Nigel Owens has sided with Erasmus and Rennie in opposing World Rugby's decision to scrap private one-on-one pre-match meetings between coaches and referees. The new rule requires both coaching staffs to be present simultaneously, and Owens — drawing on his own experience — argues the old format worked well for everyone: referees could flag issues they'd be watching for, coaches could raise concerns in a low-key setting, and both parties left better prepared. His central concern is that World Rugby's fix may have created a bigger problem than it solved. By removing the private channel, coaches are now taking those same concerns public — media press conferences instead of quiet conversations — which is noisier, more combative, and arguably more damaging to referee authority than anything that happened behind closed doors. The piece is worth reading for Owens's insider perspective on what those pre-match meetings actually looked like in practice, and why he thinks the paranoia driving this policy change is misplaced.
Nigel Owens backs Erasmus over World Rugby's pre-match referee meeting ban
Owens argues World Rugby's ban on private coach-referee meetings has backfired — pushing pre-match grievances into the media instead of resolving them quietly, and he backs Erasmus and Rennie's frustration as entirely justified.
- Rassie Erasmus
Springboks touch down in Buenos Aires ahead of Argentina Test
The Springboks have arrived in Buenos Aires in two travelling groups, with a rest day on Sunday before training resumes Monday ahead of their Test against Argentina at Estadio José Amalfitani — their last match before the All Blacks series begins on 22 August.
One loss lingers long when you almost never lose
Rich unpacks the psychology of following an era-dominant Bok team — where a single loss haunts the press box even during a comfortable win — and argues Erasmus's mass rotation for Scotland was always the plan, not a gamble. He also flags the All Blacks' tactical shift and makes a sharp point about getting Ellis Park ticket prices right from the outset.
Rassie warns against Bok complacency ahead of England test
Erasmus, Davids, and Stick use their video platform to call out the risk of complacency ahead of the Ellis Park test, warning that treating England as a pushover would be a costly mistake.
The fear that keeps Rassie going — and greying
Nel profiles the psychological engine behind Erasmus's coaching drive — not fear of defeat itself, but fear of extinguishing the national togetherness Springbok success has built. Mallett adds historical perspective on the toll the job takes, while Erasmus reflects candidly on the off-season void and what camp genuinely means to him.
Paulse: Rassie's youth fast-track is unprecedented — and Paul de Villiers is the next Deon Fourie
Paulse argues Erasmus's youth fast-track reflects a real cultural shift in Bok selection, singles out Paul de Villiers as a Deon Fourie-type find, and suggests more squad surprises are coming through the Nations Championship.