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Stormers march into URC semi-finals but Feinberg-Mngomezulu injury casts shadow over Cardiff rout
The DHL Stormers secured a commanding 44-21 quarter-final victory over Cardiff at DHL Stadium to reach their first URC semi-final since 2023, but celebrations were tempered by a concerning injury to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. The Springbok pivot left the ground on crutches after being tackled whilst scoring a second-half try. Set-piece dominance proved decisive as the hosts ran in six tries, with prop Ntuthuko Mchunu earning man-of-the-match honours for his scrummaging prowess.
Willemse and De Villiers lead Stormers to 44-21 URC quarter-final win over Cardiff, but Feinberg-Mngomezulu limps off
Damian Willemse and Paul de Villiers were the standout performers as the Stormers beat Cardiff 44-21 in their URC quarter-final in Cape Town, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's second-half injury the main concern from an otherwise commanding display.
Stormers grind Cardiff out but SFM injury clouds semi-final outlook
The Stormers' set-piece machine dismantled Cardiff's dark-horse run, but wasteful finishing and a Feinberg-Mngomezulu ankle scare are the notes that linger heading into the last four.
Stormers advance to URC semi-finals but Feinberg-Mngomezulu leaves on crutches
The Stormers beat Cardiff 44-21 to reach the URC semi-finals, but face a nervous wait on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu after the flyhalf left the field on crutches following a second-half try-scoring injury.
Bulls dismantle Munster 45-14: Bok depth the difference, Hanekom emerges as Kwagga cover
The Bulls' 45-14 URC quarter-final win over Munster is dissected across five takeaways — Bok depth as the decisive factor, Hanekom's emergence as Kwagga cover, and a frank assessment of Munster's structural decline and McMillan's precarious position.
Bulls dismantle Munster 45-14: Bok depth tells, Hanekom stakes Bomb Squad claim
A detailed breakdown of the Bulls' dominant 45-14 win, analysing why Bok-laden depth made Munster irrelevant, and why Hanekom is now in the frame to replace Kwagga Smith in the Bomb Squad.
Hanekom and Grobbelaar lead Bulls' destruction of Munster in URC quarter-final
Planet Rugby's quarter-final ratings highlight Cameron Hanekom as the standout performer in the Bulls' 45-14 win over Munster, with the piece arguing his one Test cap is a clear anomaly. Grobbelaar, Papier, and a dominant front row also rated highly, though bench impact in attack is flagged as a concern for the Glasgow semi-final.
Blitzboks through to quarter-finals despite pool-stage loss to Australia
The Blitzboks qualified for the quarter-finals as Pool A runners-up despite a defeat to Australia in their final pool-stage fixture.
Blitzboks fall to Australia in Valladolid pool finale
The Blitzboks lost 24-14 to Australia in their final pool match at the HSBC World Championship in Valladolid, and will face Spain in the quarterfinals. The Springbok Women were also beaten, 17-14 by Fiji, and face Argentina in the ninth-place semifinal.
Blitzboks beat Kenya 14-0 to set up Australia pool decider in Valladolid
The Blitzboks beat Kenya 14-0 in Valladolid to advance with a perfect pool record, and now face Australia in a pool decider on Saturday. Tries from Shilton van Wyk and Sebastian Jobb — the latter set up by a Selvyn Davids kick pass — settled a physical contest. The Springbok Women's Sevens have lost both pool matches, 26-12 each time.
Blitzboks sweep Kenya 14-0 to set up Australia pool decider in Valladolid
The Blitzboks beat Kenya 14-0 in Valladolid to remain unbeaten at the HSBC World Championship, and will meet Australia in a pool decider on Saturday at 13h23. The Springbok Women's Sevens have lost their opening two matches, both 26-12.
Dobson's best problem: too many world-class tightheads
Dobson maps out the Stormers' tighthead selection headache for next season — Louw's return means four Test-level props competing for two spots, and keeping Sazi Sandi engaged while Springboks dominate the rotation is the kind of problem that's genuinely hard to solve.
Blitzboks set up Australia pool decider after shutting out Kenya in Valladolid
The Blitzboks beat Kenya 14-0 in Valladolid to set up a pool decider against Australia on Saturday, with tries from Shilton van Wyk and Sebastian Jobb doing the damage. The Springbok Women's Sevens have lost both their opening matches, 26-12 to Australia and 26-12 to the USA.
Kitshoff and Nyakane back Janse van Rensburg's England switch
Kitshoff and Nyakane back Janse van Rensburg's England call-up, drawing parallels with Steyn's Scotland switch and arguing that chasing top-level rugby wherever the opportunity comes is the right call — even as the door quietly closes on a Bok future.
Blitzboks survive extra-time scare to edge Great Britain in Valladolid opener
Tristan Lleyds scored a golden try in extra time as the Blitzboks edged Great Britain 17-12 in their HSBC World Championship opener in Valladolid, after a Ricardo Duarttee collision with the post allowed Britain to level on the stroke of full time.
Jake White wants SA Rugby to bring back the overseas selection ban
Jake White is calling for SA Rugby to reinstate overseas selection restrictions, arguing the current policy has enriched the Springboks while leaving franchises structurally unable to compete in the Champions Cup against far wealthier European clubs.
Eight names Erasmus could turn to after Kwagga's knee blow
With Kwagga Smith out for six months, the piece profiles eight Bomb Squad candidates — from Esterhuizen's expanding hybrid role to the Lions contingent of Mahashe, Du Plessis and Horn — assessing who has the tools to fill the void ahead of a Rugby World Cup year.
O'Keeffe breaks silence on the scrum call that broke England's World Cup
O'Keeffe says a knee on the ground gave him a 'clear picture' for the scrum penalty that sent the Boks to the 2023 final — his first detailed public account of the call, set against Genge's still-raw version of events.
England pundits back Itoje rest — and see Springboks test as the perfect squad audit
Three former England players argue Itoje's cumulative captaincy load — Lions, England, Saracens — makes this summer the only viable rest window before the World Cup, while framing the Springboks test at Ellis Park as a valuable squad-depth audit rather than a match England must win.
Why BJvR fills a gap England's other centres can't
Ben Youngs argues BJvR is the only England centre option who combines genuine physicality with the distribution demanded by Test rugby — running through Dingwall, Ojomoh, and Lawrence to show why each falls short on at least one count.