The Springbok coaching team, as well as the players must be held accountable for the worst Test performance in South African rugby history, writes JON CARDINELLI. The Boks went down 57-0 to the All Blacks in Albany this past Saturday to record their heaviest defeat in 126 years. Afterwards, former Bok captain Jean de Villiers denounced the performance as a new… Read more →
The Springboks’ blowout against the All Blacks on Saturday is simply a microcosm of a far greater problem facing South African rugby, writes CRAIG LEWIS. In the lead-up to the Test in Albany, there were some futile attempts to hype up the clash as a potentially competitive battle between two great rivals. Understandably, a passionate South African rugby public wants to… Read more →
Allister Coetzee and Brendan Venter’s comments since the Springboks’ record 57-0 loss to the All Blacks are as concerning as the performance itself, writes SIMON BORCHARDT. On Saturday, the Boks suffered their biggest defeat in 126 years of Test rugby. They conceded eight tries, and could not score any points themselves. They were humiliated. Yet in his TV interview directly after the match… Read more →
Former Ireland fullback Girvan Dempsey believes that Rassie Erasmus’ return to South Africa will aid the struggling Springboks, reports JON CARDINELLI. In late June, SA Rugby confirmed the worst-kept secret in the country. Erasmus will leave Irish club Munster at the end of 2017 and take up a director of rugby position (officially) at SA Rugby on 1 January 2018. The… Read more →
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee is set to recall veteran flanker Francois Louw ahead of the home Tests against Australia and New Zealand. The Boks are already without loose forwards Warren Whiteley and Duane Vermeulen. Jaco Kriel sustained a shoulder injury in the recent match against Australia and missed the clash against New Zealand as a result. Coetzee may need to… Read more →
Jaco Kriel will undergo a shoulder operation on Tuesday that will rule him out of action for six months. The Lions and Bok flank sustained the injury during the Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies in Perth on 9 September. Kriel will miss the Boks’ end-of-year tour, which includes matches against Ireland, France, Italy and Wales, and could also miss… Read more →
Changes to the backline are non-negotiable but the Springboks have no clear long-term solutions at scrumhalf and are thin in several other positions, writes JON CARDINELLI. Nick Mallett was more sad than mad in the wake of South Africa’s record defeat to the All Blacks in Albany last Saturday. In his post-match analysis on SuperSport, the former Bok coach lamented the… Read more →
A win over Ireland will see England clinch the tier-one record for successive Test wins, while completing consecutive Grand Slams, writes CRAIG LEWIS.
England coach Eddie Jones has dismissed compliments from Steve Hansen, by comparing the All Blacks boss to the wolf in the Little Red Riding Hood fairytale.
George North scored a brace as Wales beat Ireland 22-9 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Friday. MARIETTE ADAMS reports.
