With the November Nations Championship squad announcement approaching, Planet Rugby runs through eleven players who could earn surprise call-ups for the Italy, France, and Ireland tour. The piece profiles a mix of genuine fringe candidates and longer-shot names across the park. At lock, the most intriguing case is David Ribbans — the Somerset West-born Toulon captain who re-qualifies for South Africa this month after 11 England caps. He's positioned as a ready-made lineout general at a position where Bok depth has been a recurring concern, with the key variable being his own willingness to switch allegiances. At back, Henco van Wyk is flagged as the least surprising inclusion possible — a like-for-like Kriel backup who's been on the radar for years — while teenagers Luan Giliomee and Zekhethelo Siyaya represent the higher-risk, higher-upside options at fullback. Cheswill Jooste's name comes up on the wing, his hat-trick against Stade Français suggesting he's ready for harder tests. In the forwards, Riley Norton (lock), Hanro Liebenberg (blindside), Jeandre Rudolph (openside), and Esethu Mnebelele (hooker) round out a list that reflects genuine positional gaps — particularly the unresolved Marx deputy question and the ageing lock corps. Seb de Klerk and Matt Romao complete the eleven as longer-term prospects Erasmus has publicly flagged.
11 bolters Erasmus could pull for November — from a 'rib eye' to two teenage backs
Planet Rugby profiles eleven bolter candidates for Erasmus's November squad — headlined by David Ribbans's re-qualification window and two teenage backs, with genuine positional depth questions at lock and hooker driving several of the selections.
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
James Doleman to referee South Africa v England as World Rugby confirms Nations Championship officials
James Doleman will referee South Africa v England at Ellis Park on 4 July, with Andrew Brace and Pierre Brousset as assistants, as World Rugby confirms the full list of officials for the July leg of the 2026 Nations Championship.
Erasmus satisfied with alignment camps but warns proof must come on the field
Rassie Erasmus says the Springboks are in a good place after more than 60 players attended two alignment camps, but insists the results must now translate onto the field as SA Rugby prepares to name a training squad within two weeks.
Rassie's Nations Championship reckoning: the July squads that will shape RWC 2027
A demographic deep-dive into the seven leading RWC 2027 contenders argues the Nations Championship compresses the selection cycle by a year, placing Erasmus at the sharpest decision point: defend the title with the 2023 spine or finally acknowledge the cost of carrying an ageing pack into Australian conditions.
Springboks Through Irish Eyes: Gráinne Seoige on Loftus, Rassie, and Why SA Rugby Is Unlike Anything Else
Irish TV personality Gráinne Seoige tells the Lekker Rugby Pod that walking into Loftus for the 2024 Ireland test was the most intimidating rugby atmosphere she has ever experienced, and argues that Rassie Erasmus's cultural transformation of Springbok rugby is a bigger achievement than the World Cup wins.