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1,194 items · Springboks
Kolisi flags defensive lapses despite Boks' 80-31 demolition of the Barbarians
Kolisi praised the Springboks' overall execution in their 80-31 season-opening win over the Barbarians but singled out missed first-time tackles and the resulting offload opportunities as the one area that let the invitational side into the game during the first half.
Five takeaways from the Nations Championship squad: youth gambles, lock creativity and a scrum-half comeback
Erasmus's Nations Championship squad is built around SA Rugby's youth pipeline, creative lock depth management, and notable recall decisions at nine — with the ten jersey and Jantjies' comeback forming the squad's most interesting subplots.
Springbok dominance, Lions revival and women's rugby records — where are 2025's big stories now?
A mid-2026 stocktake on 2025's biggest rugby stories — Springbok dominance, the Lions series win, Bath's treble and England's Women's World Cup triumph — assessing what's had staying power and what's already faded.
Pollock relishing Bok test after Premiership final heroics
Henry Pollock is targeting the Springboks series as his next proving ground after starring in Northampton's Premiership Final win — and he's unbothered by his divisive reputation among South African fans.
Rassie's Bomb Squad reset: Who fills the Snyman and Smith void?
Cardinelli breaks down how the enforced absences of Snyman and Smith force Erasmus to reimagine the Bomb Squad, with Paul de Villiers earmarked for a key role and the flyhalf pecking order wide open heading into the Nations Championship.
Pollock ready to bring the noise to South Africa
Henry Pollock is unfazed by his pantomime villain status in South Africa and is openly relishing the Nations Championship series against the Boks as the biggest challenge in the game — this piece captures the mindset England are bringing to the series.
Rassie backs Pollard through Bulls slump — but the pressure is real
Erasmus is publicly backing Pollard through his Bulls slump, but with Libbok in form, Feinberg-Mngomezulu out, and Moyo now in the mix, the piece argues the pressure on Pollard ahead of the international season is more acute than the coach's measured words let on.
Kolbe's kicking arm eases Rassie's flyhalf headache
Kolbe's kicking form against the Barbarians gives Erasmus a safety net that softens the flyhalf selection dilemma — Rich breaks down what the Gqeberha weekend really revealed ahead of England on 4 July.
Kolbe's boot eases Rassie's flyhalf headache — but Pollard's form is a real concern
Rich's wrap identifies Pollard's form — not just the URC final but his broader Bulls season — as a genuine concern, while arguing Kolbe's confirmed place-kicking ability gives Erasmus a tactical safety valve when selecting his 10. Wiese, Kolisi, and the defensive system also feature.
Nations Championship squad: Winners, losers and the forgotten man who's back
Planet Rugby's winners-and-losers breakdown of Erasmus's 46-man Nations Championship squad covers Jantjies's comeback, the bold U20 call-ups of Norton and Moyo, Papier's eight-year exile ending, and the notable omissions of Am, De Klerk and Koch.
Embrose Papier returns to Springbok fold as Rassie Erasmus names 46-man Nations Championship squad
Scrumhalf Embrose Papier has been recalled to the Springboks' 46-man squad for the Nations Championship after a lengthy absence from the international setup. The selection comes as Rassie Erasmus casts a wide net ahead of fixtures against England, Scotland and Wales, with six uncapped players also included. Papier's return offers fresh depth at nine as South Africa begin preparations for their title defence.
Jantjies returns, U20 duo fast-tracked, and De Klerk left to join the Baa-baas
Herschel Jantjies ends a three-year Bok absence, Norton and Moyo are fast-tracked from U20 rugby, Papier returns after eight years, and De Klerk is left to join the Baa-baas — Planet Rugby breaks down the standout inclusions and omissions from Erasmus's Nations Championship squad.
De Klerk and Koch join Barbarians for Wales clash after Nations Championship snub
Faf de Klerk and Vincent Koch, both left out of the Springbok Nations Championship squad, have joined the Barbarians for their match against Wales at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
Erasmus credits SA Rugby pipeline after Boks rout Barbarians 80-31
Erasmus praised the composure and maturity of five uncapped players after the Springboks beat the Barbarians 80-31 in Gqeberha, crediting SA Rugby's pipeline for the depth available, while playing down franchise form as a selection concern following the Bulls' heavy URC Final loss to Leinster.
Doping panel decision reveals how Ntlabakanye's prescribed medication defence unfolded
The written decision of the doping panel that heard Asenathi Ntlabakanye's case sets out how a doctor's clearance of his prescribed medication underpinned his defence.
Norton among six uncapped players as Papier and Engelbrecht return in 46-man Nations Championship squad
Riley Norton and five other uncapped players are included in the Springboks' 46-man Nations Championship squad, alongside the return of scrumhalf Embrose Papier.
Mostert ankle injury clouds Springbok season opener despite 80-point romp
Franco Mostert's ankle injury has emerged as the principal concern from the Springboks' 80-31 victory over the Barbarians in Gqeberha, with Rassie Erasmus admitting worry ahead of scans. The lock's departure compounds a second-row crisis already depriving South Africa of RG Snyman, Lood de Jager and Salmaan Moerat. Despite the points haul, Erasmus highlighted defensive lapses and discipline issues that must be addressed before the Nations Championship begins in a fortnight.
Van der Merwe hat-trick headlines 12-try Barbarians rout in Port Elizabeth
The Springboks opened their 2026 international season with an 80-31 victory over the Barbarians at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday. Edwill van der Merwe claimed a hat-trick as the hosts ran in 12 tries, though the invitational side proved far more competitive than in last year's 54-7 defeat in Cape Town. The first half delivered non-stop entertainment before South Africa pulled clear in the final quarter.
Bulls' Dublin humiliation a warning shot ahead of All Blacks tour
The Bulls' Dublin collapse gets a withering post-mortem, but the column pivots quickly to the bigger picture — the Hurricanes' record-breaking Super Rugby title run signals exactly the kind of tempo-driven threat Rennie's All Blacks will bring on their first South African tour in 30 years.
Erasmus and Stick flag defensive lapses and Mostert injury concern despite dominant Gqeberha double-header
The Springboks beat the Barbarians 80-31 and SA 'A' shut out Zimbabwe 40-0 in Gqeberha, but Erasmus and Stick both identified defensive lapses, discipline and cohesion as work-ons ahead of the Nations Championship, with Franco Mostert's ankle injury the most immediate concern.