Victory in Bayonne marked a magnificent 7th win for the Stormers. Have turned things around in 3 months. Balance between kicking/attack the most noticeable improvement. Management of squad/bench has also caught the eye. This team looks like the real deal rugby365.com/tournaments/...

After leading 33-22 at HT, the Bulls lost the 2nd half 24-0! Discipline and game management let them down, but has to be a concern that overseas teams are outscoring them in the last 40... at altitude! UBB never stopped working, deserved win for the champs.

Lions begin their Challenge Cup campaign with a home loss to Benetton – second win for the Italian side against the Lions this season

Storm grind out a gritty win in Bayonne. Big start to the Champs Cup in France for the Cape side, and 7/7 this season. Scrum was titanic

Boks (narrowly) avoid drawing Australia in the 2027 RWC pool phase. Boks will be favourites to top Pool B – but given how Italy and Georgia have improved, these matches should provide SA with a good physical test ahead of the four-round playoffs.

This is easily the finest set of SA players of all time, and currently jousting with THAT ABs side for the GOAT title. But when you look at the Bok's most consistent combo (Rassie and coaches) you start to wonder if they're also approaching GOAT status www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...

Check out my full analysis for a breakdown of South Africa's rise to the top of attacking charts rugby365.com/countries/so...

Took a closer look at how the Boks became Test rugby's most potent team: – Scoring progression from 2018 to 2025 – The Tonyball shift – The kick-chase double down Not just the world's leading attacking side in 2025, but the most complete all-court team 🧵

Took a closer look at how the Boks became Test rugby's most potent team: – Scoring progression from 2018 to 2025 – The Tonyball shift – The kick-chase double down Not just the world's leading attacking side in 2025, but the most complete all-court team 🧵

One of the most noticeable improvements by the Stormers this season has been the performance of their bench – and the selection/management of subs by Dobson. Big win for the players in Limerick tonight, but coaches should also take a bow. Stormers Bomb Squad has been brilliant

Stormers come back from a 15-point deficit to beat Munster at Thomond Park. Massive shift by the pack, kept them in the contest. Stormers stretch their winning run in the URC to 6 matches. Big result for the SA team in Limerick, a week after the Boks' victory over Ireland

What a year for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Nine Test tries for the Boks this season, and 100+ points. When last was the Boks' leading try-scorer for the season their flyhalf?? Goes to show how special SFM is, and how well/differently the Boks are playing at the moment.

Big win in Cardiff caps a monumental year for the Boks. 12/14 Test wins, and 13/15 overall. Rugby Champs, Freedom Cup titles retained, as well as No 1 ranking. 50 players used, including 8 debutants. All while alternating between an ambitious and pragmatic game plan🔥

Wales completely outclassed in Cardiff, but the Boks stuck to their task. 11 tries, and zero points conceded.

Esterhuizen enjoying a rare start at centre today, yet continuing to play like a hybrid. Monster carries beyond the gainline, two breakdown penalties. One of the Boks' best today, and over the course of 2025

Boks forced Wales to make 102 tackles in that first half... "Only" 28 points and 4 tries scored, but platform has been set for that 7-1 bench to do some big damage in the 2nd half

Surprising yet deserved win for the Lions against the Bulls at Loftus – and in the end, it was emphatic. 43 points and 6 tries for the Lions – away from home. Three URC wins in a row now. By contrast, Bulls have lost three of their last four.

Bulls' game management has been shocking... some great work to beat the Lions defence, and then it breaks down in the next phase via poor decision-making or handling

Cheswill Jooste providing the Bulls with a much needed spark in the latter stages of this derby at Loftus. Massive future.

Had a good chat re all things Springboks with @bencoles.bsky.social on the Rugby Bunker. Been a great year for Rassie's men, but there's still room to grow in the lead-up to 2027. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOAy...

Unsurprising that Boks have gone with a 7-1 bench split, given who's left on tour – but interesting that Porthen is listed as loosehead cover. Missing about 20 players due to various injuries, suspensions and Reg 9 recalls – but still a strong and balanced Bok side

Boks have won 11/13 in 2025, and are on track to finish with an 86% record for the 1st time. Wins v NZ, France, Ireland will be savoured, but worth celebrating how Rassie has juggled resources and kept his development promise with a view to the 2027 RWC www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...

Boks have won 11/13 in 2025, and are on track to finish with an 86% record for the 1st time. Wins v NZ, France, Ireland will be savoured, but worth celebrating how Rassie has juggled resources and kept his development promise with a view to the 2027 RWC www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...

Epic 2-0 series win for the Proteas in India. Been an incredible year for the Test side, winning the WTC (against Aus) and now winning in India. Conrad and the leadership group – Bavuma has been great – deserve credit. Team looks like it's growing while winning.

Boks' front-row depth looking good 2 years out from the RWC. Still some old heads in the mix, but Rassie has blooded 8 front-rankers since 2024, while Steenekamp, Louw, TDT have had more game time. Interesting to see how pecking order changes when the big guns return in 2026

The Boks forced Ireland to concede more penalties at the scrum and maul than most teams concede across all departments in the average Test. Why the performance in Dublin was one for the ages, and why the Bok pack may be even stronger in 2026. rugby365.com/countries/so...

Terrific fightback by the Pumas, but not to be. England finish their ANS campaign with 4/4, and extend their winning run to 11 matches. With respect, the Boks should beat Wales, and finish 2025 with 12 wins from 14. Boks v England in SA on 4 July 2026 is going to be massive

Proteas attempting to steal the Boks' thunder this weekend, via a magnificent 1st inns total of 489 in Guwahati. Brilliant batting by Muthusamy, Jansen and others to strengthen SA's grip on this game and series. 243 for the last four wickets... lower order doubled the score🔥

Disappointing that Boks didn't convert more chances. But here's some context, re Bok tries for and against in recent matches v Ireland: 0-1 in Durban (2024) 3-3 in Pretoria (2024) 1-1 in Paris (2023) 2-2 in Dublin (2022) 0-4 in Dublin (2017) Tonight: 4-1 to Boks Massive

Deserved recognition for Marx – and he had some stiff competition from Du Toit and Nché, who've also had massive seasons.

Boks had something like 11 22 entries. Could gripe about poor conversion rate in the 2nd half. But their game plan was always spot on: Keep Ireland pinned in their own 22, and SQUEEZE. Credit to Ireland for fighting back, but this is a massive win for Bok players and coaches

Men of the Match award should go to the Bok scrum combo in the 1st half. Scrummed Ireland to smithereens. Great lineout contest, but Boks will be pretty happy with their showing at this set piece and maul early on, given Ireland's strength in this department.

The Boks bury their Dublin bogey! First win in the Irish capital since 2012, and the first for Rassie Erasmus' side. Not as convincing as it should have been – given 1st half dominance – but an 11-point win is still a big statement.

What a shift by the Bok forwards in the first 40. Dominating the scrums&lineouts. Carley is punishing the Irish accordingly. Ire not helping themselves re poor discipline. Bok aerial game working a treat. Visitors have a great chance to build a score in 2nd half.

NZ end their tour and season on a high, but will they be happy? 10 wins and 3 losses in 2025. Not terrible, but not enough to earn them any major trophies, a Grand Slam, or the top spot. Lots to ponder for Robertson and co ahead of 2026, and the Greatest Rivalry series in SA

Bit like the Argentina game... Wales competitive at stages but still end up leaking 50-odd points. Struggled to live with NZ in the 2nd half.

Erasmus has enhanced his reputation with a series of inspired substitutions and tactical adjustments on this tour, and just as Farrell may be holding something back, Erasmus will have a trick up his sleeve. A piece on the brain game for @dailymaverick.co.za www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...

Porter offers a lot around the park, but if Boks execute kicking game and there are plenty of scrums, he could be in trouble. First Test vs the Boks, Sam Prendergast will have to get stuck in. Beirne an absolute monster, but will he have enough support late in the contest?

Must have been a tough call at 14, but Moodie has been on fire in the air lately. Esterhuizen retained on a 6-2 (alt 5-3) bench, as is the combo of Williams and Libbok. Plenty of versatility across the board, will be fascinating to see what the finishing XV looks like

The Boks have attacked the 2nd half – and Q4 in particular – in recent seasons. Other nations like England, France, NZ are following suit. Exactly how good is the Bomb Squad – and the Pom Squad? The Q4 stats tell the story, especially when you focus on T1 Tests 🧵

Check out my full @RugbyPass analysis, which takes a broader view on the Q4 stats, the bench splits and innovations, how other nations are gaining ground, and how the Boks continue to surge ahead. www.rugbypass.com/plus/how-eng...

The Boks have attacked the 2nd half – and Q4 in particular – in recent seasons. Other nations like England, France, NZ are following suit. Exactly how good is the Bomb Squad – and the Pom Squad? The Q4 stats tell the story, especially when you focus on T1 Tests 🧵

Boks haven't needed a kick to win a game since Sept 2024, but their GK record v Ireland has been poor and has contributed to recent defeats. SFM the favourite to start, but a case for Pollard (from the bench) to clinch Boks' first win in Dublin since 2012 rugby365.com/countries/so...

Incredible fightback by Argentina! Looked to be dead and buried after 56 mins, 21-0 down, but hit back to win 33-24! Attack asked questions throughout, but only really started to find space late in the game. Brilliant win for the Pumas. Vamos!

Been wondering about the Marco selection all week... Boks have started to use their starting hooker (MM) for 65-75 mins this season... so Grobbies can play a similar amount of time in Turin and then Marco moves to 2? Looks like a 6-2, but still potential for a 4-4 bench split!

As we saw in Paris, rumours of the Bomb Squad's demise have been greatly exaggerated. After a shaky start to 2025, the Boks have (re)found their bench mojo. But the dynamic has evolved with Louw and Libbok becoming regulars, and Andre the Giant playing the hybrid role. rugby365.com/countries/so...

From the outset, this game shaped like 2023 RWC QF: poor start, momentum with French. But France faded and Boks grew in belief. 15-point win in Paris, and with 14 men, after all the things that have been said this past week... The scoreboard makes the statement

Kolisi made the sacrifice after De Jager's red card. PSDT's decision-making thereafter was game-shaping. Boks had French on the run. PSDT turned down 3 pts to go for the throat. Forwards and maul stood tall – and some crucial individual finishing by Reinach, Williams, SFM

Magnificent fightback by the Boks in Paris! Game was sliding away from them after the red card and a limp 1st half – but players and coaches made some key adjustments in the second stanza to win the game emphatically. Gave the French a lesson about finishing at the death.

Disappointing half for Boks – even without red card. Too reactive. Not winning scraps, not controlling gainline. France smart kicking game and game management. French very loose re discipline early on... Boks didn't cash in. Interesting to see how Bomb Squad showdown plays out