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Smith and Van Heerden additions are about managing De Jager, not just plugging gaps
The Smith and Van Heerden call-ups are primarily about protecting De Jager's return from hip surgery ahead of the England Tests — Davids has outlined clear role distinctions for both new locks, and the piece frames the resourcing decisions as deliberate load management rather than injury panic.
Cheslin Kolbe v Aaron Smith 😱#rugby
Cheslin Kolbe v Aaron Smith 😱#rugby
Le Roux: Bulls must survive the Leinster blitz to have any chance in Dublin
Le Roux flags the opening 20 minutes as make-or-break in Dublin, revisits last year's early-try meltdown, and explains why the Pollard partnership and the Bulls' hard-luck resilience story give them an outside shot — but only if they survive the Leinster blitz.
Davids and De Villiers relishing double-header build-up ahead of Gqeberha season openers
Deon Davids and Paul de Villiers spoke to media on Monday ahead of Saturday's Gqeberha double-header, with SA 'A' facing Zimbabwe at 12h00 and the Springboks meeting the Barbarians at 15h00. The squad trains in Johannesburg until Wednesday before travelling to the Eastern Cape for captains' runs.
Smith called up as Boks manage De Jager's return to full fitness
Stormers lock Adre Smith has been added to the Springbok squad primarily to allow Lood de Jager, returning from hip surgery, to build match fitness gradually ahead of the England Tests, with assistant coach Deon Davids confirming the lock depth has become a squad-planning priority following Salmaan Moerat's release through injury.
Gelant and Van der Merwe set for first reunion since Outeniqua High in Barbarians clash
Warrick Gelant and Duhan van der Merwe are set to share a field for the first time since Outeniqua High School when the Barbarians face the Springboks in Gqeberha on July 20.
Smith's call-up is really about managing De Jager's return
Smith's Bok call-up is primarily about protecting De Jager's return from hip surgery, with the coaching staff building enough lock cover to avoid rushing him into the England series before he's ready.
Lock depth crisis or overcrowding? The Bok second row picture before England arrives
Rich maps the Springbok lock depth picture — persistent injuries, the Barbarians squad call-ups of Van Heerden and Smith, and why this week's fixtures matter for World Cup preparation — while flagging Schickerling's continued absence as an overlooked gap.
Rassie's 2031 masterplan is already in motion
Cardinelli traces the through-line from Erasmus's 2022 SA 'A' experiment to the current blooding cycle, arguing the squad-building process is now a structured long-term programme targeting 2027 and 2031 — with a compelling look at who the next generation of Bok stalwarts might be.
Family separation the final catalyst for Kolbe's Stormers return
Cheslin Kolbe says his son barely recognising him after six months apart was the moment he knew he had to return to South Africa, with the winger acknowledging he took a substantial financial cut to re-sign with the Stormers through to 2029.
Du Preez rules out retirement, targets return in pre-season
Jean-Luc du Preez has rubbished retirement speculation, saying his concussion symptoms have improved significantly and that he is targeting a return for Bordeaux-Bègles' pre-season starting end of July, with Rassie Erasmus confirming him as unavailable for 2026 but in the mix for 2027.
Le Roux on De Bruin: freedom, fresh ideas, and the Bulls' attacking turnaround
Le Roux unpacks how Neil de Bruin's arrival transformed the Bulls' attack — collaborative coaching, player freedom, and a pre-existing trust with Ackermann all feature as the Bulls prepare for the URC Final ranked No.1 on attack.
Nienaber's Leinster fallout opens door for Springbok return
A senior SA Rugby administrator believes Erasmus will engineer a return for Nienaber — either as a post-2027 assistant or in an earlier technical advisor role modelled on Eddie Jones's 2007 involvement — with the piece mapping out exactly how that fits around the existing backroom structure.
Erasmus to name first Springbok matchday 23 of 2026 on Tuesday as Gqeberha double-header looms
Erasmus names his first Springbok matchday 23 of 2026 on Tuesday ahead of the Gqeberha double-header, where SA A face Zimbabwe at 12:00 SAST before the Boks take on the Barbarians at 15:00 SAST on Saturday, 20 June.
Scarra's message to SA's next wave ahead of All Blacks test
Ntubeni is urging SA's young players to seize the All Blacks opportunity as a career-defining benchmark — the full piece covers his reasoning.
Jean de Villiers and Shimmy Make the Case for a Bok B-Team at the Nations Cup
Jean de Villiers argued South Africa should consider a Bok B-team for the Nations Cup to give the first-choice squad a genuine mental break heading into a World Cup year, while Shimmy countered that the trophy is too valuable to concede.
Mallett: Brown's All Blacks deal changes nothing about his Springbok commitment
Mallett makes a measured case that Brown's pre-announced All Blacks move is a non-issue for Springbok preparations — but the potential RWC 2027 quarter-final collision adds an awkward edge to that confidence.
Adre Smith called up to bolster Springbok lock stocks ahead of Gqeberha double-header
Stormers lock Adre Smith has been called into the expanded Springbok squad ahead of the June 20 double-header in Gqeberha, joining fellow Stormers forward Ruben van Heerden who linked up with the group last week.
Mallett backs Imad Khan as a genuine Bok bolter
Mallett singles out Imad Khan — who stepped in for the injured Reinach and impressed against Leinster — as a credible Bok bolter, while crediting Erasmus's large squad culture as deliberate long-term environment-building rather than mere depth cover.
Adre Smith called into Springbok squad ahead of Gqeberha double-header
Adre Smith has been called into the Springbok squad ahead of the 20 June double-header in Gqeberha, joining Ruben van Heerden as a second Stormers lock added to the expanded group.