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50 Test caps | Damian Willemse and Cheslin Kolbe
Nothing by pride for two selfless, humble and hard-working #Springboks 💚💛 #ForeverGreenForeverGold
England deploy hypoxic training and breathwork protocols ahead of Ellis Park Test
England have prepared for Ellis Park's altitude by training with hypoxic generators set to around 3,500 metres — double the Johannesburg elevation — and implementing structured breathwork protocols ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship opener against the Springboks.
Mike Brown on Ellis Park, Eddie Jones's braai simulation, and what England's altitude gamble cost them in 2018
Brown revisits the comedy and folly of England's 2018 Ellis Park trip — Jones's braai roleplay, the altitude collapse after a 24-3 lead — and argues the current squad's Six Nations pain could be the making of them, much like 2015 was.
Schalk Brits questions Rassie Erasmus' fly-half cover for England clash
Former Springbok hooker Schalk Brits has raised concerns over the absence of a recognised fly-half on the bench for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against England. With Handré Pollard omitted from the matchday 23 and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu injured, Manie Libbok will start at 10 with limited replacement options should a change be required.
Brits questions Pollard omission: what happens if Libbok goes down?
Brits supports Libbok's selection but challenges the logic of dropping Pollard from the matchday 23 altogether — arguing the Boks have left themselves dangerously exposed at 10 if Libbok goes down against England.
The fear that keeps Rassie going — and greying
Nel profiles the psychological engine behind Erasmus's coaching drive — not fear of defeat itself, but fear of extinguishing the national togetherness Springbok success has built. Mallett adds historical perspective on the toll the job takes, while Erasmus reflects candidly on the off-season void and what camp genuinely means to him.
Tindall and May's blunt Bok warning: England are walking into a war
Tindall and May draw on bitter personal experience to warn that England — already four Tests down — are walking into exactly the kind of brutal, attritional war that the current Bok side specialises in.
Jones makes the case: England's overseas exile policy is costing them dearly — and Willis is the proof
Jones argues England walk into Ellis Park unnecessarily weakened by the RFU's overseas selection ban, with Willis — just named Top 14 Player of the Season — as the defining case study, while holding up South Africa's approach as the smarter model.
Mike Brown on Ellis Park, altitude folly, and what England must get right this time
Brown revisits England's shambolic 2018 Ellis Park prep — Jones's fake-braai simulation, the altitude gamble that backfired, and the 42-39 collapse from 24-3 up. He draws a direct line to the current tour, arguing that adversity, properly absorbed, is exactly what this England group needs.
The fear that keeps Rassie going — and ageing
Erasmus opens up on what really drives him — not a fear of losing, but a fear of losing the national togetherness Bok success has created. Nick Mallett adds perspective on the toll the job takes, and the piece paints a fuller picture of how Erasmus stays motivated heading into a potential historic third consecutive World Cup campaign.
Schalk Brits: Pollock will get 'a lot of spice' at Ellis Park
Brits rates Pollock highly but warns Ellis Park will test him — and the back row collision between the two sides shapes up as the match's defining contest.
Cravenweek en daarna
Ons gesels oor die Cravenweek wat tans aan die gang is en ook oor die verskillende roetes wat splers kan volg om by professionele rugby uit te kom.
Nations Championship: what Bok fans need to know
The Nations Championship launches 4 July with South Africa vs England as one of the marquee openers — the linked piece covers the format and structure of this new cross-hemisphere competition.
Fassi heads to Japan on sabbatical as Sharks full-back joins Brave Lupus for 2027 season
Aphelele Fassi will join Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo for the 2027 Rugby League One season on a sabbatical, having signed a new deal to remain at the Sharks long-term. The Springbok full-back is part of a triple signing alongside Scotland's Jack Dempsey and ex-All Black David Havili, who have both committed permanently to the Japanese club.
Coles, Kolisi and what England might not grasp about Springbok identity
Using Alex Coles's unusual off-field curiosity — including a conversation he sought with Kolisi on racial unity — Robert Kitson questions whether England genuinely grasp the meaning that drives Springbok rugby, and what England's own sense of purpose looks like by comparison.
Rassie on scrum feeds: better enforcement coming, but context will still matter
Erasmus draws on World Rugby's 'Shape of the Game' conference to explain why scrum-feed policing is nuanced rather than negligent — and what will actually be clamped down on.
Springboks edge EPIC game 🤩 | England v South Africa | Rugby World Cup 2023 | Full Match Replay
Ahead of South Africa v England in the 2026 Nations Cup, we look back on one of their most famous encounters, where the Spingboks edged out their old rivals in a classic during the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Paris.
Du Toit's Premiership years give Boks an inside edge on England
Erasmus is using Du Toit's Premiership experience as a key intelligence source, while warning that England's poor Six Nations form is no guide to what the Boks face Saturday — a theme the piece explores through Erasmus's own words on form, altitude, and tactical unpredictability.
Coles relishes Etzebeth and Nortjé challenge as England prepare for Ellis Park opener
England lock Alex Coles has spoken of his excitement at facing Eben Etzebeth and Ruan Nortjé in Saturday's Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park. The Northampton Saints forward, set to deputise for the absent Maro Itoje, described the Springbok pair as among the world's best and views the fixture as an opportunity to stake his claim for a regular starting role under Steve Borthwick.
Fassi heads to Japan on sabbatical as Sharks full-back joins Brave Lupus triple signing
Aphelele Fassi joins Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo on sabbatical for the 2027 Rugby League One season, with Scotland's Jack Dempsey and ex-All Black David Havili signing permanent deals at the same club.