Join us in looking back at all the best-read stories from this past week. In this edition of our weekly digest, we recap the news about Siya Kolisi, amateur rugby’s return and more …
Schools and club rugby green-lit
SA Rugby’s executive committee has approved amateur rugby, including schools rugby, to return to training with immediate effect under strict conditions. This comes after the easing of adjusted level-three lockdown regulations, with infection rates on a downward curve. Rassie Erasmus cautions that while there’ll be excitement among schools and clubs, it is important adhere to Covid-19 protocols.
Kolisi’s move to the Sharks almost finalised
As reported on SARugbymag.co.za on Wednesday, it’s now just a matter of when – not if – Kolisi will make the move to the Durban-based side. Sharks CEO Eduard Coetzee was emphatic when speaking to this website on Wednesday, reiterating that there would no payment of a sizeable transfer fee.
Where are they now? 2009 Junior Boks
This week we looked back at the 2009 Junior Bok side and charted each player’s path since the U20 Championship where they finished in third place. The side featured some big names in both the forwards and backs, including CJ Stander, Marnus Schoeman and Robert Ebersohn.
Eddie Jones’s media spat
England coach Eddie Jones was particularly frosty following his side’s first home loss to Scotland in 38 years. The impact of the defeat (or perhaps losing ground to South Africa in the world rankings) clearly stung him and he was in a belligerent mood in the media conference that followed.
Six Nations first-round wrap
Duhan van der Merwe scored the only try in Scotland’s Six Nations opener against England. Gregor Townsend’s men opened their 2021 Six Nations account with a historic 11-6 win at Twickenham, the first in 38 years.
Scrumhalf Antoine Dupont put on an impressive show as France cruised to a 50-11 bonus-point victory over Italy in the opening game of the 2021 Six Nations in Rome on Saturday. Franco Smith’s Italy side showed good endeavour but were ultimately blown away by a classy Les Bleus outfit.
Wales ground out a 21-16 victory over a 14-man Ireland side at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff last Sunday. In an action-packed match from start to finish, the Welsh came out the victors over their Celtic neighbours after scoring two tries in a second-half comeback.
