Joubert's piece argues that the Stormers and Bulls are genuine contenders to become the first South African side to lift the Champions Cup — not just participants making up numbers, but franchises showing the intent and performance levels to put Europe's elite on notice. The piece centres on the roles of Keoagile and Zels (presumably Elrigh Louw or a similarly prominent figure) in driving that ambition, and is worth reading for the case it makes about where these two franchises sit relative to the competition's traditional powerhouses.
Stormers and Bulls mean business in the Champions Cup
Joubert makes the case that the Stormers and Bulls are showing genuine Champions Cup-winning intent — and could be the first SA side to claim European club rugby's biggest prize.
Erasmus flags 'World Cup knock-out' intensity of RGR series as Grobbelaar and Louw set for Sunday return
Rassie Erasmus has likened the four-Test RGR series against the All Blacks to World Cup knock-out rugby, with the full Springbok squad now reassembled and Bulls duo Johan Grobbelaar and Elrigh Louw rejoining on Sunday ahead of the Ellis Park opener on August 22.
Rassie redefines the No.8 role — and has a surprising list of candidates to fill it
Erasmus has stripped the No.8 role back to its scrum function only, rejecting the traditional link-between-forwards-and-backs tag — and that philosophy opens the door to some unconventional candidates while Kwagga Smith recovers.
Method in the Madness: Why Rassie's Risky Scotland Selection Makes Sense
Cardinelli argues Erasmus's heavily rotated Scotland team is less a selection of necessity than a calculated acceleration of World Cup squad-building — underpinned by club familiarity between combinations and anchored by enough proven operators to keep the result in sight.
Dobson: Kolbe returning to win trophies, not to wind down
John Dobson says Cheslin Kolbe has made a major financial sacrifice to return to the Stormers, motivated by winning trophies rather than winding down his career, while warning the franchise is close to its limit on high-profile signings.
Bulls face Benetton without Coetzee and Arendse as Pollard, Le Roux return
The Bulls face Benetton on Saturday without flu-stricken Marcell Coetzee and Kurt-Lee Arendse, with Pollard, Le Roux and Louw returning to a reshuffled side. A bonus-point win could move them into the top four and earn a home quarterfinal. Willie le Roux plays his 400th first-class match; Stravino Jacobs earns his 100th Bulls cap.