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2,958 items · Springboks
Kitshoff on what Kolisi's return really brings to the Boks
Kitshoff argues Kolisi's return gives the Boks a composure and leadership edge they've been missing — the piece unpacks what that means for the All Blacks Test in Cape Town.
Aaron Smith warns All Blacks: a wounded Springbok is the most dangerous animal in rugby
Aaron Smith expects a classic Boklash at DHL Stadium, warning that pressure has shifted entirely onto New Zealand now that the Boks have nothing to lose — and drawing on the Lions series as a reminder of what happens when this squad gets wounded.
Self-belief, scrum politics, and the Gardner wildcard: Can the Boks level the series?
Rich argues the second test hinges on two factors: whether referee Angus Gardner resists New Zealand's concerted lobbying over the Bok scrum, and whether the Springboks can mentally reset after a result that flattered the All Blacks. With a possible Pollard withdrawal adding selection uncertainty, he still tips South Africa to win by six if the playing field is level.
Pollard and Reinach recalled as Erasmus seeks control after Ellis Park humbling
Rassie Erasmus has made sweeping changes to his Springbok side for Saturday's rematch with New Zealand at DHL Stadium, recalling Handré Pollard and Cobus Reinach at half-back after the 33-16 defeat in Johannesburg. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu drops to the bench while Grant Williams is ruled out through injury. Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has backed the alterations, insisting Erasmus remains the man best placed to steer South Africa's response.
Control over redemption: Keohane's take on what the Boks must fix in Cape Town
Keohane argues the Cape Town Test is less about redemption and more about execution — dissecting the Ellis Park breakdown failures, Pollard's selection rationale, and why Kolisi's return is structurally critical to the Boks levelling the series.
Mallett backs Erasmus' changes and predicts a very different Bok game plan in Cape Town
Mallett backs Erasmus's changes and argues Pollard's selection signals a far more structured, kicking-heavy game plan in Cape Town — roughly double the aerial output from Ellis Park, with counter-rucking pressure and a refreshed bench designed to grind the All Blacks down rather than match them in open play.
Stransky inducted into World Rugby Hall of Fame as part of Class of 2026
Joel Stransky has been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026, recognised alongside former All Black Zinzan Brooke at a dinner in Cape Town on Thursday.
Rassie Calls Devlin 'Very Interesting' — and the Test Series Analysis That Followed Is Worth Your Time
Martin Devlin recounts Rassie Erasmus publicly acknowledging his podcast at the Ellis Park press conference, then gives a detailed opposition read on why the All Blacks believe the series is far from settled heading into the Cape Town Test.
Stransky backs Pollard but warns of predictability risk in Cape Town
Stransky backs the Pollard switch as a signal that Erasmus is reverting to type — kicking game, territory, physicality — but warns it makes the Boks predictable and removes attacking width. He sees the logic, especially if conditions suit, but the margin for error is slim.
Mallett backs Erasmus' changes — and expects a very different Bok game plan in Cape Town
Mallett backs every Erasmus selection call for Cape Town, arguing the shift to Pollard signals a territorially disciplined kicking game — roughly double Ellis Park's volume — with Reinach and Van den Berg key executors. He also rates the revised bench as meaningfully stronger, particularly Du Toit at tighthead and Fourie's breakdown impact.
All Blacks are playing a different game — and the Boks may need to find one too
A comprehensive breakdown of why the Boks' Johannesburg defeat was more than a stumble — the stats, the set-piece story, and the unsettling possibility that this All Blacks side is forcing Erasmus to find something genuinely new.
Rennie's message ahead of Cape Town: margins don't matter, winning does
Rennie is dismissing rankings and odds talk, telling his squad a one-point win is enough — the piece looks at how the All Blacks are framing their Cape Town preparation and what it signals about their approach to the Springboks.
All Blacks expose Bok vulnerabilities as Erasmus faces a different kind of catastrophe
The Loose Pass column argues this isn't a routine setback Erasmus can simply correct — the All Blacks exposed real vulnerabilities in selection, scrum, defence and attack that suggest South Africa may need to reinvent rather than just reset ahead of a high-stakes Cape Town decider.
Du Toit backs Boks to bounce back in Cape Town as milestone caps add extra motivation
Thomas du Toit says the Springboks have processed last week's loss to New Zealand quickly and are focused on rectifying their errors at DHL Stadium on Saturday, a match that will see Ox Nche earn his 50th cap and Pieter-Steph du Toit become only the 11th Springbok to reach 100 Tests.
Du Toit: One box at a time — how the Boks reset after Ellis Park
Du Toit explains how the Boks compartmentalise defeats — drawing on the Lions series, 2023 World Cup, and last year's Rugby Championship as proof the culture holds — and warns that fixing Saturday in Cape Town requires every facet firing, not just scrum dominance.
Rennie vows All Blacks scrum improvement after World Rugby consultation
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has promised a stronger scrum performance in Saturday's second Test at DHL Stadium, revealing his side have raised concerns with World Rugby following their 33-16 victory at Ellis Park. The New Zealand mentor acknowledged several areas requiring improvement despite the comprehensive win.
Skinstad: A bump in the road, not the end of the road
Skinstad pulls no punches on Ellis Park — bad game-plan, poor decisions, possible arrogance — but insists the World Cup hat-trick remains firmly on, pointing to squad depth and South Africa's proven ability to absorb setbacks and rebuild.
Rennie takes aim at Bok scrum tactics ahead of weekend clash
Rennie has raised South Africa's scrum 'walkabout' tactics with World Rugby while backing the All Blacks to scrum better on Saturday — the piece digs into the complaint and its implications.
Rennie flags scrum fix and discipline reset ahead of Cape Town Test
Rennie has flagged scrum improvements and discipline as his two main targets for the Cape Town Test, while acknowledging the Boks won several key statistical battles at Ellis Park despite the scoreline — and warning his squad to expect a fierce Bok response.
Reinach and Erasmus admit Boks need a new plan for Cape Town
Reinach and Erasmus both point to self-inflicted errors — at the breakdown and in the coaching box — as the root of the Ellis Park loss, with Erasmus openly admitting to over-analysis and poor substitution timing. Rennie is braced for a forward war in Cape Town.