Tag: Rassie Erasmus

‹ Back

Springboks opponents for third consecutive RWC title defence in Australia revealed

Adnaan MohamedNews, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Springboks opponents for third consecutive RWC title defence in Australia revealed
By Adnaan Mohamed

The Springboks pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive Rugby World Cup title will unfold against familiar opponents after the defending champions were drawn into Pool B with Italy, Georgia and Romania for the 2027 tournament in Australia.

The announcement, made during Wednesday morning’s draw, confirmed that South Africa will face three teams they know well from past World Cup encounters: Romania in 1995 and 1999, Georgia in 2003, and Italy in 2019.

The format, guided by world rankings for the 2025 season, sorted the 24 teams into four bands before randomised placement into six pools. This is the largest RWC structure to date.

Rassie Erasmus: “We are pleased… but this is a World Cup”

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus welcomed the draw but emphasised the unpredictability of tournament rugby.

“We are pleased with the pool we have been drawn in, but this is a World Cup, and every team will go out there with great passion and do their utmost to represent their nations with pride,” said Erasmus.

“There have been surprises in the tournament before, so we’ll need to be up mentally and physically for every match.”

Erasmus offered a measured breakdown of each opponent, noting how deceptive world rankings can be.

“Italy may be ranked 10th in the world, but they showed us what they are capable of when they hit their straps earlier this season, even though the scorelines may not have reflected that.

“Georgia and Romania are also extremely physical and passionate teams, and we’ve faced them before, so we know how tough they can be on the day if we give them space and opportunities to play to their potential.”

His remarks frame Pool B as a group where familiarity offers preparation advantages, but no shortcuts — a reminder that even routine fixtures can turn into tactical ambushes if approached casually.

Tournament Format: Six Pools, New Pathways

With the RWC expanding from 20 to 24 teams and the fixture list increasing to 52 matches, 2027 will introduce a modified playoff pathway.

  • Winners of Pools A–D will face the four best third-placed teams.
  • Winners of Pools E and F will meet the runners-up from Pools B and D.
  • Runners-up in Pools A and C draw the second-placed teams from Pools E and F.

This structural shift increases the importance of pool-stage consistency and squad rotation which is a key component of Erasmus’s historically successful World Cup strategies.

The Full 2027 Pools

  • Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Hong Kong China
  • Pool B: South Africa, Italy, Georgia, Romania
  • Pool C: Argentina, Fiji, Spain, Canada
  • Pool D: Ireland, Scotland, Uruguay, Portugal
  • Pool E: France, Japan, USA, Samoa
  • Pool F: England, Wales, Tonga, Zimbabwe

Australia will host matches from 1 October to 13 November 2027 across seven cities in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney and Townsville.

The full matchday schedule will be released on 3 February 2026, with a two-week presale window for fans opening 18 February 2026.

A Favourable yet Demanding Pool

While South Africa avoided a heavyweight Tier 1 rival in Pool B, the draw offers strategic depth:

  • Italy present a risk profile based on tempo and moments of tactical unpredictability.
  • Georgia bring scrummaging power and collision dominance – a stress test for any forward pack.
  • Romania remain physical and combative, although rebuilding.

For Erasmus, the pool provides space to calibrate combinations, manage player load, and sharpen tactical identity, the essential building blocks for a three-peat campaign. Pool B offers stability, but only if executed with precision.

Reinach’s Golden Milestone and Rassie’s Clever End-of-Year Chess Move

Adnaan MohamedNews, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Reinach’s Golden Milestone and Rassie’s Clever End-of-Year Chess Move
By Adnaan Mohamed

There’s a reason the Springboks never really feel “under-strength” even when half the squad is scattered across Europe, Japan and club rugby obligations. South Africa, more than any other rugby nation, has turned adversity into opportunity, disruption into design. And this week in Cardiff, as the Boks close out their season against Wales, that philosophy takes centre stage.

Saturday marks more than just the end of the Outgoing Tour. It marks a moment of quiet, powerful significance in a year defined by rotation, regeneration, and ruthless forward-thinking.

Because while the headlines will rightly celebrate Cobus Reinach’s 50th Test, the deeper story is how Rassie Erasmus is using this final match of the year to subtly tighten the screws on South Africa’s long-term blueprint.

Let’s dive in.

1. Reinach at 50: A Triumph of Perseverance Over Spotlight

At 35, Cobus Reinach reaching his milestone half-century is a testament to patience in an era obsessed with instant stardom.

He’s never been the loudest, the flashiest, nor the headline-grabber. Instead, he has been the Springbok who always arrives when needed, slips into the system seamlessly, and changes the tempo with a veteran’s calm.

Rassie’s admiration was heartfelt:

“Cobus is a true team man… he’s grabbed every opportunity with both hands.”

There’s something beautifully poetic about Reinach not starting on the day he reaches 50 caps, but sitting quietly on the bench.

He will be the lone backline reserve among seven hulking forwards. It captures his role perfectly: the dependable firefighter, trusted when the match burns hottest.

This is not just a milestone. It is a tribute.

2. The Selection Puzzle: Rassie Turns Limitations Into Leverage

Test matches outside the international window are usually a nightmare for southern hemisphere coaches. Erasmus lost a dozen frontline stars to club commitments – Handre Pollard, Malcolm Marx, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, and Pieter-Steph du Toit among them. Many coaches would be forced into damage control.

Rassie?
He sees a laboratory.

This is where South African rugby’s conveyor belt gets tested in fire. 49 players have earned Test caps this year alone. It’s a staggering number, but one rooted in planning, not panic.

“We’ve been rotating players all year… many of these combinations are fully settled.”

There is no “second-string Springboks.”

There are only Springboks in different phases of readiness.

3. The 7–1 Split Isn’t a Gamble – It’s a Statement

The rugby world still blinks when seeing a team sheet with seven forwards on the bench. But to the Boks, it’s as natural as breathing.

This week’s 7–1 split is partly forced by availability, but it also reinforces the core of South African Test identity: win the collisions, control the set piece, choke the opponents’ oxygen.

Wales, even in a rebuilding phase, are happiest in the trenches. A weaker team would try to outplay them.
South Africa plan to outmuscle them.

Rassie explained it plainly:

“Our pack has performed incredibly well… and we believe it will be a key area of the match.”

This is Rassie’s selection strategy.

4. Quiet Evolution: The Next Generation of Boks Steps Forward

Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Zachary Porthen, Asenathi Ntlabakanye are not household names yet, but they are seen as the building blocks of South Africa’s post-2027 pack.

Steenekamp starting his first Test is no coincidence. The Boks’ current front-row titans will not be around forever. Rassie is not waiting until 2026 to find their successors.

Erasmus is making changes early, deliberately, and unapologetically.

This Wales Test is seen as an investment.

5. The Bigger Picture: Wales, Rankings and the RWC Draw

Wales arrive with their own headaches and absentees, but they’re dangerous precisely because of it. Young players with everything to prove, veterans trying to hold onto jerseys, and a home crowd hungry for a scalp.

And then there’s the looming Rugby World Cup draw next week.

For both teams, the rankings matter. Momentum matters. Perception matters.

Rassie expects an ambush:

“They’ll come out firing… they’ll give everything to finish on a high note.”

This will not be a polite end-of-year handshake.
It’s a cage fight with diplomatic flags.

6. What This Match Really Represents

This final Test of 2025 can arguably be seen as a microcosm of South African rugby philosophy:

  • Celebrate the unsung (Reinach).
  • Trust the young (Steenekamp, Ntlabakanye, Porthen).
  • Prepare for the future early (49 players used).
  • Double down on identity (the 7–1 split).
  • Stay unpredictable (mixing stalwarts with debutants).
  • Never fear disruption – weaponise it.

If the Boks win, they end the year with a statement.
If they lose, they still walk away with priceless data.

Either way, South Africa wins something.

On Saturday night, as Reinach steps onto the field for the 50th time, he’ll do so as the embodiment of everything this Bok season has stood for: quiet excellence, depth, resilience and relentless preparation for the future.

South Africa are building towards 2027. And Reinach’s milestone, achieved with humility, hunger and heart. It reminds us what really powers the Springbok machine: people who show up, again and again, long after the spotlight has moved on.

Franco Mostert Cleared as Rugby’s Referees Enter Full Circus Mode

Adnaan MohamedRugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Franco Mostert Cleared as Rugby’s Referees Enter Full Circus Mode
Opinion – Adnaan Mohamed

Welcome to another breathtaking episode of Rugby Officials Gone Wild, where referees improvise, TMOs hallucinate, and World Rugby’s disciplinary panels sweep up the mess like long-suffering parents at a children’s birthday party.

This week’s headliner? Springbok lock Franco Mostert sent off in Turin after referee James Doleman and his French TMO partner squinted at a replay and dramatically declared “clear head contact” and “always illegal”, which we now know was about as accurate as a prop attempting a chip-and-chase.

On Wednesday, actual functioning adults on the disciplinary panel calmly overturned the red card, downgrading it to a yellow and effectively telling the match officials:

“You were wrong. Spectacularly wrong. Please stop embarrassing yourselves at this altitude.”

But wait, the chaos gets better. Not only was Mostert’s dismissal wrong, but Harry Hockings’ red card was ALSO declared incorrect by a separate independent panel.

That’s right: two red cards, two panels, zero functioning officiating moments. Rugby’s governance is starting to feel like a group project where one guy does the work and the rest just show up with snacks.

And Rassie Erasmus? Eddie Jones? Oh, they were THRILLED.
Both stormed into their press conferences like two coaches who’d just watched their debit orders bounce. Steam, fire, smoke signals, everything short of interpretive dance.

Meanwhile, the bunker review system, the expensive technological safety net installed specifically to stop this exact variety of nonsense, was NOT USED.
Not consulted.
Not even glanced at.
They left it sitting there like a lonely gym bike in January.

Instead, Doleman and his TMO opted for the “wing it and pray” method: a bold, innovative approach with a near-perfect failure rate.

The ruling now exposes rugby’s head-contact framework as a full-blown Picasso painting: abstract, confusing, and open to interpretation by anyone with enough confidence and a whistle.

One weekend a player gets red for breathing too aggressively; the next weekend someone performs a WWE finishing move and walks away with a warning.

And through it all, the Springboks just keep winning, like a team powered entirely by spite and trauma.

Two weekends.
Two red cards for the No. 5 jersey.
Two matches with 14 men for ridiculous lengths of time.
Two victories.

France? Beaten with 40+ minutes a man down.
Italy? Smashed with 65+ minutes one man short, AND fielding fringe players.
The message?
“Give us 14, give them 15 – see who cries first.”

Now South Africans are coping the only way they know how:
By laughing at the officiating until it cries back.

With Mostert cleared, he’s available for the showdown in Dublin, a place where the Boks haven’t won since the world last took Blackberry phones seriously.

The last time the Boks were on the winning side in Ireland was 13 years go. The Irish have won four of the last five against South Africa, including that World Cup group-stage arm wrestle in 2023.

The Boks name their team Thursday. And if fate has a sense of humour, the referee will keep his red card in his pocket this weekend, or at least try to.

But with the way things are going in rugby’s officiating universe, expect anything: a red card for tying your boots too slowly; a yellow for “intent to run upright”; a penalty for existing in the wrong postcode.

Sit tight.
The circus continues.
And the clowns, unfortunately, are still in charge.

Two Weeks, Two Reds, One Relentless Springbok Spirit

Adnaan MohamedNews, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Two Weeks, Two Reds, One Relentless Springbok Spirit
By Adnaan Mohamed

For the second week in a row, the Springboks walked into a northern-hemisphere storm and refused to be blown over.

Another early red card, another No 5 lock gone, yet the world champions simply bent, adjusted and found a new way to win, beating Italy 32–14 in Turin with the kind of grit that can only be forged in chaos.

Franco Mostert’s 12th-minute red card echoed Lood de Jager’s fate against France a week earlier. Same number on the jersey. Same sinking moment. Same response: the Boks shifted shape like a scrum rearranging itself in a gale, and played as though the missing man had simply been absorbed into their collective heartbeat.

Captain Siya Kolisi said the team has learned to solve problems while sprinting.

“We went through it last weekend, and this week we went through the same thing. So, we make plans in the game as we go along because such things happen,” he said.

“The biggest thing that we were asked this week is to show our ‘Africanness’ and that’s about making plans because there are always stumbles… They (the coaches) are always prepared for any scenario, and even the guys who are not playing sit and make plans and decisions.”

Kolisi admitted the emotional sting was real:

“It doesn’t make it easy for us… seeing a guy like Franco sitting there, we could see the hurt in his eyes. But I really love the way this team is able to stand up and fight.”

Rassie Erasmus, visibly exasperated, didn’t hide his frustration.

“It is what it is. What I say can’t make a difference,” he said. “It’s sad that our captain had to make that sacrifice twice in a week.”

The Bok coach questioned how much lower a two-metre lock can physically tackle.

“Losing two locks in two games now for going lower than they can go… it’s tough to understand,” Erasmus said. “We don’t know how to coach guys to go lower, especially when someone is on his knees.”

Yet amid the frustration, he applauded his team’s ability to morph on demand.

“Yes, we have a way to adapt,” he said. “That certainly makes us tighter as a team… I’m happy with the result, but still sad for the players who have to take the brunt for something that happened by accident.”

Three wins from three, two red cards navigated, and a squad that keeps inventing new ways to survive the storm. The Boks now head to Ireland, hardened once more by fire and fallout.

Featured Photo: Andre Esterhuizen/ https://x.com/springboks

Source: SA Rugby

Red Card, Green Heart: Springboks Turn Adversity into Glory in Paris

Adnaan MohamedNews, RugbyLeave a Comment on Red Card, Green Heart: Springboks Turn Adversity into Glory in Paris
By Adnaan Mohamed

On the night Siya Kolisi reached his century of Tests, the Springbok captain reminded the rugby world that leadership isn’t only about charging into tackles, but sometimes it’s about stepping back for the team.

Up against a fired-up French side, a cauldron of 80,000 roaring fans at Stade de France, and a hotly debated red card to lock Lood de Jager, the world champions could easily have cracked.

Instead, they dug deep, showing the kind of grit that has become as familiar to South Africans as the green and gold itself.

The Boks turned pressure into purpose, clawing their way to a 32–17 win that felt more like a statement than a scoreline.

When halftime arrived, the coaches faced a brutal call that resulted in Kolisi’s 100th Test ending early. The team needed to reshuffle, and the captain had to make way for tactical balance. His response was pure Siya.

“To take our captain off in his 100th match because we had to put Andre [Esterhuizen] on to play loose forward and centre, depending on whether we had a scrum or a line-out, was a tough call,” said coach Rassie Erasmus.

“But when we said it to him, he just took it on the chin and understood. Same with Damian de Allende, who was playing really well, but we had to sub him so Andre could play both in the scrums and the backline.”

Kolisi’s calm acceptance rippled through the team like a silent war cry.

“The impact Siya made from the bench was when the whole team saw the moment he was told he wasn’t going to play the second half, and he said he totally understands,” Erasmus added.

“That impact is enough. Then the other players say, ‘Our captain, who has played 100 games, is willing not to go in the second half for the team to win.’ That impact is enough.”

It was a reminder that Kolisi doesn’t just wear the armband, he embodies the Springbok creed: team before self, always.

Erasmus also tipped his hat to the brains trust behind the victory, the Bok assistant coaches who helped rewrite the game plan on the fly.

“The bench had a good impact, but it’s the plans the coaches made at half-time that made it easier for the guys that went on,” he said.

“The defence coach, attack coach, Duane [Vermeulen] with the breakdowns, Deon [Davids] with the line-outs, Daan [Human] the scrums, and Tony [Brown] the attack.

“I take very little credit. This bunch of players and a lot of people said they are getting old, they are wiser and calmer under pressure.”

Even with the crowd roaring like a Parisian thunderstorm, the Boks never lost their composure.

“Playing here, and the French can be so proud of their supporters, but for us it was intimidating,” Erasmus admitted.

“But luckily, we’ve been through this before in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. The experience showed at half-time, making plans, staying calm, sacrificing for the team.”

Kolisi may have played only 40 minutes, but his presence was felt for all 80. From the moment he stepped off the field, he became the team’s heartbeat on the sideline, steady, selfless, and still leading every ruck and run from afar.

His 100th Test wasn’t only about glory. It was about grace, the kind that wins not just games, but hearts.

Source: SA Rugby

Rassie’s Secret Weapon: The Clip That Lit the Fire in the Bok Camp

Adnaan MohamedRugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Rassie’s Secret Weapon: The Clip That Lit the Fire in the Bok Camp
By Adnaan Mohamed

This week, in the quiet hum of Springbok camp before the thunder of the tackling France at the Stade de France in Paris, Rassie Erasmus pressed play on a short video, and silence fell.

The clip came from Hamediehs Rugby Football Club (RFC), a 130-year-old Cape Flats institution that’s been a lifeline for generations of kids dodging the dangers of the streets. In it, a 13-year-old boy battles the daily storms of township life, poverty, violence, temptation, until he finds his refuge on the rugby field.

It’s not just a club. It’s an ark in a flood.

Featuring former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, who mentors at Hamediehs, the video’s message “Rugby Saved Us” struck a chord deep within the Boks.

Erasmus, marking his 50th Test in charge, knew the story would speak louder than any team talk. When he showed it, the room grew still. Every player saw a reflection of their own journey.

“Salaam! (Peace), yes, that video is special for so many reasons,” said Siya Kolisi, preparing for his 100th Test as captain.

“In that clip we saw what club rugby does for kids in the community.”

Then his voice slowed, his words carrying the weight of lived truth.

“Rugby is more than just a sport to us. People say that, but for us, it saved us. It kept us from so many things we were never supposed to be exposed to as children.”

Kolisi knows the boy’s pain because he once was that boy, the kid from Zwide who found light in a muddy field, who rose from hunger to hoisting the Webb Ellis Cup in 2019 and again in 2023.

“To see that clip and know kids are still going through that, it hits deep,” he said.

“I’ve been given a platform, and it’s our duty to make sure we create a better tomorrow for those kids — to make it safer, to give them choices. That’s what rugby has done for me.”

For Kolisi, this 100th cap isn’t about records or medals. It’s about meaning.

“It’s not just about the trophies,” he said. “The trophies give us a platform to give back. This game isn’t about me, it’s for those kids at Hamediehs, for every boy and girl whose lives are changed by rugby.”

Erasmus, ever the innovator, often reminds his team that victory isn’t just on the scoreboard.

“Coach Rassie speaks about it all the time,” Kolisi added. “It’s not just about winning or losing. Our drive goes deeper. Rugby doesn’t just change lives for 80 minutes; it saves them from the things that can take their lives away.”

So when Kolisi leads the Boks onto the Stade de France turf on Saturday night, that Hamediehs boy, and every child who’s found safety in rugby’s embrace, will run beside him.

Because for Kolisi and the millions who see themselves in his story, rugby isn’t just a game.

It’s hope.
It’s family.
It’s the hand that pulls you from the storm.

Watch the video: Rugby Saved Us

https://www.theathlete.co.za/2025/11/04/peter-de-villiers-id-trade-the-bok-job-for-this-hamediehs-rfcs-heartbeat-of-hope

Related story:

https://www.theathlete.co.za/2023/10/08/watch-siya-kolisi-congratulate-hamediehs-in-a-special-selfie-video

Source: SA Rugby

Teams:

France: 15 Tomas Ramos, 14 Damien Penaud, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Gaël Fickou, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Nolann le Garrec, 8 Mickaël Guillard, 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Régis Montagne, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Baptiste Erdocio.
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Cramont, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Dorian Aldegheri 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Hugo Auradou, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Nicolas Depoortère

South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Boan Venter.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Ruan Nortje, 21 Andre Esterhuizen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.

Date: Saturday, November 8
Venue: Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Kick-off: 21.10 (22.10 SAST; 20.10 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) & Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)

How Rugby Saved Siya Kolisi and Continues to Save a Nation

Adnaan MohamedNews, Preview, RugbyLeave a Comment on How Rugby Saved Siya Kolisi and Continues to Save a Nation
By Adnaan Mohamed

For Siya Kolisi, rugby wasn’t just a game, it was a way out. A lifeline. A field of hope that pulled him from the dusty streets of Zwide to the world’s grandest rugby stage.

Now, as the Springbok captain runs out for his 100th Test against France in Paris on Saturday night, his story stands as living proof of what sport can do for a young boy who could so easily have been lost to circumstance.

“I’m very proud and honoured, and I’m grateful to everyone who’s played a part in my life because I wouldn’t be here without my community,” Kolisi said ahead of his milestone.

“The foundation of who I am is from Zwide and the wider community. The people there parented me, and the teachers at school believed in me.”

Rugby as Redemption

Kolisi’s journey, from barefoot kid to Bok centurion, mirrors that of countless young South Africans who have found direction, purpose, and family through rugby. It’s a game that has replaced street corners with scrums and despair with discipline.

“Coach Rassie gave me my first contract,” Kolisi recalled.

“Then there was coach Heyneke (Meyer), Allister (Coetzee), Jacques (Nienaber), and all my club coaches. I’ve taken lessons from them all. They could have chased me away, but they backed me.”

That faith didn’t just build a player; it built a man.

“I carry all my teammates, from childhood to now, into each game, along with all the South Africans who expect so much from this team,” Kolisi said.

“Because they’ve seen what we’re capable of.”

A Game Bigger Than the Man

Kolisi’s 100th Test will be shared with his children, his community, and his country. But he’s quick to shift the focus from himself to the collective, to the game that gave him everything.

“It’s been a relaxed week,” he said.

“I’ve had my kids here and people who’ve supported me over the years, so that’s been special. But the team comes before the individual in our setup. If we do well as a team, the milestone will be special anyway.”

The match against France also marks Rassie Erasmus’s 50th as head coach — another figure who understands that rugby in South Africa isn’t merely about trophies. It’s about transformation, both personal and national.

Still Fighting for Every Inch

On Saturday, Kolisi will once again lead his team into battle, not just against a French side seeking revenge for last year’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinal loss, but against the very odds he’s defied all his life.

“This game is like a knockout,” he said.

“We know how big it is for rankings and pride. But for us, it’s always about purpose, to represent our people, to make South Africans proud, and to keep building something that lasts.”

He knows the fight will be brutal.

“Games against France are always big because it’s two powerful packs facing one another,” Kolisi said.

“Physicality will be key; winning the gain line and the breakdowns. The team that uses their opportunities best will win.”

“Rugby Saved Me” and It Still Saves Others

For many young South Africans, Kolisi’s 100th cap is more than a personal achievement, it’s a symbol of hope. Proof that the sport can still be a bridge out of poverty, a classroom of character, and a safe haven from the dangers that lurk beyond the touchline.

Kolisi’s story isn’t just about how he reached 100 Tests, it’s about how rugby gave him 100 reasons to bel

And on Saturday night in Paris, as the Springbok skipper leads his team onto the field, every step he takes will echo with the footsteps of those boys still chasing the same dream, one pass, one tackle, one life at a time.

Source: SA Rugby

Siya Hits 100. Rassie Reloads. Paris Waits.

Adnaan MohamedNews, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Siya Hits 100. Rassie Reloads. Paris Waits.
By Adnaan Mohamed

Siya Kolisi is about to make history – again. On Saturday night in Paris, the Bok skipper plays his 100th Test for the Springboks, marching out under the lights like a general who’s fought every battle and still wants one more.

And fittingly, the man pulling the strings, Rassie Erasmus, hits his own half-century as Bok boss. Two rugby masterminds, one glittering stage, and a French crowd ready to make noise until sunrise.

New Faces, Same Fire

Rassie’s tinkering hands are back at work. Six changes.

  • Boan Venter in for the injured Ox Nche.
  • Thomas du Toit tightens the screws at prop.
  • Eben Etzebeth partners Lood de Jager in the engine room – pure granite.
  • Pieter-Steph du Toit returns to roam the flanks.
  • Damian Willemse starts at fullback; Cheslin Kolbe shifts back to his natural wing.
  • RG Snyman goes to the bench, resting his fire for later.

Behind them, it’s a mix of flair and fight with Cobus Reinach and young Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to run the show at halfback, with Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel holding the midfield fort.

Kolisi leads the bruising loose trio again. It’s the same combo that traded blows with France in Marseille two years ago.

‘The Right Team for the Right Fight’

“This is the team best suited to what we expect from France,”
says Erasmus.

“They’ve been there, felt the heat, and know what’s coming from that passionate French crowd.”

And on Siya’s milestone?

“It’s massive. We’re all proud of him. He’ll stay focused on the job, but if we get it right, it’ll be a night to remember.”

Paris Will Burn (Rugby-Wise)

Les Bleus want payback for last year’s World Cup heartbreak. The French press has been singing revenge songs all week. The Boks? Calm. Cold. Calculated.

“France have class all over the park and a crowd that won’t stop,” says Erasmus.
“We have to be sharp, take our chances, and fight from first whistle to last. It’ll be brutal — and beautiful.”

Kick-off: 22:10 (SA Time)
Live on SuperSport Grandstand & Rugby channels.

Kolisi 100 — By the Numbers
Debut 2013 vs Scotland
Tests as Captain 72
World Cups 2
Total Tries 14
Coach Rassie Tests 50
Previous Centurions 8
Boks vs France — Quick Stats
  • Tests: 46
  • SA Wins: 28
  • France Wins: 12
  • Draws: 6
  • Last Meeting: SA 29–28 France (RWC 2023 QF)

Modern Take

Kolisi’s 100th test match is not only a remarkable milestone, but it’s a story of a kid from Zwide who against all odds turned grit into gold. Now, one more dance in Paris, and maybe, one more chapter for the legend.

Boks back Asenathi Ntlabakanye despite doping probe

Adnaan MohamedNews, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Boks back Asenathi Ntlabakanye despite doping probe
By Adnaan Mohamed

Asenathi Ntlabakanye’s rugby journey has taken another dramatic twist. Just a week ago, the Lions prop was bulldozing defenders in a Barbarians jersey. Now he’s back in Springbok green and gold right in the middle of a media storm.

The 26-year-old has been called up to replace the injured Ox Nche, who limped off during South Africa’s 61–7 demolition of Japan at Wembley on Saturday.

But Ntlabakanye’s recall comes with added scrutiny, he’s still awaiting an anti-doping hearing in December after testing positive for a non-performance-enhancing substance earlier this year.

Ntlabakanye, who disputes the finding, missed the Boks’ September tour of New Zealand after returning the adverse result. Despite the pending case, he remains eligible to play, and the Bok coaches haven’t hesitated to bring him back into the front-row mix.

“I’m not going to comment on a case that’s ongoing at the moment,” said assistant coach Felix Jones when asked about the issue.

“I’m not sure the world knows about it yet, but his skill set is incredibly impressive. He’s a very dynamic player who can get around for a guy who can handle himself in the scrum or on the ball.”

The timing of his recall couldn’t have been tighter. Ntlabakanye scored a second-minute try for the Barbarians against the All Blacks XV at Twickenham on Saturday, before flying across London to rejoin the Bok squad the very next morning.

A few hours later, he was en route to France, ready to line up against Les Bleus in the Autumn Nations Series this weekend.

Head coach Rassie Erasmus said the call-up was an easy decision:

“We feel for Ox and wish him well in his recovery. Asenathi has been with us for a big part of the season, he knows our systems, and he was already on standby. The fact that he was in London made it an easy fit to slot back in straight away.”

At 141 kilograms, Ntlabakanye brings raw power and energy to the Bok front row. And he’ll need all of it as he battles Gerhard Steenekamp and Boan Venter for a spot against France.

It’s been a whirlwind few months for the Johannesburg-born prop. From Test debut, to controversy, to this sudden recall.

But now, under the bright lights of Paris, he has a shot at redemption and a chance to remind everyone what he does best: dominate the scrum, not the headlines.

Zach Porthen set for Bok Debut against Japan

Adnaan MohamedRugbyLeave a Comment on Zach Porthen set for Bok Debut against Japan
Adnaan Mohamed

Zachary Porthen will wade straight into the Test rugby surf this weekend and there’s no lifeguard on duty.

The 21-year-old former Junior Springbok captain is set to become the youngest prop of the professional era to debut for South Africa when the Springboks face Japan at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Coach Rassie Erasmus has named a largely settled side for the November International opener, sticking with 16 players from the team that edged Argentina 29–27 to clinch the Rugby Championship title.

“He proved at Vodacom URC level and with the Junior Springboks what he can do,” said Erasmus.

“We’re looking forward to seeing what he offers in his first Test. At this level, you have to sink or swim.”

Porthen joins Ox Nche and Malcolm Marx in a heavyweight front row, with Lood de Jager and RG Snyman locking the scrum. Siya Kolisi leads a loose trio alongside Franco Mostert and Jasper Wiese.

Kurt-Lee Arendse, De Jager, and Mostert return after time out, while Gerhard Steenekamp and Johan Grobbelaar bolster the bench.

The backline sees Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at halfback, Arendse and Ethan Hooker on the wings, and Cheslin Kolbe shifting to fullback.

Erasmus highlighted the value of experience within the squad:

“It’s great to have players back. You can feel their hunger. This is the best team we could field against a quality Japan outfit who’ll want to make a strong statement.”

With six Japan-based Boks in the mix, Erasmus expects a tactical arm wrestle.

“Their experience in that league helps, but Japan will also know them well,” he said.

“They’re well-coached by Eddie Jones and won’t hold back.”

For Porthen, it’s a baptism in Bok green, a plunge into the roaring scrum where the brave either sinks or rise like foam.

Source: SA Rugby