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All Blacks predicted XV for Ellis Park: Barrett back, Ioane out, and a Hurricanes-heavy bench
Planet Rugby predicts Rennie's All Blacks XV for Ellis Park — Barrett on the bench as the playmaker cover, Ioane out, and front-row selections explicitly designed to match the Springbok Bomb Squad. The piece breaks down the logic position by position.
All Blacks lose fourth tourist as Norris ruled out, Hotham called up for Ratima
Prop Ollie Norris becomes the fourth All Black to be ruled out of the tour with a cartilage knee injury, while scrumhalf Noah Hotham is called in to cover the still-to-be-assessed Cortez Ratima ahead of Saturday's first Test at Ellis Park.
Don't take the bait: why the Boks must ignore the All Blacks' mind games at Ellis Park
Cardinelli argues the pre-series pressure on the Boks to play an expansive attacking game is either outdated thinking or deliberate goading — and that Erasmus's side has everything to lose by taking the bait at Ellis Park.
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.
Erasmus delays All Blacks team announcement as Kolisi fitness remains uncertain
Rassie Erasmus has broken with recent convention by pushing the Springboks' team announcement to Thursday ahead of Saturday's Rugby's Greatest Rivalry opener at Ellis Park. Captain Siya Kolisi is understood to be touch-and-go for selection, while Ox Nché could return after missing the Nations Championship. The delayed announcement keeps New Zealand guessing as South Africa aim to field close to full strength.
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 delays team announcement as Kolisi fitness clouds All Blacks opener
Rassie Erasmus has broken with recent convention by pushing the Springbok team announcement back to Thursday, two days before the opening Test of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Series against New Zealand at Ellis Park. Captain Siya Kolisi is understood to be touch-and-go for selection, while the return of Ox Nche from injury adds intrigue to a squad that could field close to full strength for the first time this season.
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.
Vermeulen: '2019 Was Never The Plan' — And Rassie's Evolution From Physical To Psychological
Vermeulen reveals that 2019 was never part of Rassie's long-term plan, and traces how Erasmus shifted from a physically combative coaching style to one that is almost entirely psychological and strategic.
Ackermann warns All Blacks' deep-territory gambles unlikely to pay off against Springboks
Bulls coach Johan Ackermann believes the All Blacks' willingness to attack from deep inside their own half — a tactic that yielded eight tries in Saturday's 50-19 victory at Loftus Versfeld — will prove costly when they face the Springboks in the opening Test of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry at Ellis Park. While praising New Zealand's attacking verve under Dave Rennie, Ackermann suggested the Boks possess the defensive discipline and game-management nous to punish such adventurous play. The Bulls coach also pointed to his side's second-half improvement as a template for how South Africa might exploit New Zealand's ball-in-hand approach.
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.
Rob Louw: The flour bomb plane 'had a hell of an effect' on the 1981 series decider
Rob Louw recalls how the flour bomb plane physically affected the 1981 series decider, and argues the tour — barbed wire, stretcher beds and all — was a turning point in how Springbok players confronted the politics of their own country.
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.
Four heads, one mythical Bok XV: Leboeuf and Grant Williams to start, Pollard vs Feinberg the sharpest debate
Three Megafoon shows combined to pick their mythical Bok Test 1 XV, with the Feinberg vs Pollard debate and South Africa's lineout consistency emerging as the most contested issues.
Marx linked with Bulls return as Papier and Moodie face uncertain futures in Pretoria
The Bulls are in early discussions with Malcolm Marx over a return to South Africa, while Rapport reports that Embrose Papier and Canan Moodie are both likely to leave Pretoria after June 2027, with Sale Sharks among the clubs chasing Papier and Japanese outfits circling Moodie.
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.