Every story on the wire.
3,165 items
Winners and losers from Ellis Park: Jordan and Barrett shine, Bomb Squad misfires
Jordan and Barrett were world-class at Ellis Park while the Bomb Squad flopped and Erasmus's narrow game plan left the Boks short — Planet Rugby's full winners-and-losers breakdown makes for uncomfortable reading ahead of the second Test.
Kriel backs Boks to win 3-1 — and draws a World Cup parallel
Kriel is calling a 3-1 series win for the Boks and drawing a direct comparison to World Cup knockout pressure — the piece unpacks that mentality ahead of the remaining Tests.
Rassie embraces the underdog tag — but three straight wins is the only way back
Erasmus conceded the Ellis Park hiding plainly, pinpointed a critical second-half tactical miscalculation, and is now leaning into the underdog role as the Boks face a must-win three-Test run starting in Cape Town.
Rennie singles out the scrum that broke the Boks' back
Rennie credits a 55th-minute scrum penalty as the turning point in New Zealand's Ellis Park win, with Bok handling errors and two yellow cards compounding a second half that slipped away from the hosts despite their dominant position at the break.
Kolisi to return for Cape Town Test as Erasmus counts cost of Ellis Park chaos
Rassie Erasmus has confirmed Siya Kolisi returns for the second Test in Cape Town after the Springboks lost the series opener 16-33 at Ellis Park, a match derailed by the early removal of Arendse, Kolbe's injury, and late yellow cards to Van Staden and Reinach.
Kriel calls for clinical edge as Boks regroup after Ellis Park loss
Jesse Kriel cited a lack of clinical finishing and breakdown struggles as the key reasons for South Africa's 33-16 first Test defeat to the All Blacks at Ellis Park, with the Boks now turning their attention to the second Test in Cape Town.
No excuses from the Boks — but answers needed quickly
Borchardt acknowledges the Boks' honest post-match response to the Ellis Park loss, but argues that accountability without rapid correction isn't enough — the full piece pushes into what the Boks actually need to fix.
Kolisi set to return for second Test as Boks assess Kolbe injury
Rassie Erasmus has confirmed Siya Kolisi will return for the second Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town after missing most of the season with injury, while Cheslin Kolbe's second-half exit in the 16-33 loss at Ellis Park is believed to be cramp-related.
The scrum that swung Ellis Park
Keohane argues the Boks had the All Blacks on the back foot at Ellis Park until a pivotal scrum penalty swung the momentum — and the Test.
The scrum that swung the Ellis Park Test
Keohane argues the Boks had the All Blacks on the back foot at Ellis Park until a pivotal scrum penalty flipped the first Test — the piece dissects that turning point.
De Allende's rugby intelligence the secret behind century of Tests, says Erasmus
Damian de Allende will become the 10th Springbok centurion when he faces New Zealand on Saturday, 12 years after his debut against Argentina. Rassie Erasmus credits the 34-year-old's game understanding and passing rather than physicality as the foundation of his longevity. De Allende's battles against Sonny Bill Williams during his Stormers days first convinced Erasmus of his Test quality.
Erasmus and Stick back De Villiers for All Blacks debut at Ellis Park
Paul de Villiers will make his first start against New Zealand on Saturday after Siya Kolisi's latest hamstring injury ruled the captain out of the Ellis Park clash. The 23-year-old Stormers flank has earned the trust of the coaching staff after three consecutive starts in the Nations Championship, with Rassie Erasmus and Mzwandile Stick describing him as a warrior ready for rugby's biggest stage.
Erasmus invokes past comebacks as Boks slip to second in world rankings
South Africa dropped to second in the World Rugby rankings after a comprehensive 33-16 defeat to New Zealand at Ellis Park on Saturday. Rassie Erasmus drew parallels with previous setbacks — the 2021 Lions opener and the 2019 World Cup pool loss to the All Blacks — as he insisted the Springboks have navigated catastrophic situations before. The world champions now face a three-match winning streak to claim the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series.
All Blacks punish wasteful Springboks as clinical finishing trumps scrum dominance at Ellis Park
New Zealand claimed a shock 33-16 victory in the opening Test of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry at Ellis Park on Saturday, seizing a 1-0 series lead despite being comprehensively outplayed in the scrums. The Springboks dominated territory and possession for 55 minutes but lacked clinical edge, with Malcolm Marx dropping the ball over the line and crucial penalty decisions going awry. The All Blacks scored five tries through ruthless counter-attack, exposing South African inaccuracy in a result that leaves Rassie Erasmus searching for answers ahead of next weekend's second Test in Cape Town.
All Blacks tear Springboks apart at Ellis Park to claim 33-16 first Test victory
New Zealand ran in five tries to beat South Africa 33-16 at Ellis Park on Saturday night, taking a 1-0 series lead in the opening Test of the four-match tour. The Springboks led 13-12 at half-time but collapsed in the second period as the visitors scored three unanswered tries. Cheslin Kolbe's injury departure proved pivotal as the hosts failed to fire in a chastening defeat.
All Blacks call up Tu'ungafasi and Hannah ahead of Lions clash
New Zealand have called up Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Jamie Hannah to cover for injured pair Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord ahead of the All Blacks' midweek clash against the Lions at Ellis Park.
Kolbe opens up on homecoming, heroes, and getting 'smoked' by Francois Steyn
Kolbe reflects on career highlights, the Francois Steyn collision that left him with broken ribs, the cultural pull of Cape Town's All Blacks fanbase, and the personal reasons behind his Stormers homecoming.
Cape Town Springbok-All Blacks Test sold out for months as Joburg tickets linger
The August 29 Springbok-All Blacks Test at DHL Stadium sold out in February, driving a secondary market with prices reaching R18,000 for hospitality, while Ellis Park tickets for the second Test remained available as late as Friday.
Scrum penalty, boot change, and a 21-0 collapse — how the All Blacks stole Ellis Park
A single scrum penalty — partly self-inflicted by a lengthy Etzebeth boot change — ended the Boks' dominance and handed the All Blacks a 33-16 win. The column dissects how New Zealand's hand speed and red-zone efficiency trumped Springbok power that generated pressure but not points, and why the Cape Town decider is set to be even more brutal.
All Blacks hit by head injury double blow after Ellis Park win
Dave Rennie confirms Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord face extended lay-offs after a head clash at Ellis Park, with Anton Segner's ankle also keeping him in doubt as All Blacks injury concerns mount on tour.