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2,956 items · Springboks
Springbok depth and identity: what the 4-test series tells the chasing pack
The Ruck panel argue the 4-test series proves that beating the Springboks requires total conviction in your own identity — and that Rassie's backhanded compliment to Borthwick was a pointed reminder of what England still lack.
Planet Rugby's Team of the Series: Boks dominate, Marx crowned world's best
Planet Rugby's Team of the Series goes nine Boks to four All Blacks, with Malcolm Marx crowned the world's best player and Ox Nche and Wiese also singled out as world-class at their positions — a selection that reflects just how comprehensively South Africa controlled the series after recovering from 1-0 down.
Five moments that decided Baltimore — and handed the Boks the series
Coetzee's match breakdown identifies the five moments that flipped a nervy Baltimore Test — from early defensive red flags to a brutal TMO call that went the Boks' way, and Arendse's match-sealing finish that ended the series as a contest.
Rassie: The Greatest Rivalry revival is bigger than the result
Erasmus reflects on the Greatest Rivalry revival as historically significant beyond the 3-1 result — drawing on isolation-era memories and the 1996 series to explain what makes this fixture irreplaceable, while cautioning that the Rugby Championship partners shouldn't be left behind.
Kirwan slams officiating after All Blacks fall to Springboks in Baltimore decider
Sir John Kirwan has criticised the refereeing in Saturday's Rugby's Greatest Rivalry finale, claiming a controversial incident involving Cameron Hanekom and Kurt-Lee Arendse represented a 14-point turnaround. The All Blacks legend spent nine minutes of the Rivals podcast dissecting the decision that allowed Arendse's 70-metre try to stand.
Springboks cement dominance as All Blacks slip a length behind world champions
South Africa's 3-1 series victory over New Zealand in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series has underlined the gulf between the two nations, with the Springboks demonstrating superiority in power, intelligence and creativity. The world champions recovered from an opening defeat in Johannesburg to win three consecutive matches, culminating in a commanding 43-28 triumph before a record crowd of more than 68,000 in Baltimore. New Zealand's media have acknowledged their side now trails the Boks by a significant margin.
From 21,000 fans and a Wales loss to 68,000 and the All Blacks on the ropes — Rassie's full-circle moment
Baltimore served as personal redemption for Erasmus — from a near-empty stadium and a Wales loss in his first game to a record US crowd and a series win over the All Blacks. The piece unpacks the squad philosophy behind the run: experienced core, deliberate youth integration, and a willingness to absorb short-term losses for long-term depth. Erasmus and Kolisi both flag the World Cup quarter-final collision course with New Zealand, and are unambiguous that current form proves nothing about 2027.
NZ media verdict: Boks exposed All Blacks in every facet as 'limitless potential' opens daylight between the sides
New Zealand's rugby press offers a frank reckoning after the 3-1 series loss — concluding the Boks dominated every facet and that the All Blacks need hard internal truths, not referee complaints.
Kirwan concedes Boks deserved the series — but won't let the Hanekom call go
Kirwan concedes the Boks deserved their 3-1 series win but argues the Hanekom no-call — which he sees as an early tackle, a trip, and a yellow card — was a decisive officiating failure that cost the All Blacks any chance of a comeback in Baltimore.
Hansen: Baltimore comms failure exposed rugby's lack of basic protocols
Hansen argues the Baltimore comms meltdown wasn't a freak accident but a planning failure — and uses it to push for scrapping the bunker system, which he sees as equally ineffective and far more damaging to the game.
Hansen says Boks got refereeing luck — but concedes All Blacks have work to do
Hansen credits the Boks with earning refereeing favour across the series, while conceding the All Blacks have real work ahead of them — a revealing read on how New Zealand are processing their defeat.
Hansen says the Boks had the refs on their side — but it's more complicated than that
Hansen attributes some of the Boks' series success to favourable officiating, but his remarks also reveal what the All Blacks see as their own shortcomings — a useful window into their thinking after the series.
Bleskop: Rassie and management team shave heads after Baltimore victory
Rassie Erasmus, scrum coach Daan Human, the broader Springbok management team and captain Siya Kolisi all shaved their heads after the 43-28 win over the All Blacks in Baltimore, with Erasmus describing it as "the prize of a bet" — the details of which have not been revealed.
Marx equals Habana, Erasmus hits 100 — and a ref mic nearly ruins the occasion
Marx equalled Habana's try-scoring record against the All Blacks, Erasmus reached 100 Tests, and Arendse delivered a match-sealing moment — but a communication equipment failure that halted play for ten minutes cast a shadow over the occasion in Louw's final Baltimore post-mortem.
Springboks and Springbok Women fixtures: 2026–27 schedule in full
A full rundown of the 2026–27 Springbok and Springbok Women fixture schedule, including the Nations Championship, WXV, and a third Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Test against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium.
Erasmus dedicates Baltimore triumph to South Africans as Boks clinch Greatest Rivalry series
Rassie Erasmus delivered an emotional tribute to supporters back home after the Springboks sealed the inaugural Greatest Rivalry series with a 43-28 victory over New Zealand in Baltimore. Speaking before a record US crowd of 68,173, the head coach acknowledged the team's methods might annoy rivals but insisted making South Africans happy remains the sole motivation for the world champions.
Rassie dedicates Baltimore series win to South Africans 'on the farm, in the township, in the mall'
Erasmus dedicated the Baltimore series win to South Africans across all walks of life, was candid about the criticism the Boks attract globally, and credited Kurt-Lee Arendse as the turning point in a game he admits could have gone either way.
Matfield and Kirwan lock horns over Baltimore's officiating
Matfield and Kirwan clashed publicly over the refereeing in the Springbok-All Black decider — the piece breaks down where they disagreed and whether the ref critiques hold up.
Willemse lifts the lid on the Boks' peaking strategy that decided the RGR series
Willemse confirms the Nations Championship rotation was a calculated peaking strategy, with games three and four always the target — and the first-Test loss the catalyst for the internal tightening that followed.
Matfield and Mallett: Only Three Teams Can Win 2027, and the Final Is the Boks' Easiest Game
Matfield sees a three-horse World Cup race — Boks, All Blacks, France — with the ability to win three brutal knockout games back-to-back as the decisive filter. Mallett adds the spicy take that if South Africa gets through the QF and SF, the final itself will be their most manageable match.