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Borthwick flags aerial game and discipline after England's fifth straight defeat
Steve Borthwick says England's 45-21 defeat in Johannesburg — their fifth loss in a row — highlighted ongoing problems with discipline and the aerial contest, with eight yellow cards now collected in five matches. George Furbank requires emergency surgery and misses the rest of the July window.
Furbank withdrawn from England squad hours before Ellis Park clash
George Furbank has been withdrawn from England's matchday squad ahead of their Nations Championship clash against South Africa at Ellis Park.
Ox Nche braced for Ellis Park scrum battle as England seek World Cup redemption
Springbok loosehead Ox Nche expects a fierce set-piece contest when England visit Ellis Park on Saturday for the Nations Championship opener. The visitors boasted the Six Nations' best scrum success rate and carry motivation from their 2023 World Cup semi-final defeat, with Ellis Genge describing that loss as an 'open wound'. Captain Siya Kolisi and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick dismissed suggestions the Springboks are outright favourites despite their world number one ranking.
England's Blackett-designed backline gets its biggest test yet against the Boks' blitz
Borthwick's team selection is dissected as a full commitment to Blackett's attack system, with each backline choice serving a specific structural purpose — and this weekend's clash with the Boks' blitz is framed as the system's defining early test.
Nations Championship: what Bok fans need to know
The Nations Championship launches 4 July with South Africa vs England as one of the marquee openers — the linked piece covers the format and structure of this new cross-hemisphere competition.
Nations Championship explained: Format, conferences and SA's July fixtures
The Nations Championship is a 12-team cross-hemisphere tournament contested across the July and November windows. South Africa open at home to England on 5 July, followed by Scotland at Loftus and Wales in Durban.
Tandy's warning is music to Springbok ears
Tandy's post-match honesty after Wales' narrow Barbarians win — nearly blowing a 16-point lead — sets the context for their Nations Championship block ending against the Boks in Durban on 18 July.
Koch scores but Barbarians fall short as Wales edge 33-31 thriller
Wales beat the Barbarians 33-31 in a ten-try Twickenham thriller, with Vincent Koch and a two-try George North among the Baabaas' scorers. Wales record back-to-back wins for the first time since the 2023 World Cup ahead of their Nations Championship campaign against Fiji, Argentina and the Springboks.
Marshall warns Rennie: don't put McKenzie or Beauden at 15 again
Marshall is fuming at the prospect of Rennie again deploying McKenzie or Beauden Barrett at full-back, calling it a failed experiment and proposing Jordie Barrett as the safer option — with Jordan's injury potentially lingering into the first Springbok Test, it's a spine problem that could define the series.
Nations Championship launches as rugby's most significant structural shift since professionalism
The Nations Championship, a SANZAAR-Six Nations joint venture featuring the world's 12 strongest teams, launches imminently with July's 'Super Saturdays' and a Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium in London in November — billed as the sport's biggest structural development since professionalism.
Lake confirmed as Wales captain for Nations Championship, including Springbok clash
Dewi Lake has been confirmed as Wales captain for the Nations Championship, including their match against South Africa, after Jac Morgan's shoulder injury opened the door during the November 2025 series.
Lake confirmed as Wales captain for Nations Championship campaign, including Springbok clash
Dewi Lake has been confirmed as Wales captain for the Nations Championship, including the clash with the Springboks, after edging out Jac Morgan following the flanker's shoulder injury in November 2025.
Zimbabwe's World Cup preparation runs through South Africa
Zimbabwe's Piet Benade explains how structured exposure to South African opposition — from club level up to SA 'A' — is central to the Sables' World Cup preparation, and why he hopes the relationship deepens.
Cullen to leave Leinster in 2027 as Nienaber's future draws scrutiny
Leo Cullen will leave Leinster at the end of the 2026-27 season, with the province already searching for his successor. Jacques Nienaber's contract expires at the same time, intensifying questions about his next destination.
World Rugby scraps home weighting from rankings calculations ahead of Nations Championship
World Rugby removes home weighting from rankings calculations from July 1, responding to the growing number of international matches played at neutral or out-of-country venues. South Africa remain top of the men's rankings on 93.94 points.
Van der Merwe eyes Scotland recall after Townsend lifeline
Van der Merwe opens up on a brutal season of injury and form loss, and how a Townsend phone call — offering him the Barbarians gig against the Boks — has him targeting a Scotland recall for the Nations Championship.
George North to end career in Barbarians jersey against Wales at Twickenham
George North will make his final professional appearance for the Barbarians against Wales at Twickenham on 27 June, joining a squad that also features Duhan van der Merwe, TJ Perenara and Tomás Albornoz.
George North to bow out in Barbarians jersey against Wales at Twickenham
George North will play his final professional match for the Barbarians against Wales at Twickenham on 27 June, capping a career of 121 Wales caps, four Six Nations titles, two Grand Slams and two Lions tours.
The real migration threat to the Boks isn't north — it's east
A data-driven audit of 3,427 professionals across six global leagues finds rugby is overwhelmingly domestic, clears the URC of the 'bought by the Boks' charge, and identifies Japan — not Europe — as the real structural threat to Springbok and All Black rugby depth.
Fainga'anuku fibula fracture rules him out of Nations Championship and clouds Greatest Rivalry availability
Leicester Fainga'anuku's fibula fracture rules him out of the All Blacks' Nations Championship Tests and puts his availability for the opening Greatest Rivalry matches against the Springboks in serious doubt, shelving the hybrid back-row experiment the Crusaders had been building across the second half of the Super Rugby season.