Every story on the wire.
1,641 items
Erasmus set to break Springbok coaching record as Boks prepare for Scotland test
Pieter-Steph du Toit and Mzwandile Stick have praised Rassie Erasmus ahead of his record-breaking 55th Test as Springbok head coach, while warning that a fifth-ranked Scotland side — led by Finn Russell and an experienced matchday squad — will pose a stern challenge at Loftus on Saturday.
Mallett names the Boks under the microscope against Scotland
Mallett breaks down why Saturday's Scotland test is a watershed moment for Pollard, Papier, Evan Roos, and Cobus Wiese — with pointed analysis on Roos's concentration lapses and whether the forward pack has the mobility to handle Scotland's style.
Ngxingolo at 44 caps: impact over ego in the 'Blom Squad'
Ngxingolo reaches 44 Bok Women's caps on Saturday, but the milestone takes a back seat to her evolved role as a high-impact finisher off the bench — and she wouldn't have it any other way.
Unbeaten records and title ambitions on the line in WSL 2 Round 2
Round 2 of the Pick n Pay Women's Super League 2 features three matches on Saturday, with SWD Eagirls hosting the Leopards in the pick of the fixtures, the Griffons opening their campaign against defending champions the Pumas in Welkom, and Limpopo Blue Bulls facing Valke in a first-win decider in Polokwane.
Matfield singles out De Allende and Wiese as rugby's most overlooked match-winners
Matfield makes a strong case on the Rivals podcast that De Allende, Willemse, and Wiese are all underappreciated on the world stage — and touches on how the Libbok/Pollard selection shapes the Boks' attacking identity.
World Rugby concede Arendse yellow card was wrong — but Owens wants the law tightened
World Rugby have conceded the Arendse yellow card against England was wrong — Nigel Owens breaks down the deliberate knock-on law, explains why the TMO shouldn't have intervened, and calls for clearer officiating guidelines to close the grey area.
Stick dismisses B-team label ahead of Loftus clash with Scotland
Mzwandile Stick has rejected the B-team characterisation of the Springbok side set to face Scotland at Loftus on Saturday, despite a combined cap count 347 lower than last week's England Test, and warned that Scotland — fresh from beating Argentina away — will be a tougher proposition than the English.
'By a mile': Du Toit and Stick on what makes Erasmus truly special
As Erasmus reaches 55 Tests in charge, Du Toit and Stick explain why his legacy has less to do with back-to-back World Cups and more to do with the culture he's built — one defined by humility, trust, and a complete absence of ego.
Ngxingolo set to become Springbok Women's second most capped prop at Loftus
Yonela Ngxingolo will earn her record 44th Test cap as a prop off the bench when the Springbok Women host the USA Eagles at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, with Babalwa Latsha captaining the starting side.
Du Toit hails Rassie as Springboks' most-capped head coach
Springbok captain Pieter-Steph du Toit has paid tribute to Rassie Erasmus on the occasion of the coach becoming the Springboks' most-capped head coach, saying the record is fitting for someone so deeply invested in the team.
Erasmus to break Springbok coaching record against Scotland at Loftus
Rassie Erasmus breaks Jake White's record of 54 Tests as Springbok head coach when he leads the team against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, with SARU's leadership hailing him as the greatest coach in Springbok history. His overall win ratio of 75.93% across two stints rises to 85.7% since resuming the head coaching role in 2024.
Matfield: De Allende the most underrated player in world rugby, Wiese now among the best
Matfield singles out De Allende, Willemse and Wiese as the standout performers from the England demolition — making the case that at least two of them remain chronically undervalued by the wider rugby world.
Van der Merwe eyes dual milestones as Erasmus demands fast start against Scotland
Edwill van der Merwe will make his first Springbok appearance at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday when South Africa face Scotland in the Nations Championship. The Sharks wing, who returns after almost a year out through injury, has scored five tries in five Tests and will come up against former Stellenbosch University teammate Kyle Steyn. Coach Rassie Erasmus has called for another high-intensity start after the Springboks raced into a 17-0 lead against England last week.
Erasmus demands fast start as Scotland bring real threat to Loftus
Erasmus wants the Boks to replicate the high-intensity fast start that dismantled England, warning that Scotland's 47-38 win over Argentina makes them a genuine threat at Loftus. Townsend, meanwhile, argues the Boks' rotation model maintains continuity — and his side fancy their chances of providing a real test.
BOD keeps poking at the Nienaber defensive puzzle
O'Driscoll argues that Nienaber's Leinster defensive system is disrupting Ireland players when they transition to national duty — a pointed critique of the Boks' former defence coach and how his structures travel across rugby contexts.
Van der Merwe chasing two firsts as Scotland arrive at Loftus
Edwill van der Merwe faces Scotland at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday seeking his first cap at the venue and his first Test against Scotland, returning from nearly a year out injured with five tries already to his name from five appearances.
Springbok Women chase series win at Loftus — teams and prediction
The Bok Women chase a historic first series win over the USA at Loftus on Saturday, with De Bruin's near-unchanged side targeting a complete 80-minute performance after leaking three late tries in the 34-21 Ellis Park opener. Full team sheets, key matchup analysis and a 12-point home prediction inside.
White: Scotland have the tools to trouble the Boks
White flags Scotland as a genuine Bok threat and makes the case that scrumhalf quality is now a primary Test differentiator — worth reading for the north-south gap analysis.
Rennie weighing Savea workload ahead of Springbok Tests
Dave Rennie says Ardie Savea may not start New Zealand's provincial warm-up matches in South Africa in August, with the All Blacks managing their captain's workload ahead of four Tests against the Springboks.
Springboks face rankings threat as Scotland clash looms in Pretoria
South Africa's grip on the world number one ranking could slip this weekend if they lose to Scotland by more than 15 points in Pretoria, provided New Zealand beat Italy. The Springboks can gain a maximum of 0.03 rating points with victory due to the 9.83-point differential between the sides.