The Bulls opened their Champions Cup campaign with a 56-20 hammering of a heavily rotated Stade Français side at Loftus, with Pollard converting all eight tries in a flawless display off the tee. The five-takeaway piece zeroes in on three storylines worth tracking: Cheswill Jooste's blistering hat-trick announcing a 20-year-old winger of serious Springbok potential alongside the equally electric Sebastian de Klerk; Cameron Hanekom's continued barnstorming form at number eight — the piece notes Erasmus is a fan but Jasper Wiese's stranglehold on that Bok shirt means Hanekom must bide his time, framing it as a genuine luxury problem for the national setup; and Jeandre Rudolph's try-of-the-season contender — a chip-and-chase hack-on from inside his own half that the commentary team suggested belonged in the Louvre. The piece gives Stade some credit for staying competitive with a rotated squad before the Bulls' class told late.
Jooste hat-trick and Rudolph magic fire Bulls to 56-20 Champions Cup demolition of Stade
A 56-20 Bulls win doubles as a Springbok talent showcase — Jooste's pace, Hanekom's form, and a Rudolph moment of individual brilliance are the talking points dissected across five takeaways.
- Vodacom Bulls
- Loftus Versfeld
- Handré Pollard
- Sebastian de Klerk
- Rassie Erasmus
- Springboks
- Jasper Wiese
So how deep is the Springbok squad?
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Erasmus: winning stays non-negotiable, whatever the World Cup build-up demands
Erasmus has made his 2025 season intent explicit: rotation and World Cup-building happen inside a framework where winning remains the non-negotiable baseline. The piece breaks down what that means for squad management, the veterans' standing, and why the All Blacks series carries extra weight.
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.
Van Heerden called up as Moerat injury forces Springbok change
Ruben van Heerden has been called into the Springbok squad to replace the injured Salmaan Moerat, joining camp in Johannesburg ahead of the season opener against the Barbarians on 20 June.
Norton earns Erasmus praise as Bok lock depth is tested by injuries
Erasmus has spoken warmly about Junior Bok skipper Riley Norton ahead of a potential senior debut in Gqeberha, with the lock stocks thinned by long-term injuries to Snyman, Moerat, and Ruan Venter. Norton's game time against the Barbarians or Zimbabwe will tell Erasmus whether he's ready to step into the Nations Championship frame.