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Mallett expects Erasmus to back the home-based group for first All Blacks Test
Mallett tips Erasmus to pick from the group that stayed home during the Argentina leg, framing it as the logical call for the first All Blacks Test.
10 Bok wins over the All Blacks worth reliving before Ellis Park
SA Rugby Mag counts down ten standout Bok wins over the All Blacks since readmission, timed to whet the appetite ahead of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry opener at Ellis Park.
Rennie eyes Bok test after All Blacks' Bulls romp
Rennie openly acknowledged Saturday's Ellis Park test is a different planet from the Bulls warm-up, with the All Blacks carrying injury doubts over key backs while the Boks arrive fresh and ready. The piece sets the scene for what promises to be a brutal opening clash.
Mallett expects Rassie to reward the stay-behinds against the All Blacks
Mallett tips Erasmus to back the stay-behind group for the Argentina Test, making a rotation-logic case for how the squad shapes up.
Why Erasmus is keeping his cards close ahead of Ellis Park
Erasmus's delayed team announcement ahead of Saturday's Ellis Park test is a deliberate tactical call, not a selection headache — though the Kolisi fitness question and the Feinberg-Mngomezulu vs Libbok debate at flyhalf give him genuine options to keep the All Blacks guessing.
Erasmus keeps his cards close ahead of Ellis Park opener
Erasmus's delayed team announcement for the Ellis Park test is a tactical choice, not a sign of uncertainty. Gavin Rich breaks down the Kolisi, Nche and Feinberg-Mngomezulu vs Libbok decisions that will define the Boks' opening hand in the RGR Series.
What the Boks can take from the Bulls' 50-19 lesson against the All Blacks
Ackermann draws two concrete tactical lessons from the Bulls' loss — All Blacks' free-flowing rugby won't fly against Bok defence, and patient pick-and-drive creates real opportunity — while Rennie confirms his touring lineup was far from Test strength ahead of Ellis Park.
Predicted Bok XV for Johannesburg: Experience up front, with the real intrigue on the bench
A predicted Bok XV for Johannesburg that favours experience in the run-on side, with the real selection intrigue centred on the bench — particularly Porthen over Louw at tighthead and Esterhuizen as the tactical shape-shifter who unlocks bench flexibility.
Refreshed and lighter, Ioane is primed to cause the Boks problems in midfield
Ioane has rediscovered his best form on tour — lighter, faster and shifted to his preferred centre role by Rennie — making him a genuine midfield threat heading into the Test series against the Springboks.
Predicted XV: Erasmus likely to shelve the surprises for All Blacks opener
A position-by-position predicted XV for Johannesburg, with the tightest calls at 10, tighthead bench cover, and the loose forward slots — and the argument that Erasmus will keep his maverick tendencies in check for the series opener.
Andrews tips Greatest Rivalry series to end level
Andrews tips the four-Test Bok-All Blacks series to finish all square — the piece explores his reasoning.
NZ media bullish on All Blacks' Test readiness after Bulls rout — Ioane and Barrett forcing their way back into the frame
NZ rugby media read the Bulls win as a genuine mentality shift ahead of Ellis Park, with Paul highlighting the scrum and Segner as key Test positives, and Knowler making the case for Ioane and Barrett to force their way back onto the bench.
Fleck backs Libbok to start at 10 against the All Blacks
Robbie Fleck makes the case for Libbok at flyhalf for Saturday's Test against the All Blacks.
McKenzie doubt clouds All Blacks' first-test XV as Mo'unga held back
Rennie flags real doubt over McKenzie for the Ellis Park test opener while confirming Mo'unga — despite arriving excited — won't be risked until the Lions midweek match. The All Blacks leave Loftus encouraged by scrum improvements but under no illusions about the step up the Boks will demand.
Ackermann: All Blacks' attacking-from-deep won't fly against the Boks
Ackermann flags that the All Blacks' habit of attacking from deep — profitable on the franchise tour — will be exploited rather than tolerated by the Springboks, and points to patience with ball in hand as the tactical lever that decides the series opener.
Taylor confident All Blacks have built the mental resilience to handle Bok pressure
Taylor flags the Bulls match as proof the All Blacks are learning to 'nail moments' under pressure — exactly the currency the Springboks will demand next weekend. His forward pack assessment is measured but optimistic ahead of the series opener.
1996 revisited: How the All Blacks capitalised while the Boks imploded
Borchardt revisits 1996 and argues the All Blacks' historic series win in South Africa was as much a product of Springbok internal chaos as New Zealand's ruthless focus — a cautionary tale worth revisiting.
Coetzee reminds Rassie, Barrett finds his groove, and All Blacks scrum makes a statement
Carter's hat-trick cements his Test case, Barrett looks reborn at fullback, and the All Blacks scrum finally fires — but the standout Springbok subplot is Coetzee turning back the clock and planting a thought in Rassie's mind.
All Blacks arrive in Johannesburg sharp, healthy and dangerous
A strong All Blacks warm-up performance at Loftus — 50 points, three halves without conceding — has the author framing the Greatest Rivalry opener as genuinely wide open, with Rennie's side looking sharp, healthy and tactically coherent against a Bok team riding a 12-game winning streak.
Rennie warns the Boks will be 'fivefold' the test as All Blacks eye Test series
Rennie flags a massive step-up ahead, warning the Boks will be 'fivefold' more intense than anything the All Blacks have faced on tour. The piece weighs what was genuinely learned — scrum improvement, altitude acclimatisation, attacking fluency — against the obvious caveat that all three franchise wins came against heavily depleted opposition.