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Dagg identifies the kicking wrinkle that should worry Bok analysts
Dagg breaks down why the All Blacks' kicking game against the Sharks was harder to defend than it looked — and why that tactical unpredictability is a genuine Test series concern for the Boks.
Kirwan fears 'pedantic' refs will haunt All Blacks in Springbok series
Kirwan accepts the All Blacks' discipline needs fixing after three sin-bins against the Stormers, but argues Karl Dickson's officiating was pedantic — and fears that style of refereeing could define the Bok series. Matfield questions the logic of sin-binning after a penalty try is awarded, while both agree World Rugby's TMO-heavy framework is here to stay.
Barrett flops on Rennie debut as All Blacks edge unconvincing Stormers win
Barrett's first Rennie outing ended in a 'failed audition' verdict, Tosi's scrumming was penalised heavily, and Proctor continued to struggle at Test level — while the feel-good story is Holland's remarkable return from injury putting him straight into Test contention.
Bunce backs All Blacks despite Bok depth and a lock 'bigger than Etzebeth'
Frank Bunce backs a resurgent All Blacks to beat the Springboks in their upcoming four-Test series, but acknowledges South Africa's depth and even flags an unnamed young lock reportedly bigger than Etzebeth coming through the system.
Hart sees Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour as Rennie's real World Cup audition
Hart frames the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series as a World Cup development exercise for Rennie rather than a genuine title shot, while acknowledging the Boks' squad depth and physicality as the standard every team is measured against.
Stormers to push All Blacks hard but Rennie's depth expected to tell in the end
Planet Rugby predicts a comfortable All Blacks win but makes a strong case for why the Stormers' scrum, ball-carriers, and a generational No.10 talent in Yaqeen Ahmed will make Rennie's men work hard for it — with plenty of Test-squad subplots running alongside.
Barrett on borrowed time as Rennie plays his cards close ahead of the Bok series
Rennie's heavily rotated Stormers selection signals he's already settled his Test 23 — the piece breaks down what that means for Barrett's Bok series chances, the hooker succession question behind Taylor, and the open loose forward auditions shaped explicitly around South Africa.
Rennie's All Blacks walking into the unknown in South Africa
Rennie's word for the SA tour is 'massive' — and the piece unpacks why, from widespread inexperience of playing in South Africa, to Stormers players chasing Springbok recalls, to captaincy experimentation in Savea's absence.
Barrett nostalgic for Newlands as All Blacks size up a new-look Stormers
Barrett reflects on a 2012 Newlands debut against the Stormers — the same match Kolisi announced himself — while sizing up a new-look Stormers backline led by debutant Yaqeen Ahmed ahead of the Greatest Rivalry tour opener.
The Greatest Rivalry Tour as a blueprint for fixing international rugby
The All Blacks' South Africa tour is framed as evidence that international rugby's problem isn't talent or stakes — it's frequency. The piece argues for rarity as a driver of value, using the Greatest Rivalry series as a case study for what meaningful bilateral tours could look like versus the grinding June/November window model.
Planet Rugby's predicted All Blacks XV for the Stormers opener — Barrett to captain, fresh faces throughout
Planet Rugby predicts Barrett captains a motivated but unsettled All Blacks XV in Cape Town, with several fringe players using the Stormers fixture to push Test claims ahead of the Rugby Championship.
All Blacks predicted XV for Stormers opener: Barrett to captain, Jacomb at fullback
Planet Rugby predicts Barrett captaining the All Blacks against the Stormers, with Jacomb at 15, a powerful midfield in Proctor and Tavatavanawai, and a bench featuring two likely debutants — all against a backdrop of injury disruption to New Zealand's hooker stocks.
Zinzan's blueprint: one moment could decide the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series
Zinzan Brooke says the All Blacks' best shot at beating the Boks in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series lies in capitalising on one pivotal moment — citing his iconic 1996 Loftus drop goal as the kind of game-changer that can shift a series.
Hansen: Stormers will treat the All Blacks like a trial run for Rassie
Hansen warns that fringe Springbok hopefuls will treat the Stormers v All Blacks fixture as a Rassie audition played at full physical intensity — and breaks down Rennie's squad logic around the loose forward selections.
Jeff Wilson thinks the Baltimore Test ruins an otherwise perfect tour
Jeff Wilson argues the four-Test structure undermines Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour by leaving open the possibility of an unsatisfying drawn series — three Tests in SA would have been perfect.
Dagg backs Jordan to break the all-time try-scoring record
Israel Dagg has no doubt Will Jordan will eventually surpass Ohata's all-time try-scoring record of 69, with the piece examining what makes Jordan's scoring instinct so difficult to contain — a timely read ahead of the four-Test Bok series with Habana's record of 67 sitting in the crosshairs.
Why Ardie Savea's absence could actually sharpen the All Blacks for the Test series
NZ pundits Hall and Parsons back Rennie's call to rest Savea for the tour's opening stages, arguing the burnout risk is real and a fresh Savea arriving just before the Johannesburg Test could be the spark the All Blacks need for the series.
Dagg on the Springbok icons who made every Test a trial
Dagg names du Preez, Steyn, Habana, Kirchner and Hougaard as the Springboks who made every Test a specific mental and physical preparation job — and explains exactly why each one kept the All Blacks honest.
Former All Black makes the case for Taylor to start at hooker against the Boks
New Zealand rugby pundits back Codie Taylor to start at hooker for the Ellis Park Test despite stiff competition, with James Parsons calling it a 'no-brainer' given Taylor's experience and Rennie's clear preference — and suggesting Aumua is actually better deployed off the bench.
Jeff Wilson: All Blacks stopped trying to out-Springbok the Springboks
Jeff Wilson argues the All Blacks wasted a decade trying to beat teams at their own superpowers — physically dominating the Boks, out-structuring Ireland — instead of leaning on New Zealand's own strengths. Under Rennie, Wilson sees a return to pace, conditioning and pressure as the foundation, with the prescription for the Springbok series being simple: get parity upfront, and the skillset takes care of the rest.