With Erasmus finalising his squad for the Rugby Championship opener against Argentina and the All Blacks series, Rugby365's Wynona Louw zeroes in on the three players who have the strongest grievance about being left out. Embrose Papier is the headline case — the URC Player of the Season delivered a scintillating cameo against Scotland after an eight-year Test absence, yet finds himself released despite the returning Van den Berg and a crowded scrumhalf depth chart that Louw argues doesn't obviously eclipse him. Evan Roos gets a more nuanced treatment: his physicality and try-sense are undeniable, but his discipline and error rate at the breakdown (third for turnovers lost, fifth for penalties conceded in the URC) give Erasmus genuine pause, and Louw concedes the Wiese factor is hard to argue with. Ntuthuko Mchunu is framed as the least aggrieved of the three — his ball-in-hand brilliance is acknowledged, but the article suggests his release to face the All Blacks is actually an opportunity to cement his international case rather than a door closing on him.
The Bok cuts that sting most ahead of the Argentina series
Papier, Roos, and Mchunu are identified as the unluckiest omissions from the latest Bok squad — Louw makes the case for each while acknowledging the logic behind Erasmus's calls.
Stephen Donald: Robertson copied the Boks — Rennie must go back to All Blacks DNA
Stephen Donald backs Hansen's anti-copycat argument, saying Robertson erred by chasing the Springbok blueprint rather than New Zealand's tempo-based strengths — and expects Rennie to correct that course ahead of a blockbuster four-Test series in South Africa.
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.
Alexander's blunt warning: align the calendar or lose the game
Mark Alexander is warning that the Dublin World Rugby meetings must deliver calendar alignment — concurrent Rugby Championship and Six Nations windows, dedicated club and rest periods — or the sport risks losing players to rebel competitions. New Zealand's resistance to shifting Super Rugby Pacific is the key sticking point.
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.