Fresh off a Player of the Match performance in the Premiership Final, Henry Pollock is already locked in on England's Nations Championship opener against the Springboks. The 21-year-old Northampton flanker has become something of a pantomime villain among South African supporters — and he's leaning into it. Asked why some South Africans seem to dislike him, his response was blunt: 'They can talk all they want. I guess I keep showing up.' With England still stinging from their Six Nations campaign, Pollock sees the away series in South Africa as exactly the stage he wants — altitude, massive crowds, world champions. For Bok fans, this piece is a useful read on just how switched-on and unbothered England's most combustible young forward is heading into what promises to be a spicy series.
Pollock ready to bring the noise to South Africa
Henry Pollock is unfazed by his pantomime villain status in South Africa and is openly relishing the Nations Championship series against the Boks as the biggest challenge in the game — this piece captures the mindset England are bringing to the series.
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.
Don't be fooled by England's Six Nations finish — this is a genuine test for the Boks
A well-argued warning against Bok fan overconfidence ahead of the Nations Championship opener — England's Six Nations implosion had clear context, their Paris performance suggests they're back, and the Boks' seasonal rust is a real variable. Erasmus's wariness is well-founded.
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.
Smith vows England will 'leave it all out there' against Springboks
Marcus Smith says England's 36-man squad, arriving in Johannesburg on Thursday, are targeting a historic win over the Springboks in the Nations Championship opener, having trained in oxygen masks to prepare for the Highveld.
Boks Unpacked: England's attacking pace will test Springbok backfield — but Bok class should prevail in Jo'burg
Jean de Villiers argued England's direct, multi-option attack could exploit the Springboks' aggressive defensive backfield in Jo'burg, though the panel ultimately backed the Boks to win at home against a battle-hardened but beatable England side.