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Mnebelele named Junior Bok captain as title defence begins in Georgia
Hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele has been appointed captain of the Junior Springboks ahead of their World Rugby U20 Championship title defence in Georgia. The former King Edward's pupil takes over the armband after Riley Norton and Vusi Moyo were called up to the senior Springbok squad for the Nations Championship.
Mnebelele ready to lead Junior Boks into World Championship title defence
Siphosethu Mnebelele takes over as Junior Bok captain following Norton and Moyo's Springbok call-ups, with SA opening their U20 World Championship title defence against Uruguay in Georgia on Saturday.
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.
Springbok Women target top-ten breakthrough ahead of USA Test
The Springbok Women have set their sights on breaking into the world's top ten in 2026, building on their quarter-final appearance at the last Women's Rugby World Cup. Hooker Micke Gunter, speaking from the squad's Stellenbosch camp, outlined the team's ambition to elevate standards ahead of their first home Test of the year against the USA at Ellis Park next weekend.
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.
Bok Women targeting top-ten rankings push ahead of USA test at Ellis Park
Gunter frames the USA test as the opening move in a deliberate 2026 rankings push, with a high-intensity Stellenbosch camp and clear ambitions to go further than the World Cup quarter-final run suggested.
'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.
Springbok Women targeting top-10 climb after World Cup breakthrough
Gunter sets the tone for the Springbok Women's 2026 ambitions — not just holding a top-10 ranking but pushing higher — with the USA test at Ellis Park next weekend serving as the first real measure of where this squad stands.
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!
Lake confirmed as Wales captain for Nations Championship, including Springbok clash
Dewi Lake has been confirmed as Wales captain for the Nations Championship, including their match against South Africa, after Jac Morgan's shoulder injury opened the door during the November 2025 series.
Gunter calls on Springbok Women to lift rankings push ahead of USA Test
Micke Gunter says the Springbok Women are targeting a further climb up the world rankings in 2026, with the squad's first home Test of the year against eighth-ranked USA at Ellis Park the opening opportunity.
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.
Mnebelele takes Junior Bok captaincy as squad arrives in Georgia
Siphosethu Mnebelele has been appointed captain of the Junior Springboks following the promotion of Riley Norton and Vusi Moyo to the senior Springbok squad for the Nations Championship. The SA U20s arrived in Tbilisi on Tuesday ahead of their World Rugby U20 Championship opener against Uruguay on Saturday.
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.