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De Klerk brace fires Cheetahs to bonus-point victory over Sharks XV
Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk scored twice and wing Prince Nkabinde claimed a hat-trick as the Toyota Free State Cheetahs defeated the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV 43-21 in Bloemfontein on Friday. The bonus-point victory lifted the Cheetahs to the top of the Carling Currie Cup standings after two rounds.
Nkabinde hat-trick and De Klerk brace power Cheetahs past Sharks XV in Bloemfontein
Nkabinde scored three and De Klerk two as the Cheetahs claimed a bonus-point victory over the Sharks XV in Bloemfontein.
Mallett offers insight into Papier's omission from Springbok squad
Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has suggested that Embrose Papier's exclusion from the squad for the upcoming Tests against Argentina and New Zealand relates to tempo rather than individual quality. The Bulls scrum-half, who earned his first cap since 2018 against Scotland in July, has been released back to his franchise despite strong recent form.
Mallett: Kolisi and De Villiers aren't interchangeable — but Siya needs a big one
Mallett pushes back on the idea that De Villiers makes Kolisi redundant, framing them as complementary rather than competing types — but issues a clear warning that Kolisi must perform against Argentina to hold his place ahead of the All Blacks series.
Mallett's theory on why Jantjies edged Papier out of Erasmus's squad
Mallett breaks down Papier's squad snub, arguing 'wiele' is about breakdown tempo rather than pace in hand — and why Jantjies fits Erasmus's system better right now.
Mallett: Kolisi and De Villiers aren't interchangeable — but Siya needs a big one against Argentina
Mallett argues Kolisi and De Villiers are stylistically complementary rather than directly interchangeable, but warns Kolisi must perform against Argentina or risk losing his place ahead of the All Blacks series.
Du Toit, De Villiers and Wiese headline Bok July player ratings
De Koning sifts the stats from a heavily rotated July series to identify Du Toit, Paul de Villiers and Wiese as the Boks' three standout performers — with De Villiers's ball-carrying numbers and Wiese's late-series impact the most compelling findings.
Fan verdict: Who lines up at 12 to partner Kriel against the All Blacks?
With Kriel seemingly locked in at 13, fans are debating which inside centre earns the 12 jersey for the All Blacks series — Hermanus surveys the contenders.
Tshituka on xenophobia, citizenship delays, and earning his Springbok place
Tshituka speaks about the pain of watching xenophobic unrest as a naturalised South African, the bureaucratic delays that nearly derailed his Springbok dream, and the specific areas of his game he knows must improve if he's to hold his place in the squad.
Mallett: Jantjies pick is about the Boks, not the player
Mallett argues the Jantjies selection over Papier is a systems call, not a talent call — worth reading for his breakdown of what the Bok structure demands from the position.
Mallett: Kolisi's No.6 jersey is no longer guaranteed
Mallett warns that Kolisi returns from injury to a genuine battle for the No.6 jersey, with De Villiers having staked his claim in his absence.
Big Jim backs the All Blacks to rough up Eben and dominate the set-piece
Jim Hamilton tips the All Blacks to beat the Boks in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series, citing their set-piece quality and physical edge as the difference-makers.
Big Jim backs All Blacks' 'mongrel' to crack the Bok set piece
Jim Hamilton backs the All Blacks' set-piece and 'mongrel' to overcome Etzebeth and the Bok pack in the upcoming series.
Burger identifies the aerial game as the All Blacks' untested vulnerability ahead of the series
Burger argues the All Blacks haven't been tested aerially or at set-piece yet this season — two areas where the Boks expect to dominate — while acknowledging Rennie's expansive game could stretch the Bok defence in ways France and Ireland didn't.
Karoo dreams and Bok ambitions: Getting to know Abraam Venter
A Q&A with Bok tighthead Abraam Venter covers his Edinburgh years, his return to SA, and his ambitions for the season ahead — a quick personality read on one of the Boks' more interesting front-row options.
Fitzpatrick: Beat the Boks in their backyard and the World Cup takes care of itself
Fitzpatrick argues that winning the Greatest Rivalry series in South Africa is the perfect World Cup springboard — and while he rates the Boks as the world's best, he sees a genuine opportunity for the All Blacks if they raise their game from Nations Championship levels.
RWC Draw a Farce, Nations Championship Flawed — But Bok Dominance Is the Real Story
Rich argues the Nations Championship has confirmed a clear global top three — Boks, All Blacks, France — but exposes a spectacular flaw in the RWC 2027 draw that will see those sides eliminate each other before the final. He also targets Borthwick's lack of ambition and questions the Championship's travel demands and home-game authenticity.
Rassie signals generational shift with tribute to Springbok old guard
Rassie Erasmus has posted a video tribute to the Springbok old guard, from Paul Roos to Siya Kolisi, describing the post as a thank you and suggesting the team is entering a new generational era.
Fitzpatrick: Beat the Boks in SA and the World Cup takes care of itself
Fitzpatrick argues a Greatest Rivalry series win in South Africa would be the perfect World Cup launch pad for the All Blacks — while rating the Springboks as the clear world number one and questioning how they'll handle that target on their backs.
RWC draw a farce, Nations Championship flawed, and Borthwick on borrowed time
Rich argues the 2027 RWC draw has set up a catastrophic bracket where the Boks, All Blacks and France will cancel each other out before the final, while also questioning Borthwick's boldness and skewering the Nations Championship's travel demands.