Rugby Scoop

We breakdown the first Test between South African and New Zealand

News Headlines Embrose Papier might be heading to Sale Sharks Post 2026/27 URC season as his contract will be up Richie Mounga joins the Allblacks Ackerman believes the Springboks will be well prepared for the Allblacks Allblacks sweating on McKenzie USA XV beat Argentina XV 25 - 24 Nonu Doing the Haka against the Allblacks (how good) Wallabies romp Eddie Jones Japan 56-17 win over Japan. Taniela Tupou looking good under Kiss. Much better second half performance by the Wallabies. If you remember they lost against Ireland and France after a good first half. kiss will now prepare for Argentina which will be a good challenge for Australia The #BokWomen were made to work very hard to secure a series victory in Fiji, with Maria Tshiremba scoring a hat-trick on debut Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx, could be heading to the Bulls Build Up: Allblacks s have played 3 and won 3 - what can they take away from this? Regarding officials - maybe let’s get this out the way, what do we want to see? Have we seen a good performance in the past three games? Because we have the same guys refereeing the Tests. Have they (Allblacks) been tested? Is it genuine to call Allblacks favourites? Yes-why? No-why? Depth conversation, why didn’t Springboks release players for the midweek games? (I remember Sonny Bill Williams & Nonu available for the Blues against the Lions in 2017) Areas of focus for Springboks based on what we’ve seen this year? - General play, Defense, set piece, attack Areas of focus for the Allblacks, based on what we’ve seen this year? - General play, Defense, set-piece: they’ve gave Neethling Fouche, Vincent Koch etc , ABs must work on their blind side defense at scrum time. attack First Test: starting 23 Boks & ABs

Champagne & Boerewors Rugby: The Greatest Rivalry INTRO HOST: Welcome back to the Rugby Scoop Podcast — Champagne & Boerewors Rugby , where we talk South African rugby, the Springboks, the All Blacks, the Wallabies, and everything in between. And there is no shortage to talk about this week. The Springboks have come away from Buenos Aires with a 17–10 win over Argentina, but this certainly wasn’t the comfortable victory many South Africans might have expected. Siya Kolisi has another hamstring concern, questions are being asked about the No. 8 jersey, the kicking game, the scrum-half situation — and, of course, Rassie Erasmus is already talking about the World Cup. Meanwhile, the All Blacks have arrived in South Africa, they’ve already taken down the Stormers, and suddenly the temperature around the biggest rivalry in rugby is rising. So let’s get into it. 1. SPRINGBOKS 17–10 ARGENTINA Let’s start in Buenos Aires. The Springboks got the result — 17–10 — but this was far from the dominant performance we’ve come to expect from South Africa. Argentina pushed the Boks right to the final whistle, and for long periods South Africa struggled to impose themselves on the game. It was a remarkably low-scoring affair for a Springbok side that has become accustomed to controlling matches through physicality, territory and pressure. The big question: Should we be concerned about that performance, or is this simply a case of getting the job done in difficult conditions? Because ultimately, the Boks won. But there were certainly areas that weren’t convincing. Talking points: South Africa’s defence. Their kicking accuracy. Set-piece execution. Discipline. Their ability to control territory. Why Argentina were able to stay in the contest for so long. The focus for the Boks has to be defending and kicking . If South Africa want to dominate the big Test matches, they can’t afford to give opponents easy territory or repeatedly miss opportunities with the boot. 2. SIYA KOLISI — BIG CONCERN? The biggest concern coming out of Buenos Aires is undoubtedly Siya Kolisi . The Springbok captain left the field with what appears to be another hamstring problem. And immediately the questions start: How serious is it? How much rugby does Siya actually need before the World Cup? And, perhaps most importantly, how carefully do the Springboks need to manage their captain over the next year? Because there is a much bigger picture here. Rassie Erasmus has made no secret of the fact that virtually everything South Africa are doing is being viewed through the lens of the 2027 World Cup . Almost every press conference seems to contain some variation of: “We’re preparing for the World Cup.” “We’re looking towards the World Cup.” “This player is being selected because of the World Cup.” And that’s understandable. But it also means every injury, every selection and every tactical decision gets viewed through that same lens. 3. HANNEKOM VS WIESE — THE NO. 8 DEBATE One of the more interesting discussions is Cameron Hanekom. He has been playing well. There’s no question about that. But here’s the controversial question: Why does there seem to be a reluctance from some people — and particularly some journalists — to acknowledge that Jasper Wiese remains the No. 8 for the Springboks? Hanekom has plenty of qualities. He’s energetic, physical, athletic and offers a different dimension. But does playing well automatically mean you’ve displaced Wiese? Or are we getting carried away with the latest performance? This is where selection becomes fascinating. Is Hanekom genuinely challenging Wiese for the starting jersey, or is Wiese still clearly No. 1 when everyone is fit? And what does Rassie actually value most from that position? 4. LOOD DE JAGER & EBEN ETZEBETH RETURN There was some very good news for Rassie as well. Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth returned from injury and got valuable game time. That’s massive for South Africa. You don’t simply replace players of that experience and quality. The Boks need their depth in the second row to be tested before the big games arrive, and getting those players back onto the field is a major positive. 5. MANIE LIBBOK, POLLY & THE NO. 10 DEBATE Another fascinating discussion is the Springbok fly-half situation. There’s a difference between being a talented No. 10 and actually controlling a Test match . And that distinction matters. For all his talent, the question is whether the current options consistently command the ball and drive the game in the way Handré Pollard and Manie Libbok can. When Manie Libbok plays at 10, he wants the ball. He wants to dictate. He wants to get the attack moving. That’s the difference. The question isn’t simply: “Who is the most talented fly-half?” It’s: “Who controls the game when South Africa need someone to take charge?” And against the very best teams in the world, that distinction becomes absolutely critical. 6. MORNE VAN DEN BERG — THE ANSWER? Now to scrum-half. Is Morne van den Berg the real answer over Embrose Papier? This is another position where the Boks need clarity. Papier has experience in the system, but Van den Berg brings a different energy and tempo. Does he offer enough control? Can he manage the big moments? And most importantly, can he perform when the pressure goes through the roof? Because being a good scrum-half against ordinary opposition is one thing. Running the Springbok attack against the All Blacks, France, Ireland or New Zealand in a World Cup knockout match is another. 7. THE ALL BLACKS HAVE ARRIVED And now we get to the really exciting part. The All Blacks are in South Africa. New Zealand have already played the Stormers in Cape Town and won 38–21. But does that scoreline tell the whole story? Probably not. The Stormers competed well for long periods before New Zealand pulled away late. So the question is: Should we read too much into the Stormers result when assessing the four Tests against South Africa? Personally, probably not. The All Blacks aren’t playing the Springboks. The Stormers aren’t the Springboks. And a Test series against South Africa is a completely different proposition. But there are still things to take from the match. 8. ALL BLACKS — DISCIPLINE & SET PIECE One of the big talking points was New Zealand’s discipline. They conceded a significant number of penalties and received three yellow cards . Against South Africa, that is dangerous. You cannot give the Springboks repeated opportunities in the opposition half and expect to survive. And then there’s the set piece. The Springboks will absolutely test New Zealand there. So the All Blacks’ discipline and scrum performance are going to be fascinating to watch. And then there’s the penalty try. Was it the correct decision? Was it harsh? Or did the Stormers genuinely have enough pressure to justify it? That’s one we’ll definitely debate. 9. EVAN ROOS — OUT OF CONTENTION? Another major South African selection discussion: Is Evan Roos now completely out of contention? If Hanekom is pushing forward, Wiese remains established, and other loose forwards are ahead of him in the pecking order, where exactly does Roos fit? Has the door closed? Or is there still a route back into the Springbok squad? And if you’re Rassie, what would Roos have to do to force his way back in? 10. ALL BLACKS — THE CAPTAINCY QUESTION New Zealand have named their team for the Sharks match, with Luke Jacobson named captain . And that raises another interesting question. Many might have expected Barrett to be the next man in line. But Renz appears to favour Luke at the moment. So what does that tell us about the All Blacks’ leadership hierarchy? And are we seeing the beginnings of a genuine succession plan heading towards the World Cup? 11. BILLY PROCTOR RETURNS HOME It’s also been confirmed that Billy Proctor will return home to New Zealand . Which raises the obvious question: Who should Rennie call back up? Is there an obvious replacement? Do you go for experience? Do you bring in youth? Or is there someone currently outside the squad who deserves another opportunity? This is where squad depth becomes really important. 12. WALLABIES VS JAPAN Then we turn our attention to the Wallabies. Australia against Japan. What did we learn? What is the identity of this Australian side? And, perhaps more importantly: Where are the Wallabies actually heading? There was also the Miles Amaseturo red card . Was the decision correct? What does it say about Australia’s discipline? And how much responsibility should be placed on the player versus the coaching staff? 13. LES KISS — IS THE PLAN WORKING? And then there’s Les Kiss . What are we making of him? Are we seeing a genuine identit

🏆 Top News Headlines Junior Springboks Make History: The Junior Springboks have done it, going back-to-back as U20 World Champions after a gritty 16-5 victory over France in the final. A powerful defensive display and a flawless kicking performance from Yaqeen Ahmed secured the historic win . Francois Venter Retires: Former Springbok centre Francois Venter has announced his retirement from rugby at 35. Citing a severe concussion scare and a desire to spend more time with his family, he hangs up his boots after a 16-year career that earned him seven Test caps . Contepomi's "Lack of Respect" Claim: Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi stormed out of his post-match press conference, accusing England of a "lack of respect." The incident was sparked by loud music and celebrations from the England changing room, which Contepomi found inappropriate, especially after a 31-24 defeat that went down to the final play . Schmidt Hands Over to Kiss: Les Kiss has officially taken over the Wallabies reins from Joe Schmidt. Schmidt ended his tenure with a 57-10 win over Italy, but Kiss has a big job ahead with the Wallabies ranked eighth in the world. Kiss has stated he won't "rip and tear" Schmidt's foundation but will bring his own "points of difference" . Boks Squad News: The Springboks are getting a boost for their Argentina clash. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is confirmed to be travelling with the squad, and Handre Pollard has been declared fit after a hamstring injury . 🗣️ The Kicking Debate There is a lot of chatter about kicking stats on social media, and the data shows a fascinating tactical shift. The modern kicking game is less about just getting rid of the ball and more about it being a lethal attacking weapon . A detailed analysis of the 2026 Six Nations reveals that winning the aerial contest is now crucial. Teams are loading the "drop zone" with chasers to contest and regain possession. France has mastered this art, with almost a quarter of their kicks being retained through smart chases, leading to tries from kick/catch transitions . While the Rugby Championship isn't specifically covered in the search results, these trends are reshaping the international game . 🤔 Talking Points All Blacks vs Ireland: Eden Park Record & Rennie's Start: The All Blacks' 53-test unbeaten run at Eden Park is intact after a dominant 40-21 win . Dave Rennie has made a perfect 3-0 start as All Blacks coach, and his early selection of Tupou Vaa'i at 6 (blindside flanker) paid off with a blistering start that tore Ireland apart . Ireland, despite having had enough rest, looked "woeful" in the first half, conceding 28 points . Officiating: There was "lots of talk about Nic Berry," who was the referee for this big match. The officials' performance is always a point of discussion in such high-stakes games . Springboks vs Wales: The Wiese Brothers: The Wiese brothers were a force. Jasper scored the opening try, while Cobus was a "big presence" with strong carries from the back of the scrum . Lineout Depth: The search results don't explicitly state that Cobus is the like-for-like replacement for Eben Etzebeth. However, they confirm Eben is set to return against Argentina, so the lineout lock depth is being tested in his absence . New Faces: Vusi Moyo on debut at flyhalf showed great composure, playing a hand in the first try and slotting his first international points . Paul de Villiers was "all over the field" and even scored a try, showing he can be a like-for-like replacement for Siya Kolisi with his immense work rate . Fassi's Form: Aphelele Fassi didn't have his greatest game at fullback, but the Boks' depth is evident with Damian Willemse showing his class off the bench . Wales' Improvement: Wales were blanked 43-0 but put up a much stiffer defensive effort than in previous weeks. They also chose to keep the ball in the scrum to try and slow the game down and avoid giving the Boks quick, attacking ball, which was a smart tactical move . Dweba: The search results don't mention Dweba or the "Papier treatment" specifically. 🌍 Other Internationals Australia vs Italy: Australia finished Schmidt's tenure with a 57-10 demolition of Italy, snapping a six-game losing streak . Argentina vs England: England survived a massive scare and a late try that was ruled out to beat Argentina 31-24. Their discipline was "verging on comical," with four yellow cards after the break . Referee Picks: No official picks are available for the "greatest rivalry tour," but Andrew Brace refereed the South Africa vs Wales game, and Nic Berry officiated the New Zealand vs Ireland match

New episode Topics: Champagne & Boerewors Rugby • All Blacks vs Italy: Another sluggish first half from New Zealand before quality eventually told. • All Blacks’ slow starts: It’s becoming a habit—can the All Blacks afford to keep spotting teams a head start? • Italy did well in keeping possession for large chunk of the first half. But not really putting points on the board. • France vs Wallabies: France were simply a class above, exposing Australia’s lack of cohesion. • Joe Schmidt: Has Joe Schmidt overcomplicated things, or is Australia simply lacking the cattle? • Rassie’s selection gamble: Erasmus rolled the dice with a heavily rotated side—and the result says it was the right call. • Performance vs scoreboard: The scoreboard was emphatic, but there are still a few areas Rassie will want cleaned up. • Missing Springboks: South Africa won comfortably despite being without a host of frontline internationals. • Scrum penalties: The Springbok scrum once again became a weapon, piling pressure on Scotland and earning crucial penalties. • Scotland’s fast start: Scotland looked sharp early but failed to capitalise on their opening opportunities. • Scotland’s late fightback: Credit to Scotland—they kept competing and clawed their way back into the contest in the final quarter. • France vs Scotland comparison: France punished almost every Springbok mistake; Scotland dominated possession but couldn’t make it count, even against 14 men. • Springbok efficiency: South Africa continue to be ruthless—less possession, more points, maximum efficiency. • Aphelele Fassi: A relatively quiet afternoon for Fassi, with the game unfolding away from his strengths. • Scotland’s finishing: Scotland created opportunities but lacked the clinical edge needed to trouble the world champions.

Rugby Scoop Podcast – Show Rundown The high-scoring nature of Test rugby continues to dominate headlines. Is this the evolution of the game, or are defences simply struggling to keep up? We will be breaking down every major Test from the weekend, so strap in. Grab that coffee, beer or glass of water. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, switch on the heater because winter rugby has arrived. If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, get the cocktails or champagne ready because this will be the best rugby conversation you’ll hear all week. All Blacks vs France What were the major takeaways? Is the “France B Team” narrative fair when both sides were missing significant players? France’s greatest achievement remains the Six Nations. So where does the global perception that France are a dominant rugby nation come from? Is this the beginning of a genuine transformation under the new All Blacks regime, or is it still far too early to judge? Australia vs Ireland The Wallabies led 24-12 and somehow let it slip. Ireland earned the result, but Australia will need to take a long hard look at themselves. Which moments changed the game? What lessons can Australia take forward? Springboks vs England Before the rugby, we have to talk about ticket prices and fan frustration. Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth missing out: coincidence or the beginning of a new era? As Will Greenwood put it: England had their backsides handed to them on a plate. The Springboks exploded out of the blocks before fading during the final 15 minutes of the first half. The second half was professional and controlled. The tactical plan was clear: kick long, isolate England’s back three and dominate territory. Damien Willemse and Grant Williams were the difference makers. Malcolm Marx’s lineout throwing deserves recognition. Outside of the aerial battle, there may not be many long-term conclusions to draw from this match. England’s Bigger Questions Does Steve Borthwick survive this period? Will victories over Fiji and Argentina simply paper over the cracks? How close is England to knowing their best team? Henry Pollock deserves some airtime after another impressive performance. Wales vs Fiji Percentage rugby won the game for Wales. Wales refused to get dragged into Fiji’s style of rugby. Fiji left too many opportunities behind with handling errors and dropped balls inside the Welsh 22. At international level, those moments decide Test matches. Final Thought Scotland moving ahead of England in the world rankings may have been one of the most surprising developments of the weekend.

This week on The Rugby Scoop Pod: Stormers loose forward Ruan Ackermann has been suspended for a dangerous cleanout against Leinster (3 match ban) The Stormers have ended their pursuit of Argentina lock Tomás Lavanini. - “We would rather put our faith in the local guys like Connor Evans, [Junior Boks captain] Riley Norton and Gary Porter, who are full-blooded Stormers,” - Dobson Hurricanes scrumhalf Cam Roigard has come under fire for his actions during Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against the Blues. Rassie Erasmus has revealed the objectives for the South Africa A game against Zimbabwe next weekend as SA Rugby looks to ‘capture’ top Junior Springboks talents. Also, Vickers are you happy with the squad? We know Bulls players will join after this coming weekend Congratulations to Mzwandile Stick on leading the SA A side NZR announce Tony Brown as Allblacks assistant coach for 2028 and beyond - who can replace Tony? We know some wanted him to leave Lalakai Foketi joins the Ospreys Rassie says flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, ‌would be ready six weeks before the first of four tests against New Zealand on August 22, as would be his ‌usual halfback partner Cobus Reinach. Congratulations to the Knicks, winning the NBA after 53 loooooooong and grilling years. Spike Lee & Ben Stiller must be so happy Farrell said he expected Lowe and centre Bundee Aki to sign new contracts. But while Aki agreed a new one-year deal to stay with Connacht, Lowe is set to leave when his contract expires this summer and has been strongly linked with a move to Japan's Suntory Sungoliath. Moving to Japan would halt his Ireland career a year out from the Rugby World Cup in Australia given the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)'s policy of not selecting players based outside of Ireland. So James Lowe is retiring from International Rugby Last topic before we jump on the games: Hurricanes have scored 100 tries this season. And they’ve done it in 16 games - is Super Rugby the T20 of rugby? Topics: Premiership: Joseph Dweba will be in the Premiership finals Bath choked this season? With everything they did last season, everyone expected more from them. This season they finish with 0 silverware On Bath - 4 mins 29 seconds ball in play 40+ phases and to be held up over the goal line Super Rugby Semifinals: Chiefs rip through the Crusaders Hurricanes second half performance - all this talk about Segner, he was absent last night Bulls / Leinster Preview: Last Dance for James Lowe. Do we genuinely believe Bulls can upset Leinster in front of 60k Irish fans

News: Rassie Erasmus has named a 51-man Springbok squad for a season-opening double-header in Gqeberha. 21 uncapped players included in the squad Aphelele Fassi has been granted a sabbatical by the Sharks to play in Japan and will return to Durban in June next year. Bordeaux have signed two young players from South Africa - Benjamin Coetzee and Diaan Augustyn on junior contracts Embrose Papier, has a contract with the Bulls until 2027, however The Sharks in Durban have offered to pay a fee to release him early - Sharks desperate? Ardie Savea and Dave Rennie are Japanese League one winners Stormers head coach has apologised to Leinster and Leo Cullen for Ruan Ackermann's red card

double World Cup-winning centre Damian de Allende could also make his way back to the Mother City. Ivan van Rooyen admitted the Lions were taught a harsh lesson by Leinster after their 59-10 defeat in Saturday’s Vodacom URC quarter-final in Dublin Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu injured his ankle in the act of scoring a second-half try and was walking with crutches after the match, Ruan Jacobs will be the Sharks’ new talent recruiter. Ruan Venter’s knee injury has messed up Rassie Erasmus’ plans to use him at No 4 lock for the Springboks. Lions and Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye has little appetite to challenge the ruling that will keep him sidelined until November 2027. Former Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies is reportedly being pursued by both Sars and creditors over unpaid debts. New Zealand Rugby has reportedly intervened with Hurricane Fehi Fineanganofo’s Newcastle Red Bulls negotiations in hopes of keeping the star winger on home shores.

News: Cheslin Kolbe on the verge of returning to the Stormers. Embrose Papier in Bok alignment camp The Sharks are attempting to bring Sanele Nohamba back to Durban. Tòmas Lavanini is expected to arrive in Cape Town in December once his international commitments with Argentina are complete Sebastian Vermeulen - the Tallest school boy has signed with the Sharks Super Rugby’s next partnership will be with Japan

🎙️ Rugby Scoop – This Week’s Episode 📰 News Round-Up 🇪🇸 Spain bids for 2035 Rugby World Cup The Spanish Rugby Federation has officially launched its bid—huge moment for Tier 2 growth and European expansion. 🤕 JD Schickerling ruled out for 6 months Serious knee injury vs Connacht—big blow to depth and physicality. 🏆 England national rugby union team 62–24 Wales national rugby union team England seal the Triple Crown and extend their ridiculous winning run… 👉 The question: who actually stops them right now? 💰 Rugby Australia posts $70M+ surplus Massive turnaround driven by the British & Irish Lions Tour revenue. 🎌 Bernard Foley to retire End of an era—one of the Wallabies’ most composed playmakers calls time after Japan. 🌍 U20 Rugby Championship kicks off Opening fixtures: 🇳🇿 New Zealand vs 🇦🇺 Australia 🇿🇦 South Africa vs 🇦🇷 Argentina 🔥 Main Topics & Talking Points 🦈 URC Drama – Sharks Decision at 79:30 7 Score: 26–33 Time: 79:30 Sharks take the 2 points… but was that the right call? 💬 Debate: Kick = guaranteed points but game over Restart = chaos, pressure, chance to draw or win 👉 This is a classic risk vs reward moment—do elite teams back themselves more? 🔴 Munster’s Resurgence – Real or Flash? 8 Back-to-back 40+ point performances 👀 Are Munster Rugby peaking at the right time? Or are we overhyping a late-season surge? 👉 Suddenly looking like a serious playoff threat again. 🌊 Stormers Statement Win 6 Stormers bounce back Beat a strong Glasgow Warriors side convincingly 💬 Are Stormers building toward another title push? 🤔 Dobson’s Willemse Call Damian Willemse on the wing? John Dobson explanation raises eyebrows 👉 Tactical flexibility or overthinking it? 👶 Marcus “Miller” Debut First cap buzz—early signs of a player to watch 👉 Worth keeping an eye on development trajectory 🔵 Bulls Edge a Tight One 5 Bulls sneak past Scarlets Johan Goosen Pollock (Pollock) slots 18 points 💬 Question: 👉 Do Bulls have enough to go beyond the quarter-finals? 🔵 Leinster Slip Up Leinster Rugby losing last night 👀 👉 Blip… or cracks showing before knockout rugby? 🌏 Super Round – Christchurch 7 Big event energy Does Super Round actually add value , or just scheduling chaos? 🏆 Investec Champions Cup Semi-Finals Leinster Rugby vs RC Toulon (Ireland) Union Bordeaux Bègles vs Bath Rugby 👉 Bath coming off a loss to Northampton Saints… momentum swing? 🎯 Closing Hook for the Episode Can anyone stop England right now? Are Munster and Stormers peaking at the perfect time? And did the Sharks bottle that final decision… or play it smart?

Holly Davidson First woman to referee a TOP 14 match Hurricanes confirms that Riley Higgins will join Edinburgh following the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific and NPC seasons The Fijian Drua record their second ever away victory in their history Moana Pasifik Eddie Jones believes “35 is the new 30” now - seeing that Brodie Retallick could make his way back into the Allblacks this season Moodie picked up a hamstring niggle during the first half of Friday night’s 47-7 win against the Dragons SA Rugby president Mark Alexander says the current demands on leading Springboks are “not sustainable”. What does this mean? Boks play less URC games? Heyneke Meyer - SWD Eagles coach is waiting for feedback from SA Rugby, who meet on 14 May, on whether prospective shareholder UXi Sport has received the necessary approval. This could be huge for the club Jake White Wins Selborne College showdown with Headmaster Le Roux Malan is poised to join Welsh outfit Cardiff later this year, bringing an end to his short stint in Durban. Scarra Ntubeni’s contribution to rugby. Grey College losing 3 in a row Topics: URC - Stormers & Sharks losing at home : Sharks have now lost any hope of playing in the QF Credit to Ospreys On good win - Dan Edward’s Zikhethelo Siyaya 18 years old, chucked in the deep by JP Pietersen. 14 carries, 91 metres made, 10 defenders beaten - on Debut Stormers losing at home for the first time this season Stormers seemed fine when they attacked using their forwards but it was when they forced plays that made it difficult for them, trying to go wide too early Warrick Gelant costly errors on D Lions thump Warriors - Lions are now 4th on the log Muster Ruthless against Benetton - all their Irish stars are back. The comp is back to full complement now where stars are concerned Bulls too strong for the Dragons and next week they play Scarlets. Bulls sitting in 8th spot and need the win next week Investec Championship - what are our thoughts on last weeks match between UBB vs Toulouse Super Rugby: Drua win in Australia against Brumbies INCREDIBLE Hurricanes vs Chiefs - brutal encounter Crusaders in the MuD! Led by 19 - 0 at the start. To end up losing the game like that is worrying.

Coach Johan Ackermann has reportedly asked Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone to convince seasoned South African playmaker Curwin Bosch to make the move to Loftus Versfeld. (Ackers Done with Pollard already? ) Despite France beating England 48-46 in a thriller in Paris to retain the Six Nations title, Ireland remain the highest-ranked side from the northern hemisphere, behind the No 1-ranked Springboks and No 2-ranked All Blacks Rassie celebrates 8 years with Springboks this year, would you have thought the Boks would be in this position in World Tugby when he got appointed? Wales ended a three-year wait for a win in the Six Nations with a convincing victory over Italy in Cardiff on Saturday. Topics: URC - Stormers beating the Bulls Strikers are back to number 2 Sharks back to usual ways, they’ve lost back to back against the Lions Six Nations

RFU Backs Steve Borthwick Wales Big Effort Against Ireland Scotaland Too Good For France Italy Make History In Rome Super Rugby: Blues, Reds, Canes

This Sunday we look at news making headlines: Faf de Klerk linked to the Cheetahs, Dylan Mart linked to Bulls. We also cover Shape Of The Game - The Media uproar about rumours that New Zealand and Australia want to get rid of scrums. URC - Permoances around South African Teams Super Rugby - Brumbies in fine form Allblacks Coach: Rennie or Joseph - we share our views on this. Finish off with Six Nations Preview

Racing 92 & Hacjivah Dayimani part ways Racing 92 and Hacjivah Dayimani have mutually agreed to end their collaboration. The decision is reportedly for personal reasons, allowing the South African loose forward to return home and be closer to family. Blues coaching succession talk Reports suggest Ian Foster and Tony Brown (often linked through All Blacks structures) are being discussed as potential candidates for the Blues head coach role when Vern Cotter departs at the end of the season. Fabian Holland injury blow Highlanders and All Blacks lock Fabian Holland is set to miss the Super Rugby Pacific season and the July Test window through injury — a major loss for both franchise and national depth in the second row. Was this a warning sign for Ireland? Italy pushed Ireland far harder than many expected. It took Ireland 17 minutes to score their first try, which is notable given how dominant and fast-starting they’ve been in recent seasons. Talking points: Italy’s defensive structure and breakdown work slowed Ireland significantly. Ireland looked less intense and less sharp early on. Are we seeing a slight drop in tempo compared to the Ireland of 2022–2023? Italy robbed? Debate around key decisions late in the game — Italy arguably deserved more from the contest. The bigger takeaway though: this Italian side is no longer a bonus-point opponent. How good are Italy now? Better game management. Improved physicality. Confidence to stay in systems for 80 minutes. Did we hype England too early? After early optimism, England looked blunt against a Scotland side that simply outmuscled them up front. Key discussion points: Scotland’s forwards dominated collisions and gainline. England struggled to adapt once Plan A stalled. Is England’s attack still too predictable? Gregor Townsend’s milestone Townsend’s 100th Test as Scotland coach, and remarkably he has now beaten England six times in ten meetings. That consistency in this fixture says a lot about Scotland’s preparation and clarity of approach. Game plan too rigid? Heavy reliance on one-off runners. Lack of variation once Scotland slowed the breakdown. Limited attacking width until late in the game. Finn Russell — prime time Game control, kicking variation, and decision-making at its best. When Russell plays flat and challenges the line, Scotland look like a genuine Tier 1 threat. Henry Arundell red card — correct call? Big debate point. Technically correct under current framework, but again raises the question about intent vs outcome in red card decisions. Super Rugby Round 1 Moana Pasifika Picking up right where they left off — confidence, physicality, and attacking ambition. They’re becoming one of the competition’s most entertaining sides. Fijian Drua Could be a tougher season ahead after losing key personnel. Depth and consistency away from home remain concerns. Chiefs vs Blues Tight, high-quality contest — finals intensity already. The Chiefs’ structure vs the Blues’ physical edge makes this one of the best matchups in Super Rugby right now. Highlanders vs Crusaders Crusaders beginning to find rhythm again, while the Highlanders will feel the absence of Fabian Holland in the pack.

New signing Gianni Lombard joins the Hollywoodbets Sharks on a 3 year deal starting next season! World Rugby released the World Cup schedule. Wallabies v Allblacks will not be the opening match in 2027 RWC - thoughts? Mathieu Reynal has hit out at Southern Hemisphere, saying they want more tries and passing instead of Mauls & Scrums (summary) thoughts? Wallace Sititi, Codie Taylor and Patrick Tuipulotu responded to the talk around Ardie Savea's role in Scott Robertson's axing - calling it totally unfair to solely blame Ardie ITV will show adverts during play in its Six Nations coverage - we know this is done in US sports, that’s how they make money.