Sports

Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann will experience a familiar setting from a very different vantage point in Saturday’s Jukskei derby at Ellis Park. The Vodacom URC clash carries added edge for Ackermann’s Bulls, who are looking to avenge a 43-33 defeat to the Lions at Loftus Versfeld last November, but for the coach himself the […]

Blitzboks assistant coach Renfred Dazel believes the team can still deliver in Singapore despite the absence of key playmakers. The Blitzboks arrived in humid Singapore in strong form, having won the previous SVNS tournament in Cape Town in December and topping the standings after the opening two events. They have also scored more tries than

Forwards coach Rito Hlungwani believes the Stormers can put right last weekend’s loss when they take on the Sharks in Durban on Saturday. The Stormers’ eight-match winning start to the Vodacom URC ended with a disappointing 30-19 defeat to the Durbanites at a sold-out Cape Town Stadium. “It’s a unique situation,” Hlungwani said of the

Springbok hybrid Andre Esterhuizen says he doesn’t expect to ever start a match for the Sharks at flank. SIMON BORCHARDT reports. Esterhuizen’s evolving role for the Springboks saw him successfully move from midfield to the side of the scrum during big Test matches last year. And his versatility was again evident during the Sharks’ 30-19

Marcell Coetzee says back-to-back tour wins have boosted Vodacom Bulls belief as they seek revenge at Ellis Park for their loss to the Lions at Loftus. The Bulls arrive in Joburg having defeated Pau in the Investec Champions Cup, to end a seven-match losing streak, and Edinburgh in the Vodacom URC. The latter lifted them

France coach Fabien Galthie says former Australia U20 forward Tom Staniforth was on Les Bleus’ radar three years ago. The 31-year-old lock recently qualified for France on residency grounds having spent more than five years playing for Castres in the Top 14. And Galthie took the opportunity last week to call up Staniforth for his

Two leading candidates have ruled themselves out of the running to replace Scott Robertson as All Blacks coach. Both outgoing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and Blues coach Vern Cotter have confirmed they are not available to take on the All Blacks coach role two years out from the World Cup. Schmidt has reportedly informed NZ

Coach Rassie Erasmus says the Springboks face a formidable challenge when they open their 2026 Test campaign against an in-form England at Ellis Park. The teams meet in their first match of the new Nations Championship – a fixture Erasmus has earmarked as a serious early-season test against a side he says is building something special.

Rassie Erasmus has moved to clarify the future of Springbok attack coach Tony Brown while also expressing sympathy for Scott Robertson. The Bok coach confirmed that Brown, a former All Blacks flyhalf, remains fully committed to South Africa until the end of his contract in 2027, despite being open about his ambitions to one day

Captain Dewi Lake says Wales will use the turmoil and uncertainty engulfing the domestic club game as “fuel” to ignite their Six Nations campaign. Wales have not won a Six Nations match since 2023, when they narrowly avoided the wooden spoon thanks to a 29-17 victory away to an error-strewn Italy. They have won only