On their new podcast, Kitshoff and Nyakane have come out firmly in support of Janse van Rensburg's decision to pursue international rugby with England. Both frame it simply: he wanted to test himself at the top level, South Africa never called, and England have. Kitshoff draws a direct parallel with Kyle Steyn's path to Scotland — a South African taking whatever door opens. Nyakane, with 65 Bok caps of his own, is characteristically pragmatic: the man's been playing brilliant rugby, he deserves the shot, and the nation that picks him is beside the point. The piece also canvasses fan reaction, which is broadly sympathetic from a personal standpoint even if some English supporters remain unconvinced he'll make the final squad — with Marchant, Lawrence, and Slade all cited ahead of him in the pecking order. The underlying tension for Bok fans is obvious: Erasmus has reportedly kept tabs on Janse van Rensburg, but watching and selecting are very different things, and the window is now closing.
Kitshoff and Nyakane back Janse van Rensburg's England switch
Kitshoff and Nyakane back Janse van Rensburg's England call-up, drawing parallels with Steyn's Scotland switch and arguing that chasing top-level rugby wherever the opportunity comes is the right call — even as the door quietly closes on a Bok future.
- Trevor Nyakane
- Rassie Erasmus
- England
- Scotland
- Springboks
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.
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.
Erasmus satisfied with alignment camps but warns proof must come on the field
Rassie Erasmus says the Springboks are in a good place after more than 60 players attended two alignment camps, but insists the results must now translate onto the field as SA Rugby prepares to name a training squad within two weeks.
Janse van Rensburg at the top of England's centre pecking order — and what it means for the Boks
Borthwick's centre headache has a new frontrunner: Janse van Rensburg is rated the likely starter at 12 for England's Tests against Fiji and Argentina, though he's ineligible for the opener against the Springboks. The piece ranks all options at 12 and 13, with Freeman locked in outside and Slade unlucky to be on the fringes.
Rassie's Nations Championship reckoning: the July squads that will shape RWC 2027
A demographic deep-dive into the seven leading RWC 2027 contenders argues the Nations Championship compresses the selection cycle by a year, placing Erasmus at the sharpest decision point: defend the title with the 2023 spine or finally acknowledge the cost of carrying an ageing pack into Australian conditions.