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Bulls humiliated again: Springbok pedigree counts for nothing as Leinster make history
Planet Rugby's five takeaways from Leinster's 36-7 URC Final win argue that the Bulls' Springbok-heavy side showed none of their world-class pedigree when it mattered, with Prendergast outplaying Pollard, Gibson-Park outclassing Papier, and a disciplinary collapse gifting Leinster the contest inside half an hour.
Bulls rated: Pollard's horror final, Hanekom's heroics and a squad that flattered to deceive
A scathing player-by-player verdict on the Bulls' fourth URC Final loss — Pollard and Moodie are roasted, Hanekom earns rare praise, and the ratings raise pointed questions about a systemic defensive flaw running through the squad.
Why Horn at 10 makes sense — and what Esterhuizen brings to the equation
De Villiers and Burger back Horn to do a job at 10, but frame it as depth-building with the Bok pack expected to do the heavy lifting — and Esterhuizen positioned as the pressure release if Horn's game management is tested.
Tshituka calls on forwards to unlock SA 'A' backline against Zimbabwe
SA 'A' captain Vincent Tshituka says the forwards must secure front-foot ball to unleash a backline of largely uncapped talent when the team hosts Zimbabwe at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, with Lukhanyo Am providing the experienced anchor in a squad that includes 21 uncapped players.
Quan Horn at 10, Du Toit's return, and an 18-point Bok win predicted — Boks v Barbarians preview
Quan Horn's surprise start at fly-half headlines a Boks v Barbarians preview that also tracks Du Toit's comeback, Kolbe's kicking duties, and whether the Barbarians can make a better fist of it than last year's 54-7 Cape Town hammering. An 18-point Bok win is predicted.
Kolisi treats Barbarians clash as a full Test match ahead of Gqeberha opener
Siya Kolisi insists the Springboks are treating Saturday's Barbarians clash in Gqeberha as a full Test match, with internal competition, positional battles and the season opener's importance all cited as the camp's driving forces.
Kolisi dismisses exhibition label ahead of Barbarians clash in Gqeberha
Siya Kolisi insists the Springboks are treating Saturday's Barbarians match in Gqeberha as a full Test match, with squad positions at stake and a difficult pre-season camp behind them.
Kolisi and Tshituka ready for serious business in Gqeberha double-header
Kolisi insists the Barbarians match is no festival occasion as the Springboks open their international season in Gqeberha, while SA 'A' captain Vincent Tshituka warns against underestimating a Zimbabwe side motivated by their 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification.
Quan Horn at 10, five uncapped players, and a Barbarians side built to cause problems
Erasmus uses the Barbarians match to trial Horn at 10, blood five uncapped players, and stress-test new combinations — while Robertson's Barbarians arrive with enough firepower to make it a genuine contest.
Quan Horn at 10, two uncapped starters — Boks open 2026 against a loaded Bab's side
Quan Horn starts at flyhalf, Riley Norton and Carlu Sadie get their first senior run-outs, and the Barbarians arrive with Robertson, Perenara and Duhan van der Merwe — Rugby365 previews Saturday's Gqeberha fixture with full teams and a prediction.
Horn at 10, fresh faces, and a Barbarians side built to embarrass — what to expect in Gqeberha
Horn's shift to flyhalf headlines the Bok selection, with Norton and Sadie also in the spotlight. The Barbarians — coached by Robertson and Contepomi — carry real attacking threat, and Erasmus is treating it as a serious contest. Rugby365 tips the Boks by 15.
Brown's exit 'well handled' — but SA Rugby's succession playbook is the real story
Burger, De Villiers and Shimange see Brown's All Blacks move as manageable, with the early confirmation allowing SA Rugby to run its succession playbook — bring in a replacement early, let them learn from Brown before he goes, just as Flannery did ahead of 2023.
Burger and De Villiers back 'well handled' Brown exit — and see a silver lining for the Boks
Burger, De Villiers and Shimange back the handling of Tony Brown's All Blacks announcement, with Burger pointing to a succession plan modelled on the Flannery blueprint and De Villiers arguing early transparency beats a rumour surfacing at World Cup knockout stage.
Burger, De Villiers and Shimange back 'well handled' Brown departure
Burger, De Villiers and Shimange back the transparency of Brown's early announcement, with Burger flagging the succession opportunity it creates and De Villiers dismissing concerns about a coaching information freeze before Brown departs.
Nacewa pushes back on Irish media's Nienaber narrative
Nacewa defends Nienaber as a respected and valued addition to Leinster's coaching group, directly contradicting the Irish media narrative — De Koning uses it to argue the coverage has been more personal attack than informed analysis.
Mallett: Robertson's Barbarians role is breathing space, not redemption
Mallett argues Robertson's Barbarians role is about recovery, not reinvention — and expects the Boks to win comfortably in Gqeberha.
SA 'A' v Zimbabwe: Stick eyes Bok-ready backs as Am looks to rebuild his case
Stick is using SA 'A' v Zimbabwe to audition Bok-system backs — with Lukhanyo Am's fading Test standing and a promising back three headlining the selection story.
Bulls handed Stormers blueprint as Rassie and Mallett chart path to URC glory
The Vodacom Bulls head into Friday's United Rugby Championship final at Croke Park armed with a template laid out by their Cape Town rivals. Rassie Erasmus and Nick Mallett both point to the DHL Stormers' physical semi-final display against Leinster as proof the Irish province can be rattled—provided the Bulls avoid the discipline lapses that cost their countrymen. With eight consecutive wins and Handré Pollard steering the ship, Johan Ackermann's side arrive in Dublin with momentum and belief.
Gqeberha double-header: What Erasmus is really looking for on Saturday
Gavin Rich unpacks the Gqeberha double-header as a deliberate personnel exercise: Quan Horn auditions at flyhalf for a six/two bench role ahead of the All Blacks series, Riley Norton gets early senior exposure, and the SA A curtain-raiser doubles as a star-watch for the next generation — all before England arrive in two weeks.
Gqeberha double-header: depth audit or confidence builder?
Rich analyses the Gqeberha double-header as a depth audit ahead of the serious international season — with Horn at flyhalf, Norton at lock, and a raft of near-debutants in the A side all auditioning against limited opposition.