Japan coach Eddie Jones believes the Brave Blossoms’ future is bright after some “absolutely outstanding” performances from youngsters in the Nations Championship. Japan beat Italy before losing to Ireland and France. Jones used the tournament to blood several young players including some who are still at university, such as flyhalf Ryunosuke Ito, prop Sojiro Otsuka […]
Japan’s young guns excite Eddie Read More »
Outgoing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt believes he is leaving the team in a good place, but successor Les Kiss has plenty to do with the World Cup on home soil just 14 months away. Schmidt’s two-and-a-half year stint ended with a bang on Saturday when Australia ran in nine tries to crush Italy 57-10 in
Kiss has work cut out at Wallabies Read More »
Coach Dave Rennie says he’s “really excited” by the All Blacks’ upward trajectory but has “no illusions” about what’s coming in South Africa. New Zealand made it three-from-three in the Nations Championship with Saturday’s 40-21 win over Ireland in Auckland, delivering a performance Rennie said was an improvement on the wins over France and Italy.
Rennie: Boks a different beast Read More »
The current Currie Cup Premier Division qualification process will be reviewed later this month. According to Rapport, presidents, CEOs and coaches of the country’s 14 provincial unions are set to meet at a workshop in Joburg on 29 July to consider South Africa’s domestic competition structures. Under the existing system, the top four teams in
Currie Cup qualifying could change Read More »
Scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies says missing out on the Springboks’ 2023 World Cup squad was one of the toughest moments of his career. The 30-year-old marked his first Test appearance in almost three years by coming off the bench to score a try in Saturday’s 43-0 victory against Wales at Kings Park. Jantjies burst onto the
Herschel: I had to grieve World Cup heartbreak Read More »
The Springboks thrashed Wales again, but their accuracy fell well short of the standards expected of the world champions, writes MARK KEOHANE. Writing for the Sunday Times, Keohane says the Boks were physically dominant throughout the Nations Championship clash in Durban, yet too often allowed that superiority to breed sloppiness against a Welsh side that
Boks win big but miss the mark Read More »
Watching his Springbok teammates demolish their rivals at scrum time has inspired utility front-ranker Jan-Hendrik Wessels to make every minute on the field count. The 25-year-old, who has scored two Test tries since debuting against Portugal in 2024, earned his 12th cap off the bench in Saturday’s 43-0 win over Wales in Durban. The Bok
Jan-Hendrik taking his shots at the rock Read More »
The Springboks have received a timely injury boost after André Esterhuizen avoided surgery on his fractured cheekbone, keeping alive his hopes of facing the All Blacks next month. While the powerful midfielder is expected to miss the Boks’ next Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires on 8 August, Rapport says he remains on track for
André the Giant targets All Blacks return Read More »
A concussion scare and a growing desire to spend more time with his family have prompted another former Springbok to bring the curtain down on a distinguished professional career. After more than 300 senior appearances across 16 years, Francois Venter has announced his retirement from rugby, saying his body made it clear the time had
Bok centre calls it a day Read More »
England beat Argentina in an ill-disciplined Nations Championship clash in Santiago del Estero on Saturday. The visitors won 31-24 after Los Pumas flyhalf Tomas Albornoz was denied a chance to claim a dramatic draw when Bautista Delguy’s 83rd-minute try was chalked off after a discussion between the referee and TMO. No 8 Ben Earl scored two
Poms hold off Los Pumas Read More »
