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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.
McKenzie ankle injury 'not too bad' ahead of Springbok Tests, Proctor replacement decision imminent
Damian McKenzie's ankle injury is not serious and he is expected to be available for the first Test against the Springboks, while Dave Rennie is set to name Billy Proctor's tour replacement within days, with Richie Mo'unga and Du'Plessis Kirifi the leading candidates.
All Blacks demolish Sharks 54-0 as Test selection battle intensifies
The All Blacks ran in eight unanswered tries to beat the Sharks 54-0 in Durban, with Dave Rennie highlighting the intensifying Test selection battle ahead of the August 22 Springbok clash. Ma'a Nonu, 44, made a cameo for the Sharks after recently joining in a mentorship capacity.
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.
Amatosero ban effectively limited to one Test, remains available for Springbok clash
Miles Amatosero's three-match SANZAAR ban will cost the Wallabies just one Test, with a Shute Shield match and a Coaching Intervention Programme application absorbing two of the three matches. He remains on track to face the Springboks later in the Rugby Championship.
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.
SA Rugby confirms new player welfare agreement amid 12-month season demands
Professional rugby players in South Africa have secured a new two-and-a-half-year employment deal establishing uniform welfare protections across the sport. The South African Rugby Industry Collective Agreement mandates 12 non-contact weeks per season, comprehensive medical cover and load management protocols designed to address the unique pressures of a calendar that runs from January through December. The agreement covers all professional players from Springbok level down to provincial development squads.
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.
Sititi ruled out as All Blacks reshuffle for Stormers opener
Wallace Sititi is ruled out of the All Blacks' Greatest Rivalry Series opener against the Stormers on Friday due to mild illness, with Anton Segner starting at 7 and Peter Lakai moving to 8.
Professional rugby players and employers agree new two-and-a-half-year SARICA deal
Players, SARU and SAREO have signed a new two-and-a-half-year SARICA collective agreement covering remuneration, medical benefits, injury insurance, concussion protocols and a minimum of 12 non-contact weeks per contract year for all professional players.
SA Rugby locks in new two-and-a-half-year collective employment agreement for professional players
SA Rugby, SARU, SAREO and MyPlayers have agreed a new two-and-a-half-year SARICA deal setting uniform employment, remuneration, welfare and load-management standards for all professional players in South Africa.
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.
More than 4 000 fans turn out as All Blacks receive Cape Town welcome ahead of Stormers opener
More than 4 000 fans welcomed the All Blacks at an official Cape Town event on Tuesday ahead of their eight-match Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Tour, which opens against the Stormers.