In a crossover episode between three Megafoon shows, Harry, Jan, Ari O'Hara and MV Welman worked through their preferred Springbok starting XV for Test 1 against the All Blacks — not predicting Rassie's hand, but arguing what they'd pick themselves. The consensus was remarkably tight in most positions: Willemse at fullback, Cheslin Kolbe on the wing, Ethan Hooker at 11 (edging out Curt Lee on aerial threat and the memory of Wellington), Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende in midfield, and a loose trio of Siya Kolisi (fitness permitting), Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese. The sharpest disagreement was at 10: Harry and MV backed Marnie le Roux and Grant Williams to start, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Reinach finishing — Jan held out for Pollard on the bench over Feinberg, arguing Pollard remains the world's best closer and that Feinberg's error rate in the URC is a genuine risk in a tight series. The hosts also flagged South Africa's lineout continuity — or lack of it — as a potential vulnerability the All Blacks could target early, and were unanimous that the kicking contest (Bok KFC versus All Black CPR) would define the shape of the series.
Four heads, one mythical Bok XV: Leboeuf and Grant Williams to start, Pollard vs Feinberg the sharpest debate
Three Megafoon shows combined to pick their mythical Bok Test 1 XV, with the Feinberg vs Pollard debate and South Africa's lineout consistency emerging as the most contested issues.
Three Megafoon shows combined to pick their mythical Bok Test 1 XV, with the Feinberg vs Pollard debate and South Africa's lineout consistency emerging as the most contested issues.
Full transcript is being prepared. Check back shortly.
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.
Stephen Donald: Robertson copied the Boks — Rennie must go back to All Blacks DNA
Stephen Donald backs Hansen's anti-copycat argument, saying Robertson erred by chasing the Springbok blueprint rather than New Zealand's tempo-based strengths — and expects Rennie to correct that course ahead of a blockbuster four-Test series in South Africa.
All Blacks' loosehead crisis hands Springboks a ready-made weapon in Greatest Rivalry Series
Jeff Wilson has publicly identified loosehead prop as the All Blacks' most dangerous weakness ahead of four consecutive Tests against the Springboks — with Williams likely out, Tu'ungafasi's future uncertain, and the remaining options short on caps and experience. Set against the depth Erasmus has built across the prop positions, this piece maps out why scrum time could be where the Greatest Rivalry Series is decided.
Mulder's '95 Warning: Don't Sleep on the All Blacks
1995 World Cup winner Japie Mulder warns against writing off the All Blacks ahead of the four-Test series, drawing on South Africa's own underdog story to argue the gap in rankings doesn't guarantee a comfortable series win.
Pollard and Feinberg-Mngomezulu deliver standout kicking displays in URC
Handrè Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu have been in kicking form in the URC, with a highlight reel of their best efforts underlining the quality both Springbok pivots are producing at franchise level.