With the four-Test series kicking off on August 22, Ben Youngs and Anthony Watson used the For The Love Of Rugby podcast to weigh up the Kolbe vs Jordan debate in some depth. The verdict is nuanced: Watson gives Jordan the edge in raw pace — noting his effortless, gliding stride — and the numbers back Jordan's superior try-scoring efficiency (nearly a try a game at Test level vs Kolbe's 0.5). But on the one-on-one question, Watson is unequivocal: Kolbe has the best footwork the game has ever seen, and facing him in the wide channels is essentially a foregone conclusion. Youngs, who knows from bitter 2019 World Cup experience, puts it bluntly — you know it's coming and there's nothing you can do. Watson also makes the case that Kolbe's all-court versatility — lineout throwing, goal-kicking, covering nine, ten and fullback — makes him arguably the most complete player the game has produced, size aside. Louis Bielle-Biarrey gets honourable mention as the heir apparent, but Watson ranks him third for now, citing gaps in his first-receiver work and one-on-one footwork relative to the other two.
Kolbe vs Jordan: Watson and Youngs settle the greatest winger debate ahead of the Greatest Rivalry series
Watson and Youngs break down Kolbe vs Jordan ahead of the Greatest Rivalry series — Jordan edges on speed and try-scoring efficiency, but Kolbe's one-on-one footwork is rated the best ever, and his all-court game puts him in a category of his own.
Ruthless All Blacks punish wasteful Boks despite scrum hammering
The Boks obliterated the All Blacks at scrum time yet lost 33-16 — the piece breaks down why South Africa's failure to convert 22-metre dominance into points was the decisive factor, and what both teams must fix before Cape Town.
Marshall warns All Blacks: Jordan at 14 is a luxury the Boks series might expose
Marshall argues Jordan at 14 is a depth-chart workaround, not a true positional solution — and that the Springboks' aerial kicking game will expose whether McKenzie can hold the 15 jersey under genuine pressure.
Moodie on intentional knock-ons: instinct, milliseconds, and the fine margins of Test rugby
Moodie defends the rash of knock-on cards hitting Test backs, framing it as instinct under extreme time pressure rather than deliberate cynicism — and previews the aerial and wide-game battles Scotland will likely bring to Loftus on Saturday.
Kolbe takes pay cut to return to Stormers, Dobson eyes 2029 with two icons back
Cheslin Kolbe returns to the Stormers on a below-market deal, taking a substantial pay cut from his Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath salary to join John Dobson's Project 2029 rebuild alongside fellow returning icon Siya Kolisi.
Dobson: Kolbe returning to win trophies, not to wind down
John Dobson says Cheslin Kolbe has made a major financial sacrifice to return to the Stormers, motivated by winning trophies rather than winding down his career, while warning the franchise is close to its limit on high-profile signings.