Eight years is a long time to wait, but Papier's reintroduction to Test rugby against Scotland was emphatically convincing. Louw's piece traces how his relentless URC form — 12 tries, 15 clean breaks, over 500 metres in the current season, URC SA Player of the Season — made him impossible to overlook once the injury gods intervened. Against a Scotland side that was very much in the contest until late, Papier produced exactly the kind of performance that Bulls fans have grown accustomed to: sharp service, smart decision-making, and the try-scoring instinct that defined his first Test start — a ghosting run through three defenders at a ruck that settled Bok nerves early. The analytical point here is whether this was a one-off cameo or the start of a genuine rotation. With Papier now 29 and peaking, Louw argues the case for him becoming a fixture is compelling rather than fanciful.
Papier's Scotland masterclass makes the Bok No.9 debate very interesting
Louw makes the case that Papier's Scotland performance was no fluke — his Bulls stats demanded the recall, and his try-scoring instinct and composure in a tight Test suggest he's earned more than a cameo role going into the RWC27 cycle.
Springbok Recall! Relive Phepsi Buthelezi's 2025/26 Season
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Gelant and Van der Merwe set for first reunion since Outeniqua High in Barbarians clash
Warrick Gelant and Duhan van der Merwe are set to share a field for the first time since Outeniqua High School when the Barbarians face the Springboks in Gqeberha on 20 June.
Buthelezi and Sadie called up as Springbok camp gets underway in Johannesburg
Phepsi Buthelezi and Carlu Sadie have joined the Springbok training squad in Johannesburg, with on-field preparations underway ahead of the 20 June double-header in Gqeberha. The Nations Championship squad is set to be announced on 21 June.
Van Heerden called up as Moerat injury forces Springbok change
Ruben van Heerden has been called into the Springbok squad to replace the injured Salmaan Moerat, joining camp in Johannesburg ahead of the season opener against the Barbarians on 20 June.
Erasmus: winning stays non-negotiable, whatever the World Cup build-up demands
Erasmus has made his 2025 season intent explicit: rotation and World Cup-building happen inside a framework where winning remains the non-negotiable baseline. The piece breaks down what that means for squad management, the veterans' standing, and why the All Blacks series carries extra weight.