A rod insertion system and at least two bone anchors including: a rod guide configured to accommodate a spinal stabilization rod therein; a holding device including a clamping portion configured to hold a portion of the rod guide; and an adapter configured to moveably support the holding device. The holding device is configured to move and pivot along an adapter such that the rod guide is positioned proximal to a rod channel of one of the at least two bone anchors. In a first state, the rod guide is fixed to the holding device by the clamping portion, and, in a second state in which the holding device supports the portion of the rod guide, the clamping portion is released from the portion of the rod guide to permit the orientation of the rod guide relative to the holding device to be polyaxially adjusted.