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2,338 items · Springboks
Erasmus pulls no punches after Johannesburg humbling
Erasmus gave an unusually blunt post-match assessment after the Ellis Park loss — no excuses, no lessons claimed, just a direct admission that the Boks failed to execute and New Zealand's intensity exposed every lapse. With three wins now needed to take the series, Cape Town becomes the pivot.
Rennie's 'massive stat' explains how the All Blacks turned a scrappy arm-wrestle into a 17-point win
Rennie's key post-match stat — 3.67 vs 0.91 points per 22-entry — explains how a tight arm-wrestle became a convincing scoreline, with New Zealand's clinical finishing and unusually stingy defence neutralising a Bok attack that typically scores 5.5 points per 22-metre entry.
All Blacks reclaim world No.1 ranking after Ellis Park win
New Zealand have moved to the top of the World Rugby rankings after beating the Springboks 33-16 at Ellis Park, with South Africa dropping to second.
All Blacks player ratings: Who shone and who struggled in the Ellis Park win
Jordie Barrett headlined a strong All Blacks backline display at Ellis Park, but the starting front row was badly exposed by Bok scrum pressure — Rugby365 rates every New Zealand player from the 33-16 win.
Player Ratings: Boks vs All Blacks — Wiese Towers, Williams Wobbles
Wiese was exceptional and the front row gave the All Blacks scrum problems, but backline dysfunction — amplified by Arendse's early exit — and ill-disciplined finishing from the bench tell the story of why the Boks lost by 17 in Johannesburg.
Erasmus: 'We didn't need to learn from this — we knew what to do and didn't do it'
Erasmus isn't sugar-coating the 33-16 loss — he says the Boks knew what was required and failed to deliver it, with New Zealand's sharpness forcing the errors rather than any tactical surprise. He's leaning on historical precedent (2021 Lions, 2019 World Cup) to frame the series deficit as recoverable, but the reality is stark: three wins on the trot, starting in Cape Town on Saturday.
All Blacks draw first blood with 33-16 win over Springboks at Ellis Park
New Zealand defeated the Springboks 33-16 at Ellis Park to take a 1-0 lead in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry four-Test series, running in five tries to one. The Boks were still within three points at 19-16 with 20 minutes to go but yellow cards to Marco van Staden and Cobus Reinach in the closing stages allowed the All Blacks to pull away.
Rennie expects a different Bok beast in Cape Town
Rennie and Savea praised the All Blacks' Ellis Park composure but are bracing for a fired-up Bok reply in Cape Town — the piece captures their cautious post-match tone.
Injury concerns mount for Erasmus as both frontline wingers go down against All Blacks
Rassie Erasmus is sweating over the fitness of both his frontline wingers after the Springboks' 33-16 loss to the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
Erasmus admits Boks 'got a hiding' as All Blacks take series lead
Rassie Erasmus has conceded the Springboks 'got a hiding' in their 33-16 loss to New Zealand at Ellis Park, with the All Blacks taking the lead in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Series. The Boks face a must-win second test in Cape Town next Saturday.
Bok dominance wasted: How inaccuracy and ill-discipline handed the All Blacks a shock Ellis Park win
Rich's analysis argues the Boks were the better team for long periods but gifted the All Blacks a win through a Marx knock-on over the line, tactical naivety at scrum penalties, and two yellow cards that left them with 13 men — handing New Zealand a 33-16 win and a 1-0 series lead heading to Cape Town.
All Blacks deliver a statement at Ellis Park — and the Boks must answer
New Zealand put 33 points on the Boks at Ellis Park, exposing uncharacteristic handling errors and a discipline collapse that left South Africa with two men in the bin. The All Blacks were clinical where it mattered — five tries, a first Ellis Park win since 2022, and a series lead that will demand a significant Bok response.
All Blacks reclaim World Rugby top spot after 33-16 Ellis Park win
New Zealand's 33-16 win at Ellis Park, with Will Jordan scoring twice, has pushed South Africa off the top of the World Rugby rankings by 1.82 points, though the Springboks can reclaim the summit with a victory of any kind in Cape Town next weekend.
Wiese carries the fight, but errors and injuries sink the Boks at Ellis Park
Wiese, Louw and Nche were the rare bright spots in an 8 vs 4 spread that tells the story — Bok forward grunt was there, but backline errors and a brutal injury toll gifted the All Blacks the margin.
All Blacks player ratings: Jordan and Jordie the difference-makers as Rennie's big calls pay off
Jordan and Jordie Barrett were the standout performers in the 33-16 win, but the ratings piece digs into Rennie's selection calls — Holland and Jacobson both justified their inclusions — while the scrum remains an area of concern despite a bench-driven recovery.
Ruthless All Blacks punish wasteful Boks despite scrum hammering
The Boks obliterated the All Blacks at scrum time yet lost 33-16 — the piece breaks down why South Africa's failure to convert 22-metre dominance into points was the decisive factor, and what both teams must fix before Cape Town.
All Blacks punish wasteful Springboks 33-16 in Johannesburg opener
New Zealand beat South Africa 33-16 in Johannesburg to lead the four-test series 1-0, outscoring the Springboks five tries to one after a dominant second half that saw the hosts reduced to 13 men.
All Blacks stun Springboks 33-16 at Ellis Park in Rugby Championship opener
New Zealand beat South Africa 33-16 at Ellis Park, scoring five tries in a commanding Rugby Championship opener that saw the Springboks end the match with two players in the sin-bin.
Du Toit: Springboks beat themselves in 33-16 loss to All Blacks
Springbok captain Pieter-Steph du Toit admits South Africa cost themselves the match in a 33-16 defeat to the All Blacks.
All Blacks capitalise on Bok inaccuracy to take series lead at Ellis Park
The All Blacks won 33-16 at Ellis Park to take a 1-0 lead in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series, capitalising on Bok inaccuracy and a dropped Malcolm Marx try in the first half to claim an upset result despite the Springboks dominating the physical contest.