On the Boks Unpacked podcast, Fourie du Preez and Schalk Burger revisited the 2009 Lions series — and du Preez had a characteristically understated way of settling old scores. Never a chirpy scrum-half by nature, he says he let results do the talking against Phillips, and the math is simple: he never lost against Wales. The more entertaining moment comes from Burger, who recalls Bakkies Botha defusing a potentially explosive confrontation with Phillips in the Pretoria Test by complimenting the Welshman on his blue eyes — leaving Phillips utterly baffled. It's a light but enjoyable window into the internal culture of that 2-1 series-winning Bok side, and the personalities that made them so formidable.
Du Preez delivers a cold verdict on Mike Phillips: 'Zero per cent record'
Du Preez and Burger revisit the 2009 Lions series on podcast — du Preez with a cold statistical put-down of Phillips, Burger with a classic Bakkies Botha anecdote that's worth reading in full.
- Springboks
- Wales
- Loftus Versfeld
Louw earns late call-up to Springbok squad for Nations Championship opener against England
Elrigh Louw has been called into the Springbok squad as additional forward cover for the Nations Championship, having recovered from a serious knee injury that kept him largely sidelined through 2025.
Don't be fooled by England's Six Nations finish — this is a genuine test for the Boks
A well-argued warning against Bok fan overconfidence ahead of the Nations Championship opener — England's Six Nations implosion had clear context, their Paris performance suggests they're back, and the Boks' seasonal rust is a real variable. Erasmus's wariness is well-founded.
Boks regroup in Johannesburg ahead of Nations Championship opener against England
The Springboks wrap up a week of Johannesburg training on Thursday and reassemble Sunday for Test-week preparations ahead of their Nations Championship opener against England at Ellis Park on July 4.
Erasmus: 'We don't see the Nations Championship as a competition'
Erasmus says the Boks won't adjust their approach to chase Nations Championship log points — each Test is treated as a standalone match, with squad rotation across the window as the priority over competition standings.
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.