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PAUL REES CHARTS THE STATE OF THE NATIONS AHEAD OF THE BIG KICK-OFF ON OCTOBER 1, 2027

SOUTH AFRICA
RASSIE Erasmus may not be the darling of World Rugby, but he continues to lead the way with South Africa clear favourites to become the first team to win the World Cup three times in a row.
Their series victory over New Zealand not only enhanced their position at the top of the world rankings but showed Erasmus’s capacity for innovation and left field thinking.
The essence of the Springboks remains power, both up front and in contact, but there i...