Stuart Barnes is raising the possibility that Kolisi's July injury absence may have inadvertently handed Erasmus an exit ramp he didn't need to engineer. De Villiers impressed Barnes enough across the Nations Championship wins over England, Scotland and Wales that he's drawing comparisons with Ruben Kruger and Heinrich Brussow — high praise for a Stormers youngster on debut. Barnes's broader point is characteristically Erasmus-shaped: that the Springbok coach is so adept at generational transition that a captaincy change might simply happen without a single dramatic announcement. One week Kolisi's there, the next he's not, and South Africa slide toward a potential World Cup three-peat without missing a beat. With Kolisi returning for the Rugby Championship and the four-Test series against the All Blacks, the next few months will either validate Barnes's prediction or put it firmly to rest.
Barnes asks the Kolisi question: has De Villiers made the captaincy his own?
Stuart Barnes argues De Villiers's Nations Championship debut may have quietly started the clock on Kolisi's captaincy — and that Erasmus is exactly the coach to make the transition so seamless it barely registers.
Tony Brown to join All Blacks backroom staff in 2028 after Springbok contract ends
NZR have confirmed Tony Brown will join the All Blacks' backroom staff in 2028 on a two-year contract, with the Springboks attack coach set to depart after the 2027 Rugby World Cup. It is the third time NZR have pursued Brown, having previously been rejected during the Foster and Robertson eras.
Erasmus welcomes clarity on Tony Brown's post-2027 departure: 'We've made the mistake in the past'
Tony Brown will join the All Blacks coaching staff in 2028 after his Springbok contract expires at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with Rassie Erasmus welcoming the early clarity as SA Rugby looks to avoid the contractual uncertainty that complicated preparations for France 2023.
Buthelezi and Sadie called up as Springbok camp gets under way in Johannesburg
Phepsi Buthelezi and Carlu Sadie have joined the Springbok camp in Johannesburg, with the Stormers players also reporting in after their URC semifinal in Ireland. The squad for the Nations Championship will be announced on 21 June.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu ankle injury puts Rugby Nations Championship opener in doubt
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will miss at least the first three rounds of the Rugby Nations Championship after injuring his ankle in the Stormers' URC quarterfinal win over Cardiff, adding to a growing list of Springbok halfback concerns that already includes Cobus Reinach's knee injury.
Syndesmosis injury could keep Feinberg-Mngomezulu out for three months
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu faces a three-month absence after suffering a syndesmosis injury in the Stormers' URC quarter-final win over Cardiff, potentially ruling him out of the Nations Championship Tests and part of the All Blacks series.