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Marshall: Why the Greatest Rivalry Is the Ultimate Test — and Why New Zealand Rugby Misses South Africa
Justin Marshall argued that South Africa's exit from Super Rugby has left a generation of All Blacks underprepared for what awaits them, and identified Mo'unga's absence and the lack of a genuine fetcher as the two selections most likely to hurt New Zealand across a four-test series.
Hele returns with a bang as Bok Women crush Fiji 55-12 in Suva
Aseza Hele returned from hand surgery to carry 16 times for 127 metres as the Springbok Women beat Fiji 55-12 in Suva, with the second test to follow at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday.
Boks grind out 17-10 win over Pumas to stretch streak to 12
The Springboks survived a feisty Argentina challenge and a late 15-phase siege to win 17-10 in Buenos Aires, extending their winning streak to 12 Tests, with tries from Edwill van der Merwe and debutant scorer Cameron Hanekom proving decisive — though Siya Kolisi's early departure with a suspected hamstring injury will concern management.
Fourie returns to Springbok fold after three-year Test absence
Rassie Erasmus has recalled veteran utility forward Deon Fourie to the Springbok squad for the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand. The 39-year-old, whose last Test was the 2023 World Cup final, made his return from injury for the Stormers on Friday night and will join the national squad in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning.
Springboks hold World Rugby summit ahead of All Blacks series after Buenos Aires win
South Africa hold top spot on 93.96 ranking points ahead of the All Blacks series after their 17-10 win over Argentina, while Australia's narrow victory over Japan in Les Kiss's first match as head coach pushed Wales back into the top 10 for the first time since July 2024.
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.
Boks Office: Cameron Hanekom emerges as the RGR's breakout star — but warning signs linger ahead of the All Blacks
The hosts rate the Boks' Argentina win a 6/10 and identify Cameron Hanekom as the series' early breakout player, while pinpointing New Zealand's set-piece fragility — exposed by the Stormers' maul — as the key battleground for the first Test.
Hansen on Fourie's recall and Nonu's emotional homecoming
Hansen weighs in on Fourie's veteran recall and the emotional weight of Nonu's All Blacks reunion — worth a read for his take on what both selections actually mean.
Why Saturday's All Blacks fixture matters more for the Sharks than any other SA side
With their 2024/25 season a near-total disappointment, the Sharks face a stacked All Blacks side in a fixture Louw argues is the most meaningful of the South African legs — a hard reset against elite opposition that could shape the franchise's rebuild, even if the scoreline is ugly.
Numbers don't lie: The tactical gulf between the Boks and All Blacks heading into the Greatest Rivalry series
A statistical breakdown of both teams' 2025 campaigns reveals the All Blacks as a high-tempo, ball-in-hand machine while the Boks' numbers point to a kicking-heavy, pragmatic approach — though Erasmus's rotation policy makes it hard to know how much is genuine tactics and how much is smoke and mirrors ahead of the series.
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.
Kolbe vs Jordan: Watson and Youngs settle the greatest winger debate ahead of the Greatest Rivalry series
Watson and Youngs break down Kolbe vs Jordan ahead of the Greatest Rivalry series — Jordan edges on speed and try-scoring efficiency, but Kolbe's one-on-one footwork is rated the best ever, and his all-court game puts him in a category of his own.
Hansen flags the injury trap in South Africa's 6-2 bench strategy
Hansen warns that the 6-2 split looks smart until injuries force a reshuffle — the piece unpacks his critique of how South African teams are exposed by their own tactical signature.
Mallett makes the case for Libbok at 10 — and names Hanekom as the wildcard if Kolisi misses the opener
Mallett tips Libbok as the safer Ellis Park selection over an off-colour Feinberg-Mngomezulu, flags Hanekom as an under-the-radar option at seven if Kolisi is ruled out, and expects the Test XV to be built largely around the players kept back from Argentina.
Mallett backs Libbok as 'safer bet' at 10 and sees Hanekom as wildcard if Kolisi misses All Blacks opener
Mallett sees Libbok as a legitimate — possibly preferable — starting option at fly-half for Ellis Park, flags Hanekom as a surprise Kolisi replacement, and gives his broader read on who the Argentina match helped or hurt heading into the All Blacks series.
Hansen: Bomb Squad is a gamble — and the Stormers just showed the downside
Hansen argues the 6-2 bench split is a calculated gamble the Boks accept willingly — but the Stormers' collapse against the All Blacks, triggered by a double halfback injury, shows exactly what 'rolling the dice' can cost. With Esterhuizen's fitness now uncertain, Erasmus's hybrid solution to the vulnerability may be unavailable when it matters most.
Erasmus shuts door on Hanekom at eight — but opens the bench
Erasmus was uncharacteristically blunt: Wiese owns the eight jersey and Hanekom's standout Argentina display changes nothing at the top of the pecking order — though it may well have secured him a bench role for the All Blacks series.
Fourie's recall headlines a big weekend — but Kolisi and Barrett give cause for concern
Fourie's surprise Bok recall and Kolisi's hamstring scare dominate the weekend wash-up, with Hanekom impressing in Buenos Aires and Barrett's All Blacks audition falling flat.
Matfield backs Fourie to be Rassie's secret weapon against the All Blacks
Matfield argues Fourie's recall gives Erasmus a potent bench weapon for the All Blacks series — worth reading for the tactical reasoning behind why Big Vic rates the impact so highly.
All Blacks to tour South Africa for first time since 1996 in 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' series
The All Blacks are touring South Africa for the first time since 1996 in a series dubbed 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.