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2,970 items · Springboks
Tour game chaos, a Yaqeen debut and why the All Blacks visit is structurally broken
Rich argues the All Blacks tour structure is fundamentally broken for South African club sides still in pre-season, proposes provincial/invitational alternatives, unpacks the 'best available' contractual bind facing the Stormers and Bulls, and tips Yaqeen Ahmed to make his senior Stormers debut at flyhalf against New Zealand.
Parsons: Sacha is the right 10 if the Boks want to win big
James Parsons argues that Feinberg-Mngomezulu's attacking game makes him the right Bok 10 pick for the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series — particularly if the Boks are targeting a big winning margin.
Parsons: Sacha is the right 10 if the Boks want to win big
James Parsons argues Feinberg-Mngomezulu's attacking game makes him the Bok 10 of choice for the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour — if the target is winning by a significant margin.
All Blacks arrive in South Africa for historic eight-match tour
The All Blacks touched down in South Africa this week to begin an eight-match tour, the first of its kind in 30 years. The touring party will face the DHL Stormers, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions before three Tests against the Springboks and a fourth in Baltimore.
All Blacks arrive in South Africa for first full tour in 30 years
The All Blacks have arrived in South Africa for an eight-match tour — the first since 1996 — taking in four provincial games and four Tests, with the Springbok Women also facing the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium. No SA provincial side has beaten the All Blacks on home soil since the then-Orange Free State's 15-10 victory in September 1976.
All Blacks arrive in South Africa for first tour in 30 years
The All Blacks have arrived in South Africa for their first tour in 30 years, featuring four provincial matches and four Tests — including a Springbok Women vs Black Ferns double-header — with no South African provincial side having beaten the All Blacks on home soil since 1976.
All Blacks banking on innovation — but won't abandon their DNA against the Boks
Umaga signals the All Blacks will seek tactical innovation across the four-Test series without abandoning their fast-tempo identity — but his admission that the tour also serves a longer World Cup-building agenda raises the question of whether New Zealand can afford that dual focus against a Springbok side with nothing else on their mind.
Bok XV vs Argentina predicted: Returning veterans set for minutes ahead of All Blacks series
Planet Rugby predicts an injury-returnee-heavy Bok XV against Argentina, with Etzebeth, De Jager, Kolisi, Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Hanekom all tipped to start as Erasmus uses the one-off Test to bank minutes before the All Blacks series.
All Blacks arrive in South Africa as 30-year wait for greatest rivalry tour ends
The All Blacks have arrived in South Africa for an eight-match tour — the first since 1996 — taking in four provincial fixtures, three Tests on South African soil and a fourth Test in Baltimore, with the added incentive for local franchises of ending a 50-year winless run against New Zealand at provincial level.
Rassie: Traditional All Blacks touring matches a new experience for a generation of fans
Erasmus sees the return of traditional All Blacks touring matches to SA as a landmark moment for a generation of players and fans who've never experienced it — the piece digs into why he thinks it matters.
Sam Cane names Pieter-Steph du Toit as the Springbok who stood above all others
Sam Cane, having faced two Springbok World Cup-winning generations across 16 Tests, singles out Pieter-Steph du Toit as the standout opponent — comparing his relentless physicality to Schalk Burger and his athletic profile to Brodie Retallick.
Cane reveals Rennie's Springbok blueprint — and why altitude isn't the edge everyone thinks it is
Cane reveals that Rennie built Chiefs teams around chop tacklers specifically to counter South African power, and argues that the Boks' supposed altitude advantage is largely a misconception — framing both points as directly relevant to how Rennie will set up the All Blacks for this series.
Erasmus confirms Mostert and Nche ruled out for Argentina Test
Franco Mostert and Ox Nche will miss the Springboks' one-off Test against Los Pumas in Buenos Aires, Rassie Erasmus confirmed this week. The head coach will name a 26-man travelling squad on Saturday, with several frontline players remaining in South Africa to prepare for the All Blacks series.
Rassie's Argentina squad logic: game time over rotation
Erasmus has all but named his Argentina squad — those needing game time travel, the core stays home for the All Blacks. The piece projects the likely starting XV and bench for Buenos Aires.
Rennie's 581 CPR Is a Canary in the Coal Mine — and the Boks Are the Coal Mine
Harry Jones argues that Dave Rennie's All Blacks are operating at a historically record-high CPR workload of 581 — a level he believes is structurally unsustainable against the Springboks' physicality, predicting a 3-1 series win for South Africa.
Martin Devlin: All Blacks Are Underdogs Heading Into the Greatest Rivalry Tour — But Rossi's Rotating Squad Is a Real Risk
Martin Devlin rates the All Blacks as genuine underdogs for the four-test series but warns that Rassie's rotating squad may lack the combination time needed when the heat is on — and argues the only thing that matters when the tour is done is the scoreboard.
Erasmus to release Springboks for franchise matches during RGR series — with caveats
Rassie Erasmus will release Springbok players to their franchises for All Blacks tour matches during the RGR series where squad depth allows, with his official RGR squad to be finalised after the Argentina trip. Ox Nche and Franco Mostert miss the Buenos Aires fixture, with Ntuthuko Mchunu recalled as cover.
Kitshoff's key prediction: tight-five work rate will decide the Greatest Rivalry series
Kitshoff predicts the tight-five work rate stat — a Felix Jones favourite — will be the defining factor in the Greatest Rivalry series, and breaks down why the Bok front row depth is built for exactly that battle.
Erasmus flags Savea absence and scrumhalf depth ahead of All Blacks series
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has highlighted New Zealand's decision to rest captain Ardie Savea for the opening fixtures of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour as one of the notable selection calls by All Blacks coach Dave Rennie. Erasmus also questioned the depth at scrumhalf, with only three nines selected to cover four Tests and four franchise matches across the tour.
Erasmus flags Rennie's scrumhalf call and Savea absence as early talking points
Erasmus has flagged Rennie's three-scrumhalf selection and Savea's managed absence as immediate curiosities, while revealing his own squad juggling act — where franchise fixtures against the touring All Blacks double as final Bok trials.