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Rankings permutations: How Scotland could reach a new high and what South Africa must avoid
World Rugby's Round Two ranking permutations show South Africa's top spot is safe barring a 15-point loss to Scotland, while a Springbok defeat combined with an All Blacks win over Italy would hand New Zealand first place. Scotland could reach a new high of fourth with a win in Pretoria and a France loss in Brisbane.
Boks can lose top spot this weekend — here's how the rankings could shift
South Africa hold top spot going into the weekend but could lose it to New Zealand if they're beaten by Scotland by more than 15 points. Several other top-10 shake-ups are also in play across the Nations Championship and Nations Cup fixtures.
Townsend's Scotland eye fast start to unsettle Springbok pack at Loftus
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend considered deploying a seven-one bench split against the Springboks but ultimately opted for a more conventional selection. The visitors will look to replicate their early-scoring tactics from Six Nations victories over England and France when they face South Africa at Loftis Versfeld on Saturday. The Scots' game plan centres on quick ruck ball and a wide attacking game designed to exploit the Springbok pack's reduced mobility in the opening exchanges.
Scotland will come for an early lead at Loftus — the Boks need to weather it
The key risk at Loftus isn't Scotland's overall quality — it's their habit of seizing momentum through fast starts. Rich argues that if the Boks concede the first quarter, the bench-oriented selection leaves them exposed; but Scotland's historically poor record in South Africa and the Bulls pack's recent URC dominance suggest the Boks should grind them down once the initial storm passes.
Scotland at Loftus: Why Keohane thinks the bookies have it wrong
Keohane argues South Africa is underestimating Scotland, dismisses the 20-point handicap as too generous, and predicts a margin closer to 10 — backed by detailed analysis of the Schoeman, Steyn and Russell threats and the intelligence the Bulls' URC/Champions Cup clashes with Glasgow have already provided the Bok camp.
One loss lingers long when you almost never lose
Rich unpacks the psychology of following an era-dominant Bok team — where a single loss haunts the press box even during a comfortable win — and argues Erasmus's mass rotation for Scotland was always the plan, not a gamble. He also flags the All Blacks' tactical shift and makes a sharp point about getting Ellis Park ticket prices right from the outset.
SAIDS conducts drug testing at U18 Craven Week in Gqeberha
SAIDS confirms drug testing is taking place at the U18 Craven Week in Gqeberha.
Erasmus breaks coaching record as a rotated Bok side faces a dangerous Scotland
Erasmus breaks the SA coaching caps record with a rotated side against a Scotland team carrying serious momentum — Rugby365 previews the teams, key duels and calls the Boks by 12.
Smit refuses to rule out Nienaber return to Springbok set-up
Former Springbok captain John Smit has suggested Jacques Nienaber could yet rejoin Rassie Erasmus' coaching staff, despite the defence specialist's current role at Leinster. Smit dismissed conspiracy theories about Nienaber acting as a spy but acknowledged the pair's long-standing partnership makes a reunion plausible.
Smit won't rule out a Nienaber return to the Bok setup
John Smit says a Nienaber-Erasmus coaching reunion shouldn't be dismissed — the piece explores why he sees it as a realistic prospect.
Pollard and Papier use Scotland test to silence critics and stake World Cup claims
Pollard and Papier both carry something to prove against Scotland — Pollard to silence social-media critics after a rocky URC stretch, Papier to cement a World Cup squad case after a six-year Springbok absence. The piece also notes Erasmus's record 55th cap as head coach and Scotland's cautious optimism with Russell back.
Russell's back, Scotland will target a fast start — but history says it'll backfire
Rich's preview argues Scotland's fast-start gameplan — built around a fit-again Russell and quick ball wide — is their best and perhaps only path to an upset, but that the highveld, a dominant Bok pack, and Scotland's winless record in South Africa all point to the home side winning comfortably once the game settles.
Venter and Louw relish familiar faces as scrum battle looms at Loftus
Boan Venter and Wilco Louw are set to face former Edinburgh teammate Pierre Schoeman in a front-row battle loaded with familiarity at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, with both Bok props and assistant coach Duane Vermeulen flagging the Scottish scrum — shaped by coach Pieter de Villiers — as a serious test.
Bulls' Glasgow battles hand Springboks crucial Scotland blueprint ahead of Loftus clash
The Springboks enter Sunday's Nations Championship fixture against Scotland armed with detailed intelligence gleaned from the Bulls' recent URC encounters with Glasgow Warriors. With 19 Glasgow players in Gregor Townsend's squad, South Africa's Bulls contingent believe their semifinal meeting earlier this year offers valuable insight into how the visitors will attack at Loftus Versfeld. Scotland arrive in Pretoria having scored 47 points against Argentina in round one.
Scotland are no longer underdogs — and the Boks know it
Keohane makes the case that Scotland, far from being soft opposition, represent the Boks' toughest July fixture — backed by recent form, a dangerous attack led by Finn Russell, and South African-born players who know how to hurt the Springboks.
Townsend nearly went 7-1 against the Boks — and still might hurt them off the bench
Townsend flirted with a 7-1 bench split against the Boks before stepping back — but Scotland's replacements are still framed as a key threat in Saturday's Test.
Erasmus breaks all-time Springbok coaching record with 55th test in charge
Rassie Erasmus becomes the most capped Springbok head coach in history when he takes charge for the 55th time against Scotland in Pretoria on Saturday, surpassing Jake White's record of 54 tests. His win rate of 75.93% across two spells dwarfs the 62.5% he inherited, rising to 85.7% since his return as head coach.
Erasmus becomes most-capped Springbok coach in 133-year history
Rassie Erasmus will surpass Jake White's record of 54 Tests as head coach when the Springboks face Scotland on Saturday, reaching 55 matches across two spells in charge. The milestone caps a transformative tenure that has delivered two Rugby World Cup titles and reshaped South African rugby's cultural footprint. SARU president Mark Alexander hailed Erasmus for galvanising the nation and turning Test matches into celebrations of unity across all demographics.
Junior Bok coaches host Georgia coaching seminar ahead of England semifinal
Junior Springbok assistant coaches Barend Pieterse and Lumumba Currie hosted a coaching seminar for Georgian coaches in Tbilisi on Thursday, focusing on set-piece fundamentals, before the team turns its attention to Monday's Junior World Championship semifinal against England, which will be refereed by France's Kevin Bralley.
WP XV complete second-half comeback to beat Lions as Bulls, Pumas and Griffons also win at Craven Week
WP XV came from 14-0 down to beat the Golden Lions 43-33 on day four of the FNB U18 Craven Week in Gqeberha, with hat-trick winger Thomas Saunders starring. The Bulls (59-19), Pumas (54-14) and Griffons (29-12) also won convincingly.