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Zinzan's blueprint: one moment could decide the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series
Zinzan Brooke says the All Blacks' best shot at beating the Boks in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series lies in capitalising on one pivotal moment — citing his iconic 1996 Loftus drop goal as the kind of game-changer that can shift a series.
Bell's calf strain ends All Blacks tour before it begins, uncapped Slater called up
George Bell has been ruled out of the All Blacks' South Africa tour with a six-to-eight-week calf injury, with uncapped Bradley Slater called up as replacement.
All Blacks lose Bell to calf strain, uncapped Slater called up for SA tour
George Bell has been ruled out of the All Blacks' South Africa tour with a six-to-eight week calf injury, with uncapped Bradley Slater called up as replacement.
Bell ruled out of SA tour as All Blacks face hooker crisis before Stormers opener
George Bell has been ruled out of the All Blacks' South African tour with a calf strain, with Blues hooker Bradley Slater called up as replacement. Stand-in captain Codie Taylor is also managing a calf injury but expects to play in Friday's opener against the Stormers.
Hansen: Stormers will treat the All Blacks like a trial run for Rassie
Hansen warns that fringe Springbok hopefuls will treat the Stormers v All Blacks fixture as a Rassie audition played at full physical intensity — and breaks down Rennie's squad logic around the loose forward selections.
Jeff Wilson thinks the Baltimore Test ruins an otherwise perfect tour
Jeff Wilson argues the four-Test structure undermines Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour by leaving open the possibility of an unsatisfying drawn series — three Tests in SA would have been perfect.
Dagg backs Jordan to break the all-time try-scoring record
Israel Dagg has no doubt Will Jordan will eventually surpass Ohata's all-time try-scoring record of 69, with the piece examining what makes Jordan's scoring instinct so difficult to contain — a timely read ahead of the four-Test Bok series with Habana's record of 67 sitting in the crosshairs.
Why Ardie Savea's absence could actually sharpen the All Blacks for the Test series
NZ pundits Hall and Parsons back Rennie's call to rest Savea for the tour's opening stages, arguing the burnout risk is real and a fresh Savea arriving just before the Johannesburg Test could be the spark the All Blacks need for the series.
SA Rugby launches BokSmart 9 on MyBokSmart platform
SA Rugby has launched BokSmart 9 on the MyBokSmart platform, offering free, updated player safety education covering concussion, neck strengthening, contact phases, and women's rugby, targeting coaches, referees, medical staff, players, and administrators across all levels.
BokSmart 9 launches on MyBokSmart platform
SA Rugby has launched BokSmart 9, the latest version of its player safety education programme, now freely available on the MyBokSmart platform and targeting coaches, referees, medical staff, players, and administrators at all levels of the game.
Parker: All Blacks treating Stormers opener like a Test match
Simon Parker says the All Blacks are treating Friday's tour opener against the Stormers as a Test match, with the Chiefs flanker openly competing for his spot ahead of the four-Test Springbok series.
Dagg on the Springbok icons who made every Test a trial
Dagg names du Preez, Steyn, Habana, Kirchner and Hougaard as the Springboks who made every Test a specific mental and physical preparation job — and explains exactly why each one kept the All Blacks honest.
Former All Black makes the case for Taylor to start at hooker against the Boks
New Zealand rugby pundits back Codie Taylor to start at hooker for the Ellis Park Test despite stiff competition, with James Parsons calling it a 'no-brainer' given Taylor's experience and Rennie's clear preference — and suggesting Aumua is actually better deployed off the bench.
Jeff Wilson: All Blacks stopped trying to out-Springbok the Springboks
Jeff Wilson argues the All Blacks wasted a decade trying to beat teams at their own superpowers — physically dominating the Boks, out-structuring Ireland — instead of leaning on New Zealand's own strengths. Under Rennie, Wilson sees a return to pace, conditioning and pressure as the foundation, with the prescription for the Springbok series being simple: get parity upfront, and the skillset takes care of the rest.
Taylor relishes South African challenge as All Blacks begin 'Greatest Rivalry' tour
All Blacks tour captain Codie Taylor says the loss of South African teams from Super Rugby has cost New Zealand players dearly, as the squad prepares to open their eight-match 'Greatest Rivalry' tour — the first extended All Blacks visit to South Africa in 30 years — against the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday.
Rennie's All-Time-High CPR: Bold Master Plan or Recipe for Injury Against the Boks?
Harry argues that Rennie has pushed New Zealand to an all-time-high CPR rate that is statistically unprecedented at Tier 1 level, and that sustaining it across four tests against the Boks' brutally physical defence risks injury attrition the All Blacks' squad depth cannot absorb.
SA Rugby mourns passing of loosehead great Osman 'Vleis' Daniels
SA Rugby President Mark Alexander has paid tribute to Osman 'Vleis' Daniels, a leading loosehead prop of the early 1980s for the erstwhile South African Rugby Union, who passed away on Sunday after a battle with illness.
Mo'unga eligible for All Blacks call-up after Canterbury cameo but stays tight-lipped on tour
Richie Mo'unga has satisfied New Zealand Rugby's eligibility requirements for All Blacks selection after scoring Canterbury's match-winning try against Auckland on Saturday, but the fly-half is refusing to be drawn on whether he will join the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour squad in South Africa.
Mo'unga eligible for All Blacks tour after Canterbury return but stays tight-lipped on selection
Richie Mo'unga scored a match-winning try on his Canterbury return to become eligible for the All Blacks' South Africa tour, but stayed noncommittal when asked whether he would join the squad, which already includes four tens under head coach Dave Rennie.
Codie Taylor can't wait to face the SA franchises — and wants Super Rugby back
Taylor, standing in as All Blacks captain while Savea rests, says the Super Rugby split genuinely frustrates him — he's relishing the chance to face the URC franchises again and isn't shy about saying NZ misses it. He's also managing a calf tweak that should clear before the Test series.