Nigel Owens has come out firmly on the Boan Venter/Cobus Wiese incident that preceded Evan Roos's try in the Boks' 42-28 win over Scotland, arguing the try should have been chalked off and a penalty awarded to Scotland instead. Owens's reasoning centres on Venter carrying Wiese forward while he was elevated — not obstruction in the technical sense, but an action that rendered it physically impossible for Scottish defenders to contest legally. The tell, per Owens, was the Scottish players visibly backing off to avoid conceding a penalty for taking out an airborne player: that moment of hesitation should itself have been the referee's cue that an infringement was occurring. The distinction he draws is narrow but important — lifting a catcher and bringing him straight down is legal; holding him up or propelling him forward crosses into illegal territory the moment it neutralises the defence. Given that the try put the Boks 14-0 up in a match that ended 42-28, the stakes of that missed call were significant.
Nigel Owens: Evan Roos try should have been disallowed — here's the legal argument
Nigel Owens argues Evan Roos's try — which put the Boks 14-0 up against Scotland — should have been disallowed after Boan Venter illegally carried an airborne Cobus Wiese forward, preventing Scottish defenders from engaging. The tell, per Owens, was the Scottish players backing off to avoid a penalty: that hesitation should have been the referee's trigger.
Papier earns first Springbok start in eight years against Scotland
Embrose Papier earns his eighth Springbok cap and first start in eight years against Scotland, rewarded for a standout Bulls season that saw him score nine tries.
Erasmus explains Papier recall after eight-year Springbok absence
Rassie Erasmus has recalled Embrose Papier to the Springbok squad for Saturday's Nations Championship match against Scotland at Loftus, citing the scrumhalf's standout URC season with the Bulls. Papier will start alongside Handré Pollard, eight years after the pair last combined for the Boks against the same opponents at Murrayfield.
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.
Erasmus: 'We don't see the Nations Championship as a competition'
Erasmus says the Boks won't adjust their approach to chase Nations Championship log points — each Test is treated as a standalone match, with squad rotation across the window as the priority over competition standings.
Buthelezi and Sadie called up as Springbok camp gets under way in Johannesburg
Phepsi Buthelezi and Carlu Sadie have joined the Springbok camp in Johannesburg, with the Stormers players also reporting in after their URC semifinal in Ireland. The squad for the Nations Championship will be announced on 21 June.