Anthony Watson and Elliot Daly have been reflecting on what makes South Africa so difficult to beat ahead of the Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park. Watson singles out Kolbe as the primary individual threat — arguing that when Kolbe gets volume ball, South Africa's win probability climbs sharply. But his deeper point is more interesting: the Boks' true strength is their tactical shape-shifting depending on which 10 starts. Libbok unlocks a wide, expansive game; Pollard locks in the territorial, set-piece-driven approach; Faf de Klerk slots somewhere between. That flexibility makes game-planning for England genuinely difficult. Daly adds the altitude and atmosphere at Ellis Park as compounding factors, and both note the Bomb Squad dynamic — the Boks' habit of winning games in the final minutes through bench power, something England felt acutely in the 2023 World Cup semi-final.
Watson: Kolbe is England's biggest headache — but Bok versatility is the real danger
Watson names Kolbe as England's biggest individual concern but argues the Boks' real edge is their ability to change tactical identity based on which fly-half starts — a flexibility that makes them uniquely hard to prepare for.
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.
Nché injury concern headlining Bok casualty list ahead of Scotland clash at Loftus
Rassie Erasmus is sweating over the fitness of Ox Nché, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and André Esterhuizen ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship match against Scotland at Loftus, after all four picked up injuries during or before the 45-21 win over England at Ellis Park.
Nations Championship Round 1: Boks set the benchmark, Japan turn heads
Louw's Nations Championship round-one review crowns the Boks as the weekend's benchmark-setters and flags Japan's Italy upset as the competition's first real surprise — while taking aim at the scheduling call that denies Japan a home fixture against Ireland.
Willemse credits Jantjies, Bok mentors after reaching 50-Test milestone at Ellis Park
Damian Willemse marked his 50th Test cap with one of his finest Springbok performances as South Africa opened their Nations Championship campaign with a 45-21 win over England at Ellis Park, crediting mentors including Elton Jantjies, Handré Pollard and several Bok greats for shaping his game across multiple positions.
SENSATIONAL Springboks 💥 | South Africa v England | Nations Championship 2026 | Highlights
Watch all the highlights as South Africa took on England at Ellis Park on day one of Nations Championship.