Planet Rugby's Round 3 Team of the Week reflects a dominant southern hemisphere showing across the final July series weekend. South Africa contribute three starters — debutant wing Jaco Williams, who slotted seamlessly into the 43-0 Durban shutout, Jesse Kriel for his scoring and defensive organisation that kept Wales scoreless, and Paul de Villiers for what the piece calls the best individual forward display of the round: a maul try, first-receiver handling, and a crucial breakdown steal near his own line. Gerhard Steenekamp earns a runner-up nod at loosehead, Jasper Wiese gets a mention at eight, and Cobus Wiese and Pieter-Steph du Toit are recognised as runners-up in the engine room and at six respectively — rounding out a selection that paints July as a genuine breakthrough month for the new-look Bok pack. Beyond the green and gold, Damian McKenzie is the standout name — described as a no-brainer pick after running Ireland ragged at Eden Park — while Ruben Love's fly-half display is framed as potentially ending New Zealand's long-running ten debate.
Nations Championship Team of the Week: Paul de Villiers and Jaco Williams headline Bok presence
Planet Rugby's Round 3 Team of the Week features three Springbok starters — Jaco Williams, Jesse Kriel, and Paul de Villiers — with several more earning runner-up recognition, as the piece frames July as a breakthrough month for the new-look Bok pack.
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.
Five Boks in Round One Team of the Week as Willemse Claims Player of the Weekend
South Africa dominate Planet Rugby's Round One Team of the Week with five selections, headlined by Willemse's Player of the Weekend on his 50th cap and strong showings from Marx, both Du Toits, Kriel and a debut-making De Villiers.
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.
World Rugby scraps home weighting in first rankings overhaul since 2003
World Rugby will eliminate home weighting from its rankings points calculation from July 1, 2026 — the first major change to the system since its 2003 introduction — citing the surge in Tests played at neutral venues, including the Springboks vs All Blacks Baltimore clash.
Hansen's Right to Back Himself — But the Boks' Five-Match Streak Tells a Different Story
Jean de Villiers acknowledges Hansen's logic but argues last year's results and performances make it hard to see the All Blacks closing the gap on the Boks — and the panel get genuinely animated over what a 2-2 series tiebreaker would even look like.