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Marx: Ellis Park is just the start — all of SA is Bok territory
Marx frames Saturday's All Blacks clash at Ellis Park as a national fortress moment, not just a home-ground one — worth a read for the insight into Bok mindset ahead of the match.
Marx: 'The whole of South Africa is our fortress'
Malcolm Marx dismisses venue-specific fortress talk ahead of the Ellis Park Test, calling all of South Africa home ground, while flagging the breakdown and scrums as key battlegrounds against the All Blacks.
The Madiba magic that made 1995 more than a rugby match
Through Stransky, Fitzpatrick and historian Jamie Wall, the episode captures how Mandela's deliberate embrace of Springbok rugby — and the 1995 World Cup final against the All Blacks — became the defining act of South African reconciliation, while also covering the political deals, nationalist backlash and All Blacks food-poisoning controversy that surrounded it.
Boks flag All Blacks breakdown brutality and lineout tactics ahead of Ellis Park clash
South Africa's franchises have warned the Springboks about New Zealand's aggressive ruck clearouts and defensive lineout tactics following the All Blacks' tour victories over the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls. Assistant coach Felix Jones confirmed that tucked shoulders at the breakdown and illegal maul disruption were consistent themes in feedback from local coaches. The concerns add edge to Saturday's Rugby's Greatest Rivalry opener at Ellis Park.
Erasmus deploys Peyper in pre-series mind games as All Blacks push tempo narrative
Rassie Erasmus brought SA Rugby law adviser Jaco Peyper to a pre-match press conference to counter All Blacks accusations that the Springboks deliberately slow the game down. With Dave Rennie's side having beaten France, Italy and Ireland in the Nations Championship before victories over the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls on tour, the war of words has escalated ahead of Saturday's Rugby's Greatest Rivalry opener at Ellis Park. Referee Matt Carley will not meet either coaching team beforehand.
Rennie unmoved as Erasmus and Peyper push back on time-wasting accusations ahead of Ellis Park Test
Dave Rennie has responded with scepticism to Rassie Erasmus and Jaco Peyper's rebuttal of time-wasting accusations, with both head coaches declining a pre-match meeting with referee Matthew Carley on the issue ahead of Saturday's opening Test at Ellis Park.
Hansen sees a happier, more cohesive All Blacks under Rennie — but issues a caution
Hansen identifies a clear mood and cohesion shift in the All Blacks under Rennie, using Ioane's revival as a case study — but warns that the balance between enjoyment and discipline will be tested when the Tests against the Springboks begin.
A century of brutality: Five matches that define the Bok-All Black rivalry
Jan de Koning traces five defining moments of Springbok-All Black brutality — from the 1921 series opener to the 2015 RWC semifinal — with the 1956 Kevin Skinner episode standing out as the rivalry's most notorious act of calculated front-row violence.
McKenzie trending towards availability for Ellis Park Test as All Blacks await Ratima verdict
Damian McKenzie is trending towards availability for the Ellis Park Test after training fully on Tuesday, while Cortez Ratima's knee injury remains a concern and Noah Hotham has been called up as scrumhalf cover.
SA franchises flag All Blacks' ruck brutality and illegal lineout tactics ahead of Rugby Championship opener
Felix Jones says the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls flagged two consistent All Blacks concerns: illegal tucked-shoulder cleanouts at the breakdown and obstructive lineout tactics near the try line, with Jones linking the approach to Dave Rennie's coaching history.
Why Rassie blocked the referee meeting — and why it exposed a bigger problem
Erasmus rejected the All Blacks' proposed referee meeting not as gamesmanship but because World Rugby's new protocols make such meetings structurally awkward — and because Rennie's camp had already been socialising with officials informally. The piece traces how the protocol change has pushed coaching concerns into the media, and why Peyper thinks the framework needs revisiting.
Kolisi and Nche edge closer to All Blacks opener as injury clouds lift
Siya Kolisi and Ox Nche are tracking well ahead of Saturday's Rugby's Greatest Rivalry opener against New Zealand, with assistant coach Felix Jones reporting no major concerns from Tuesday's training session. The Springboks will delay their team announcement until Thursday, whilst the All Blacks continue to manage a growing injury list that has seen four players sent home from the tour.
Lomax the key to unlocking Bok scrum dominance?
Gregor Paul argues Lomax's fitness could be the All Blacks' crucial edge in the scrum battle at Ellis Park — worth a read ahead of Saturday's test.
England greats make the case for Pollard's continued Springbok value
Youngs and Watson make a structural case for Pollard's bench value against the All Blacks — arguing his catch-pass is unmatched and that Libbok and Feinberg-Mngomezulu are too alike to both be selected ahead of him.
Kolisi and Nche tracking well ahead of All Blacks opener at Ellis Park
Siya Kolisi and Ox Nche came through Tuesday's training without issue and are tracking towards availability for Saturday's Rugby's Greatest Rivalry opener against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, with the Springbok squad announcement delayed until Thursday.
Jones flags breakdown cynicism and driving maul resistance as the All Blacks' two danger themes
Jones pinpoints All Blacks breakdown cynicism and driving maul killing as the two themes that hurt the franchises — and warns the Boks need to start with massive intensity given New Zealand's habit of scoring early.
Ex-Wallabies flag set-piece defence and breakdown refereeing as Bok weapons in Greatest Rivalry opener
Foley tips South Africa 3-1, pointing to All Blacks set-piece defence as the exploitable weakness, while Turinui argues breakdown refereeing — split across four different referees — could be the series' defining variable.
Rennie sweating on four injuries as All Blacks call up reinforcements ahead of Springbok opener
Dave Rennie is managing a four-man injury toll and two further fitness concerns ahead of Saturday's Rugby Championship opener against the Springboks, with prop Ollie Norris the latest tour departure and halfback Cortez Ratima under assessment for a PCL injury.
SA franchises warn Boks: Rennie's All Blacks bringing brutal — and questionable — breakdown tactics
SA franchises have flagged consistent illegal aggression from the All Blacks at the breakdown and in maul defence, with Erasmus calling the physicality 'brutal' — Jones confirms it's a pattern that has followed Rennie throughout his coaching career and is now a key focus heading into the test series.
Matfield identifies All Blacks weakness ahead of Ellis Park opener
Former Springbok captain Victor Matfield has claimed he spotted a vulnerability in the All Blacks during their 50-19 victory over the Bulls, ahead of Saturday's opening Test at Ellis Park. Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones said both sides would be equally prepared for the first of four back-to-back encounters.