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Half-empty Ellis Park exposes the real cost of Springbok Test rugby
With Ellis Park half-empty ahead of the England Test, Jan de Koning unpacks why — steep ticket pricing, urban decay around the venue, and stretched consumer wallets are doing more damage than SARU's Iran-war explanation suggests.
Erasmus backs Porthen as long-term Louw successor ahead of England Test
Erasmus has publicly backed Zachary Porthen as the long-term successor to Wilco Louw at tighthead, with Louw rested for personal reasons ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship opener against England at Ellis Park.
Rassie Erasmus and Damian De Allende | Springbok Team Announcement | 29 June 2026
The Springbok team for the first Test of 2026 was announced on Monday, 29 June. Check out what Rassie Erasmus had to say about his selections and the opposition, while Damian De Allende, who is closing in on his 100th Test cap, also had a f
Rassie Erasmus and Damian De Allende | Springbok Team Announcement | 29 June 2026
The Springbok team for the first Test of 2026 was announced on Monday, 29 June. Check out what Rassie Erasmus had to say about his selections and the opposition, while Damian De Allende, who is closing in on his 100th Test cap, also had a f
Why Porthen over Louw is smarter than it looks
Porthen's tighthead bench selection over Louw comes down to scrumming form in camp, a mobility match-up against England's younger side, and Louw needing time to recover from a bruising personal and physical stretch — Nel breaks down Erasmus's full selection logic, including the Libbok call and the lockless bench.
Rassie banks on Northampton's DNA shaping England's Nations Championship game plan
Erasmus expects England's Saints-heavy squad to dictate an expansive, attacking approach at Ellis Park — a read that's already shaped his bench selection. The piece unpacks the logic and what it means for Saturday's Nations Championship opener.
Bok Women back training intensity to bridge competitive gap against USA in historic Johannesburg Test
Assistant coach Franzel September says the Springbok Women's training intensity over recent weeks will offset the USA's competitive advantage ahead of Saturday's historic first Test between the two sides on South African soil in Johannesburg. Byrhandré Dolf is set to step back from kicking duties, with Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Jakkie Cilliers expected to take on that responsibility.
Rassie's England selection: power up front, but the second half could tell a different story
Erasmus has named his strongest available pack to target England's scrum and maul from kick-off, but Cardinelli argues the real tactical intrigue lies on the bench — with Hanekom, Van Staden and a revised front-row rotation signalling a planned second-half tempo shift. Williams and Libbok also face a genuine audition running the show from the start.
Springboks could lose world No.1 ranking on Nations Championship opening weekend
The Boks' world No.1 ranking, intact since September, faces its first real test on the opening weekend of the Nations Championship — the piece breaks down exactly how they could be knocked off top spot.
SuperSport giving away tickets to Bok matches across 2026 season
SuperSport is giving away tickets to nearly every Springbok fixture in 2026 — from the home Nations Championship and Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series to the November tour and London finals — as part of a DStv Premium subscriber draw.
Libbok gets his chance, Porthen earns his stripes — but Pollard's omission is the real story
Libbok starts, Porthen's future looks bright, and Etzebeth is back — but the real talking point is Pollard not making the 23 at all, with Erasmus choosing no specialist bench playmaker for the Nations Championship opener against England.
Libbok starts, Van der Merwe dropped despite four tries — Bok squad winners and losers dissected
Libbok starts at 10, Van der Merwe is dropped despite four tries against the Barbarians, and Pollard doesn't even make the 23 — Planet Rugby breaks down the key winners and losers from the Springbok squad named for the Nations Championship opener against England.
Libbok gets his shot, Porthen earns the hype — but Pollard's omission is the real talking point
A squad breakdown for the England Nations Championship opener — Libbok starts at 10, Porthen is tipped for a long future, but Pollard's total omission despite SFM's injury is the headline call worth examining.
Kitshoff explains how Erasmus gets Bok players to buy into his 5% moments
Kitshoff breaks down Erasmus's buy-in formula: 95% orthodox prep, 5% targeted innovation framed around manufacturing mismatches and unfair advantages — with Nyakane adding that the novelty also keeps the squad stimulated in training.
Kitshoff pulls back the curtain on Erasmus's 5% philosophy
Kitshoff reveals Erasmus frames trick plays as just 5% of weekly prep, selling each one on the specific mismatch it creates — with Nyakane adding that the novelty keeps players sharp in training and unpredictable on match day.
Nyakane and Kitshoff on why Pollock will get a cold welcome — and a thorough game-plan
Nyakane explains why Pollock's social media persona will land badly with conservative South African crowds, while Kitshoff points to Felix Jones's inside knowledge of England as the Boks' edge in neutralising Pollock and the Smiths at Ellis Park.
Nyakane: South African rugby culture means Pollock will get a cold reception — on and off the field
Nyakane and Kitshoff unpack why Pollock's persona will grate with conservative South African rugby culture — and why Felix Jones's inside knowledge of England's setup gives the Boks an analytical edge in neutralising him at Ellis Park.
Norton's Test debut dashed by Grade Three hamstring tear ahead of England opener
Riley Norton's Springbok debut against England on Saturday has been ended by a Grade Three hamstring tear sustained in training, with Rassie Erasmus confirming an eight-to-ten week recovery. The injury compounds South Africa's second-row problems, with Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager also unavailable.
Norton's Test debut dashed by Grade Three hamstring tear as Bok lock stocks thin further
Riley Norton's Test debut against England has been ended by a Grade Three hamstring tear sustained in training, with Rassie Erasmus estimating an eight-to-ten week recovery. The injury deepens South Africa's second-row crisis, with Mostert and De Jager also unavailable.
Libbok gets the nod at flyhalf for England Test opener
Manie Libbok starts at flyhalf for the Springboks against England at Ellis Park in the opening Nations Championship Test on Saturday.