Lions coach Swys de Bruin is unconcerned by the number of players who have been playing overseas during the off-season, writes CRAIG LEWIS. Among a number of key squad members, the likes of Elton Jantjies, Franco Mostert, Lionel Mapoe, Warren Whiteley and Lourens Erasmus have all spent time in Japan as part of an increasingly common dual-contract that sees them… Read more →
South African rugby’s flyhalf stocks are looking a lot healthier heading into 2018, writes CRAIG LEWIS. In the midst of Western Province’s post-match celebrations following the Currie Cup final last year, there was a throwaway comment from coach John Dobson that largely slipped under the radar, but should not be overlooked. When asked about the influence of young star Damian… Read more →
CRAIG LEWIS identifies five emerging youngsters who will be worth keeping an eye on in 2018. Juarno Augustus The talented No 8 announced his arrival in no uncertain terms after he was named the World Rugby U20 Championship Player of 2017. Augustus will now be looking to make a name for himself at senior level, and he will provide the… Read more →
The Pro14 derby between the Cheetahs and Kings on 20 January is set to be Makazole Mapimpi’s final match in Bloemfontein before joining the Sharks, writes CRAIG LEWIS. A report out of Bloemfontein in December suggested Mapimpi might be remaining with the Cheetahs despite the Sharks having announced his signing in early November. However, the Sharks confirmed to SARugbymag.co.za that Mapimpi has… Read more →
CRAIG LEWIS identifies five South African players who could take the rugby world by storm in 2018. Malcolm Marx In the latest issue of SA Rugby magazine, Marx was an obvious choice for our Player of the Year award. The abrasive young hooker starred for the Lions in Super Rugby before making the No 2 jersey his own with the… Read more →
CRAIG LEWIS makes a five-point Christmas wish list of what would make for a more festive 2018 in South African rugby. New Springbok coach and approach SA Rugby will finally deliver its verdict on the future of Allister Coetzee when an annual review is completed in January. It was at the beginning of this year that Coetzee fortunately received his first… Read more →
The inevitable delays and lack of clarity around the likely restructuring of the Springbok coaching team means that expectations have to be realigned ahead of the 2018 season, writes CRAIG LEWIS. Last week, the Boks’ season review was expected to take place. With this in mind, many would have hoped for a swift process that saw Allister Coetzee’s fate signed,… Read more →
SA Rugby must strive to add a coach with a different way of thinking to the Springbok setup from next year, writes CRAIG LEWIS. Can the Boks really rebound from a period of dire stagnation to be regarded as genuine contenders when the 2019 World Cup rolls around in less than two years? Sadly, all the current signs suggest not…. Read more →
Allister Coetzee could learn his fate this week as SA Rugby conducts its review of a 2017 season that yielded just seven wins, writes CRAIG LEWIS. Towards the end of last week, SA Rugby’s executive and general councils met in Cape Town to address a range of subjects, but Coetzee’s position was not on the agenda at that time. However,… Read more →
Neil Powell says the Blitzboks’ performance against New Zealand at the Cape Town Sevens wasn’t good enough. The Blitzboks, who had beaten Fiji 31-26 in a thrilling quarter-final clash earlier in the day, lost 19-12 in their semi-final. They went on to beat Canada 19-17 in the third-place playoff, with New Zealand hammering Argentina 38-14 in the final. New Zealand… Read more →
