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Rewind: The Israel Dagg moment that summed up a 2012 Dunedin classic
A throwback to a 2012 Dunedin highlight reel moment from Israel Dagg, timed to the build-up of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series.
Davids: Buenos Aires is a Test match, not a dress rehearsal
Davids insists the Argentina Test is a genuine performance objective, not a warm-up, while outlining how the coaching staff will manage a clutch of injury returnees including Etzebeth, Kolisi, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu ahead of the All Blacks series.
Davids: Buenos Aires is no dress rehearsal
Davids pushes back hard on the notion that Buenos Aires is a pre-All Blacks warm-up, stressing the Boks need the win and the returning injury-comeback players — Etzebeth, De Jager, Feinberg-Mngomezulu — need to prove themselves against a tough Pumas side at home.
Buenos Aires Test a chance to reintegrate Kolisi, Etzebeth and Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Davids confirms the Argentina Test doubles as a reintegration vehicle for Kolisi, Etzebeth, De Jager and Feinberg-Mngomezulu, with the coaching staff using the fixture to sharpen squad depth and set standards for the back end of the season.
Hansen: Boks vs All Blacks rivalry is why neutral refs exist
Hansen reveals the Bok-All Blacks rivalry directly drove the introduction of neutral referees, and argues Erasmus's Argentina tour squad signals deliberate World Cup planning rather than a preparation compromise.
Hansen's 'CIA' framework: How the All Blacks are building toward the Bok Tests
Hansen breaks down the 'CIA' prep framework — Clarity, Intensity, Accuracy — that Rennie is applying through the All Blacks' provincial warm-up schedule, and explains why mental freshness across an eight-game tour is as critical as the training itself.
Why do some South Africans still back the All Blacks over the Boks?
Keo and Zels ask what more the Springboks need to do to win over South Africans who still support the All Blacks.
Van den Berg fit, hungry and back in the No 9 mix
Van den Berg is fit, fired up, and eyeing Saturday's Argentina test as his chance to re-enter the Springbok No 9 battle — the piece profiles what his return means for that competition.
Ryan's All Blacks won't flinch from the scrum battle — but know the stakes
Jason Ryan acknowledges the South African setpiece as the All Blacks' primary challenge on tour, framing the Stormers and other franchise games as deliberate preparation to confront — not avoid — the scrum battle ahead of the test series.
Pumas legend Méndez urges Argentina to show discipline against Boks after ugly July
With Argentine rugby's discipline under scrutiny after the England Test fallout, Méndez calls for composure against the Boks — while the piece reminds readers that a Pumas side Méndez rates as the best-prepared in the nation's history is no gimme for the world champions.
Ryan: All Blacks have no choice but to take SA's setpiece head on
Jason Ryan acknowledges the Springboks' scrum and maul dominance and says the All Blacks' only option is to confront it directly — the franchise games against the Stormers and others are deliberate preparation for that test.
Pumas legend warns Argentina to 'behave and control' themselves as Boks arrive under a cloud
Argentina's conduct — on and off the field across football and rugby — has made this Springbok warm-up a reputation test for the Pumas. Méndez backs the rugby values line while warning the Boks not to underestimate a side that beat the Lions and nearly stole last year's Rugby Championship.
Both camps agree: Friday's Stormers-All Blacks clash is a test match in all but name
Both camps are treating Friday's Stormers-All Blacks tour opener as a de facto test match — driven by internal All Black selection pressure, a 50-year gap since WP last hosted the All Blacks, and the Cape Town venue's importance to the test series.
All Blacks treating Stormers opener like a Test match
Simon Parker signals the All Blacks are going full throttle from the Stormers opener — no easing in on a tour billed as the most significant All Black visit to South African soil in three decades.
Four Boks crack ex-England players' world top 10 — but is the list any good?
Youngs and Watson's Nations Championship-based world top 10 slots in Marx, Du Toit, Kolbe and Wiese — with the latter's ranking effectively settling the Bok No.8 debate. The full list is worth a look if you want something to argue about.
Franchise matches against the All Blacks are auditions, not throwaway fixtures
Cardinelli makes the case that the four franchise matches against the All Blacks are genuine selection auditions — identifying Evan Roos, André-Hugo Venter, Yaqeen Ahmed and Embrose Papier as the players with the most to gain, and explaining why Erasmus will be watching closely even if the results go New Zealand's way.
Hansen: All Blacks charm offensive in SA is no accident
Hansen says the All Blacks' charm offensive on their SA tour is deliberate — and contextualises the Cape Town reception amid social media backlash from Bok fans who spotted locals in All Blacks jerseys.
Why Boks vs All Blacks Stands Alone as Rugby's Greatest Rivalry
Bester argues the Springbok-All Black rivalry earns its 'greatest' tag through an unmatched combination of history, consequence and philosophical contrast — and that the Erasmus era has reshaped the balance after decades of Kiwi dominance.
De Villiers is the real deal — but Kolisi isn't done yet
De Villiers announced himself as a genuine Test player during the Nations Championship, but this piece makes the case that displacing Kolisi is still a stretch — Erasmus rates Kolisi's all-round contribution too highly, and the real story is how deep South Africa's loose forward stocks have become.
Buenos Aires is a fitness exam, not a warm-up formality
The Buenos Aires test is really a fitness verdict on Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Etzebeth, Kolisi and De Jager — Rich breaks down what's at stake for each, and why the All Blacks tour games carry their own intrigue.