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Rassie isn't buying into the Nations Championship bonus-point game
Erasmus has made clear the Boks aren't chasing bonus points in the Nations Championship — winning Tests and building toward the World Cup is the only metric that counts. This piece examines whether that mindset will hold across the top nations and what it means for the new competition's real-world impact.
Norton's Bok call-up wasn't luck — the numbers and the attitude back it up
Norton's Barbarians stats — 80 minutes, 100% tackle success, a try — underpin why Erasmus pulled him from the Junior World Championship. The piece builds a compelling case that this is a long-term bet on a player already embedded in Bok thinking, not a panic call.
Why Erasmus chose Norton over Van der Mescht — and what it reveals about Bok lock priorities
Erasmus explains the Norton-over-Van der Mescht call as a tactical fit decision rather than a quality judgment — the piece breaks down the Bok lock crisis and how the coaching staff are navigating it.
England adopt no-excuses stance ahead of Ellis Park Test opener
England travel for their summer tour on Wednesday with Jamie George as captain and a no-excuses stance on their demanding itinerary, as Rassie Erasmus acknowledges the difficulty of reading a Borthwick-coached England ahead of the July 4 Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park.
Norton over Van der Mescht: Erasmus explains lock call as fit, not form
Rassie Erasmus has defended Riley Norton's promotion to the Springbok squad ahead of Northampton's JJ van der Mescht, insisting the decision hinged on tactical fit rather than a judgement of quality. The 20-year-old Junior Springbok captain impressed in the 80-31 victory over the Barbarians in Gqeberha, completing 80 minutes and scoring a try. Erasmus stressed the two locks offer contrasting skill sets, with Norton's lineout leadership and mobility suiting current requirements.
Riley Norton: The numbers behind a call-up that surprised everyone but Rassie
A stat-backed case for why Norton's Bok call-up reflects genuine coaching conviction rather than desperation — and why the Erasmus/van der Mescht comparison misses the point entirely.
Watson: Kolbe is England's biggest headache — but Bok versatility is the real danger
Watson names Kolbe as England's biggest individual concern but argues the Boks' real edge is their ability to change tactical identity based on which fly-half starts — a flexibility that makes them uniquely hard to prepare for.
Contepomi's warning: Boks are dangerous precisely because attack and forward dominance now combine
Contepomi argues the Boks' real danger isn't attack or forward dominance in isolation — it's that Tony Brown's influence has made them fluent in both, with the football intelligence to switch between them at will. A sharp external read ahead of the England test.
'A young Willie le Roux' — Bok legends see a golden generation emerging
De Villiers, Burger, and Shimange identify Luan Gilomee, Zekhethelo Siyaya, and Haashim Pead as the standout talents from SA A's win over Zimbabwe, with Kolisi adding his own praise for the U20s group now training with the senior squad.
Erasmus warns: don't read England's Six Nations form into what's coming at Ellis Park
Erasmus flags England's youth-plus-experience mix as a genuine danger at Ellis Park, draws parallels between his own squad rotation and Borthwick's, and reserves particular respect for Pollock's on-field output despite the surrounding hype.
Fit over form: Why Norton got the call ahead of Van der Mescht
Erasmus explains the Norton-over-Van der Mescht call: it's a player-type decision, not a form judgment. Norton's lineout leadership, athleticism and system familiarity won out over Van der Mescht's physicality — which the Boks can cover elsewhere. A useful read for understanding how Erasmus is managing a depleted lock group.
England's tactical shape-shifting has Erasmus on edge ahead of Ellis Park opener
Gavin Rich argues that England's Six Nations struggles mask a genuine tactical evolution under Borthwick — one that has Erasmus wary ahead of the Ellis Park opener. The piece covers England's squad depth without Itoje, the threat of Henry Pollock, and why neither coach is playing for Nations Championship log points.
Die Losgemaal 25 Junie.
Ons gesels oor die Bulle se rampspoedige finaal en die Bokke wat begin speel het!
Rassie pleased with Papier's reintegration into Springbok set-up
Rassie Erasmus says Embrose Papier has integrated smoothly back into the Springbok set-up after the Bulls' URC final loss to Leinster.
Erasmus praises England threat ahead of Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park
Rassie Erasmus has expressed utmost respect for England as the Springboks prepare to host the visitors in the inaugural Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park on 4 July. The Springbok coach highlighted England's blend of youth and experience, warning his side will need to work hard to secure victory in Johannesburg.
Erasmus eyes England with genuine respect — and a clear World Cup lens
Erasmus frames the Nations Championship opener against England as a World Cup rehearsal rather than a competition to chase on the log, while offering a candid, respectful read of Borthwick's squad and drawing a pointed comparison between Henry Pollock and Siya Kolisi.
England arrive with altitude prep done and point to prove against the Boks
England arrive altitude-prepped and motivated for the Nations Championship opener, with Smith framing it as a genuine shot at history. Rassie's comments on Henry Pollock are the subplot worth tracking.
Rassie Erasmus & Siya Kolisi | Springbok Press Conference | 23 June 2026
The Springbok squad for the Nations Championship was announced over the weekend and started their preparations in Johannesburg on Monday. Rassie Erasmus and Siya Kolisi addressed the media on Tuesday as they turn their attention to the big
Smith vows England will 'leave it all out there' against Springboks
Marcus Smith says England's 36-man squad, arriving in Johannesburg on Thursday, are targeting a historic win over the Springboks in the Nations Championship opener, having trained in oxygen masks to prepare for the Highveld.
Tony Brown's arm-around-the-shoulder moment speaks louder than coaching tactics
Jean de Villiers and the Verdict panel dissect Tony Brown's quietly powerful pre-debut chat with Vusi Moyo — arguing it reveals as much about Brown's character and commitment to the Boks as any tactical contribution he's made.