Skills and kicking coach Kevin Sinfield says England have left nothing to chance in preparing for Saturday’s Nations Championship Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park. The historic Johannesburg venue sits nearly 6,000ft above sea level, and England have not won there since 1972. But having arrived in South Africa 10 days before kick-off, Sinfield […]
England breath in Highveld challenge Read More »
When Anton Segner was 10 years old, growing up in Germany, he made an extraordinary decision – he was going to become an All Black. Fourteen years later, that childhood dream became reality when Dave Rennie named the Blues loose forward in his first All Blacks squad. Segner will become the first German-born player to
German boy’s All Blacks dream comes true Read More »
Former No 8 Nick Easter believes England can upset the Springboks on Saturday, but only if they neutralise Ox Nché at scrum time and put pressure on flyhalf Manie Libbok. Libbok gets the nod at 10 ahead of the experienced Handré Pollard as the Boks launch their Nations Championship campaign at Ellis Park. Nché starts
Easter eyes a way past Manie, not ‘freak’ Ox Read More »
Victor Matfield recalls when coach Jake White told him he wouldn’t play for the Boks again if he didn’t cut his hair. remember this story so well, but funny to hear it finally told Jake White telling (probably the most valuable player in the world at that time ) that he will not play for
Watch: When Big Vic lost his locks Read More »
Jesse Kriel opens up on his partnership with veteran Springbok Damian de Allende, and why Saturday’s Cheslin Kolbe and Damian Willemse milestones mean so much. The 32-year-old Kriel will line up alongside De Allende in a Nations Championship clash that will also see fellow double World Cup winners Kolbe and Willemse reach 50 Test caps.
Kriel on what drives Bok backline warhorses Read More »
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has teased more signings to come as he starts preparing his squad for an even more demanding season. MORNÉ ESBEN reports. The Joburg-based outfit will not only be taking part in the Vodacom URC, but by virtue of their top-eight finish, they’ll now also play Investec Champions Cup rugby. To
Cash hints at more Lions arrivals Read More »
Chris Latham has challenged the branding of this year’s Springbok-All Blacks series, insisting Australia – not South Africa – are New Zealand’s greatest rugby rivals. The four-Test “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” series has replaced this year’s Rugby Championship, but Latham believes the honour still belongs to the long-standing trans-Tasman battle. “It’s very, very disappointing,” Former Wallabies
Ex-Wallaby: Boks aren’t All Blacks’ biggest rivals Read More »
New details have emerged about why Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones walked away from his role as England defence coach after less than a year. Jones will come up against his former employers when the Boks host England in the Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park on Saturday, having returned to Rassie Erasmus’ coaching team
Why Bok coach ditched England Read More »
Springbok stars Jesse Kriel and Ox Nché have thrown down a marker of their own ahead of Saturday’s Nations Championship clash against England at Ellis Park. With Kriel eyeing a physical midfield battle and Nché bracing for a set-piece contest, the Boks are under no illusions about the size of the task awaiting them in
‘Bronco won’t win England the game’ Read More »
A 12-Test All Black who has been overlooked by new coach Dave Rennie will be continuing his career in Japan. Samipeni Finau’s hopes of reviving his All Blacks career appear to be over after the Chiefs announced that the powerful loose forward has signed with the Yokohama Canon Eagles, becoming the latest New Zealand international to
Another All Black heads abroad Read More »
