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All Blacks frame 1-3 series defeat as RWC27 groundwork
Taylor frames the 1-3 series loss as a valuable RWC27 building block, acknowledging the Boks punish mistakes ruthlessly while expressing confidence that New Zealand's squad culture and development trajectory are pointed in the right direction.
Willemse at 12, Pollard back — how the Boks' XV could look against the Wallabies
Planet Rugby predicts a wholesale Bok reshuffle for Perth — Willemse back to 12, Fassi at 15, Pollard returning at 10, and a revamped forward pack with Hanekom, Mostert, and Grobbelaar all coming in.
Willemse to 12, Pollard back, Marx retained — Planet Rugby's Bok XV for Perth
Planet Rugby predicts a heavily rotated Bok XV for Perth, with the headline move being Willemse trialled at 12, Pollard returning at 10, and a reshuffled pack built around the players who sat out the RGR series.
'Awesome' Cam worth the risk for Rassie
Erasmus points to the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series as proof that backing youth alongside the old guard — and tolerating selection upheaval — is working, with Hanekom a key exhibit in that argument.
Rennie takes the long view after 3-1 series loss to the Boks
Rennie's verdict on a 3-1 series defeat to the Boks is less about damage control and more about what the tour revealed — Preston's rise, Barrett's squad value, and the disciplinary lapses that keep costing the All Blacks against top-tier opposition.
Rassie backs rotation gamble as Rugby's Greatest Rivalry delivers verdict
Erasmus says the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry results vindicate his rotation strategy — using seasoned Boks to bring through players like Cameron Worth — and the piece examines whether that confidence is warranted.
Rassie refuses to overstate Bok edge after Greatest Rivalry series win
Erasmus downplays the 3-1 series result as a true reflection of Bok superiority, and gives his most detailed explanation yet of why squad rotation looks chaotic from the outside but follows a deliberate logic — with the RGR series itself treated as a steadier, experience-first exercise.
All Blacks ratings: Roigard and Blackadder shine, but Bomb Squad exposes New Zealand's bench depth
Roigard and Blackadder were the bright spots in Baltimore, but Planet Rugby's ratings expose a thin All Blacks bench demolished by the Bomb Squad, a leaky lineout, and a front five outmuscled for the series.
Baltimore masterclass: Arendse and Van den Berg lead the ratings as Boks seal 3-1 series
Planet Rugby's player-by-player ratings from the Baltimore decider spotlight Arendse (10) and Van den Berg (9) as the architects of the 3-1 series win, while the tightheads and Du Toit are the relative weak links in an otherwise commanding collective performance.
Baltimore breakdown: Arendse stakes his claim, Fourie makes history, and the officials' comms go dark
A winners-and-losers breakdown of the Boks' Baltimore win, with Arendse's history-making try and Fourie's age record leading the headlines, while Vaa'i's indiscipline and questions over Taylor's World Cup spot dominate the All Blacks' side of the ledger.
Baltimore Breakdown: Five Takeaways from the Springboks' Series Clincher
Planet Rugby's five-takeaway breakdown of Baltimore argues the Boks barely broke stride to secure a 3-1 series result not seen since 1976, with the post-contact metre gap, Bomb Squad impact, and Van den Berg's display as the analytical threads — plus a sharp look at the referee comms failure on rugby's biggest night in North America.
Baltimore Ratings: De Allende Dominates as Boks Seal 3-1 Series
Full player-by-player ratings from the Boks' 43-28 series-clinching win in Baltimore — de Allende the standout at 9.5/10, with Wiese, Van den Berg and Marx all drawing high praise.
Rassie on who the Springboks really play for
Erasmus reflects on the Boks' polarising global image and doubles down on who they're really playing for — worth reading for his candour on Springbok identity and motivation.
All Blacks ratings: Roigard and Blackadder shine but Bomb Squad exposure tells the real story
Planet Rugby's Baltimore player ratings highlight Roigard and Blackadder as the All Blacks' best, but identify the Bomb Squad's demolition of the bench and a physically outgunned front five as the defining factors in a 43-28 defeat.
Player ratings: Arendse and Van den Berg headline historic RGR series win
Planet Rugby rates Arendse a perfect 10 and Van den Berg a 9 in their player-by-player breakdown of the series-clinching win over the All Blacks in Baltimore, with the scrumming unit the only notable weak point in an otherwise dominant Springbok performance.
Baltimore thriller: Arendse claims the crown, Van den Berg delivers, and officials face tech embarrassment
Arendse torched the All Blacks for 169 metres and a match-sealing try to stake his claim as the Boks' top winger, while Van den Berg ran the show at nine in a 43-28 win that clinched the series. The piece also dissects Vaa'i's game-killing indiscipline, Mo'unga's quiet return, and a baffling 15-minute comms failure that halted play.
Baltimore breakdown: Five takeaways from the Boks' 43-28 series-clinching win over the All Blacks
Planet Rugby's Baltimore post-mortem argues that South Africa's 43-28 win was built on a structural physical advantage — 523 post-contact metres to New Zealand's 362 — with the Bomb Squad widening the gap rather than closing it. The piece credits New Zealand's tactical creativity but frames the series result as live World Cup intelligence Erasmus now holds over the only other credible Webb Ellis contender.
Rassie on who the Springboks really play for
Erasmus acknowledges the Boks annoy the world when they win — and argues that's exactly the point. The piece explores what motivates the team and who they see as their true audience.
All Blacks Player Ratings: Not Enough When It Mattered
Fortune's Baltimore ratings reveal a side with isolated performers but systemic frailties — a scrumming pack that buckled under Bok pressure, a backline that lost its shape, and a series result of 1-from-4 that flatters nobody.
Baltimore player ratings: Arendse and Van den Berg steal the show in 43-28 RGR clincher
Full match ratings from the 43-28 Baltimore win: Arendse earns a 10, Van den Berg a 9, while the front row's scrum troubles and a mixed bench showing keep this from being a clean sweep.