Schalk: Rennie faces early Bok stress test

Springbok great Schalk Burger has warned new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie to expect a brutal early examination against Springboks later this year. But Burger believes Rennie has the mentality to shake up his side quickly once he puts all the necessary structures in...

Unchanged Wales desperate for win

Wales coach Steve Tandy has urged his players to “go up another level” against Italy in Cardiff on Saturday as they seek to end a painful losing streak. The Welsh go into Saturday’s last round bottom of the table and on a run of 15 successive defeats in the tournament...

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...