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South Africa 29-24 New Zealand: Springboks win third Test thriller in Johannesburg
South Africa end their FNB Stadium hoodoo against New Zealand, beating the All Blacks 29-24 in a tight third Test in Johannesburg.
Springbok Women take positives from 52-20 loss to Black Ferns ahead of European tour
Co-head coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September expressed satisfaction with their side's four-try effort in a 52-20 loss to New Zealand at FNB Stadium, with the squad set to regroup in Stellenbosch on Wednesday ahead of a European tour against Wales, Italy and Spain.
Springboks and All Blacks locked at 12-12 after pulsating first half at FNB Stadium
The Springboks and All Blacks are locked at 12-12 at half-time at FNB Stadium, with Ardie Savea scoring twice for New Zealand and a Bok penalty try levelling things up after Kurt-Lee Arendse's earlier effort.
Black Ferns too strong as Springbok Women fall 52-20 in historic Soweto clash
The Black Ferns defeated the Springbok Women 52-20 at FNB Stadium in the first Test between the sides played on South African soil, running in eight tries to four despite a competitive Bok scrum and maul.
Bok Women coaches upbeat after 52-20 loss to Black Ferns
Co-coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September expressed satisfaction with the Springbok Women's development after a 52-20 loss to the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium, citing four tries scored and scrum dominance as positives ahead of a European tour against Wales, Italy and Spain.
Springbok Women coaches back progress after 52-20 loss to Black Ferns
Co-coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September expressed satisfaction with the Springbok Women's progress despite a 52-20 loss to the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium, citing four tries scored and strong scrum play as positives ahead of a European tour against Wales, Italy and Spain.
Black Ferns run in eight tries to beat Bok Women 52-20 at FNB Stadium
The Black Ferns beat the Springbok Women 52-20 at FNB Stadium on Saturday, running in eight tries in a performance that underscored the eight-place world rankings gap between the sides, despite a competitive showing from South Africa who scored four tries of their own.
Nigel Owens backs Rassie: if it's within the rules, it's fair game
Nigel Owens defends Erasmus's last-minute front-row switch before the Cape Town Test, arguing the 'spirit of the game' criticism is misplaced — if it's legal under the agreed series rules, a world-class coach is entitled to use it. He draws the same parallel Bok fans will remember from the Bomb Squad debate.
Burger links pre-match media warfare to World Rugby's officiating policy change
Burger argues World Rugby's ban on one-on-one referee meetings has pushed coaches into using the media as their lobbying channel — and suggests reverting the policy to bring the pre-match noise back behind closed doors.
Matfield's five hardest opponents: Shaw tops the list, McCaw was everywhere, O'Connell was in his head
Matfield's five hardest career opponents reveal as much about his own game as theirs — Collins's physicality, Williams's lineout chess, O'Connell's homework, McCaw's referee intelligence, and above all Simon Shaw's unglamorous but brutally effective professionalism in the 2009 Lions series.
Kolisi vows Springboks will thank South African fans through effort in Soweto decider
Siya Kolisi has emphasised the significance of Saturday's clash with New Zealand at Soccer City, describing the match as an opportunity to thank supporters through performance rather than words. The Springboks captain acknowledged the historical weight of playing in Soweto, a township synonymous with South Africa's struggle for freedom, and said the team is targeting victory in the series decider before the exhibition fixture in Baltimore.
Kolisi draws on Soweto's history ahead of series-deciding All Blacks clash
Kolisi has drawn on Soweto's struggle history as motivation to end South Africa's losing record at Soccer City, with the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series tied 1-1 ahead of Saturday's third test.
Kolisi: Rain or shine, the Boks' gameplan doesn't move
Kolisi's pre-match presser ahead of the Soweto Test carried a clear dual message: the Boks' gameplan is weather-proof, and the team sees the result as the only fitting tribute to South African fans.
Rennie's mind games and his obsession with mobile forwards
Kebble lifts the lid on Rennie's media-pressure tactics against Erasmus and his blueprint for mobile, ball-playing forwards — useful intel for anyone tracking the Bok-All Blacks rivalry.
The mind behind the Boks: Barry Murphy on what makes Felix Jones tick
Barry Murphy offers a revealing character study of Felix Jones — crediting his bandmate-turned-Bok assistant with driving the contestable kick law change, explaining the England exit as a values mismatch, and painting the Erasmus-Jones partnership as a meeting of two unusually driven minds.
Hansen: Don't compete — stay low and hit them hard
Hansen pinpoints the Cape Town restart and lineout competition as the decisions that gifted the Boks their early platform, and argues the All Blacks must stay low and physically dominate at the breakdown in Johannesburg rather than give the maul another inch.
Erasmus eyes hybrid role for De Villiers but rules out hooker switch
Erasmus has ruled out a hooker role for Paul de Villiers but sees the Stormers flank as a potential hybrid option across six and 12, in the mould of André Esterhuizen, while making clear that Siya Kolisi remains first choice at number six.
Kolisi: Boks playing to win series, not settle for draw at FNB
Siya Kolisi has underlined the stakes ahead of Saturday's third Test against New Zealand at FNB Stadium, insisting the Springboks are targeting a series victory rather than a draw. With the Freedom Cup on the line and the All Blacks eyeing a 2-1 claim on South African soil, assistant coach Mzwandile Stick warned that losing would hand New Zealand the psychological edge heading into the final fixture in Baltimore.
Sititi siblings set to make All Blacks and Black Ferns history at FNB Stadium
Wallace Sititi and his 19-year-old sister Amarante will both represent New Zealand at FNB Stadium on Saturday — against the Springboks and Springbok Women respectively — becoming the first All Black and Black Ferns sibling pairing in 28 years, with their father Semo Sititi, the former Manu Samoa captain, watching from the stands.
Savea: 'You can't give the Boks a hand up — they're world champions for a reason'
Savea's pre-match media session is a frank admission that Cape Town was lost in the margins — and a clear-eyed breakdown of what the All Blacks must do differently in Soweto to stay alive in the series.