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Louw called up to Springbok Nations Championship squad
Elrigh Louw has been called into the Springbok Nations Championship squad as forward cover, returning to the wider group for the first time since the November 2024 Test against Wales.
Springboks vs England: Form, history and what the tape reveals ahead of Ellis Park
A five-match retrospective on the Springboks-England rivalry ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park, with Louw identifying the tactical patterns — scrum dominance, bench impact, early England leads — that have defined recent encounters.
Louw earns late call-up to Springbok squad for Nations Championship opener against England
Elrigh Louw has been called into the Springbok squad as additional forward cover for the Nations Championship, having recovered from a serious knee injury that kept him largely sidelined through 2025.
Joe Lewis appointment is Erasmus building for the long game — not just one England test
Joe Lewis's appointment as Bok analyst is less about what he knows of England and more about Erasmus systematically closing the gap between South Africa's lean analysis set-up and the multi-analyst departments that France, England and others now run.
50 caps, but Kolbe's Bok legacy runs far deeper
Kolbe hits 50 Springbok caps against England at Ellis Park — a milestone that feels light given his outsized impact. The piece revisits his most decisive moments and 21 Test tries, with Erasmus reflecting on how far he's come from the days when his size was questioned.
Libbok handed England start as Erasmus backs attacking blueprint at altitude
Manie Libbok will start at flyhalf for the Springboks against England at Ellis Park on Saturday, with Rassie Erasmus citing the need for tempo and attacking instinct at altitude. Handré Pollard, only recently returned from the Bulls' URC final, is named among the replacements. Erasmus insists the selection reflects the match scenario rather than any shift in the pecking order, though Libbok faces a defining opportunity to cement his claim on the jersey.
Nations Championship launch offers northern hemisphere chance to prove World Cup credentials
The inaugural Nations Championship begins at Ellis Park on Saturday when South Africa host England in a tournament that organisers hope will serve as a proving ground for northern hemisphere sides ahead of the 2027 World Cup. England face the most demanding travel schedule of any competitor, with fixtures in Johannesburg, Liverpool and Argentina across three weeks. Rassie Erasmus has suggested he may not treat the competition with the same intensity as other tournaments, though the Springboks remain favourites to claim the title.
Nations Championship: World Cup audition or squad-building exercise?
Erasmus has publicly downplayed the Nations Championship as a squad-building platform rather than a trophy hunt — but the Boks still open against England at Ellis Park with points to prove. The piece maps the competitive landscape heading into the first round, with travel burdens, injury lists, and new coaching appointments all shaping how seriously each nation is treating the inaugural edition.
Erasmus: Libbok is the right 10 for Ellis Park — but Pollard's not going anywhere
Erasmus explains the Libbok selection as a match-specific call — Ellis Park altitude, England's likely tempo, and an extra week of preparation time all favour Libbok for the opener, while Pollard's place in the plans remains secure.
Rassie sees another gear in Thomas du Toit
Erasmus rates du Toit among the world's best tightheads but thinks Bath's influence has only unlocked part of his ceiling — worth reading for the insight into what the Bok coaching staff still expects from him.
Libbok gets his shot, Tony-ball gets its backline — five things Rassie's selection tells us
Erasmus's team selection is read as a full philosophical commitment to Tony-ball — Libbok over Pollard is the headline call, backed by a backline engineered for pace and broken play, while the forward pack stays brutally conservative. The one risk flag is a bench light on positional cover in key areas.
Erasmus admits ex-England analyst Lewis gives Springboks edge ahead of Ellis Park clash
Rassie Erasmus has acknowledged that the appointment of Joe Lewis, England's former head analyst, provides the Springboks with an advantage ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park. Lewis, who worked with England from 2017 until the conclusion of the recent Six Nations, joined SA Rugby a fortnight after the tournament ended.
Springbok Women bank on training intensity to offset USA's top-tier experience
The Springbok Women face the USA at Ellis Park on Saturday in their first Test against top-20 opposition since last September's World Cup. While the Eagles arrive battle-hardened from the Pacific Four Series against New Zealand, Canada and Australia, assistant coach Franzel September believes elevated training intensity and squad cohesion can bridge the experience gap in what will be the first meeting between the sides on South African soil.
Erasmus names power-packed Bok side as Libbok wins No 10 race for England opener
Rassie Erasmus has named a starting XV with more than 900 caps for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against England at Ellis Park, with Manie Libbok earning the flyhalf berth. The selection features the return of Eben Etzebeth from suspension and young prop Zachary Porthen on the bench, while Erasmus indicated he expects England to adopt an expansive approach influenced by their Northampton Saints contingent.
Porthen edges Louw as Erasmus backs youth for England opener
Zachary Porthen has been handed the tighthead bench role for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against England at Ellis Park, with Rassie Erasmus opting for the 22-year-old over the more experienced Wilco Louw. The Springbok coach cited Porthen's impressive scrummaging sessions and mobility, while confirming Louw needed time to settle after a difficult period that included illness and a family bereavement. The selection represents a significant vote of confidence in the young prop's long-term prospects.
Rassie: Ex-England analyst gives Boks edge ahead of Nations Championship clash
Rassie Erasmus says former England analyst Joe Lewis gives the Boks an edge ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship clash at Ellis Park.
Erasmus tight-lipped on England team prediction — but delighted with analyst coup
Erasmus explains why he's staying quiet on England's team this time around, and goes deep on the Joe Lewis analyst recruitment — framing it as a long-overdue capacity fix rather than a spy coup, while acknowledging the intel flows both ways given England's current connections to former Bok staff.
Dolf targets USA clash to showcase sevens-sharpened game
Byrhandré Dolf says sevens has sharpened her footwork and elusiveness ahead of the Springbok Women's Test against the USA at Ellis Park on Saturday, while confirming she is unlikely to resume primary kicking duties just yet.
Earl dismisses revenge narrative as England brace for Springbok test at Ellis Park
England loose forward Ben Earl has dismissed a revenge narrative ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship opener against the Springboks at Ellis Park, saying England are focused on their own game rather than settling scores from the 2023 World Cup semifinal defeat and last year's 29-20 loss to South Africa.
Rassie's player-management masterclass vs England's identity crisis: The Ruck sets the scene at Ellis Park
Alex Lowe and Charlie Morgan argue that Rassie's centralised control of Springbok players gives South Africa a structural edge that goes well beyond the personnel missing from Saturday's squad, while England arrive at altitude still searching for an identity.