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Mexted: Sititi is a 6, not an 8 — and it matters for the Boks
Mexted argues Sititi's defensive limitations make him a blindside, not a number eight — exposing a real depth problem at the base of the All Blacks scrum that would hurt them against the Boks.
Springboks' ranking lead narrows as All Blacks close to within 1.28 points
New Zealand's 50-19 win over Australia at Eden Park has cut South Africa's World Rugby rankings lead to 1.28 points, with the All Blacks able to reduce that margin further to 0.82 with another big win in Sydney this weekend.
Murray Mexted: Springboks series did Rennie a favour by exposing All Blacks' gaps
Mexted argues the 3-1 series loss to the Boks was a necessary education for Rennie — exposing players who can't make the step up from Super Rugby and fast-tracking a squad cull ahead of the World Cup.
Rennie calls out 'crazy' RWC draw as Boks-All Blacks quarter-final looms
Rennie has publicly called out the 2027 RWC draw after it produced a likely Springboks-All Blacks quarter-final clash — the same structural problem that plagued 2023 — and the piece unpacks his frustration alongside his broader focus as he beds in as All Blacks coach ahead of World Cup year.
Bledisloe finale: All Blacks can close gap on Boks, Wallabies eyeing top-five finish
New Zealand can cut the gap to South Africa to 0.82 ranking points with a win in Sydney, while Australia stand to crack the top five if they end a 12-match losing streak against the All Blacks in the second Bledisloe Cup Test.
Donald backs Barrett to push Marx for World Rugby's top prize
Stephen Donald is backing Jordie Barrett to challenge Malcolm Marx for the 2026 World Rugby Player of the Year award, arguing Barrett's consistency at 12 for the All Blacks — underscored by another standout display in the Bledisloe — has set a new personal standard. Marx is flagged as the main rival, making this a potential Bok-vs-All Black title fight for the game's top individual honour.
SA's referee drought explained — and when it might end
URC referee boss Tappe Henning explains SA's absence from top-level officiating as a generational transition rather than a quality gap — and maps out a three-to-four-year runway before Colby, van Rooyen, and Allison are realistically in the mix for Test appointments.
Matfield's theory: Super Rugby's Trans-Tasman gap is rotting the Wallabies from the inside out
Matfield argues Australia's Super Rugby inferiority against New Zealand clubs has created a deep-seated mental block that surfaces every time the Wallabies face the All Blacks — and points to the All Blacks' improved aerial game and returning forward depth as factors that made the 50-19 Bledisloe result almost inevitable.
Cape Town to host landmark CISG Athlete Brain Health Symposium with SA Rugby backing
SA Rugby has backed the CISG Athlete Brain Health Symposium in Cape Town on November 25-26 — the first such event held outside the USA or Europe — covering concussion management, long-term neurological outcomes and youth athlete welfare.
Marshall rates Wilson above Wiese as world's best No.8 — where does that leave the Boks?
Marshall ranks Wilson above Wiese as the world's best No.8, but his reasoning — lower involvement in a deeper Bok forward pack — raises questions about how fairly Wiese's impact is being measured.
Cape Town to host first CISG Athlete Brain Health Symposium outside USA and Europe
The CISG Athlete Brain Health Symposium will be held in Cape Town on 25-26 November 2026 — the first time outside the USA or Europe — with SA Rugby's backing, building on the Brain Health Service launched jointly with World Rugby and MyPlayers last year.
Jake White appointed Fiji coach ahead of 2027 World Cup
Jake White has been appointed Fiji head coach, tasked with guiding the 10th-ranked Pacific nation through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. He debuts against Japan in Tokyo next week and has pledged to relocate to Fiji to embed himself in the local rugby environment.
Jake White takes charge of Fiji ahead of 2027 World Cup
Jake White has been appointed Fiji head coach ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, with his first match in charge coming against Japan in Tokyo next week.
Barrett: Bledisloe win a step forward, but Springbok hurt lingers
Barrett frames the Bledisloe blowout as early remediation of the gaps the Springboks exposed — particularly in the kicking game and forward dominance — with an eye firmly on building World Cup-cycle consistency.
Jeff Wilson: Wallabies were lulled into false security by a rotated Bok side
Jeff Wilson argues Australia's win over a rotated Bok side gave them a false read on their own readiness, while the All Blacks' bruising series against the full-strength Springboks left them better calibrated and battle-hardened for Eden Park.
Springbok series loss used as motivation as All Blacks demolish Wallabies 50-19 to retain Bledisloe Cup
The All Blacks beat Australia 50-19 at Eden Park to retain the Bledisloe Cup for a 23rd straight year, with coach Dave Rennie citing the 3-1 Rugby Championship series loss to the Springboks as the motivation that sharpened his side's execution in a dominant second-half display.
All Blacks close gap on Springboks after learning from 'failed' series
New Zealand have narrowed the World Rugby rankings deficit to South Africa following a comprehensive 50-19 demolition of Australia at Eden Park. Coach Dave Rennie credited lessons from the Springboks' 3-1 series victory a month earlier, with the All Blacks executing key moments they had squandered in Africa. The result retains the Bledisloe Cup and cuts the gap to the world champions from nearly four points to just over one.
All Blacks cite Springbok series lessons after hammering Wallabies 50-19 to retain Bledisloe Cup
New Zealand thrashed Australia 50-19 at Eden Park to retain the Bledisloe Cup, with coach Dave Rennie pointing to lessons learned from the All Blacks' 3-1 Rugby Championship series loss to South Africa as a catalyst for the improved performance.
Rennie frames Bok series loss as a catalyst after All Blacks dismantle Wallabies at Eden Park
Rennie credited the 3-1 series loss to the Boks as a direct catalyst for the All Blacks' 50-19 Bledisloe dismantling of the Wallabies — framing the South Africa defeats as fixable execution failures rather than structural problems. Worth reading for what it signals about how New Zealand are processing that series heading into the World Cup year.
NZ Rugby CEO backs Rennie despite three straight Springbok defeats
NZ Rugby CEO Steve Lancaster says Rennie will not be formally assessed following three straight defeats to the Springboks, with the head coach contracted through to the 2027 World Cup and a full post-season review to follow the November internationals.