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2,955 items · Springboks
Ben Smith: Tony Brown turned the aerial battle into a chess match the All Blacks couldn't win
Ben Smith pinpoints Tony Brown's tactical manipulation of the aerial battle as the decisive edge in South Africa's series win, arguing the Boks didn't just dominate under the high ball — they systematically moved the contest to spaces the All Blacks couldn't defend.
Perth defeat a learning exercise, not a crisis, insist Springbok camp
The Springboks' 42-38 loss to Australia in Perth has prompted vastly different reactions from inside and outside the camp. While some supporters questioned Rassie Erasmus' rotation policy after 13 changes to the starting XV, former assistant coach Gary Gold and milestone man Jasper Wiese both framed the defeat as valuable preparation for the 2027 World Cup. The loss came at the end of an intense four-Test series against New Zealand.
High risk, high reward: Why the Bok defence isn't broken
Gold and Foote argue the Bok defence isn't broken — the points being conceded are a calculated cost of running a high-pressure line-speed system, and forcing opposition errors to feed the scrum is a deliberate design choice, not a flaw.
Moyo backs himself to run the Sharks against Leinster
Moyo talks through his mindset ahead of the Leinster clash — internal standards, mentorship from Hendrikse and Masuku, and what Esterhuizen's return means for him at No.10.
Dobson: Kolisi's presence felt — now comes the rugby
Dobson praises Kolisi's immediate impact on the Stormers' environment but flags that his rugby contribution is what the team needs when they face Edinburgh.
Bosch back in SA, eyeing a Bok recall — and he believes his best is good enough
Bosch returns from Brive mentally refreshed and eyeing a Bok recall, arguing the creative freedom he rediscovered in France — combined with accumulated experience — makes his best good enough to compete at Test level.
Kolisi returns to Stormers fold for Edinburgh clash
Siya Kolisi starts at openside for the Stormers against Edinburgh on Friday — his first appearance for the franchise in over five years — as the Stormers look to end their tour with a win before four successive home URC fixtures.
Gold: Perth loss is a 'good thing' — but the plan B question lingers
Gold and Foote both shrug off the Perth defeat as useful squad intelligence gathered with a rotated XV — but Gold flags a deeper concern: the Boks' plan A remains world-class, yet opponents are increasingly able to neutralise it for long stretches, making a credible plan B the real pre-World Cup development priority.
Springboks to face All Blacks in Auckland and Christchurch for first time since 2016 in full 2027 Rugby Championship
Dave Rennie has confirmed the Springboks will face the All Blacks in Auckland and Christchurch during the 2027 Rugby Championship — South Africa's first Test in Christchurch since 2016 — with a full four-nation tournament returning after this year's hiatus.
World Cup 2027 power rankings: Boks lead, but how does the rest stack up?
The Guardian's pre-World Cup power rankings put the Boks at the summit despite the Australia defeat, citing their depth and the series win over the All Blacks as the defining evidence — the full piece ranks all 24 nations.
World Cup 2027 power rankings: Boks lead, but who's closing the gap?
Meagher's pre-World Cup power rankings put the Boks on top despite a late-season blip against Australia, with the 3-1 series win over New Zealand the key credential. The full piece assesses all 24 nations.
Ahmed's Edinburgh audition: building a case for the Stormers' deputy 10 role
Matthee's ankle injury gives Yaqeen Ahmed a start at 10 against Edinburgh — the piece makes the case that it's a genuine opportunity to lock down the Stormers' deputy flyhalf role for when Feinberg-Mngomezulu is unavailable.
Boks head to RWC2027 as favourites — with a target to match
One year out from RWC2027, the Boks enter as favourites and world number one — but the expanded 24-team format sets up a potential quarter-final against the All Blacks before anyone reaches the final. The piece maps the full draw, format changes, and contender landscape.
Paisami handed four-Test ban after Perth incident
Hunter Paisami has been banned for four Tests for a contrary tackle in the Springboks match in Perth, ruling him out of the Bledisloe Cup opener in Auckland and further disrupting Australia's midfield options.
Ahmed's Edinburgh audition: building a case for the Stormers' backup flyhalf chair
Matthee's ankle injury hands Yaqeen Ahmed a start against Edinburgh — Louw argues it's the young flyhalf's best opportunity yet to lock down the Stormers' backup No.10 role that opens up whenever Feinberg-Mngomezulu is on Bok duty.
Paisami appeal fails: four-week ban confirmed after dangerous tackle on Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Hunter Paisami has been handed a four-week ban, confirmed after a failed appeal, for his dangerous tackle on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu during Australia's win over the Springboks in Perth, ruling him out of both Bledisloe Cup Tests against the All Blacks.
Perth wasn't a failed gamble — and some Bok fans still don't get how Rassie thinks
Gavin Rich pushes back hard on the Perth panic, arguing the defeat was the predictable outcome of a deliberate rotation experiment rather than evidence of a cracked Bok code — and draws on the Loftus-Scotland game to show Rassie's methodology hasn't changed, only the result has.
Doris fitness cloud hangs over Ireland's November clash with Springboks
Ireland captain Caelan Doris faces a race against time to be fit for the November Nations Championship, including the clash against South Africa, after surgery recovery took longer than expected.
Perth dissected: Was it a stress test gone wrong — or just apathy?
The Lekker Rugby Pod debates whether Perth was a calculated Rassie experiment or collective apathy — and either way, the defensive numbers and Fassi's display make uncomfortable reading ahead of the World Cup.
The officiating split is real — and a former Irish ref boss wants World Rugby to stop it spreading
Doyle argues that Super Rugby Pacific officiating is systematically eroding the contest for possession, effectively creating two different games at Test level — and warns that Australian and New Zealand influence at World Rugby could push those standards global after 2027.