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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.
Junior Boks, Barrett-Theron and Stick honoured at 2025 SA Sports Awards
The Junior Springboks, referee Aimee Barrett-Theron and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick were among the rugby figures honoured at the 2025 SA Sports Awards at Sun City on Sunday.
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.
Matfield flags the Bomb Squad's rare off-day as key to All Blacks' Ellis Park win
Matfield identifies the Bomb Squad's uncharacteristic flat showing as the critical difference in the All Blacks' first-Test win — a rare chink in Erasmus's most trusted weapon.
Matfield: The scoreline lied — Boks dominated, just couldn't finish
Matfield argues the 33-16 scoreline overstates New Zealand's superiority — the Boks dominated key facets but squandered three first-half chances, and a turnover scrum penalty was the true turning point. He's backing South Africa to respond over the remaining three Tests.
Jalibert leads, SFM cracks the top 3, and three Boks make Planet Rugby's fly-half rankings
Planet Rugby ranks Jalibert #1, with SFM, Pollard, and Libbok all featuring — making South Africa the most represented nation in a list that doubles as a 2027 World Cup 10 debate.
Erasmus's bench reshuffle could be his most powerful Bomb Squad yet
De Koning argues that Erasmus's bench for Cape Town — built around Du Toit, Fourie, and De Jager — is the most powerful Bomb Squad of the year, a direct response to the scrum implosion at Ellis Park where younger replacements couldn't hold the set-piece together.
Rope-a-Dope in Joburg: How New Zealand Absorbed the Boks' Dominance and Stole Ellis Park
The Boks Office panel argues South Africa's game plan was right but 23-plus unforced errors, three pivotal moments — Holland's charge-down, a disputed scrum penalty, and a yellow card to 13 men — handed New Zealand a win the stats suggest the Boks should never have lost by 17.