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Vermeulen backs inexperienced Bok squad to deliver against Scotland at Loftus
Mobi-unit coach Duane Vermeulen has backed the Springbok squad's energy and talent ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship Test against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld, while warning that Scotland — fresh from wins over England, France and Argentina — arrive with a well-structured game plan and strong defence.
Libbok silences critics with a complete Ellis Park performance
Libbok's complete performance against England — solid kicking game, sharp passing, strong defence — is the centrepiece of Louw's argument that his critics are clinging to isolated moments while ignoring the bigger picture: as Bok attack becomes a core identity, his game-shaping ability makes him exactly the flyhalf this team needs.
Siyaya says SA A call-up tested and shaped him despite early injury exit
Sharks fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya says his South Africa A debut against Zimbabwe — cut short by a first-half injury — was a defining experience, testing his adaptability and reinforcing his Springbok ambitions.
Nations Championship Round 2: Borthwick on the brink as France eye full strength return
Rich identifies Borthwick, Galthié, and Schmidt as the coaches under real heat in Round 2, while Erasmus has the luxury of managing his squad after last week's comprehensive win. The piece also flags Scotland at Loftus as a meaningful preview of what the All Blacks will attempt in next month's Greatest Rivalry Series.
Swys takes the Esterhuizen hybrid blueprint into the Bok Women's set-up
Swys de Bruin is rolling out Rassie's hybrid-player concept in the Bok Women's environment, with Aphiwe Ngwevu — back from a career scare — the first test case. After a standout performance against the USA, she's now a loose forward option as well as a centre, and the piece charts both the tactical thinking and Ngwevu's personal resurgence.
Junior Boks face England in World Championship semi-final after dismantling Wales
The Junior Springboks meet England in the World Championship semi-final on Monday after beating Wales 52-33 to top Pool A, with France facing New Zealand in the other last-four tie.
Tindall and Haskell: England's defensive carousel is the root of the problem — and Shaun Edwards is the obvious fix
Tindall and Haskell dissect England's defensive collapse — four coaches in two years, ballooning points conceded, and a clear fix being ignored in Shaun Edwards. The broader argument is about world-class pedigree vs. potential, and whether Borthwick's setup has enough of the former.
Goode: Borthwick's England is a 'sterile' camp where players don't want to be
Goode claims England's camp is a joyless, over-controlled environment under Borthwick — and that coaches like Blackett are being neutered rather than unleashed. He argues England were fortunate to keep the Johannesburg defeat to 24 points, and that the problems are structural, not fixable with a single improved performance.
Roos vs Hanekom vs the system: why Saturday is a defining moment for Evan at No 8
Vermeulen rates Roos highly but flags ball retention and discipline as the gaps between his Stormers dominance and true test-match readiness — Rich argues Saturday against Scotland is the moment Roos needs to close those gaps with Hanekom pressing hard and the 2027 World Cup squad taking shape.
Hansen unconvinced the Boks have truly changed their stripes
Hansen argues the Boks' attacking evolution under Brown is surface-level — that when it counts, Erasmus's side will fall back on their traditional strengths. The piece unpacks his reasoning and the broader debate around how fundamentally South Africa's game has actually changed.
Junior Boks book England semifinal after fighting back from 14-0 down to beat Wales
The Junior Springboks overcame a 14-0 deficit to beat Wales 52-33 and top Pool A with three bonus-point wins, setting up a Junior World Championship semifinal against England in Tbilisi on 13 July.
SARU's ticket smoke and mirrors: The questions they won't answer
De Koning dissects SARU's Ellis Park spin — challenging their attendance figures, the unexplained mid-week price cuts, undisclosed free-ticket numbers, and the ongoing Loftus suite-holder revolt — and argues SARU need to publicly own a clear miscalculation of demand for Nations Championship Tests before the situation turns legal.
Mchunu's Stormers move turned potential into a Bok recall
Mchunu's move to the Stormers produced the best season of his career — elite URC numbers across carrying, defending and tries — and the piece breaks down exactly why those performances made his Bok recall inevitable.
Hansen: The Boks don't actually want to play fast — and everyone knows how to beat them, but can't
Hansen dismisses the 'new attacking Boks' narrative, arguing South Africa still win through kicking and physicality — and outlines exactly how opponents need to frustrate them to have any chance.
Junior Boks top Pool A but flag defensive frailties after 52-33 win over Wales
The Junior Springboks topped Pool A at the JWC with a 52-33 win over Wales in Tbilisi, scoring eight tries to five, but defensive lapses and basic errors will need addressing before their semi-final on Monday.
Vermeulen challenges Roos to shed Stormers flair for Bok structure against Scotland
Evan Roos will start at No.8 against Scotland on Saturday, with Springbok Mobi-Unit coach Duane Vermeulen urging the 26-year-old to adapt from the Stormers' expansive style to the structure demanded at Test level. Vermeulen praised Roos' physical tools and energy but emphasised the need for precision in a faster, more intense international environment. The former Bok No.8 revealed coaching staff have worked extensively on Roos' soft skills to complement his gainline threat.
Vermeulen unpacks what Evan Roos needs to crack Test rugby
Vermeulen says the Bok coaching staff have invested heavily in refining Roos's soft skills to bridge the URC-to-Test gap — but with a start against Scotland, the ball is now firmly in Roos's court.
Vermeulen sees Scotland clash as Roos's moment of truth
Vermeulen backs Roos to use the Scotland Nations Championship fixture as a platform to cement his Springbok credentials.
Erasmus calls World Rugby's law enforcement a game-changer after Nations Championship opener
Erasmus breaks down why the Nations Championship's opening round produced beautiful rugby — arguing that tighter enforcement of maul, kick-contest, and scrum laws is structurally reshaping how the game is played, not just how it looks.
Junior Boks book semi-final date with England after grinding past Wales
The Junior Springboks recovered from a 14-0 deficit to beat Wales 52-33 in Tbilisi, finishing top of Pool A with a perfect record and setting up a Junior World Championship semi-final against England on 13 July.