Planet Rugby's Team of the Week from the final round of the Nations Championship's southern leg features four Springboks — Jesse Kriel, Jaco Williams, Paul de Villiers and Gerhard Steenekamp — plus an honourable mention for Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Cobus Wiese and debutant Carlu Sadie. Williams is the headline Bok pick, his debut wing display in the 43-0 Durban shutout earning him the 11 jersey ahead of more established names. Kriel's inclusion at 13 is framed around his defensive leadership — specifically credited as the quiet reason Wales never crossed — as much as his try. De Villiers takes 7 with what the piece calls the best individual forward display of the round, while Steenekamp's impact off the bench at loosehead is singled out for immediately bending the Welsh scrum. Beyond the Boks, the piece frames Ruben Love's 10 jersey as potentially ending New Zealand's long-running fly-half debate, and rates Ben Earl the difference-maker in England's Santiago win. The full XV offers a useful snapshot of who stood out across all six round-three results.
Planet Rugby's Nations Championship Round 3 Team of the Week: Boks well represented as McKenzie and Love steal headlines
Four Springboks make Planet Rugby's Round 3 Team of the Week from the Nations Championship's southern leg, with Jaco Williams's debut display and Paul de Villiers's breakdown dominance the standout Bok contributions. The piece also frames Ruben Love's performance as a potential full-stop on New Zealand's fly-half question.
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.
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.
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.
SENSATIONAL Springboks 💥 | South Africa vs. England | Nations Championship 2026 | Highlights
Watch all the highlights as South Africa took on England at Ellis Park on day one of Nations Championship.
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.