Sports

Tighthead prop Thomas du Toit insists the Springboks scrum legally after All Blacks coach Dave Rennie questioned their tactics. SIMON BORCHARDT reports. Earlier on Thursday, Rennie revealed that New Zealand had raised scrum concerns with World Rugby following the first Test at Ellis Park, in which the Bok pack dominated up front for large periods. […]

Ireland have been dealt a huge setback with the news that one of the country’s leading players is ruled out for the rest of the year. According to RugbyPass, Munster has confirmed that flyhalf Jack Crowley is still recovering from a lower-limb vascular injury after being assessed by specialists, with medical advice ruling him out

Ethan Adams will run out at 13 for the Lions as one of six changes to the starting XV by coach Mziwakhe Nkosi for Friday’s must-win Currie Cup tie against the Stormers XXIII. The hulking Adams made his Currie Cup debut last week and now gets his first home start for the Joburgers at Ellis

The Springbok-All Blacks rivalry has long been rugby’s defining contest, and in Cape Town on Saturday it will be reflected in an extraordinary statistic. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports. The Springboks will field a starting XV carrying 1,012 Test caps against the All Blacks’ 573, putting them just one cap short of the most experienced

Having beefed up his All Blacks pack to match the physicality of the Springboks, coach Dave Rennie is bracing for a much-improved effort from South Africa on Saturday, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.  Rennie was speaking on Thursday at New Zealand’s team announcement conference for the second Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in Cape Town,

Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli has been ruled out of the second Test between the Springboks and All Blacks at Cape Town Stadium. World Rugby confirmed on Thursday that Amashukeli has not recovered from illness and will be replaced by Australian Angus Gardner for Saturday’s clash. Gardner had originally been appointed to referee the third Test

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has made six changes to his match 23 for Saturday’s second Test against the Springboks in Cape Town. Three changes come in the starting lineup, with Leroy Carter replacing Josh Moorby on the left wing, Simon Parker coming in at blindside flank and George Bower promoted from the bench at

Centre Zane Bester says Griquas are determined to go back-to-back in the Currie Cup and lift the trophy in front of their fans. The defending champions secured a home semi-final with an impressive 38-14 victory against the Pumas in Nelspruit last week, and are targeting a final-round win against the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington on

Stormers XXIII captain Ezekiel Ngobeni expects the Lions to exert pressure on himself and halfback partner Kyle Smith at Ellis Park on Friday. Smith was outstanding in the Stormers’ 50-26 victory over the Vodacom Bulls XV at Loftus Versfeld last week, while Ngobeni seemed energised by the added responsibility of captaining the team. He believes

Ben Smith has defended flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, arguing an ill-suited Springbok game plan explains his below-par performances since recent surgery. Feinberg-Mngomezulu will play off the bench against the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday, deputising for Handré Pollard, after starting last week’s losing first Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series. The 24-year-old, who