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Rassie owns the Ellis Park loss — and keeps his players out of it
Erasmus is taking personal ownership of the All Blacks loss at Ellis Park, admitting he was 'too clever' in his approach and deliberately shielding players from having to justify the defeat publicly.
Reinach's 2024 déjà vu and Erasmus's rare mea culpa ahead of Cape Town decider
Reinach draws on last year's Auckland-to-Wellington turnaround as the Boks reset for Cape Town, while Erasmus makes an unusually direct public admission that his own coaching decisions — not the players — cost them the first Test.
Erasmus Shelves Youth Project as Kolisi-De Villiers Call Looms Large
Rassie Erasmus has reverted to experience for Saturday's second Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town, with the selection hinging on an either-or decision between captain Siya Kolisi and rising flanker Paul de Villiers. The choice reflects a broader shift away from the rotation strategy that had been bedding in younger players, with the Springboks now fielding what could be their most experienced side ever in response to last weekend's 33-16 defeat. The inclusion of 39-year-old Deon Fourie on the bench underscores the urgency surrounding the fixture.
Erasmus overhauls Bomb Squad after Ellis Park collapse as Boks seek Cape Town redemption
Rassie Erasmus has named his most experienced bench of the year for Saturday's second Test in Cape Town, replacing two young props with veterans Thomas du Toit and Deon Fourie after the Springboks' set-piece faltered in the 16–33 defeat to New Zealand. Captain Pieter-Steph du Toit admitted the side shot themselves in the foot at Ellis Park, while All Blacks coach Dave Rennie warned of a backlash in the return fixture.
Du Toit to earn 100th cap as Kolisi returns for Cape Town Test
Pieter-Steph du Toit will reach his century of Test appearances when the Springboks face the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday, with the flanker stepping aside from captaincy duties as Siya Kolisi returns from injury. Kolisi's hamstring complaint, sustained against Argentina earlier this month, has cleared after full-intensity running sessions on Monday and Tuesday. Rassie Erasmus confirmed the skipper's return means Du Toit can concentrate on his own performance in what will be a landmark occasion.
Fourie's emergency hooker role exposes depth question behind Marx
Deon Fourie remains on Rassie Erasmus's radar as an emergency hooker option despite not playing the position since 2023 and battling long-term injuries. The 39-year-old's inclusion on the bench this weekend underlines a persistent question: who genuinely backs up Malcolm Marx at hooker? While Erasmus has trialled various candidates and leaned on hybrid players like Marco van Staden and Jan-Hendrik Wessels, no specialist has cemented the role ahead of the World Cup cycle.
Rassie takes the blame for Joburg loss — and explains why Kolisi's return is bigger than rugby
Erasmus pins the Joburg loss on his own planning failures — specifically the lack of backline contingencies — while explaining that Kolisi's recall for Cape Town is as much about his off-field influence as his fitness clearance.
Kolisi cleared to start and captain Boks against All Blacks in Cape Town
Siya Kolisi has been cleared to start and captain the Springboks against the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday after recovering from a grade two hamstring tear, with Pieter-Steph du Toit — earning his 100th cap — reverting to flanker alongside Kolisi and Jasper Wiese in the loose trio.
Hansen: All Blacks must 'get desperate' to hold their Cape Town nerve
Hansen breaks down the tactical implications of Pollard's recall and why the All Blacks' biggest threat in Cape Town is their own mental reset rather than anything South Africa will throw at them.
Kolisi returns to captain Boks for Cape Town Test as Du Toit reaches century
Siya Kolisi returns to captain the Springboks in the second Test against New Zealand in Cape Town on Saturday, having recovered from the grade two hamstring injury that ruled him out of the 33-16 defeat at Ellis Park. His return sees Paul de Villiers cut from the match-day 23, while Pieter-Steph du Toit will earn his 100th cap.
Did the 'red mist' cost the Boks in the first Test?
Redelinghuys analyses whether the 'red mist' hurt Springbok decision-making at a key scrum moment in the first Test against the All Blacks.
Kolisi returns to captain Boks in Cape Town as Du Toit reaches century
Siya Kolisi returns to captain the Springboks in Cape Town on Saturday after recovering from a grade two hamstring strain, with Pieter-Steph du Toit free to focus on his 100th Test cap and Paul de Villiers dropping out of the 23.
Did the 'red mist' cost the Boks in Test one?
Redelinghuys dissects whether the Boks' emotional decision-making — and the crowd's calls for scrums — backfired in the first Test against the Lions.
Mallett: Cape Town is a World Cup audition — and the Boks cannot afford to fail it
Mallett argues the Boks' Ellis Park loss was a missed-opportunity problem rather than a character failure — but with World Cup spots on the line, Cape Town is non-negotiable. A 2-0 deficit would be an unacceptable result for fringe players and the programme alike.
Erasmus takes personal blame as Boks look to respond in Cape Town
Erasmus has gone on record taking personal blame for tactical misfires in the Ellis Park defeat, while naming his Cape Town side early — with Kolisi's fitness the key variable. The series and world ranking are both on the line.
Hartzenberg joins Sharks on loan as Stormers chase scrumhalf cover
Hartzenberg moves to the Sharks on a season-long loan while the Stormers seek scrumhalf reinforcements through Faf de Klerk and/or Louis Schreuder.
Rennie warns All Blacks not to get carried away — expects Boks to double down in Cape Town
Rennie expects the Boks to tighten their set-piece and aerial game in Cape Town and is treating the second Test as a genuine threat, even after the Ellis Park blowout — the piece breaks down his tactical read on how Erasmus's side will respond.
Carter: SFM has the mindset — now he needs the longevity
Dan Carter rates SFM's talent and mindset highly but says the path to world-class is about sustained consistency — and his response to being dropped for the second All Blacks Test is the first real measure of that.
Du Toit admits Boks squandered chances in Ellis Park defeat as Erasmus rings changes for Cape Town
Pieter-Steph du Toit says the Springboks squandered key opportunities in their 33-16 defeat to New Zealand at Ellis Park, while All Blacks coach Dave Rennie credits his side's defensive discipline and clinical finishing — and warns the series is far from over heading into Cape Town. Erasmus has named Pollard and Reinach as his halfback pairing for the second Test, with Ethan Hooker replacing the injured Cheslin Kolbe on the wing.
Who backs up Marx? The hooker depth question Erasmus hasn't answered
Erasmus's emergency Fourie recall highlights a persistent Bok vulnerability — there is no settled specialist backing up Marx, the hybrid strategy papers over a thin depth chart, and the succession problem at hooker stretches well beyond 2027.