With 13 changes from the side that beat Wales, Erasmus has used the Buenos Aires Test as a form-and-fitness exercise ahead of the All Blacks series. The headline story is Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's return at flyhalf — his first action since the ankle injury sustained in the URC play-offs — and how he clicks with Reinach in a half-back pairing that could define the Greatest Rivalry Tests. Kolisi's comeback at openside, despite the Paul de Villiers noise during his absence, is treated as settled business after Erasmus's unambiguous endorsement. The Etzebeth–De Jager lock pairing is flagged as the biggest structural boost: both missed the Nations Championship through injury, and their fitness changes the Boks' second-row picture significantly. The piece also spotlights the Hanekom vs Jasper Wiese number-eight contest as live, and identifies Quan Horn, Herschel Jantjies and Wilco Louw as the unlucky trio squeezed out of a 26-man travelling squad — each with a reasonable grievance. Worth reading if you want a player-by-player breakdown of who's staking a Rugby Championship claim this weekend.
SFM back, Kolisi returns, and an unlucky trio misses the cut — Bok team for Argentina dissected
Feinberg-Mngomezulu returns at flyhalf, Kolisi and the Etzebeth–De Jager lock pairing are back, and three players with legitimate claims miss the matchday cut entirely — the piece breaks down every winner and loser from Erasmus's 13-change team for Buenos Aires.
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.
Erasmus welcomes clarity on Tony Brown's post-2027 departure: 'We've made the mistake in the past'
Tony Brown will join the All Blacks coaching staff in 2028 after his Springbok contract expires at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with Rassie Erasmus welcoming the early clarity as SA Rugby looks to avoid the contractual uncertainty that complicated preparations for France 2023.
Tony Brown to join All Blacks backroom staff in 2028 after Springbok contract ends
NZR have confirmed Tony Brown will join the All Blacks' backroom staff in 2028 on a two-year contract, with the Springboks attack coach set to depart after the 2027 Rugby World Cup. It is the third time NZR have pursued Brown, having previously been rejected during the Foster and Robertson eras.
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.