Duane: North-south derby hard to call

Duane Vermeulen believes recent form could count for little when the Vodacom Bulls and Stormers collide at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. After a nightmare seven-match losing streak across competitions, three successive Vodacom URC wins have moved the Bulls into the top...

Super Rugby record put on hold

The Super Rugby record for most appearances will have to wait another week following the announcement of the ACT Brumbies’ squad on Thursday. James Slipper is waiting to make his record-breaking 203rd Super Rugby appearance but was left out of the table-topping...

Frenchman avoids Eben-length ban for eye-gouge

France flank Oscar Jegou has received a relatively light ban for eye-gouging Scotland’s Ewan Ashman at Murrayfield last Saturday. The 22-year-old was on Wednesday suspended for just four weeks after a disciplinary hearing found him guilty of “reckless contact with the...

Italy eye more history after England upset

Tommaso Allan says Italy’s historic win over England is a moment of pride for a squad that has worked years to shed its underdog tag in the Six Nations. The veteran flyhalf was part of the Azzurri squad that stunned England 23-18 in Rome last weekend – Italy’s...

May: England can still win World Cup

Jonny May believes England can bounce back under Steve Borthwick after the team’s Six Nations struggles. Borthwick, in particular, has come under pressure after England’s 12-match winning streak came to a shuddering halt with three straight defeats that not only...