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2,970 items · Springboks
Bomb Squad bails out a patchy Bok XV — but Hanekom grabs his chance
A workmanlike Bok starting XV was bailed out by the Bomb Squad in a scrappy 17-10 win over Argentina, with Hanekom and Van der Merwe the individual bright spots and a Kolisi injury the main concern heading into the All Blacks series.
Kolisi hamstring scare overshadows Boks' hard-fought 17-10 win over Argentina
The Springboks beat Argentina 17-10 in Buenos Aires, but Siya Kolisi's hamstring injury in the 24th minute dominates the post-match concern, with his availability for the All Blacks series now in doubt. The Boks trailed 10-3 before late tries from Edwill van der Merwe and Cameron Hanekom — the latter from a dominant scrum — sealed the win.
Springbok bench proves decisive in Buenos Aires thriller
The Springbok bench inspired a hard-fought victory over Argentina in a one-off Test in Buenos Aires.
Marshall: Ellis Park placement in Test series is no accident
Marshall says Ellis Park as the series opener is a calculated move by South Africa, designed to maximise intimidation through altitude, crowd intensity, and venue unfamiliarity — and he has the 1996 war stories to back it up.
Burger: All Blacks' tempo game could unravel over a four-Test series
Burger argues the All Blacks' tempo game carries a cumulative cost across a four-Test series, while the Springboks' rotation-driven depth — including Hanekom as a potential Kwagga-style finisher — gives Erasmus structural flexibility his opposite number may lack.
NZ media verdict: All Blacks not even 'vaguely competitive' material against the Boks
NZ and SA media are united: the All Blacks' narrow, error-riddled win over an out-of-season Stormers side revealed scrum frailty, discipline problems, and an inability to handle South African basics — leaving serious doubts about their Test series readiness.
NZ media verdict is clear: All Blacks aren't ready for the Boks
NZ and SA media are in rare agreement: the All Blacks' win over the Stormers papered over systemic cracks — scrum, maul defence, discipline — that the Springboks will have no trouble finding in the Test series.
Stick backs returning Boks but warns Argentina are 'very dangerous'
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says Kolisi, Etzebeth and Feinberg-Mngomezulu are fit and ready for Saturday's Rugby Championship Test in Buenos Aires, while warning that Argentina — despite missing several European-based players — remain a dangerous proposition.
Rennie eyes Rassie's depth-building playbook as All Blacks rotate for Sharks
Rennie has confirmed heavy rotation across the tour's non-Test fixtures, citing Rassie's long-term depth-building approach as the template. The Stormers win exposed tactical rough edges, but the All Black coach is treating the tour as a squad identification exercise ahead of the first Test.
Vélez preview: Argentina's depleted hand won't stop them from making it uncomfortable — for a while
Argentina are without Montoya, Albornoz (suspended) and most of their France-based core, leaving Matera captaining four debutants against a Springbok side reloading returning Lions. The piece argues the Boks win comfortably but not as easily as a 35-point hammering would suggest — the Bomb Squad effect in the final quarter is the decisive factor, with a predicted scoreline of 46-21.
Cheslin's journey as a blueprint for the next generation
Kolbe wants his rise from Kraaifontein to world rugby's summit to serve as a lasting message to the next generation that origin doesn't determine ceiling.
Kolisi confirms hamstring recovery ahead of Argentina Test return
Siya Kolisi has declared his hamstring fit ahead of Saturday's Test against Argentina, saying two weeks of strong training have him confident for his return while warning the squad to expect a competitive Los Pumas despite their unfamiliar selection.
Dobson offers Rassie Springbok intel from Stormers' All Blacks clash
John Dobson is ready to pass on Stormers intel from their All Blacks match to Rassie Erasmus ahead of the Springboks' Rugby Championship clashes with New Zealand.
Stormers count cost of All Blacks defeat as both scrumhalves ruled out injured
The Stormers lost both scrumhalves — Imad Khan (serious knee) and Dewaldt Duvenage (broken arm) — in Friday's 21-38 defeat to the All Blacks, with Ruhan Nel also picking up a calf injury. John Dobson says he has Currie Cup cover in Stefan Ungerer and Ezekiel Ngobeni ahead of the URC season.
Fourie the standout as Stormers fall 38-21 to All Blacks in Cape Town
Deon Fourie was the standout performer — try, try assist, 13 tackles, two turnovers — as the Stormers lost 38-21 to the All Blacks at DHL Stadium, with debutant flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed also impressing on a tough night in Cape Town.
Fourie's comeback, Ahmed's arrival, and All Blacks flaws exposed ahead of Bok Tests
Fourie's comeback and Ahmed's debut were the feel-good stories, but the All Blacks' discipline (16 penalties, three yellow cards) and a struggling front-row are flagged as genuine Test-series concerns — particularly given the Springbok scrum's depth and centrality to their game.
Deon Fourie the standout as Stormers fall 38-21 to All Blacks in Cape Town
Deon Fourie starred with a try, an assist and two turnovers but the Stormers were beaten 38-21 by the All Blacks at DHL Stadium, with debutant flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed among the few other positives.
Stormers push All Blacks hard — but Bok scrum threat looms large for Rennie
Fourie's comeback and Ahmed's debut shine for the Stormers, but the bigger story for Bok fans is the All Blacks' scrum struggles and discipline — both of which could prove decisive in the Test series.
Kolisi and Stick sound the alarm ahead of Buenos Aires test
Kolisi and Stick are relishing the return of several injury-comeback players but are pulling no punches about the challenge: a fired-up home crowd and an Argentina side that's been competitive in every outing this season means the Boks will need to turn up physically and mentally from the first whistle.
Louw's Springbok return fuelled by horror injury that threatened career
Elrigh Louw will start for the Springboks against Argentina on Saturday after defying fears that a devastating knee and leg injury in January 2025 could end his career. The Bulls loose forward, who tore ligaments and broke his leg during a URC fixture, credits the motivation of wearing the green and gold again as the driving force behind his ahead-of-schedule rehabilitation. His selection at Estadio José Amalfitani marks a remarkable comeback for the 26-year-old.