“They had to find another way to beat New Zealand. Going toe-to-toe in a running battle with the All Blacks was never going to cut it,” Ray said.

“So it’s no surprise then that the narrative coming from the All Blacks camp since they arrived in South Africa nearly two weeks ago for the Greatest Rivalry tour has been to paint themselves as the saviours of rugby.”

All Blacks assistant coach Tana Umaga spoke about playing the game at pace last week.

“It’s no surprise how we want to play the game. We want to speed the game up,” Umaga said this week.

“It’s very frustrating for us when teams are visibly trying to slow it down.

“That’s something we all have to get aligned on: what kind of game we want to play, in terms of globally.”

Ray was dismissive of Umaga’s comments.

“It sounds very much like the All Blacks want everyone to emulate their style because it’s perceived to be more aesthetically pleasing,” Ray said.

“The sight of a Bok scrum putting opponents into rapid reverse, or Cheslin Kolbe and Damian Willemse ruling the air as they gobble up pinpoint aerial kicks, is actually jaw-dropping. Not all skills are the same.”

Ray cites the Springboks’ recent run of results as vindication for the side’s playing style.

“The increasing whingeing from the All Blacks is an interesting take, considering the Boks have won 31 of their last 34 tests. That includes the last 12 in a row, and they have scored an average of more than five tries per test since 2024.”

Listen to Elliott Smith’s live commentary on Newstalk ZB Sport and iHeartRadio, or join the Alternative Commentary Collective on iHeartRadio and Radio Hauraki.