Every story on the wire.
4,027 items
Erasmus on Moyo's debut: nerves, a flat battery, and a record-breaking start
Erasmus rates Vusi Moyo's Test debut as nervy but promising, explains the tactical reasoning behind his selection and early substitution, and flags set-piece improvements from fellow debutants Van Heerden and Sadie as a significant positive.
De Villiers voted Bok MVP again after 43-0 demolition of Wales
Paul de Villiers wins the Auto & General Springbok MVP award following the Boks' 43-0 win over Wales at Kings Park.
Nations Championship halfway check: Boks and France lead, but travel chaos clouds the competition
The Springboks and All Blacks lead the inaugural Nations Championship after the southern leg, with Erasmus blooding new talent including history-making flyhalf Vusi Moyo. France look the strongest northern hemisphere contender, while scheduling and travel logistics have drawn sharp criticism from several coaches ahead of November's reverse fixtures.
Systems, depth, and a Junior double: Boks complete phase one with mission accomplished
Rich argues that phase one confirmed the Bok system now transcends personnel, with the Junior Championship win in Georgia reinforcing the same blueprint — and De Villiers' form, Moyo's debut, and a raft of others emerging giving Erasmus selection headaches ahead of the All Blacks series.
Nations Championship confirms Bok strength
SA Rugby Mag argues the Boks have been the Nations Championship's biggest beneficiaries so far, with Erasmus's depth-building strategy showing tangible early returns.
Springboks top Nations Championship standings despite Erasmus prioritising depth over silverware
South Africa have finished the opening phase of the Nations Championship as the top-ranked side with a perfect 15 points and a points difference of +81, despite Rassie Erasmus publicly stating the tournament was not a priority. The Boks averaged 43 points and seven tries across July victories over England, Scotland and Wales while fielding 43 players, more than any other competing nation.
Nations Championship confirms the depth-building is working
The opening half of the Nations Championship has done more than produce results — it's vindicated Erasmus's depth-first squad philosophy, with the Boks emerging as the competition's biggest winners so far.
KLA: No room to relax ahead of the Rugby Championship
Arendse speaks to the Bok squad's focus and motivation heading into the All Blacks series — the linked piece covers his mindset and what's driving the group.
Wessels thriving in Bok dual-role — and the coaching setup is the reason why
Wessels explains the structured coaching approach behind his loosehead/hooker dual role — and why that versatility makes him one of the Boks' most useful squad assets off the bench.
Pumas remain unbeaten as Griquas and Griffons claim wins in WSL2
The Pumas remain the only unbeaten team in WSL2 after a 44-22 win over Leopards, while Griquas hammered Limpopo 73-15 and Griffons edged Valke 34-33 in a dramatic finish in Kempton Park.
Erasmus satisfied as Boks 'fix' second-quarter problem in 43-0 Wales whitewash
Rassie Erasmus says the Springboks have corrected their second-quarter concentration problems after a dominant 43-0 Nations Championship victory over Wales at Kings Park, with four players making their Test debuts in the process.
Mallett slams TMO culture as 'a blight on rugby' after Junior Bok tries chalked off
Mallett argues TMOs have gone from a last-resort tool to a try-hunting exercise that kills game flow — using the Junior World Championship final as exhibit A.
Cheetahs edge Lions 29-27 in Currie Cup thriller as Finca hat-trick goes in vain
The Cheetahs beat the Lions 29-27 at Toyota Stadium in a Currie Cup opener that produced eight tries and lead changes throughout, with debutant Lions centre Likhona Finca's hat-trick ultimately not enough as a last-gasp Rabz Maxwane knock-on ended the Lions' comeback bid.
All Blacks close gap on Springboks in updated World Rankings
South Africa remain top of the World Rugby Rankings but their lead over New Zealand has shrunk to 1.68 points after the Springboks earned no points from their 43-0 win over Wales while the All Blacks gained 1.24 for beating Ireland.
Nations Championship Team of the Week: Paul de Villiers and Jaco Williams headline Bok presence
Planet Rugby's Round 3 Team of the Week features three Springbok starters — Jaco Williams, Jesse Kriel, and Paul de Villiers — with several more earning runner-up recognition, as the piece frames July as a breakthrough month for the new-look Bok pack.
Pollard hamstring blow offset by Feinberg-Mngomezulu return for Argentina
Handré Pollard has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, but Rassie Erasmus confirmed that Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will rejoin the Springboks squad for next month's clash against Argentina in Buenos Aires. The 22-year-old has recovered from surgery following an injury sustained in late May. Pollard's absence forced the coaching staff to hand Vusi Moyo a surprise start against Wales in Durban.
Why Foote stuck with Felix over cleared Giliomee for the JWC Final
Foote explains why he left Giliomee out of the JWC Final even after his red card was rescinded — squad stability trumped selection, and Felix delivered. Foote also reflects on the tournament's recurring pressure moments and what the leadership group's composure signals about this generation.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu cleared for Argentina trip as Pollard hamstring injury explained Moyo call against Wales
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will travel with the Springboks to Argentina after recovering from surgery, while Rassie Erasmus confirmed Handré Pollard missed the Wales Test with a hamstring injury — circumstances that led to Vusi Moyo's debut in the 43-0 win.
Nations Championship done — now Erasmus faces his real selection headache
The Nations Championship was the easy part. This piece breaks down the selection puzzle Erasmus now faces ahead of the All Blacks series — who's locked in, who needs to prove fitness in Buenos Aires, and how Paul de Villiers has complicated the Kolisi question.
Wales nilled again as Springboks run in seven tries in Durban
South Africa beat Wales 43-0 in Durban — the second time in eight months the Springboks have nilled the Welsh — with seven different players crossing the try line as Wales struggled to make any impression on attack or defence.