Fresh off a Player of the Match performance in Northampton's Premiership Final win over Exeter, Henry Pollock has made clear that facing the Springboks in the Nations Championship is exactly the stage he's been building towards. The 21-year-old flanker — already a polarising figure among South African fans for his confrontational style — isn't shying away from that reputation, responding to the noise with a blunt 'I keep showing up.' Having been part of the England U20 side that won the World Rugby U20 Championship on South African soil in 2024, Pollock knows the environment and is openly relishing the prospect of altitude rugby in front of a packed South African crowd. England are still smarting from their Six Nations campaign, which adds a layer of edge to a series that was already shaping up as one of the highlights of the international calendar.
Pollock relishing Bok test after Premiership final heroics
Henry Pollock is targeting the Springboks series as his next proving ground after starring in Northampton's Premiership Final win — and he's unbothered by his divisive reputation among South African fans.
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.
Mnebelele takes Junior Bok armband as Norton departs for Springbok duty
Siphosethu Mnebelele has been appointed Junior Springbok captain for the Under-20 World Championship in Georgia after Riley Norton was called into the Springbok squad, with head coach Kevin Foote citing Mnebelele's leadership pedigree and Norton's rapid rise as a reflection of South Africa's strengthening schools development pathway.
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.