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1,119 items · Springboks
George finds silver linings after England's 45-21 hiding in Johannesburg
George argues England's 45-21 loss was closer than the scoreline suggests, pointing to a strong 10-to-40-minute spell that had the Springboks under real pressure — but indiscipline and an inability to sustain their own game plan ultimately cost them.
Kolbe marks 50th cap with try and 15 points in Nations Championship rout
Cheslin Kolbe reached the half-century milestone for the Springboks in style, scoring a try and converting five kicks as South Africa opened their Nations Championship campaign with a 45-21 victory over England at Ellis Park. The wing, who earned his 50th cap alongside Damian Willemse, paid tribute to head coach Rassie Erasmus for reviving his Test career in 2018. England, meanwhile, extended their winless run to five matches as discipline and aerial contests proved costly.
Kolbe reaches 50 caps in style as Boks down England 45-21
Cheslin Kolbe celebrated his 50th Test cap with a try and five conversions in the Springboks' 45-21 Nations Championship win over England, with Damian Willemse also reaching the milestone in the same match.
Borthwick pinpoints aerial battle and discipline as England's key failings in Ellis Park rout
Borthwick pointed to the aerial contest and a pair of late yellow cards as the decisive factors in England's heavy loss at Ellis Park, but a 10-yellow-card tally for the calendar year and a second-half collapse suggest deeper structural problems for an England side that briefly threatened before being blown away.
Erasmus admits Australia flashbacks as Boks survive England fightback at Ellis Park
Rassie Erasmus conceded memories of last year's collapse against Australia surfaced when England cut the Springboks' 17-0 lead to 17-14 at half-time in Johannesburg. The world champions ultimately prevailed 45-21 in their Nations Championship opener, despite losing Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth before kick-off.
England hammered at Ellis Park — and Borthwick's excuses are running out
A forensic post-mortem on England's Ellis Park thrashing — Borthwick's discipline crisis laid bare, Erasmus's halftime reset explained, and the uncomfortable reality that a depleted Bok side didn't need to come close to full power to blow England away.
Erasmus admits Australia flashbacks at half-time as Boks' system absorbs Kolisi and Etzebeth withdrawals
Rassie Erasmus revealed that Australia flashbacks surfaced at half-time when England closed the gap to 17-14, before the Boks ran out 45-21 winners in their Nations Championship opener, with Kolisi and Etzebeth absences handled by a system Erasmus says is being deliberately stress-tested ahead of the World Cup.
Kolbe marks 50th cap with try and five conversions in England rout
Cheslin Kolbe celebrated his 50th Test appearance with a spectacular first-half try and five conversions as the Springboks defeated England 45-21 at Ellis Park on Saturday. The winger reflected on overcoming early doubts about his size and credited coaches and teammates for believing in him throughout his international career.
Kolbe reaches 50-cap milestone with try and five conversions in England demolition
Cheslin Kolbe scored a try and kicked five conversions on his 50th Test appearance as South Africa beat England 45-21 at Ellis Park, with the winger reflecting on a milestone he once considered beyond reach.
Van Graan flags Russell as a genuine Loftus threat
Van Graan has publicly flagged Finn Russell as a danger man for the Springboks at Loftus on Saturday, contingent on his fitness — the linked piece has the detail.
The Ruck: Springboks 'running the game on and off the pitch' as England obliterated at Ellis Park
The Ruck panel, reporting from Ellis Park, argued that England were overwhelmed in every department by a Springbok side missing six or seven key forwards — and that Rassie Erasmus's squad depth is now the most ominous thing in world rugby ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
Nche knee injury likely rules him out of Scotland test; Etzebeth, Kolisi, Esterhuizen all in doubt
Ox Nche is likely to miss the Scotland test at Loftus after injuring his knee against England, with Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and André Esterhuizen also facing fitness assessments ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship match.
Nché knee injury 'does not look good' as Springboks manage four-player injury list ahead of Scotland
Ox Nché faces a potentially serious knee injury after lasting just eight minutes against England, with Rassie Erasmus admitting the outlook 'does not look good' ahead of Scotland's visit to Pretoria. Kolisi, Etzebeth and Esterhuizen are also carrying injury concerns from the 45-21 victory at Ellis Park.
Ellis Park flashbacks fuel Springbok comeback in 45-21 Nations Championship win over England
The Springboks beat England 45-21 in their Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park, overcoming the eve-of-match withdrawals of Kolisi and Etzebecht with a second-half surge inspired, in part, by memories of last year's collapse at the same venue.
45-21 flattered England, and Willemse was the best player on the park by a distance
A five-point breakdown of South Africa's 45-21 win over England — arguing the margin flattered the visitors, that England's discipline crisis is now the dominant story of the Borthwick era, and that Willemse's flawless 50th cap was the individual performance of the Nations Championship's opening weekend.
Happy accidents and depth on show — but Ox's knee clouds Bok horizon
Two late injury callups accidentally handed Erasmus the squad audition he'd been searching for — but Nche's knee could be a costly subplot heading into the Greatest Rivalry Series.
Springboks dismantle England 45-21 in Nations Championship statement at Ellis Park
South Africa delivered a commanding performance to open their Nations Championship campaign, overwhelming England 45-21 at Ellis Park despite trailing 17-14 at half-time. The world champions ran in seven tries on a memorable Highveld evening, with Damian Willemse earning player-of-the-match honours in his 50th Test. England's fifth consecutive defeat was compounded by late discipline issues that saw them reduced to 13 men.
Player ratings: England's 45-21 collapse dissected — midfield failure, forward overload, Borthwick in the dock
Planet Rugby's Ellis Park player ratings frame England's 45-21 loss as a structural failure as much as a performance one — conservative tactics, a broken midfield, and a bench that couldn't shift momentum are the recurring verdicts across the squad.
45-21 flattered England, Willemse was robbed of MotM, and the Bok machine didn't skip a beat without Kolisi and Etzebeth
South Africa's 45-21 win flattered England, whose discipline crisis compounded a quality gap — while Willemse was arguably robbed of MotM and the Bok system absorbed losing both Kolisi and Etzebeth without missing a beat.
Boks open Nations Championship with 45-21 demolition of England at Ellis Park
South Africa beat England 45-21 at Ellis Park to open their Nations Championship campaign, running in seven tries despite a shaky second quarter in which England reduced the deficit from 17-0 to 17-14. Damian Willemse was the standout, with debutant loosehead Paul de Villiers and Cameron Hanekom both impressing in the absence of Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth.