Jerry Flannery is treating Saturday's Nations Championship opener against Italy in Turin with genuine respect, pointing to the Azzurri's set piece — their scrum ranked among the best in the Six Nations — and Ange Capuozzo's ability to conjure something from nothing as the primary threats. Despite Italy missing Brex, Menoncello and Negri, Flannery draws directly on the 42-24 Loftus win from July 2025 as a cautionary reference point: Italy ran them close then too, and their kicking game, aerial presence and first-phase physicality demand sharp tackling from the first whistle. Flannery is also framing the entire Nations Championship tour as playoff-intensity rugby — knockout-style pressure building toward the London Finals Weekend on November 29 — which shapes how the Boks are approaching squad cohesion and rotation decisions. Van den Berg, partnering Feinberg-Mngomezulu at halfback, sounds sharp and motivated.
Flannery flags Italy's scrum and Capuozzo as key Turin threats
Flannery identifies Italy's scrum and Capuozzo as the primary Turin dangers, draws on the Loftus match as a warning, and frames the Nations Championship as knockout-intensity rugby ahead of the London final.
- Jerry Flannery
- Nations Championship
- Italy
- Loftus Versfeld
- Springboks
- Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
- Six Nations Championship
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.
Nations Championship Round 1: Boks set the benchmark, Japan turn heads
Louw's Nations Championship round-one review crowns the Boks as the weekend's benchmark-setters and flags Japan's Italy upset as the competition's first real surprise — while taking aim at the scheduling call that denies Japan a home fixture against Ireland.
Springboks lead World Rugby rankings by 3.61 points ahead of Nations Championship
South Africa top the World Rugby rankings on 93.94 points, 3.61 clear of New Zealand, as the Springboks head into the inaugural Nations Championship. World Rugby has also confirmed the removal of home weighting from the rankings system from 1 July 2026.
Nché injury concern headlining Bok casualty list ahead of Scotland clash at Loftus
Rassie Erasmus is sweating over the fitness of Ox Nché, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and André Esterhuizen ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship match against Scotland at Loftus, after all four picked up injuries during or before the 45-21 win over England at Ellis Park.
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.