With Saturday's 26-man squad announcement imminent, Erasmus has effectively telegraphed his selection philosophy for the Buenos Aires Test: players who need minutes go, those who've had plenty stay home. Nche, Mostert, Kwagga Smith and RG Snyman are all unavailable through injury, while Pieter-Steph du Toit headlines the group being held back for the All Blacks series. The Pollard situation is the main watch — if his hamstring strain lingers, Vusi Moyo travels in his place. Reinach starts at scrumhalf, Fassi gets a chance to find form at fullback, and Kolisi captains a side that includes Etzebeth, De Jager, Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Esterhuizen. The piece projects the likely matchday 23 in full.
Rassie's Argentina squad logic: game time over rotation
Erasmus has all but named his Argentina squad — those needing game time travel, the core stays home for the All Blacks. The piece projects the likely starting XV and bench for Buenos Aires.
Syndesmosis injury could keep Feinberg-Mngomezulu out for three months
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu faces a three-month absence after suffering a syndesmosis injury in the Stormers' URC quarter-final win over Cardiff, potentially ruling him out of the Nations Championship Tests and part of the All Blacks series.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu ankle injury puts Rugby Nations Championship opener in doubt
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will miss at least the first three rounds of the Rugby Nations Championship after injuring his ankle in the Stormers' URC quarterfinal win over Cardiff, adding to a growing list of Springbok halfback concerns that already includes Cobus Reinach's knee injury.
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.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu ankle injury clouds Bok backline ahead of Nations Championship
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu faces a spell on the sidelines after injuring his ankle in the Stormers' URC quarterfinal win over Cardiff, putting his availability for the July Rugby Nations Championship Tests in doubt — compounding an already lengthy Springbok injury list that includes Cobus Reinach, three scrumhalves, and locks Etzebeth, De Jager and Snyman.
Lock depth crisis or overcrowding? The Bok second row picture before England arrives
Rich maps the Springbok lock depth picture — persistent injuries, the Barbarians squad call-ups of Van Heerden and Smith, and why this week's fixtures matter for World Cup preparation — while flagging Schickerling's continued absence as an overlooked gap.