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Erasmus praises England threat ahead of Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park
Rassie Erasmus has expressed utmost respect for England as the Springboks prepare to host the visitors in the inaugural Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park on 4 July. The Springbok coach highlighted England's blend of youth and experience, warning his side will need to work hard to secure victory in Johannesburg.
Erasmus eyes England with genuine respect — and a clear World Cup lens
Erasmus frames the Nations Championship opener against England as a World Cup rehearsal rather than a competition to chase on the log, while offering a candid, respectful read of Borthwick's squad and drawing a pointed comparison between Henry Pollock and Siya Kolisi.
England arrive with altitude prep done and point to prove against the Boks
England arrive altitude-prepped and motivated for the Nations Championship opener, with Smith framing it as a genuine shot at history. Rassie's comments on Henry Pollock are the subplot worth tracking.
Smith vows England will 'leave it all out there' against Springboks
Marcus Smith says England's 36-man squad, arriving in Johannesburg on Thursday, are targeting a historic win over the Springboks in the Nations Championship opener, having trained in oxygen masks to prepare for the Highveld.
Tony Brown's arm-around-the-shoulder moment speaks louder than coaching tactics
Jean de Villiers and the Verdict panel dissect Tony Brown's quietly powerful pre-debut chat with Vusi Moyo — arguing it reveals as much about Brown's character and commitment to the Boks as any tactical contribution he's made.
Erasmus dismisses log-table tactics as Boks prepare for Nations Championship bow
Rassie Erasmus has insisted South Africa will not chase bonus points or alter their approach for the inaugural Nations Championship, despite the competition's league format. The Springbok coach emphasised winning matches remains the priority as his side prepare to face England at Ellis Park next Saturday, with captain Siya Kolisi retaining the armband for the tournament opener.
Erasmus warns Boks: England bring youth, experience and tactical unpredictability to Ellis Park
Rassie Erasmus has praised England's touring squad as young, experienced and tactically unpredictable ahead of the Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park on 4 July, while Siya Kolisi returns as captain for a fixture that marked his first Test captaincy in 2018.
Rassie unmoved by Nations Championship log table
Erasmus says the Nations Championship log table changes nothing for the Boks — no bonus-point chasing, no tactical reshaping, just winning the next Test. The piece examines whether that philosophy holds up in a format where accumulated points, not knockout results, decide who reaches the final.
Rassie flags lock fitness concern ahead of England opener
Rassie Erasmus says an experienced Springbok lock is in a race against time to be fit for the Nations Championship opener against England at Ellis Park.
Young guns impress but Bok maul law change could be the real story of 2025
The panel rated the Boks 8/10 against the Barbarians, highlighted van der Merwe, Horne and Norton as standouts, and argued a new maul law clarification could make the Bok attack significantly harder to disrupt in the test series ahead.
The Ellis Park comeback that launched the Erasmus-Kolisi era
As England head back to Ellis Park in July, this piece revisits the 42-39 comeback win from 2018 that launched the Erasmus-Kolisi era — tracing why that match remains the defining origin point of South Africa's modern rugby dominance.
Kolisi highlights discipline lapses despite Springboks' 80-point Barbarians rout
Siya Kolisi acknowledged the Springboks achieved most of their objectives in Saturday's 80-31 victory over the Barbarians in Gqeberha, but the captain identified defensive lapses and deviations from the game plan as areas requiring attention. Former All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, leading the invitational side, praised South Africa's depth following the 12-try performance.
Contepomi: Boks have cracked the balance — and that's what makes them dangerous
Contepomi argues the Boks' real danger lies in their evolving balance between forward dominance and expansive attack — and flags sustained possession as the best way to exploit their defence.
Robertson warns rivals: fall into the Boks' blueprint and you're caught in the matrix
Robertson's post-match verdict after the Baa-Baas' 80-31 loss doubles as a scouting warning: get caught in the Boks' scrum-and-maul cycle and the game is over before you realise it. Contepomi adds that South Africa's attacking evolution makes them even harder to approach defensively.
De Jongh warns: don't expect a Bok clean sweep against wounded All Blacks
De Jongh predicts a tight Greatest Rivalry series, cautioning against any expectation of a Bok clean sweep — a wounded All Blacks side with something to prove under Rennie is, in his view, a very different proposition to one simply in decline.
Contepomi sees a Bok team evolving beyond their forward foundations
Contepomi praises the Boks' growing attacking dimension alongside their forward muscle — the piece explores what that outside perspective reveals about South Africa's tactical evolution.
Cameraman injures Kolbe during Boks vs Barbarians — and World Rugby's rules were clearly broken
A host broadcaster cameraman ran onto the field during the Boks-Barbarians match and injured Kolbe — Jan de Koning breaks down exactly which World Rugby laws were broken and where accountability sits.
Erasmus defends Pollard despite URC final struggles as England test looms
Rassie Erasmus has dismissed concerns over Handré Pollard's form following the flyhalf's subdued display in the Bulls' 36-7 URC final defeat to Leinster. The Springbok coach insisted franchise performances do not dictate Test selection, pointing to Pollard's unblemished record in the green and gold since 2018. With England arriving at Ellis Park on 4 July, Erasmus remains confident in the 32-year-old's ability to deliver when it matters most.
Rassie stands firm on Pollard despite URC Final shocker
Erasmus has publicly backed Pollard despite a poor URC Finals run, arguing franchise form is an unreliable measure and that Pollard's Bok record earns him the benefit of the doubt — the piece weighs the stats against that logic.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu absence leaves Erasmus with flyhalf conundrum ahead of England
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's unavailability for the opening Nations Championship fixtures has forced Rassie Erasmus to recalibrate his playmaking options. With Handré Pollard anchoring the squad, the head coach must decide whether to blood uncapped Vusi Moyo or deploy utility backs in the 10 jersey against England and Scotland. The 46-man selection suggests a two-tier approach across the July window.