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Bulls split their pre-season around the All Blacks fixture — and Ackermann thinks it's worth it
The Bulls' deep URC run has forced a split pre-season around the 15 August All Blacks fixture. Ackermann is navigating the conditioning-versus-contact-readiness tension with a short turnaround, and the piece explores what that means for both the marquee game and the franchise's URC preparation.
Etzebeth, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Kolisi and Hooker all cleared to face Argentina
Eben Etzebeth, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Siya Kolisi, Lood de Jager, Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie have all been cleared to face Argentina in Buenos Aires next weekend, with only Ox Nche and Franco Mostert unavailable due to niggles.
Erasmus locks focus on Argentina as injury returnees add selection depth
Rassie Erasmus has named Argentina as the Springboks' sole immediate focus, confirming all returning injury players except Ox Nche and Franco Mostert are available for the Buenos Aires Test, with the touring squad to be announced Saturday.
Etzebeth on his worst day, his 2019 vs 2023 verdict, and why Rassie is Michael Scofield
Etzebeth opens up on the 2015 semi-final as his career low, explains what Erasmus actually changed in Bok culture, and rates 2019 above 2023 — with a memorable Prison Break analogy for Rassie's tactical edge.
Etzebeth names 2015 semi-final aftermath as his worst day — and explains the 'Prison Break' quality that makes Erasmus different
Etzebeth opens up on the 2015 semi-final loss as the darkest moment of his career, rates 2019 above 2023 as a World Cup achievement, and gives a telling account of how Erasmus rebuilt Bok culture around accountability and collective buy-in rather than individual stardom.
All Blacks trio target silencing home crowds in South Africa series
Simon Parker, Quinn Tupaea and Luke Jacobson have told the DSPN podcast that the All Blacks are targeting a series win in South Africa with the specific goal of quieting the home crowds.
All Blacks trio targeting hostile South African crowds in Greatest Rivalry series
Parker, Tupaea and Jacobson say silencing Springbok home crowds is a key motivation heading into the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series in South Africa.
Cane expects All Blacks to feed off Ellis Park hostility
Sam Cane backs the All Blacks to thrive under Ellis Park pressure, framing the hostile atmosphere as motivation rather than a threat ahead of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry opener against the Springboks.
Hansen on the Greatest Rivalry: stylistic contrast, referee drift, and why contestable kicks worry him
Hansen welcomes the attacking shift in Test rugby and a perceived change in referee attitude, but flags two specific concerns heading into the Greatest Rivalry series: defences aren't competitive enough at contestable kicks, and referees are quietly letting crooked lineout throws slide — both areas where the Springboks' game plan sits comfortably.
Cane's Ellis Park goosebumps — and why that 2022 Bok win meant everything
Cane singles out the 2022 Ellis Park Test — with Foster's job on the line — as the Springbok victory that still gives him goosebumps, and explains why the hostile Ellis Park atmosphere was something the All Blacks actively fed off.
Ten uncapped players in Argentina's 34-man squad as bans bite ahead of Springbok clash
Argentina have named a 34-man squad with 10 uncapped players for their Rugby Championship Tests against South Africa and Australia, shorn of banned captain Julián Montoya and fly-half Tomás Albornoz following the fallout from their defeat to England.
Kirwan and Matfield back Savea rest call — but Lions ghost looms over Rennie's decision
Kirwan and Matfield both endorse resting Savea before the Test series, but Kirwan raises a pointed warning about squad cohesion — invoking Woodward's ill-fated 2005 Lions setup as a cautionary tale for Rennie.
Matfield: Kolisi and Etzebeth still World Cup-bound — but nobody gets a free pass under Rassie
Matfield backs Kolisi and Etzebeth to reach the 2027 World Cup, arguing De Villiers is a complement rather than a straight replacement, while underlining that Erasmus's uncompromising form-or-drop culture applies to everyone — veterans included.
Ackermann: Rennie's All Blacks are on the rise — but the Boks will still be too strong
Ackermann rates Rennie's All Blacks as a genuine step up from recent New Zealand teams but backs Springbok depth and set-piece to win out across the four-Test series — while flagging the tour match as a formative moment for his younger Bulls squad.
Tour catch-22: Why the franchise games against the All Blacks are set up to disappoint
Gavin Rich identifies a structural catch-22 for the All Black tour franchise games: URC sides must field their best available teams but are three weeks into pre-season, missing all their Boks, and facing a tourists who've played three tests together — conditions that make competitive games nearly impossible and raise real injury risk ahead of the URC season.
Lowe replaces Kolbe at Suntory as Kolbe returns to Stormers
James Lowe joins Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath on a two-year deal, replacing Cheslin Kolbe who has returned to the Stormers after three seasons in Japan.
The All Black tour catch-22: underdone franchises, star players in Bok camp, and a pricing problem
Gavin Rich argues that the RGR franchise tour games face a near-unsolvable structural problem: Bok players are unavailable, remaining squad members are barely three weeks into pre-season, and ticket prices are already dampening demand — creating a real risk the opening tour fixtures undermine the concept before the Test series even begins.
Contepomi names 10 uncapped players in Argentina's 34-man Rugby Championship squad
Felipe Contepomi has included 10 uncapped players in Argentina's 34-man squad for their upcoming Rugby Championship matches against the Springboks and Australia.
Rennie eyes World Cup answers in South Africa — Mo'unga, Ioane and the 6-2 gamble explained
Rennie is using the South Africa tour as a World Cup stress test — trialling the 6-2 split, managing scrum-half depth, keeping Mo'unga on standby and resetting Ioane as a winger. The piece details the selection logic behind each call.
Rennie tips his hat to Rassie ahead of the Rivalry Series
Rennie calls Erasmus the most innovative coach in the game and says the Boks' ability to rotate heavily and still dominate Scotland underlines their depth — while keeping his own expectations for the Rivalry Series deliberately close to his chest.