Warren Fortune rates every player from SA 'A''s comfortable 40-0 win over Zimbabwe, with the backline earning the plaudits. Luan Giliomee (8.5) and Jaco Williams (9) were the standouts, with Williams producing a try assist and a late individual score. Yaqeen Ahmed impressed before a red card for a dangerous aerial challenge ended his afternoon early, and Nico Steyn made the most of his early introduction off the bench with a try and strong defensive work. Up front, the set-piece was patchy — Siphosethu Mnebelele had a difficult opening quarter in the lineout and Neethling Fouche didn't impose himself on his opposite number — though both improved as the match wore on. Fortune notes that a number of positional questions for Bok selection purposes would have been answered by the performance, making this a useful form guide heading into the next selection window.
SA 'A' backline shines in 40-0 demolition of Zimbabwe
Fortune's player-by-player breakdown of SA 'A''s 40-0 win over Zimbabwe highlights a dominant backline performance — Williams and Giliomee lead the ratings — while flagging set-piece concerns up front and a red card for Ahmed as the main talking points.
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.
Contepomi's warning: Boks are dangerous precisely because attack and forward dominance now combine
Contepomi argues the Boks' real danger isn't attack or forward dominance in isolation — it's that Tony Brown's influence has made them fluent in both, with the football intelligence to switch between them at will. A sharp external read ahead of the England test.
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.
Contepomi: Boks have cracked the balance — and that's what makes them dangerous
Contepomi argues the Boks' real danger lies in their evolving balance between forward dominance and expansive attack — and flags sustained possession as the best way to exploit their defence.
Kolisi treats Barbarians clash as a full Test match ahead of Gqeberha opener
Siya Kolisi insists the Springboks are treating Saturday's Barbarians clash in Gqeberha as a full Test match, with internal competition, positional battles and the season opener's importance all cited as the camp's driving forces.