Despite slamming the RFU's review into England's disastrous Six Nations campaign, Clive Woodward believes the side has enough to 'deliver a result' against the Springboks. The piece examines that tension — a scathing assessment of England's governing body sitting alongside genuine belief that the team can perform when it matters. Worth reading ahead of the series for an insight into how England's own are framing their chances.
Woodward backs England to bounce back against the Boks
Woodward is critical of the RFU's Six Nations review but still backs England to trouble the Boks — the piece unpacks that contradiction ahead of the series.
Springboks Through Irish Eyes: Gráinne Seoige on Loftus, Rassie, and Why SA Rugby Is Unlike Anything Else
Irish TV personality Gráinne Seoige tells the Lekker Rugby Pod that walking into Loftus for the 2024 Ireland test was the most intimidating rugby atmosphere she has ever experienced, and argues that Rassie Erasmus's cultural transformation of Springbok rugby is a bigger achievement than the World Cup wins.
Woodward: RFU's drawn-out review has kneecapped Borthwick's Bok prep
Woodward argues the RFU's drawn-out review left Borthwick distracted at the worst possible time, and that England's chances in Johannesburg have been needlessly compromised — even if he believes the talent is there to beat the Boks.
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.
Hansen: Wellington told us more about the All Blacks than the Springboks
Hansen argues the Wellington result revealed more about All Black confusion than Springbok dominance, while cautioning against scoreline fixation — and backing the new-look All Blacks to learn from the Greatest Rivalry tour.