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19 items · General · Analysis
End the lineout trial and ditch the first-name friendliness, says ex-refs boss
Ex-IRFU referees chief Owen Doyle calls for the crooked lineout throw trial to be scrapped at World Rugby's June meeting, and argues that referee chumminess with players is undermining discipline on the field.
Genia backs Kerevi-Suaalii axis as Australia's best weapon against the Boks
Will Genia is calling for Samu Kerevi's recall to partner Joseph Suaalii in a midfield combination he believes can match Springbok muscle at the 2027 World Cup.
Genia's World Cup blueprint: Kerevi-Suaalii midfield to match Bok muscle
Will Genia argues that recalling Samu Kerevi alongside Joseph Suaalii gives the Wallabies their best chance of matching Springbok physicality at the 2027 World Cup.
Genia backs Kerevi–Suaalii axis as Australia's best weapon against the Boks
Will Genia argues a Kerevi–Suaalii midfield combination is the clearest path for the Wallabies to close the physical gap on the Springboks before the 2027 World Cup.
Donald sees Chiefs and Hurricanes as blueprint for Rennie's All Blacks
Stephen Donald argues that the Chiefs and Hurricanes have already shown what a Dave Rennie-coached All Blacks side will look like — useful intel for Springbok fans ahead of Rugby Championship clashes.
How the Chiefs and Hurricanes Are Shaping Rennie's All Blacks Blueprint
Stephen Donald says the Chiefs and Hurricanes have already shown what Dave Rennie's All Blacks will look like — a useful heads-up for Springbok fans ahead of Rugby Championship.
Stormers and Sharks Both Stumble as URC Crunch Time Arrives
The Stormers' late capitulation against Connacht and the Sharks' loss at Ospreys are framed as warning signs about South African franchise depth, while the URC's tightening play-off race sets up several must-watch fixtures over the coming rounds.
SA franchises under the microscope as URC climax looms and Sharks hit rock bottom
The Stormers' late collapse and the Sharks' elimination from URC contention dominate Planet Rugby's weekly hot-and-not column, with Moana Pasifika's Super Rugby exit adding to a grim weekend for rugby's finances.
Graham Henry warns weak Super Rugby is an existential threat to All Blacks quality — not just a local problem
Graham Henry praises Rennie's player depth but warns that a weakened Super Rugby and geographic isolation are quietly eroding the All Blacks' development pipeline — a structural problem that goes beyond coaching.
De Villiers: Pollock's immaturity cost Northampton a Champions Cup semi-final place
Jean de Villiers argues Henry Pollock's yellow card in Northampton's Champions Cup quarter-final was a costly lapse in emotional control — and a maturity lesson the England back-rower can't afford to ignore.
Wright's ACL return could reignite Brumbies' back-three threat
RugbyPass argues Tom Wright's return from the ACL he suffered against the Springboks is the Brumbies' most important mid-season development — and a reminder of what they've been missing in the back three.
Larkham sees silver lining in Super Rugby's shrinking footprint
Stephen Larkham argues that losing another Super Rugby franchise is less a crisis and more a chance to build a tighter, stronger competition — but is that spin or genuine strategy?
SA Coaching Blueprint Goes Global as Van Graan's Bath Near Champions Cup Glory
Van Graan's Bath are in the Champions Cup semi-finals using a recognisable Erasmus-style blueprint, and the piece maps just how deeply South African coaches and players have taken hold of European club rugby's elite tier.
SA coaching fingerprints all over European rugby's final four
Bath's Champions Cup semifinal run is the headline, but the bigger story is how thoroughly South African coaches and players now shape European rugby's elite — with five SA coaches in the last four and Van Graan's Erasmus-inspired finishing strategy at the centre of it.
SA Coaching Fingerprints All Over European Rugby's Business End
With five SA coaches and SA-born captains leading clubs in the Champions Cup semis, this piece argues that Erasmus-style coaching philosophy is now driving European rugby's elite clubs — Bath's stunning comeback win over Northampton the latest proof.
Player drain the defining obstacle to SA's European ambitions
Using the Champions Cup quarterfinals as a lens, this piece argues that the relentless export of experienced players — illustrated by Van Rhyn captaining Sale and three locks leaving SA in a single week — remains the fundamental barrier to SA franchises mounting a serious European title challenge.
The Fainga'anuku hybrid debate: tactical masterstroke or set-piece gamble for the All Blacks?
Former All Blacks are divided over whether Fainga'anuku's hybrid role gives the All Blacks a genuine counter to the Bomb Squad or a set-piece liability they can't afford at Test level.
JJ van der Mescht: The Springbok Giant Making Waves at Northampton
JJ van der Mescht is a 23-stone lock with the skills of a backs player — and South Africa have already taken notice, calling him into an alignment squad ahead of the July Tests against England, Scotland and Wales.
Super Rugby Pacific Could Lose Another Team Ahead of 2026 Season
A Super Rugby Pacific franchise is reportedly facing the axe ahead of the 2026 season, sources suggest.