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Tag: Springboks

Ban teams who pick reserves for knock-out stages

21 April 2024 0 comments

The Bulls are not the first outfit to undermine the European Cup by picking an understrength team, with some French clubs – Bourgoin in particular […]

Robertson will cash in on Barrett move

21 April 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED LOOKING at it from Leinster’s point of view, the signing of the world’s best inside centre is a proper coup. Jordie […]

Outsiders aiming for a place in the final

21 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks ahead to the Champions Cup semi-finals where Quins and Saints are facing an uphill battle BEFORE this season’s Champions Cup started, there […]

S Africa is crying out for its own league

21 April 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER IF I remember my A level geography correctly, Africa is moving […]

Saints on rampage as Bulls fall apart

14 April 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Northampton Saints….. 59pts Tries: Ramm 10, 47; Lawes 15, Sleightholme 20, Mitchell 24, 67; Coles 40, Dingwall 50, Augustus 72 Conversions: Smith […]

Sharks too strong for ordinary Edinburgh

14 April 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Sharks ……………36pts Tries: Am 16, J Venter 26, Mbonambi 55 Conversions: Masuku 17, 27, 56 Penalties: Masuku 48, 52, 65, 70; Bosch […]

Rugby schedule has little to do with player welfare

14 April 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW A roll of drums and a fanfare of trumpets late last summer heralded a new title sponsor […]

England could be an option for Green

7 April 2024 0 comments

Harlequins full-back Tyrone Green will qualify for England in 2025 and while he still harbours hopes of playing for South Africa he is open to […]

Modernise the scrum, don’t allow it to die

7 April 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED IF WE take the Book of Ecclesiastes as our guide – ancient though it may be, it makes far more sense […]

The day Crane had final word at Cardiff

7 April 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW The Millennium Stadium once staged a trio of penalty shoot-outs in four years as fondly remembered by […]

Sanzaar miss chance to inject new blood

31 March 2024 0 comments

The 2024 Six Nations has been lauded in the southern hemisphere for its sensational quality and entertainment – which has not always been the case. […]

Big guns fire for Leinster

31 March 2024 0 comments

Leinster ………. 47 Bulls …………….. 14 By JOHN FALLON LEINSTER brought most of their big guns back for this one and head coach Leo Cullen […]

Quins hoping to tempt Care, 37, with new deal

24 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Harlequins are trying to persuade Danny Care to sign a new contract and finish his career at The Stoop, 18 years after […]

Jantjies to give back

24 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE FORMER Springboks fly-half Elton Jantjies, below, has taken up a coaching role with youth rugby programme Rugga Schools in Johannesburg as he […]

Vermeulen open to England offer

17 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By GRANT SHUB Jacques Vermeulen, who is eligible for England having been in the UK since 2019, has dreamed of playing for […]

Dream Team with Alex Day

17 March 2024 0 comments

The Bedford and former Cornish Pirates, Northampton & Saracens scrum-half chooses the best XV he has played with or against… 1. Paul Andrew – I […]

George the Great takes his final bow

17 March 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW On a Tuesday afternoon at Anfield in the late autumn of 1993, All Black No.878 made a […]

It’s a long walk but Wales on right road

10 March 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT We’ve all heard it: “You don’t beat Wales at rugby – you just score more points than them.” Like many sporting quips masquerading […]

Martin relishing playing with pals

4 March 2024 0 comments

George Martin is a familiar name to English rugby fans, but the man behind the player is still very much a mystery. The towering Leicester […]

Andre’s heading home

3 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Andre Esterhuizen will leave Harlequins at the end of the 2023/24 season and return to South Africa for family reasons. The Springboks […]

It’s time for take – off, England

3 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says that, with Ireland at home and France away to come, Borthwick’s men must become relentless IT WAS three years ago last weekend […]

Wales to play Boks in double header at HQ

25 February 2024 0 comments

Four heavyweights of world rugby will grace the Twickenham turf in an historic double header on June 22 – with a clash between South Africa […]

Waugh’s battle is going to be tough

25 February 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED WHO has the toughest job in rugby? It certainly doesn’t belong to the loadsamoney establishment lawyers plotting a course across the […]

Still out in front, the rocks of ages

25 February 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW They have been resting in the front row of the Pantheon now for almost half a century, […]

The piano shifters are playing modern tune

18 February 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Much of the “tactical” kicking across the opening rounds of the Six Nations would have left Fred Flintstone wondering what happened […]

All Blacks in Dublin will be the acid test

11 February 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED EARLY February is not obviously the moment to select a highlight of the calendar year. Especially if that highlight is still […]

Erasmus to take Springboks through to 2027

6 February 2024 0 comments

Rassie Erasmus will return as head coach of South Africa through to the next Rugby World Cup after the departure of Jacques Nienaber to Leinster. […]

Erasmus ready to move for Flannery

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER HARLEQUINS are braced for Rassie Erasmus to make an official approach for their defence coach Jerry Flannery. Flannery was […]

Colossus following in family tradition

4 February 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW A teenaged colossus introduced himself to the Six Nations late on Friday night in the mayhem of […]

2024 Six Nations preview

1 February 2024 0 comments

Our favourtie time of year is upon us. The Six Nations is back and it promises to be another stellar championship as Europe’s elite seek […]

Tier Two deserve a fair shake of the dice

28 January 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED YOU don’t have to be a marketing genius of Steve Jobs magnitude to dream up a better name for Rugby Europe’s […]

Good to see Bryn enjoying life at 93

28 January 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON Throughout his distinguished career for Wales and the Lions as the finest hooker of his generation, Bryn Meredith, right, never once got the […]

Time for Borthwick to deliver

28 January 2024 0 comments

Six Nations team-by-team previews: England Paul Rees says that, this time around, the fixture list has been kind to the World Cup semi-finalists IT IS […]

The Grand Slam win in 2005 was a fairytale

28 January 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Mark Taylor – The former Wales, Ospreys, Sale, Swansea & Pontypool centre and now WRU performance pathway coordinator talks about […]

Sherratt proud of courageous Cardiff lads as Racing superstars turn on the style

21 January 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Racing 92 …….. 48pts Tries: Kamikamica 18, Kolisi 25, Tabuavou 32, Tedder 43, Wade 46, Baudonne 50, Tarrit 76 Conversions: Tedder 19, […]

Borthwick puts club form at top of his list

21 January 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS COUNTDOWN Paul Rees says change will be gradual rather than sudden as teams renew after World Cup THE first Six Nations after a […]

I tried hard to make the most of what ability I had!

21 January 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Gordon Bulloch – The former British & Irish Lions, Scotland, Glasgow & Leeds hooker talks about his life in the […]

Weak Bears can’t keep Bulls in check

14 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bristol……………………………17pts Tries: Marmion 19, Ibitoye 74, Bradbury 80 Conversion: McGinty 20 Bulls ………………………………31pts Tries: Petersen 15, Mchunu 55, E Louw 63, Wessels […]

With Smith and Mitchell, there should be fireworks

14 January 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees talks to Topsy Ojo and finds the TV pundit in optimistic mood for both club and country Topsy Ojo gets a reminder every […]

Mapletoft out to build next generation

14 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK As England’s U20s side prepare for the upcoming Six Nations, head coach Mark Mapletoft insists that the development of his players takes […]

Challenge Cup round three Friday and Saturday Preview

12 January 2024 0 comments

Round 3 of the Challenge Cup promises an array of exciting fixtures, featuring eight matches unfolding across Friday and Saturday with teams vying for a […]

Borthwick puts his foot on the accelerator

7 January 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at how England, without Owen Farrell at the helm, could turn into an attacking force Steve Borthwick’s England promise to look very […]

Ace Simelane swaps Bulls for Stormers

7 January 2024 0 comments

FORMER Junior Springbok Wandisile Simelane is set to join the Stormers from the Bulls in a mid-season swap, with fellow centre Cornet Smith moving the […]

Playing against best in the world is good test

31 December 2023 0 comments

NOW we’re into the second year of the expanded Champions Cup, I thought I’d reflect on just how the inclusion of South Africa’s finest club […]

Farewell to these fine men of rugby

31 December 2023 0 comments

Come hell or high water, The Grim Reaper never fails to take a day off from scything through his grisly business. A sample of his […]

Proud men who graced the game

31 December 2023 1 comment

Brendan Gallagher recalls the achievements of those from across the globe that the world of rugby lost in 2023 Sydney Millar CBE (Ballymena, Ireland, Barbarians, […]

Here’s my England squad for Six Nations

24 December 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK There will have been times when the honeymoon period predicted for Steve Borthwick’s first year as England […]