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1,205 items · Springboks
Pretorius signs new Lions deal, set for return against Glasgow
JC Pretorius has signed a new deal with the Lions and is in line to return from a long-term knee injury against Glasgow Warriors at Ellis Park on Saturday. Assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher confirmed the former Blitzbok flanker has been match-ready for several weeks. Morne van den Berg and Asenathi Ntlabakanye have also been cleared for the URC clash against the log leaders.
Four SA Franchises, One Playoff Dream: The Round 15 Stakes Explained
Round 15 could prove decisive for all four SA franchises still chasing URC playoff spots — the Stormers and Lions are well-positioned, the Bulls are surging, but the Sharks need a result away to Ospreys to stay alive.
Seven SA players who could define the URC playoff race over the final four rounds
Rugby365 identifies seven SA players whose current form makes them pivotal to the URC playoff race — from Roos and Papier to Chris Smith's 123-point season and Rudolph's competition-leading turnover count.
Seven SA players who could swing the URC playoff race in the final four rounds
Wynona Louw profiles the seven in-form South African players she believes will be decisive in the URC playoff race, with Roos, Papier, Smith and Buthelezi among those highlighted as their franchises push for a top-eight finish.
Ackermann flags defensive frailties as Bulls target Glasgow upset
Ackermann warns that the defensive lapses from the Munster win will prove fatal against Glasgow, while insisting the Bulls are travelling to Scotland to genuinely compete — not just participate.
Stormers exit Champions Cup on heartbreak as late try ruled out in Toulon thriller
The Stormers were eliminated from the Champions Cup after a 28-27 defeat to Toulon at the Stade Mayol, with the match ending in controversy when a late Adre Smith try was ruled out by the TMO. Coach John Dobson questioned the decision, pointing to Toulon flank Charles Ollivon's position on the ground as a key factor, while acknowledging the Stormers were below their best in the scrum and some defensive sequences. The squad now refocuses on the URC, with Connacht coming to Cape Town on April 18.
Stormers exit Champions Cup on heartbreak call as Dobson questions TMO ruling
The Stormers were eliminated from the Champions Cup 28-27 by Toulon at Stade Mayol, with the game decided by a TMO ruling that disallowed a late Adre Smith try in debatable circumstances. Coach John Dobson disputed the call, arguing Toulon flank Charles Ollivon was on the ground and offside when he prevented the grounding. The Stormers now refocus on the URC, with Connacht coming to Cape Town Stadium on April 18.
Stormers exit Champions Cup on heartbreak call as Toulon edge thriller 28-27
The Stormers fell 28-27 to Toulon in the Champions Cup last 16 at Stade Mayol, eliminated by a controversial late TMO ruling that denied Adre Smith a match-winning try. Coach John Dobson questioned the call, pointing to Toulon flank Charles Ollivon being on the ground and in the field of play during the intervention. The Stormers now refocus on the URC, with Connacht at Cape Town Stadium on April 18 next up.
Ackermann pinpoints discipline and execution failures as Bulls bow out of Champions Cup
Ackermann says discipline failures and missed opportunities in Glasgow's 22 — not the conditions — ultimately cost the Bulls their Champions Cup campaign.
Ackermann: Missed chances and poor discipline cost Bulls in Glasgow exit
Ackermann identifies poor discipline and wasted chances in Glasgow's 22 as the decisive factors in the Bulls' 25-21 Champions Cup exit, with brutal second-half conditions compounding self-inflicted errors.
SA Coaching Blueprint Goes Global as Van Graan's Bath Near Champions Cup Glory
Van Graan's Bath are in the Champions Cup semi-finals using a recognisable Erasmus-style blueprint, and the piece maps just how deeply South African coaches and players have taken hold of European club rugby's elite tier.
SA coaching fingerprints all over European rugby's final four
Bath's Champions Cup semifinal run is the headline, but the bigger story is how thoroughly South African coaches and players now shape European rugby's elite — with five SA coaches in the last four and Van Graan's Erasmus-inspired finishing strategy at the centre of it.
SA Coaching Fingerprints All Over European Rugby's Business End
With five SA coaches and SA-born captains leading clubs in the Champions Cup semis, this piece argues that Erasmus-style coaching philosophy is now driving European rugby's elite clubs — Bath's stunning comeback win over Northampton the latest proof.
Pollard backs SA franchises to redirect European hurt into URC push — and heaps praise on Papier
Pollard calls for SA franchises to convert European disappointment into a URC title push, while making a compelling case — perhaps unintentionally — for Embrose Papier's Springbok recall.
Player drain the defining obstacle to SA's European ambitions
Using the Champions Cup quarterfinals as a lens, this piece argues that the relentless export of experienced players — illustrated by Van Rhyn captaining Sale and three locks leaving SA in a single week — remains the fundamental barrier to SA franchises mounting a serious European title challenge.
Eight tries, five MOMs: Papier's form demands a Springbok conversation
Embrose Papier has eight tries, five MOMs and the Bulls' attack running through him — Nel examines why his renaissance is forcing even Springbok selectors to take notice.
Papier's form demands Bok attention — but selectors aren't biting
Embrose Papier is the Bulls' standout performer this season — five MOMs, eight tries, and a Munster masterclass. The piece asks whether Springbok selectors can keep ignoring him.
Malherbe's Secret Weapon: Adaptability, Communication — and Knowing When to Just Lie on You
Ox Nche names Frans Malherbe the best scrummager he's faced and explains why — while also revealing the mind games he uses to get the upper hand on opposing tightheads.
Nche Breaks Down What Makes Malherbe Unmatchable in the Scrum
Nche names Malherbe as the best scrummager he's faced and reveals the mind games he uses at the coalface — a candid look at the psychology behind world-class scrummaging.
Bulls lock up Van Staden and Gumede in back-row double signing
The Bulls have retained back-row pair Marco van Staden and Mpilo Gumede, with Van Staden signing a two-year extension and Gumede committing for five years. The club held firm despite reported outside interest in both players.