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2,956 items · Springboks
All Blacks identify Bok set-piece dominance as the Baltimore problem to solve
Neil Barnes singles out South Africa's set-piece dominance — and the penalty stream it produces — as the core problem New Zealand must fix in Baltimore, while insisting the gap is small and the game plan sound. The injury losses of Savea, Tupaea, and Jacobson add a difficult wrinkle heading into a series decider.
Gordon fracture rules Wallaby playmaker out of Springbok Test and Bledisloe series
Carter Gordon has fractured his leg, ruling the Wallabies' first-choice flyhalf out of the September 26 Test against the Springboks in Perth and the Bledisloe Cup series, with Tom Lynagh the likely replacement.
Former All Blacks: What went wrong in Test 3 — and what NZ must fix in Baltimore
Three former All Blacks dissect what went wrong in Test 3 of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series and what NZ must change to level it in Baltimore — with Bok pressure-game mastery at the centre of the post-mortem.
Scrum dominance, Kolisi's record, and Roigard's theatrics: Third Test hits and misses
A hits-and-misses breakdown of the third Test that centres on Bok scrum dominance as both a physical and psychological weapon, Hooker's breakout display, Kolisi's captaincy record, and pointed criticism of Roigard's theatrical antics late in the first half.
Rennie pinpoints Jordan error as turning point in All Blacks' Soweto defeat
All Blacks assistant coach Dave Rennie has identified a costly mistake by Will Jordan as the pivotal moment in Saturday's 29-24 defeat to the Springboks at FNB Stadium. Despite Jordan's try giving New Zealand a 17-12 lead in the 56th minute, the world champions responded immediately through Jesse Kriel and seized control of the contest. The result extends South Africa's lead to 2-1 in the four-Test Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series.
All Blacks vow to fix maul defence ahead of Baltimore decider
New Zealand lock Sam Darry has acknowledged his side must improve their maul defence after the Springboks dominated that facet in Saturday's 29-24 victory at FNB Stadium. The All Blacks conceded a crucial 20-metre rolling maul try to Malcolm Marx in the 65th minute, a score that helped the Boks pull clear in Soweto.
Boks hold 2-1 series lead but RGR trophy still up for grabs in Baltimore
The Springboks' 29-24 victory at FNB Stadium secured the Freedom Cup and prevented an All Blacks series win on South African soil, but the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry trophy remains undecided ahead of Saturday's decider in Baltimore. Rassie Erasmus and his squad flew out alongside New Zealand on Sunday, with the four-match series locked at 2-1 and both sides eyeing the inaugural RGR silverware.
Marx's fist-pump seals Soweto triumph as Springboks take 2-1 series lead
Malcolm Marx powered over for the decisive try at FNB Stadium on Saturday night, his three fist-pumps into the turf sealing a 29-24 victory over New Zealand. The Springboks trailed with an hour gone before cranking up their trademark power game in front of more than 90,000 fans. The win gives South Africa a 2-1 lead in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry with one Test remaining.
Hanekom: No complacency as loosie battle heats up
Hanekom reflects on his breakout Rugby Championship performances and why he's not taking his place in the Bok setup for granted as the 2027 World Cup cycle builds.
Boks welcomed by cheering crowds on Baltimore arrival
Cheering fans greeted the Springboks in Baltimore ahead of the fourth and final Test of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series.
Rennie's scrum complaints may have handed the Boks extra motivation they didn't need
Gavin Rich argues Rennie's repeated public complaints about Bok scrumming were a strategic blunder — Plumtree agrees it gave Human's crew unnecessary motivation — and the penalty-try scrum at FNB Stadium was the consequence. Rich draws the Sandpapergate parallel and wraps it in a post-match N1 road trip that captures the current mood around Springbok rugby.
Darry warns All Blacks must solve maul problem ahead of Baltimore Test
All Blacks lock Sam Darry says New Zealand must fix their maul defence before the Baltimore Test after the Springboks exploited it at FNB Stadium.
Baltimore is Rassie's chance to show the Boks can play it more than one way
With the series wrapped up, Rich argues Baltimore is the right moment for Erasmus to rotate deliberately and show the Boks have more than one attacking gear — with Libbok, Willemse at 12, and a fresher forward mix central to that case.
RGR Trophy Still Up for Grabs — Baltimore Is a Genuine Decider
The Boks have defended home soil and retained the Freedom Cup, but Gavin Rich argues Baltimore is where the series actually matters — the inaugural RGR trophy goes to the four-test winner, and neither side is treating it as an afterthought.
Hanekom deflects praise after crucial cameo in Soweto Test win
Cameron Hanekom played down his role in the Springboks' 29-24 win over the All Blacks in Soweto, despite Rassie Erasmus singling out the Bulls eighthman's turnover as a key moment and Hanekom featuring prominently in the Malcolm Marx try that extended the lead to 26-17.
Hooker eager for series decider as Boks take 2-1 lead into Baltimore
Malcolm Marx, Man of the Match in the Boks' 29-24 win over New Zealand in Soweto, says the series is far from over despite South Africa taking a 2-1 lead, with Saturday's decider at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore set to determine the series outcome.
NZ media verdict: Savea's exit and a broken scrum cost the All Blacks in Soweto
NZ rugby writers pin the Soweto defeat on Savea's early injury exit and a scrum that was penalised heavily under a stricter referee — with both Napier and Knowler arguing those two factors unravelled an All Blacks side that had otherwise matched the world champions.
Darry backs All Blacks to crack the Bok maul code in Baltimore
Darry gives an honest breakdown of where New Zealand came unstuck in Soweto — second-half discipline gifting the Boks their maul dominance — while backing the depleted, Savea-less squad to solve the defensive puzzle in Baltimore.
Hooker plays down Man of the Match after Boks go 2-1 up on All Blacks
Ethan Hooker, named Man of the Match after the Springboks' 29-24 win over the All Blacks at FNB Stadium, says he only found out about the award from a team official post-match, with South Africa now holding a 2-1 series lead ahead of the Baltimore decider.
All Blacks hit by triple injury blow ahead of series decider against Springboks in Baltimore
New Zealand will be without Ardie Savea, Quinn Tupaea and Luke Jacobson for Saturday's Rugby Championship series decider against the Springboks in Baltimore, with all three ruled out through injuries sustained during the third test in Johannesburg.