Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus expects a strong response from the All Blacks in 2026 following the changes they’ve made to their coaching structures after the appointment of Dave Rennie as head coach.
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Dave Rennie is expected to bring renewed grit to the All Blacks, and that prospect has Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus wary ahead of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series later this year.
Rennie replaced Scott Robertson, who was dismissed following an in-depth review of their 2025 rugby season. The New Zealander will not have much time to settle into the role, with a demanding schedule awaiting him almost immediately.
His attention will soon turn to the much-anticipated Greatest Rivalry tour, which includes four Tests against the world champion Springboks in South Africa and the United States.
The All Blacks will also face South Africa’s four franchise teams in midweek matches as part of the tour. Before that, however, a tough Nations Championship lies ahead, with fixtures against Six Nations heavyweights France and Ireland, as well as an increasingly competitive Italy.
While Rennie’s immediate priority will be ensuring a strong start, the Tests against the Boks are expected to provide the real baptism of fire. The stakes are heightened by the fact that the two rugby giants are widely expected to collide again at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
According to Erasmus, Rennie has the pedigree to make an immediate impact.
The two coaches have been long-time rivals on the touchline. Rennie previously coached the Chiefs, Glasgow Warriors and Australia, while Erasmus has held coaching roles with the Stormers in Super Rugby and Munster in Europe. He was also director of rugby at SA Rugby and the right-hand man of former coach Jacques Nienaber when Rennie was in charge of the Wallabies.
As a result, the two have crossed paths numerous times over the years.
“Any time a new coach is appointed at the All Blacks, it creates an interesting period ahead,” Erasmus said.
“When they appointed Razor (Scott Robertson), you knew they were bringing in someone with a great deal of technical knowledge of the game. He also arrived with significant experience from the Crusaders. I coached against Dave Rennie when he was at Glasgow, and I was at Munster, and even earlier when he was with the Chiefs in Super Rugby.
“Tony (Brown, Bok attack guru) also knows him very well. So, I know for a fact that he will bring back that grit and guts that New Zealand players have. We are really nervous for this year because he was appointed.”
According to Erasmus, the Springboks expect a strong response from the All Blacks following the changes they’ve made to their coaching setup. He added that they cannot assume history will repeat itself this year after a successful 2025, which is why the Boks are preparing for a demanding Test season ahead of the World Cup.
The world champions will play 13 Tests and a friendly international against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on 20 June to open their campaign. They recently concluded their first alignment camp in Cape Town.
The second one will be held in Cape Town in May, before the first official training camp of the season begins in Johannesburg in June.
South Africa will face England on 3 July at Ellis Park in the opening match of the Nations Championship. They will then take on Scotland on 10 July at Loftus Versfeld, followed by Wales on 17 July in Durban in the mid-year matches.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry will see the opening Test played at Ellis Park on 22 August. The second match will take place at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium (29 August), followed by a third clash at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg (5 September). The fourth and final Test will be played in Baltimore in the United States (12 September).