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Erasmus to break Springbok coaching record against Scotland at Loftus
Rassie Erasmus breaks Jake White's record of 54 Tests as Springbok head coach when he leads the team against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, with SARU's leadership hailing him as the greatest coach in Springbok history. His overall win ratio of 75.93% across two stints rises to 85.7% since resuming the head coaching role in 2024.
Van der Merwe eyes dual milestones as Erasmus demands fast start against Scotland
Edwill van der Merwe will make his first Springbok appearance at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday when South Africa face Scotland in the Nations Championship. The Sharks wing, who returns after almost a year out through injury, has scored five tries in five Tests and will come up against former Stellenbosch University teammate Kyle Steyn. Coach Rassie Erasmus has called for another high-intensity start after the Springboks raced into a 17-0 lead against England last week.
Van der Merwe chasing two firsts as Scotland arrive at Loftus
Edwill van der Merwe faces Scotland at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday seeking his first cap at the venue and his first Test against Scotland, returning from nearly a year out injured with five tries already to his name from five appearances.
Springboks face rankings threat as Scotland clash looms in Pretoria
South Africa's grip on the world number one ranking could slip this weekend if they lose to Scotland by more than 15 points in Pretoria, provided New Zealand beat Italy. The Springboks can gain a maximum of 0.03 rating points with victory due to the 9.83-point differential between the sides.
Townsend's Scotland eye fast start to unsettle Springbok pack at Loftus
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend considered deploying a seven-one bench split against the Springboks but ultimately opted for a more conventional selection. The visitors will look to replicate their early-scoring tactics from Six Nations victories over England and France when they face South Africa at Loftis Versfeld on Saturday. The Scots' game plan centres on quick ruck ball and a wide attacking game designed to exploit the Springbok pack's reduced mobility in the opening exchanges.
Smit refuses to rule out Nienaber return to Springbok set-up
Former Springbok captain John Smit has suggested Jacques Nienaber could yet rejoin Rassie Erasmus' coaching staff, despite the defence specialist's current role at Leinster. Smit dismissed conspiracy theories about Nienaber acting as a spy but acknowledged the pair's long-standing partnership makes a reunion plausible.
Venter and Louw relish familiar faces as scrum battle looms at Loftus
Boan Venter and Wilco Louw are set to face former Edinburgh teammate Pierre Schoeman in a front-row battle loaded with familiarity at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, with both Bok props and assistant coach Duane Vermeulen flagging the Scottish scrum — shaped by coach Pieter de Villiers — as a serious test.
Bulls' Glasgow battles hand Springboks crucial Scotland blueprint ahead of Loftus clash
The Springboks enter Sunday's Nations Championship fixture against Scotland armed with detailed intelligence gleaned from the Bulls' recent URC encounters with Glasgow Warriors. With 19 Glasgow players in Gregor Townsend's squad, South Africa's Bulls contingent believe their semifinal meeting earlier this year offers valuable insight into how the visitors will attack at Loftus Versfeld. Scotland arrive in Pretoria having scored 47 points against Argentina in round one.
Erasmus breaks all-time Springbok coaching record with 55th test in charge
Rassie Erasmus becomes the most capped Springbok head coach in history when he takes charge for the 55th time against Scotland in Pretoria on Saturday, surpassing Jake White's record of 54 tests. His win rate of 75.93% across two spells dwarfs the 62.5% he inherited, rising to 85.7% since his return as head coach.
Erasmus becomes most-capped Springbok coach in 133-year history
Rassie Erasmus will surpass Jake White's record of 54 Tests as head coach when the Springboks face Scotland on Saturday, reaching 55 matches across two spells in charge. The milestone caps a transformative tenure that has delivered two Rugby World Cup titles and reshaped South African rugby's cultural footprint. SARU president Mark Alexander hailed Erasmus for galvanising the nation and turning Test matches into celebrations of unity across all demographics.
Erasmus sets all-time Springbok coaching record with 55th Test in charge
Rassie Erasmus becomes the most capped head coach in Springbok history on Saturday, sending out the team for a record 55th time as head coach to surpass Jake White's previous mark of 54, with an overall win rate of 75.93% across his two spells in charge.
Erasmus breaks all-time Springbok coaching record against Scotland
Rassie Erasmus becomes the most-capped Springbok head coach in history when South Africa face Scotland in Pretoria on Saturday, his 55th Test in charge surpassing Jake White's record of 54. Across his two stints as head coach, Erasmus holds a 75.93% win rate and has overseen two Rugby World Cup victories.
Louw returns to Springbok fold for Scotland Test in emotional farewell to Loftus
Wilco Louw returns to the Springbok matchday squad for Saturday's Test against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld, his first appearance in green and gold since being left out against England while recovering from illness. The match also marks his emotional first Test since the death of his father in April, and his final game at Loftus before returning to the Stormers.
Louw relishes Loftus return as Scotland target breakdown battle
Wilco Louw has expressed his excitement at playing at Loftus Versfeld in Springbok colours on Saturday, having recently moved from Pretoria to join the Stormers. Scotland flanker Rory Darge acknowledged the challenge his side face in the breakdown, singling out Paul de Villiers' work over the ball as a key threat in the Nations Championship clash.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu's former school faces closure amid £1m debt
Llandovery College, the Welsh school where Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu studied as an exchange student, faces closure after accumulating £1 million in debt, with the Scarlets pledging their support for the 178-year-old institution.
Wilco Louw full of praise for Porthen after eye-catching Test debut against England
Wilco Louw has praised Zach Porthen's Test debut against England and says he is eager to reunite with the tighthead at the Stormers after the international window.
Louw hails Porthen after eye-catching England debut
Wilco Louw has praised Zach Porthen's Test debut against England and says he is excited to reunite with the young tighthead at the Stormers after the international window.
Louw relishes Loftus return as Boks brace for physical Scotland test
Wilco Louw starts at loosehead for the Springboks against Scotland at Loftus on Saturday, relishing his return to the venue in green and gold while cautioning that Scotland's direct forward play — on show in last week's win over Argentina — makes for a stern test.
Moodie: Bulls' URC clashes with Glasgow give Boks a read on Scotland
Canan Moodie says the Bulls' URC battles with Glasgow Warriors give South Africa useful insight into Scotland's attacking patterns ahead of their Nations Championship clash, with 19 Glasgow players named in the Scottish matchday squad.
Louw carries father's memory into Scotland test at Loftus
Wilco Louw, starting at tighthead against Scotland at Loftus on Saturday, has spoken about honouring his father — who died in April — every time he pulls on the Springbok jersey, while warning that Scotland's Lions-laden pack will pose a genuine scrumming challenge.