Back-row race heating up

JON CARDINELLI picks his 31-man World Cup squad, exactly four months before the Springboks’ first fixture against the All Blacks in Yokohama.

Three key points from past weekend

CRAIG LEWIS identifies some of the good, the bad and the ugly to take away from round 14 of Vodacom Super Rugby.

Kiwi kings remain a class apart

The past four weeks have shown why the Crusaders remain a cut above the South African teams on attack and defence, writes JON CARDINELLI.

Folau fiasco could have been avoided

The game will be poorer without the talents of Israel Folau, but the entire saga is a lesson in the importance of open dialogue and tolerance over sensitive subjects, writes JOHN GOLIATH.

Name and shame

The controversial subject of the Crusaders’ possible name change has to be addressed through thoughtful dialogue between the parties on either side of this issue, writes RYAN VREDE.

Incredible Koch delivers timely reminder

Vincent Koch’s titanic performance in the Champions Cup final has given Rassie Erasmus the right kind of selection headache, writes JON CARDINELLI.

‘Officiating went Lions’ way’

What NICK MALLETT had to say on SuperSport about the Vodacom Super Rugby games involving the Sharks and Lions.

SA teams need defensive intervention

South Africa’s best teams and players need to rethink their approach to defence sooner rather than later, writes JON CARDINELLI.

Curwin comes of age in Christchurch

Curwin Bosch’s composed performance against the Crusaders should give Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus food for thought, writes JON CARDINELLI.

Coetzee deserves Bok shot

Marcell Coetzee deserves the opportunity to play himself into the Springboks’ World Cup squad by featuring in the shortened Rugby Championship, writes DYLAN JACK.