Former England captain Mike Tindall has revealed he once disliked an ex-Springbok so much that he threatened to leave Bath if the club signed him. Tindall admitted his feelings towards centre Robbie Fleck during his playing days were shaped by a series of brutal battles, particularly the infamous 2002 Test in which England hammered South […]
The Bok Tindall went from hating to loving Read More »
Junior Springbok centre Markus Muller believes the exposure he and several teammates gained with the senior national set-up has raised the standard of their entire squad. The 18-year-old is among a group of Junior Boks who trained with the Springboks and featured for South Africa A against Zimbabwe recently. He says bringing that experience back
How Boks helped Muller boost SA U20s Read More »
Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett believes Saturday’s Nations Championship opener against England could prove a defining Test for Manie Libbok. Libbok has been preferred ahead of Handré Pollard for the Ellis Park showdown, with Mallett convinced the playmaker’s performances in Japan have helped address one of the biggest questions hanging over his game. “I think
Mallett backs Manie to silence biggest critics Read More »
Suspended Japan coach Eddie Jones has named uncapped student flyhalf Ryunosuke Ito to start against Italy in their Nations Championship opener in Tokyo. Forwards coach Neal Hatley will fill in for Jones, who is serving the last game of a four-match ban imposed by the Japan RFU for abusing match officials on a tour of
Banned Eddie backs student flyhalf Read More »
Ireland coach Andy Farrell has given Sam Prendergast the No 10 jersey for their Nations Championship opener against Australia in Sydney on Saturday. The world’s third-ranked team head into the clash on the back of a strong Six Nations campaign, finishing runner-up to France. But they have been beset by injuries with a host of
Ireland opt for Prendergast as playmaker Read More »
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has selected a new halfback combination for their Nations Championship opener against Ireland in Sydney on Saturday. Carter Gordon and Ryan Lonergan will perform the crucial playmaker roles. Gordon was preferred at No 10 to Ben Donaldson – Schmidt’s third different flyhalf in as many Tests. He has never played a
Wallabies gamble on new halfbacks combo Read More »
Dave Rennie has made an immediate statement by naming a bold All Blacks side to face France in Christchurch on Saturday. The new coach has handed starting roles to several players in unexpected positions, while Hurricanes prop Xavier Numia and exciting winger Fehi Fineanganofo are in line to make their Test debuts from the bench
No Beauden in Rennie’s first All Blacks team Read More »
Check out the match 23s for Saturday’s Nations Championship matches. ALL BLACKS vs FRANCE (Saturday, 9:10am SA time) ALL BLACKS – 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (c), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Peter Lakai, 5 Sam Darry,
Zach Porthen will take his place on the Springbok bench against England, but the young prop insists he has already been battle-hardened in a far more unforgiving arena, the training paddock. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports. In a squad stacked with world-class front-rowers, the 22-year-old says nothing comes easy. “A [Springbok] scrum session is tougher
Zach: Boks have taken me to that dark place Read More »
Eddie Jones says selecting players based in France would transform Steve Borthwick’s England squad from “B-plus to A-star”. England face the Springboks in Saturday’s Nations Championship clash at Ellis Park without a host of experienced stars who are ineligible for selection because they don’t play their club rugby in the country. Jones believes the current
Eddie: England need Bok model Read More »
