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Kolisi and Kolbe race against clock ahead of Cape Town Test as injury toll mounts
Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe are both racing to be fit for Saturday's Test in Cape Town, with Grant Williams, Ben-Jason Dixon and Canan Moodie already ruled out through injury.
Kolbe and Kolisi in fitness race ahead of All Blacks clash in Cape Town
Cheslin Kolbe is carrying a hamstring and ankle injury ahead of the All Blacks Test in Cape Town, while Siya Kolisi's availability hinges on Monday's training session after his hamstring strain from the Argentina match in Buenos Aires.
Pollard returns as Erasmus shuffles fly-half pack for Cape Town decider
Handré Pollard will start at fly-half for the Springboks in Saturday's second Test against New Zealand at Cape Town Stadium, with head coach Rassie Erasmus citing the double World Cup winner's ability to deliver under extreme pressure. The selection sees Pollard return to the starting XV after South Africa's 16-33 defeat at Ellis Park, where Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu wore the number 10 jersey. The match offers the Springboks a chance to level the Greatest Rivalry series and maintain their recent dominance over the All Blacks.
Pieter-Steph du Toit set for 100th cap as Springboks field record 1,012-cap starting XV against All Blacks in Cape Town
Pieter-Steph du Toit reaches his 100th cap in Cape Town as the Springboks field a record 1,012-cap starting XV against the All Blacks, with Kolisi, Pollard, Reinach and Hooker among three changes from the side beaten 16-33 at Ellis Park.
Erasmus backs Pollard to start at 10 as Feinberg-Mngomezulu waits
Erasmus has retained Handré Pollard at fly-half for the second Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town, pointing to his ability to deliver under pressure over Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Erasmus gamble on Williams backfires as All Blacks expose familiar flaw
The Springboks' decision to start Grant Williams at scrumhalf proved costly in their 33-16 defeat to New Zealand at Ellis Park, with all five All Blacks tries coming against the diminutive No.9. Williams and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who had started together just once before at Test level, lost control of the game as the visitors' defensive pressure forced errors. Rassie Erasmus has since recalled Cobus Reinach and Handre Pollard for the second Test.
Erasmus explains Kolisi bracketing ahead of Cape Town Test
Erasmus has bracketed Kolisi for Saturday's Cape Town Test to monitor his condition, while also singling out Du Toit and Nchè ahead of milestone caps.
Kolisi and Pollard return as Rassie revamps Boks for second All Blacks Test
Kolisi and Pollard are back in the Springbok team for the second Test against the All Blacks, with Erasmus ringing the changes.
Mallett criticises Springbok halfbacks after All Blacks defeat at Ellis Park
Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has identified Grant Williams and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu as the key reasons behind South Africa's 33-16 defeat to New Zealand in Johannesburg. Mallett singled out the halfback pairing for their inability to capitalise on numerous attacking opportunities, rating both players four out of ten for their performance.
Lions name Quan Horn and two Bok debutants for All Blacks clash at Ellis Park
Quan Horn starts at fullback and Francke Horn captains the side as the Lions name their team to face the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Tuesday, with Boan Venter among the replacements and three new signings — Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Hyron Andrews and Boeta Chamberlain — set for their Lions debuts.
Louw backs Boks to recover from Ellis Park defeat despite clinical failings
Tighthead prop Wilco Louw remained confident the Springboks can still claim the four-match series against New Zealand despite their 16-33 defeat at Ellis Park. Louw, whose scrum dominated for 55 minutes, acknowledged the All Blacks' clinical edge but insisted the Boks have the belief to improve.
Louw backs Boks to recover as Erasmus details cascade of disruption in Ellis Park defeat
Wilco Louw believes the Springboks can still win the series despite the 16-33 loss to New Zealand at Ellis Park, where the SA scrum was dominant for 55 minutes. Rassie Erasmus detailed how Kurt-Lee Arendse's early injury triggered a positional cascade that undermined his game plan, while Jesse Kriel attributed the defeat primarily to New Zealand's clinical finishing.
All Blacks call up Tu'ungafasi and Hannah after head-clash injuries
New Zealand have summoned prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi and lock Jamie Hannah to South Africa following head injuries to Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord during Saturday's 33-16 victory over the Springboks at Ellis Park. Both players left the field in the 37th minute after clashing heads at a ruck and will miss Tuesday's fixture against the Emirates Lions. The call-ups extend a mounting injury crisis that has already seen four players sent home from the tour.
Kolisi set to return for Cape Town Test as Erasmus delivers blunt Ellis Park verdict
Siya Kolisi is set to return for the Cape Town Test next Saturday, with Rassie Erasmus delivering a candid post-mortem on the Ellis Park defeat — citing the All Blacks' red-zone defensive tactics as something the Boks were not equipped to handle.
Segner hospitalised as Rennie flags 'something brewing' with All Blacks loose forward
Anton Segner has been hospitalised for further assessment of what was initially diagnosed as acute inflammatory arthritis, with All Blacks coach Dave Rennie warning 'something is brewing' around the loose forward's condition. De Groot and Lord are ruled out of the Cape Town Test after concussion, with Tu'ungafasi and Hannah called up as cover.
De Klerk masterclass sends Cheetahs to home semifinal
A man-of-the-match Faf de Klerk inspired the Toyota Cheetahs to a 33-24 Currie Cup win over the Boland Kavaliers in Bloemfontein, securing the Cheetahs a home semifinal and moving them level with Griquas at the top of the table ahead of the final round.
Kolisi set to return for Cape Town Test as Kolbe and Arendse face fitness checks
Rassie Erasmus has confirmed Siya Kolisi is set to return for next weekend's Test in Cape Town after being managed through the Ellis Park defeat, while Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse both face fitness assessments following their early exits from Saturday's 33-16 loss to the All Blacks.
Rennie wary of Springbok backlash after All Blacks grind out Ellis Park win
Dave Rennie has cautioned against complacency after the All Blacks beat the Springboks 33-16 at Ellis Park, warning that the scoreline flattered his side and that a Springbok backlash awaits in Cape Town next weekend.
Kriel calls for clinical edge ahead of Cape Town rematch
Jesse Kriel, capped for the 91st time, says the Springboks must be more clinical after their 33-16 defeat to the All Blacks in Johannesburg, with the second series match at DHL Stadium in Cape Town set for next Saturday.
Rennie warns of Springbok backlash after All Blacks hold on in Ellis Park arm wrestle
Dave Rennie has warned of a Springbok backlash in Cape Town after the All Blacks ground out a 33-16 win at Ellis Park that was far tighter than the margin suggests, with South Africa dominating much of the first hour before a scrum penalty shifted the contest.