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All Blacks' 'saviour' narrative takes a hit from Craig Ray
Craig Ray challenges the All Blacks' 'saviours of rugby' narrative, arguing that the Springboks' back-to-back World Cup success makes a compelling case against New Zealand's high-tempo style being the only path forward.
Kitshoff reveals brutal Springbok preparation ahead of All Blacks opener
Steven Kitshoff has described the Springbok squad's Test preparation as a 'week from hell' ahead of Saturday's clash with the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
McKenzie injury concern clouds All Blacks' first-Test preparations
Damian McKenzie's ankle injury is the All Blacks' primary concern ahead of the August 22 Test opener against the Springboks at Ellis Park, with Dave Rennie more confident that Will Jordan and Cam Roigard will be available after both returned to training.
Ioane's resurgence could trouble Springboks as All Blacks brace for Ellis Park intensity
Rieko Ioane has emerged as a potential midfield threat for the All Blacks ahead of Saturday's Rugby's Greatest Rivalry opener at Ellis Park, with coach Dave Rennie acknowledging his side must significantly raise their performance levels. The 29-year-old's versatility and improved form have seen him shift from wing cover to a centre option following injuries to Caleb Clarke and Billy Proctor. Rennie warned that the intensity against the Springboks will be several levels above the All Blacks' 50-19 warm-up victory over the Bulls.
Rennie Eyes Bok Test After All Blacks Tune Up Against Bulls
Rennie's post-Bulls comments make clear the All Blacks treated the tour match as Springbok preparation — but they head into Ellis Park on Saturday with injury doubts over three key backs and Savea only just arriving in-country. The Boks look the better-prepared side.
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.