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2,991 items · Springboks
Erasmus holds no grudges over Brown's All Blacks move, eyes replacements
Rassie Erasmus says the Springboks have replacement candidates in mind for Tony Brown after New Zealand Rugby confirmed the attack coach will join the All Blacks setup post-2027 Rugby World Cup, while SA Rugby moves to finalise the rest of the coaching staff's contracts before year's end.
Pollard backs himself to fire in Dublin despite semifinal kicking horror show
Pollard plays down his semifinal kicking meltdown, explains his rhythm-based reset process, and outlines why the Bulls believe their season-long resilience gives them a genuine shot at finally winning the URC title against Leinster in Dublin.
Brown's legacy is a Bok team he helped make harder to beat — including for himself
Gavin Rich argues Brown's exit was always baked in, and the real story is that he leaves behind a Bok team he's made genuinely harder to beat — even for himself. Rich also clears the injury fog around the Bok squad and makes a pointed case that the Bulls' URC final chances hinge entirely on whether they can replicate the Stormers' defensive aggression against Leinster.
Pollard backs Bulls' battle-hardened character ahead of URC final
Handré Pollard believes the Vodacom Bulls' ability to fight back from adversity will be their greatest asset when they face Leinster in the United Rugby Championship final in Dublin on 19 June. The fly-half pointed to the side's 22-21 semi-final comeback from 21-3 down against Glasgow Warriors as evidence of a squad that has forged resilience through a difficult campaign. Head coach Johan Ackermann, however, has warned that improved discipline will be essential if the Bulls are to claim a first URC title after three previous final defeats.
Pollard: The Bulls' resilience this season is their greatest final weapon
Pollard argues the Bulls' repeated comeback ability this season — tested early by a coaching change and a rough patch — is their most valuable asset heading into a Croke Park rematch with Leinster. He rates Gibson-Park's kicking game off nine as the standout threat, but insists self-execution in the opening 20 minutes is the real priority.
Ackermann flags discipline as the Bulls' biggest threat heading into Croke Park
Ackermann identifies discipline — specifically cheap yellow cards — as the critical variable for the Bulls in the URC final, warning that handing Leinster an early lead is a near-unrecoverable position. Full squad availability confirmed.
Justin Marshall surprised by Tony Brown's decision to leave Springboks for All Blacks
Former New Zealand scrum-half Justin Marshall has expressed surprise at Tony Brown's decision to join the All Blacks coaching staff from 2028, saying he believed the attack coach was happy in his role with the Springboks. Brown, who has overseen a marked improvement in South Africa's attacking play since joining in 2024, will depart after the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Marshall can't believe Brown walked away from the Boks
Justin Marshall says he was surprised Brown chose to leave the Boks — the piece unpacks the reaction and what it signals for Bok coaching continuity.
Marshall: Brown's Bok exit surprised me precisely because he loves working with Erasmus
Marshall's surprise at Brown leaving the Boks isn't about the destination — it's about what Brown told him: that Erasmus gives coaches rare autonomy and a genuinely healthy environment. That candid insight into Erasmus's management style is the real story here.
NZ Rugby CEO: Tony Brown 'really clear' on assistant coach role as All Blacks lock in Springbok attack guru
NZ Rugby CEO Steve Lancaster says Tony Brown is 'really clear' on joining the All Blacks as an assistant coach after the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with the organisation confident any future head coach will want the Springboks attack guru in their setup.
Willemse on the France quarter-final scrum call, scanning, and what drives him
Willemse breaks down the thinking behind the World Cup scrum call against France, his multi-position scanning approach, and what drives him to chase down Caleb Clark — all recorded on the eve of the Stormers' quarter-final against Leinster.
Kieran Read: Boks have what the All Blacks currently lack
Kieran Read argues the Springboks hold two advantages the current All Blacks lack: the accumulated belief that comes from surviving hard moments, and an unshakeable certainty about their identity and how they play the game.
Van Heerden called into Springbok squad as Moerat ruled out injured
Ruben van Heerden joins the Springbok squad in Johannesburg on Wednesday, replacing the injured Salmaan Moerat ahead of the 20 June clash against the Barbarians in Gqeberha.
Duhan van der Merwe, TJ Perenara among first Barbarians confirmed for Springbok clash
Duhan van der Merwe, TJ Perenara, Tomás Albano, Andrew Kellaway and Santiago Arata are among the players confirmed for the Barbarians' June 20 clash with the Springboks in Gqeberha, which opens South Africa's 2026 international season.
Erasmus welcomes Brown clarity, vows not to repeat 2023 contract mistake
Rassie Erasmus has welcomed the early confirmation of Tony Brown's post-2027 move to the All Blacks, saying SA Rugby is determined not to repeat the mistake of leaving coaching futures unresolved in a World Cup year — a situation that played out with Jacques Nienaber and Felix Jones before the 2023 tournament.
Eight candidates to fill Tony Brown's boots as Springbok attack coach
Planet Rugby profiles eight realistic candidates to succeed Tony Brown, arguing Erasmus has strong options but faces the usual tension between raiding local coaching stocks and competing for in-demand foreign names — with Franco Smith, Nick Evans, and a potential Nienaber return the most compelling threads.
Barbarians name Van der Merwe, Perenara and Kellaway for Springbok clash in Gqeberha
The Barbarians have named Duhan van der Merwe, TJ Perenara and Andrew Kellaway in their squad for the 20 June clash against the Springboks in Gqeberha, with Scotland trio Van der Merwe, D'Arcy Rae and Liam McConnell selected in agreement with Gregor Townsend ahead of Scotland's Nations Championship visit to Loftus on 11 July.
Lowe set to join Tokyo Sungoliath as Kolbe departure opens door
James Lowe is set to leave Leinster and join Tokyo Sungoliath, filling the void left by Cheslin Kolbe's departure from the Japanese club.
The Barbarians hit-out is a key cog in Rassie's World Cup machine
Nel makes the case that the Barbarians fixture is less about the result and more about Erasmus stress-testing depth, blooding uncapped talent, and keeping the World Cup-winning core fresh — all with 2027 firmly in mind.
Springboks host England at Ellis Park on 4 July in Nations Championship opener
South Africa host England at Ellis Park on 4 July at 17:40 local time in the first round of the inaugural Nations Championship, with James Doleman (NZR) as referee and SuperSport broadcasting in South Africa.