Kwaai Kolbe puts in another stunner

Cheslin Kolbe is hands-down South Africa’s most valuable player, and much of the Springboks’ success will depend on him staying fit and doing what he’s been doing. The twinkle-toed 31-year-old stepped his way past five defenders in his 80-minute shift against the...

Les Bleus sweat over crocked stars

Head coach Fabien Galthie has his fingers crossed over two injury concerns for France days away from their first Test with New Zealand in Dunedin. Fullback Cheikh Tiberghien and winger Gabin Villiere were expected to be named by Galthie in the starting lineup for the...

Oz-NZ XV rope in All Blacks to tackle Lions

A quartet of All Blacks stars were named on Monday as part of an Australia-New Zealand XV to face the British & Irish Lions. David Havili and Shannon Frizell were joined by Shaun Stevenson and Folau Fakatava as the first wave of signings for the combined team that...

Itoje back, Williams ruled out of Lions tour

Maro Itoje will lead the British & Irish Lions out against the Reds on Wednesday, but the group has bid farewell to Welsh scrumhalf Tomos Williams. The tourists suffered a major injury blow just one match into their tour of Australia, with in-form Williams ruled...

Monster All Blacks prop out of Bok showdown?

The All Blacks look set to defend New Zealand from the world champion Springboks in September without a scrum juggernaut. Loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams was on Monday ruled out of the pending three-Test series against France with a knee injury that requires surgery....

Fouche feels ‘dieplekker’ about his Bok future

Having shrugged off his reputation as Frans Malherbe’s “stunt double”, tighthead prop Neethling Fouche is excited to carve out his own story with the Springboks, reports DEVIN HERMANUS. Fouche made his Bok debut off the bench in the world champions’ 54-7 demolition of...

Junior Boks ‘fuelled’ by unfinished business

The Junior Springboks are not getting carried away by an emphatic victory over arch-rivals Australia in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship opener in Italy. The South Africans were just as hot as the searing Calvisano heat, serving up 11 tries in a 73-17 rout of the...
Ndlozi, Pead shine in Junior Boks blowout

Ndlozi, Pead shine in Junior Boks blowout

A first-half brace from winger Siya Ndlozi underlined a commanding performance in Calvisano as the Junior Springboks streaked to victory in their World Rugby U20 Championship opener against Australia. Hot hands and fast feet characterised a blistering South African...