Every story on the wire.
362 items · General
Jacobson flags collision work as his Test-series yardstick against the Boks
Jacobson is self-critical about his collision work from the Cape Town defeat and frames the Springboks as the hardest physical test in the game, while reflecting on the rarity of a three-Test tour to South Africa and what it means for his career.
All Blacks third Test selection: Who gains, who loses — and what it means for Soweto
A winners-and-losers read on Rennie's Soweto selection — Ioane's snub, the 6-2 bench decision, and why De Groot and Lord's absence could be decisive given the referee change.
All Blacks Test III selection: Winners and losers as Rennie holds his nerve
Planet Rugby's winners-and-losers breakdown of Rennie's Soweto selection — covering the Ioane snub, Blackadder's bad luck, Aumua's promotion, and why the absences of De Groot and Lord could sting harder than expected given the likely refereeing approach at scrum and lineout.
Devlin: All Blacks Must Marry Their Attack Brilliance With Ruthless Game Control to Beat the Boks
Martin Devlin argues the All Blacks have the attacking tools to beat the Springboks but must add game control and discipline to their armoury if they are to win the series decider in Johannesburg.
Stephen Donald backs Love to hold No.10 jersey for Soweto decider — and praises Rennie's style shift
Stephen Donald backs Love to keep the No.10 jersey for Soweto despite Mo'unga's return, and draws a clear stylistic contrast between the Rennie and Robertson eras — with the All Blacks' tempo-based game the central thread.
Barrett likens Soweto decider to World Cup knockout as All Blacks seek aerial edge
Jordie Barrett has described the build-up to Saturday's third Test in Johannesburg as resembling a Rugby World Cup knockout fixture, with the Greatest Rivalry series locked at one-all. The All Blacks midfielder identified aerial contests and defensive starts as critical areas requiring improvement after the Springboks' seven-point victory in Cape Town. Barrett acknowledged New Zealand's superior attacking statistics have not translated into results, with the visitors now facing a must-win encounter at FNB Stadium.
Barrett flags discipline and the aerial battle as All Blacks' must-fix areas for Soweto decider
Barrett identifies the aerial contest and discipline under pressure as the two areas the All Blacks must fix for the Soweto Test — and traces both back to a field-position problem created by South Africa's kicking game.
Barrett's honest breakdown: what the All Blacks must fix before Soweto
Barrett offers a frank tactical autopsy of the Cape Town loss — aerial contests, kick-off exits, and goal-line discipline — that doubles as a useful read on exactly where the Boks hurt New Zealand and what the All Blacks plan to fix in Soweto.
All Blacks Player Ratings: Cape Town's Costly Errors Dissected
Bester's player-by-player breakdown of the Cape Town test makes the case that New Zealand's loss was self-inflicted — enough tries and opportunities to win, but critical individual errors at front row, lineout and breakdown proved decisive.
Kolisi returns to lead Springboks in Cape Town decider after injury setback
Siya Kolisi has recovered from his latest hamstring injury to captain South Africa in the second Test against New Zealand at DHL Stadium. The 35-year-old flanker missed the opening defeat at Ellis Park but insists the mental challenge of rehabilitation was tougher than the physical recovery. Kolisi will lead a side desperate to level the series after a 16–33 loss in Johannesburg.
Aaron Smith: Rennie's honesty is refreshing — but the Boks will be a different beast in Cape Town
Smith praises Rennie's refreshing candour while tempering the Ellis Park result — he expects a tighter, more dangerous Springbok side in Cape Town and thinks New Zealand left real points out there through the boot.
Rennie resists Mo'unga temptation as injury reshapes All Blacks for Cape Town
Rennie makes three injury-forced changes for Cape Town but the real story is what he didn't do — resist the Mo'unga recall despite Pollard's return giving the narrative a ready-made hook. The piece also tracks how Bower and Parker have rapidly become Test starters from the fringes of the tour squad.
Ratima targeting third Test return as Rennie manages scrumhalf resources
Cortez Ratima is in contention for the third Test against the Springboks after a PCL injury, with Dave Rennie managing a stretched scrumhalf group that has relied heavily on Kyle Preston throughout the tour.
All Blacks winners and losers: Who gains and loses from Rennie's Cape Town reshuffling
Planet Rugby's winners-and-losers breakdown of the All Blacks' Cape Town selection covers Bower's front-row promotion, Sititi's worrying slide, Barrett's mounting Test exile, and why Mo'unga still needs to bide his time — with New Zealand's prop depth under real pressure heading into DHL Stadium.
How George Bower's scrum cameo swung the first Greatest Rivalry Test
Sopoaga credits George Bower's cold-entry scrum stability — not the backline brilliance — as the quietly decisive moment that shifted the first Greatest Rivalry Test away from the Springboks.
Aaron Smith: Don't expect the All Blacks to outrun the Boks
Smith argues that New Zealand's Ellis Park win came from precision homework moves targeting specific defenders in early phases — not tempo or fitness advantage — and warns the All Blacks won't run the Boks off the park in Cape Town, crediting eight years of defensive system-building under Erasmus.
Segner ruled out of All Blacks' remaining SA tour matches after ankle surgery
Anton Segner is out of the All Blacks' remaining South Africa tour fixtures after ankle surgery, with coach Dave Rennie opting against a replacement call-up.
Rennie pleased with Mo'unga's return but Segner ruled out of Springbok Tests
Dave Rennie says Richie Mo'unga will benefit from his first All Blacks appearance since the 2023 World Cup final, while Anton Segner has been ruled out of the remaining Tests after ankle surgery in Johannesburg — with no replacement to be called up.
Segner ruled out of Greatest Rivalry series after keyhole surgery
Anton Segner has been ruled out of the rest of the Greatest Rivalry series after keyhole surgery to clear an ankle infection, with All Blacks coach Dave Rennie confirming no replacement will be called up.
Segner ruled out of remainder of SA tour as All Blacks injury toll mounts
Anton Segner has been ruled out of the rest of New Zealand's South African tour with a post-surgery ankle injury, as the All Blacks' casualty list continues to grow ahead of Saturday's second Test in Cape Town.