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Lions' record transfer demands kill Pead move to Stormers
The Stormers are walking away from a move for Lions scrumhalf Haashim Pead after the Lions demanded a record transfer fee — more than double what the Sharks received for Kolisi — and insisted on full upfront payment, leaving the 21-year-old facing limited options and continued competition for game time in Johannesburg.
Smit: All Blacks' scrum avoidance exposes Super Rugby's blind spot
Smit argues the All Blacks' set-piece avoidance in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry wasn't just tactical caution — it reflects a deeper structural problem caused by Super Rugby's low emphasis on scrumming, while the Boks' European competition diet has sharpened exactly those Test-match weapons.
Barnes: Only a moment of genius breaks Bok dominance
Barnes makes the case that only a generational talent operating at peak can unlock a Springbok side too well-organised to be beaten by system alone.
Loffie sees more silverware on the Boks' 2025 horizon
Eloff argues the Springboks have at least one more trophy to chase down in 2025 — the linked piece details his reasoning.
Mains: All Blacks could have won three of four — but the aerial battle cost them
Laurie Mains argues the 43-28 Baltimore scoreline flattered the Boks, that New Zealand could have won three of the first four Tests, and pinpoints the aerial battle — specifically the inability to contest Springbok up-and-unders — as the decisive tactical gap in the series.
Hansen: Boks still ahead, but Kriel is the key to closing the gap
Hansen acknowledges the Boks remain ahead but argues the series was decided by fine margins and self-inflicted All Blacks errors rather than outright superiority — and identifies beating Jesse Kriel's inside shoulder as the tactical fix New Zealand need before a likely World Cup quarter-final rematch.
Hamilton: World Cup draw is a 'tragedy' — and rugby's off-field chaos is squandering the Springboks-All Blacks golden era
Hamilton argues rugby's administration is failing to capitalise on the Springboks-All Blacks golden era — pointing to the Baltimore comms fiasco, a repeat World Cup draw blunder, and rights holders pulling viral content as evidence that the off-field operation is nowhere near matching what's happening on the pitch.
The 10 players who defined the RGR series
Louw ranks the 10 players who shaped the RGR series — Marx leads an analysis that spans Bok scrum dominance, Kolbe's relentless work rate, and a balanced look at the All Blacks' standouts, including a pointed aside on Roigard's legacy from the series.
Mains: All Blacks could have won three of four — and the aerial game cost them the series
Laurie Mains argues the 43-28 Baltimore result was misleading, believes the All Blacks were close enough to have won three of the first four Tests, and pins the series loss on a single tactical failure: not deploying aerial competitors under South Africa's high-ball game.
Eight lessons from Rugby's Greatest Rivalry — and why the All Blacks' problems run deeper than results
A sharp post-series breakdown arguing the Boks' veterans emphatically answered their critics, while dissecting the All Blacks' scrum crisis as both a personnel and coaching failure — with additional scrutiny on World Rugby's inconsistent officiating standards and the broader infrastructure around the series.
Afoa: Boks left a 4-0 sweep on the table
Afoa believes the Boks were clinical enough to go 4-0 in the RGR series, with the Ellis Park Test the one that got away.
Erasmus Warns of 'Different Challenge' as Springboks Touch Down in Australia
Rassie Erasmus has acknowledged the threat posed by a resurgent Wallabies side as the Springboks arrived in Australia following their 3-1 series victory over the All Blacks. The world champions face a one-off Test in Perth on 27 September against an Australian outfit buoyed by their own series win in Argentina. Player management will be critical after a demanding travel schedule that has taken the squad from Baltimore to Sydney via Dallas.
Erasmus flags 'different challenge' as Boks touch down in Australia
Erasmus is treating the Perth Test as a genuine threat, not a lap of honour — flagging the Wallabies' form, a 'completely different challenge' tactically, and a punishing travel schedule that makes squad freshness the key variable heading into the one-off.
Ex-All Black: Boks could have swept 4-0 had South Africa not overplayed their hand in Joburg
New Zealand pundits dissect the 3-1 series loss, with Afoa arguing South Africa's overconfidence in the first Test handed the All Blacks a result they didn't deserve — and that a 4-0 thrashing was very much on the cards.
Five moments that defined the RGR series — from Nonu's haka response to Erasmus's F-bomb
A retrospective on the RGR series' five standout moments — the Lions' near-heist, Kolbe carrying Cape Town, the Boks' Baltimore masterclass, Erasmus's F-bomb press conference, and Nonu's unforgettable haka response.
Springboks arrive in Australia with player management front of mind ahead of Perth Test
The Springboks have arrived in Terrigal ahead of the September 27 Test against the Wallabies in Perth, with Rassie Erasmus prioritising player recovery after a gruelling run of matches and long-haul travel, while warning that a confident Wallabies side will present a different challenge to Argentina and the All Blacks.
Springbok forwards rated across the Greatest Rivalry series: Marx and Nche lead the way, hooker depth a concern
Marx and Nche are the standout performers in Planet Rugby's player-by-player breakdown, but the piece flags thin hooker cover behind Marx as a genuine Bok vulnerability — and revisits the series-long tension around the 6/2 bench split.
Rennie's All Blacks have identity — but do they have the fundamentals to back it up?
Rennie has given the All Blacks an attacking identity and genuine confidence with ball in hand — but the set-piece and aerial game remain unresolved problems that could undermine the whole project if left unchecked heading toward the World Cup.
Erasmus braces Springboks for fired-up Wallabies in Perth
Rassie Erasmus has warned his Springbok squad to expect a completely different challenge when they face Australia in Perth on 27 September. The world champions arrived in New South Wales on Wednesday following their series victory over the All Blacks, and will begin preparations for a one-off Test that doubles as reconnaissance ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Erasmus emphasised the Wallabies' recent form and anticipated a determined performance in front of their home crowd.
Rassie warns Boks of fired-up Wallabies ahead of Perth clash
Rassie Erasmus is bracing the Springboks for a fired-up Wallabies side in Perth on 27 September.