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Hansen: Bomb Squad is a gamble — and the Stormers just showed the downside
Hansen argues the 6-2 bench split is a calculated gamble the Boks accept willingly — but the Stormers' collapse against the All Blacks, triggered by a double halfback injury, shows exactly what 'rolling the dice' can cost. With Esterhuizen's fitness now uncertain, Erasmus's hybrid solution to the vulnerability may be unavailable when it matters most.
Erasmus shuts door on Hanekom at eight — but opens the bench
Erasmus was uncharacteristically blunt: Wiese owns the eight jersey and Hanekom's standout Argentina display changes nothing at the top of the pecking order — though it may well have secured him a bench role for the All Blacks series.
Fourie's recall headlines a big weekend — but Kolisi and Barrett give cause for concern
Fourie's surprise Bok recall and Kolisi's hamstring scare dominate the weekend wash-up, with Hanekom impressing in Buenos Aires and Barrett's All Blacks audition falling flat.
Matfield backs Fourie to be Rassie's secret weapon against the All Blacks
Matfield argues Fourie's recall gives Erasmus a potent bench weapon for the All Blacks series — worth reading for the tactical reasoning behind why Big Vic rates the impact so highly.
All Blacks to tour South Africa for first time since 1996 in 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' series
The All Blacks are touring South Africa for the first time since 1996 in a series dubbed 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.
Rassie flags attacking concerns but takes composure lessons into All Blacks week
Erasmus is satisfied with the character shown in a scrappy Buenos Aires win but flags the attack as the clear fix-it priority heading into the Ellis Park clash with the All Blacks on August 22.
Deon Fourie drafted into Springbok squad for Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series
Deon Fourie has been called up to the Springbok squad for the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand, joining the group in Johannesburg on Tuesday after returning from a lengthy injury absence.
Fourie called into Springbok squad for Greatest Rivalry series
Deon Fourie has been called into the Springbok squad for the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series, rejoining the national setup for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final.
Mallett: Scrum and defence the silver linings as Boks' kicking game worries ahead of All Blacks series
Mallett pinpoints scrum dominance and defensive solidity as the two genuine positives from a below-par Buenos Aires win, but warns that the contestable kicking game — so effective against the All Blacks when the Stormers deployed it — was well off the required standard and must improve sharply before the Greatest Rivalry series kicks off.
Erasmus praises 'old Eben' but flags Feinberg-Mngomezulu rustiness after Argentina grind
Rassie Erasmus praised Eben Etzebeth's return to form after the lock completed 80 minutes in the Springboks' 17-10 win over Argentina, while flagging Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's rustiness and noting the broader toll of fielding ten injury returnees.
Five hard lessons from Buenos Aires — and a fortnight to fix them
A granular five-point breakdown of what went wrong for the Springboks in a scratchy Buenos Aires win — half-back control, the aerial game, defensive structure, midfield attack patterns, and Kolisi's fitness — and what Erasmus has a fortnight to solve before Ellis Park.
Fourie recalled to Springbok squad as Kolisi hamstring injury clouds Rugby Championship buildup
Deon Fourie has been recalled to the Springbok squad for the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series, with his return from injury coinciding with fresh concerns over captain Siya Kolisi, who sustained a hamstring injury in Saturday's 17-10 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Sharks lose Tshituka and Van Heerden ahead of All Blacks clash
Vincent Tshituka and Emile van Heerden have been ruled out of the Sharks squad for Tuesday's Greatest Rivalry clash with the All Blacks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
Sharks lose Van Heerden and Tshituka to injury ahead of All Blacks clash
Emile van Heerden and Vincent Tshituka have been ruled out of the Sharks' warm-up clash against the All Blacks at Kings Park on Tuesday, with Deon Slabbert and Corne Rahl called in as replacements.
All Blacks looking to Los Pumas blueprint to crack the Boks
Rennie sees the Pumas' performance as a tactical template for neutralising the Boks — the piece breaks down what that blueprint looks like and how New Zealand plan to apply it.
Springbok hooker Piston van Wyk passes away at 82
Former Springbok hooker Piston van Wyk, who earned 15 Test caps between 1970 and 1976, has passed away at the age of 82, with SA Rugby president Mark Alexander leading the tributes.
Why the Buenos Aires dogfight was exactly what Erasmus wanted
Cardinelli argues the narrow Argentina win was a feature, not a bug — Erasmus used a seven-week, 71-player rotation to get the squad precisely calibrated for the All Blacks series, with load management and injury returns largely on track. Kolisi's minutes and the Feinberg-Mngomezulu selection call are the standout unresolved questions.
Boks grind, Stormers unearth a gem, and Bulls hit rock bottom
Louw's verdict on a packed weekend: the Boks' Buenos Aires grind reveals something important about their character, Ahmed's Stormers debut turns heads, and the Bulls XV's discipline crisis has all but ended their Currie Cup campaign.
Boks and All Blacks both needed that wake-up call
Rich argues both teams were quietly flattered by beatable opponents, but draws a clear distinction: the Boks got broadly positive returns from Buenos Aires despite Kolisi's injury, while the All Blacks head to Ellis Park with more questions than answers after struggling badly against the Stormers' physicality and aerial game.
Kolisi suffers fresh hamstring setback as Springboks grind past Argentina
Siya Kolisi departed after 24 minutes with a hamstring injury to his opposite leg during the Springboks' 17-10 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires. The captain will undergo a scan to determine the severity of the issue ahead of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks. Head coach Rassie Erasmus offered cautious optimism, suggesting the injury does not appear serious, though Kolisi's availability for the Ellis Park opener now hangs in the balance.