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Nations Championship report card: Boks earn A+, but the grades tell a deeper story
Planet Rugby's Nations Championship report card hands the Boks the only A+ — crediting the squad depth, rotation, and shutout of Wales — while drawing sharp conclusions about Ireland's Eden Park implosion, England's discipline problem, and Fiji's commercial scheduling injustice. A quick, pointed read on where things stand before the Rugby Championship.
All Blacks building momentum, Junior Boks back-to-back, and the TMO problem nobody wants to admit
The All Blacks' dominant first half against Ireland signals genuine momentum under Rennie ahead of the Bok series, while South Africa's summer of squad rotation — including the Junior Boks' back-to-back JWC title — looks increasingly purposeful. Argentina's implosion and the accelerating TMO dependency are the weekend's biggest concerns.
Nations Championship: What worked, what didn't, and why it already changes the stakes
A thorough first-edition verdict on the Nations Championship — what made July rugby matter for the first time in a generation, and the specific structural and logistical flaws the tournament must fix before the Twickenham finals.
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.
Sheehan calls for 'right mindset' after Ireland's Nations Championship tour ends in defeat
Dan Sheehan says Ireland must find a better mindset to compete at the top level after a 40-21 Nations Championship defeat to New Zealand in Auckland, with South Africa among their Dublin opponents in November.
All Blacks dismantle Ireland at the ruck — but a familiar second-half flaw follows them into Bok territory
New Zealand's Eden Park demolition of Ireland was built on ruck dominance and disciplined passivity, but the piece identifies a recurring second-half fade as the one flaw a perfect July hasn't buried — and the one South Africa's analysts will target across four upcoming Tests.
Rennie warns rivals: 'We've got a lot more in us'
Rennie's All Blacks swept their July Tests and he's warning there's more to come — but he's openly framing the South Africa tour as the real benchmark, and the piece unpacks what's improved, what hasn't, and what the Boks can expect.
Laurie Mains backs Rennie's All Blacks — but warns player workload could cost them against the Boks
Mains backs Rennie's new-look All Blacks but warns the brutal 2026 schedule — Super Rugby, Nations Championship, URC warmup games, and four Tests against the Boks — risks leaving New Zealand's players mentally and physically spent before the series that matters most.
Laurie Mains backs Rennie's direction but warns All Blacks are heading for a burnout crisis
Mains backs Rennie's style and selections but warns the 2026 schedule is piling too much onto New Zealand's top players — with the Springbok series arriving at the back end of a punishing year.
Neutral venues a structural necessity at Nations Championship, says SANZAAR CEO
SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris says neutral-venue hosting is a structural necessity in the Nations Championship, with Fiji playing all their 'home' July matches in Britain and Japan hosting Ireland in Australia.
Rennie rules out Mo'unga for South Africa tour, confirms squad planning well advanced
Dave Rennie has ruled Richie Mo'unga out of the All Blacks' 44-man squad for the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series in South Africa, citing NZR eligibility rules, while confirming the tour squad and match-day planning is already well advanced.
Rees-Zammit admits rugby comeback has fallen short of expectations ahead of Springbok clash
Louis Rees-Zammit starts for Wales against the Springboks in Durban on Saturday, admitting his return from the NFL has not gone as smoothly as he had hoped after a season disrupted by positional changes and a slow readjustment to Test rugby.
Rennie rules out Mo'unga for Springboks series despite eligibility push
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has confirmed Richie Mo'unga will not feature in New Zealand's four-test series against the Springboks in August. The 32-year-old fly-half remains ineligible under national union rules until October, having returned from three seasons in Japan. Mo'unga could only join the tour as an injury replacement.
Rennie rules out Mo'unga for Springboks series, confirms squad planning well advanced
Dave Rennie has ruled out Richie Mo'unga for the All Blacks' four-test series against the Springboks, confirming the fly-half's NZR eligibility won't be met until October. Rennie says provisional selections are already in place for all four tests, with the series opening in Johannesburg on August 22.
Mo'unga ruled out of Springboks series as Rennie confirms NZ Rugby stance holds
Dave Rennie has confirmed Richie Mo'unga will not tour South Africa in August, with NZ Rugby's eligibility policy remaining unchanged. Mo'unga can only join the squad as an injury replacement once his NPC commitments make him eligible.
Rennie plans Bomb Squad trial in South Africa as All Blacks target 6-2 bench split
Dave Rennie confirms the All Blacks will trial a 6-2 bench split during their South African tour, with provincial squads for the first four games already picked. Tupou Vaa'i's shift to blindside flanker for the Ireland Nations Championship fixture has also drawn attention as a potential Springbok-specific tactical move.
Marshall warns All Blacks: Jordan at 14 is a luxury the Boks series might expose
Marshall argues Jordan at 14 is a depth-chart workaround, not a true positional solution — and that the Springboks' aerial kicking game will expose whether McKenzie can hold the 15 jersey under genuine pressure.
Barrett-Theron steps away from refereeing after breast cancer diagnosis
World record-holder Aimee Barrett-Theron, the most capped female referee in history with 52 tests, has stepped away from officiating after being diagnosed with treatable breast cancer, with the 39-year-old targeting a return to the field within months.
Drug watchdog defends SA rugby after latest positive test
SAIDS CEO Khalid Galan pushes back against suggestions that the latest positive doping test in SA rugby points to a wider systemic issue.
Argentina dismantle Wales 35-21 in San Juan to stay in Nations Championship hunt
Argentina beat Wales 35-21 in San Juan, crossing five times and securing a bonus point before half-time to bounce back from their opening-round loss to Scotland. South Africa and New Zealand remain the only unbeaten sides in the Southern Hemisphere table after two rounds.