John Smit played in three World Cups, winning 111 caps for South Africa and lifting the 2007 trophy after defeating England in the final in Paris. After two years in…
South Africa
Letter from South Africa
SPRINGBOKS WINLESS FOR THE FIRST TIME Since the inception of the Tri-Nations in 1996, and then the expansion to the Rugby Championship in 2012, the Springboks have never gone through…
World Cup watch: In support of undroppable front-rowers
For some of the world’s most revered front row players, it is the ideal situation. For the coaches it lies somewhere between walking on eggshells and urging the turkey to…
Rugby Championship: Wallabies determined to end All Blacks losing streak
AUSTRALIA will unleash all their big guns on New Zealand in the Rugby Championship decider at ANZ Stadium on Saturday as they seek to end a ten-match winless streak against…
Can you win a Rugby World Cup without kicking a ball?
SOMETHING SHOULD have been jarred loose as New Zealand met France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final, 24 years after the pair had last faced off at Eden Park…
Rugby Statistics: Does World Cup form matter?
How much attention should be given to form going into a World Cup? Significance may well be attached to ‘building momentum’ in competitions such as the Rugby Championship beforehand, but…
Rugby Championship Talking points – Round 1
The first weekend of Rugby Championship action gave rugby watchers their first chance to see what sort of shape four of the world’s top 10 sides were in with the…
Letter from South Africa – July
DE VILLIERS MAKES CAUTIOUS BUT SUCCESSFUL COMEBACK Springbok captain Jean de Villiers returned to action for the first time in nine months when he came off the bench against a…
Top 14 transfers: Comings and goings
The Top 14 transfer market has more or less closed for the summer. Clubs are still permitted to sign up to two supplementary players in addition to ‘World Cup jokers’,…
Five stars for the 2019 Rugby World Cup
The 2015 World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy may now be consigned to the history books but the reputations created by some of the tournament’s stars could light up rugby for years…