed by his edge carries, offloads, and lineout execution. Jeff Wilson is more forward-looking: he sees Vaa'i's size and physicality as exactly what New Zealand will need against the Boks, and wants Rennie to keep him at 6. The Patrick Tuipulotu subplot adds another layer — playing just 57 minutes on his return from injury, he scored a try and made enough of an impression that Wilson is flagging him as a key body for the South African tour. The piece captures a moment where Rennie's willingness to experiment appears to be opening up genuine selection options at the positions that will matter most when the Greatest Rivalry resumes.
Vaa'i at 6 silences doubters — and raises big questions for the Bok series
Vaa'i's blindside display against Ireland has converted his critics and opened a genuine selection debate — with both he and a returning Tuipulotu now flagged as key weapons for the Bok series.
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.
World Rugby scraps home weighting in first rankings overhaul since 2003
World Rugby will eliminate home weighting from its rankings points calculation from July 1, 2026 — the first major change to the system since its 2003 introduction — citing the surge in Tests played at neutral venues, including the Springboks vs All Blacks Baltimore clash.
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.