South Africa Rugby
Stories about the South African rugby team
How Ireland managed to poach one of the hottest prospects in South African rugby
Josh Neill has been one of Ireland’s standouts across the first three rounds of the Under-20 Six Nations
Gordon D’Arcy: Why has the narrative around Irish rugby turned apocalyptic so quickly?
We have reached point where not winning the Six Nations is framed as decline
Owen Doyle: Changes to rugby’s laws need widespread buy-in, not more haste
Plenty of on-the-pitch examples should be giving World Rugby pause for thought
Why rugby’s darkest ‘dog acts’ like eye-gouging must be punished severely
Eben Etzebeth’s actions serve as a warning of the consequences that await any player who gouges a fellow player’s eyes
Owen Doyle: Referees need to take back responsibility to reduce plague of off-field reviews
Eben Etzebeth’s egregious eye-gouge is impossible to mitigate, even if it was retaliatory
Scrums for dummies: What goes on in there and why Ireland needn’t panic after Springbok ordeal
Former Ireland tighthead Mike Ross talks us through the finer details of the scrum as well as the ‘PR campaign’ against Andrew Porter and lessons from the loss to South Africa
Malachy Clerkin: Scrums are like Finnegans Wake – you either haven’t a clue or you spoof that you do
Rugby needs to do so much more to enlighten a baffled public as to why a retreating scrum concedes so many penalties
‘Fight, problem-solving, guts’: Johnny Sexton hails Ireland’s response in Springboks clash
Loss of players and chaotic first half on Saturday made for severe test of team and coaches
Gerry Thornley: What autumn internationals tell us about each contender ahead of World Cup draw
Chasing pack will be hoping reigning champions peaked too early
Ireland’s 50% win rate in Autumn Nations Series is not where Andy Farrell wants or needs to be
There were positives, but head coach only has a little over two months until Six Nations starts
Matt Williams: The mighty Springboks have one weakness that Ireland can try to exploit
Despite South Africa’s silky running skills, the heart of this side’s attack remains their pack
Conor Murray: Rassie Erasmus will try to ‘beat the s**te’ out of Ireland. But we can win
Visitors at the end of a long season, while Ireland are rediscovering that winning groove after putting 46 points on the Wallabies
Josh van der Flier and Garry Ringrose set for starting return against the Springboks
Andy Farrell likely to restore Lions frontrow of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong
IRFU defends ticket prices and rejects home internationals have become ‘corporate day out’
‘They sound expensive, but we’re comfortable with where they’re sitting at the moment’
Gordon D’Arcy: Ireland vs Springboks will be decided in a moment of desperation
Ireland looked a vastly different team against Australia, in no short part due to a functioning set piece
Cheslin Kolbe and South Africa ready for ‘massive’ game against Ireland
Winger has never won in Dublin, while the Springboks last success there was in 2012
James Ryan driven by opportunity to take a swipe at World Champions South Africa
‘These are the games you want to be involved in, against the best teams in the world’
Ireland’s fixtures unveiled as Nations Championship details announced for 2026
New 12-team competition to be played every two years and replaces tradition summer and November tours
Ireland reminded naysayers they haven’t gone away with dismantling of Australia
‘We’re a very good side,’ said Andy Farrell after win, but he knows South Africa will provide much stiffer test
Ireland are receiving more cards than before – is it a problem and why is it happening?
Some may blame coaching or rule changes, but evidence suggests team behaviour is a factor, too
Outcry over Lood de Jager red card shows rugby chiefs need to take a stand
Rugby chiefs must hold their nerve and empower officials to punish dangerous on-field acts
Rassie Erasmus’s coaching takes South Africa to a higher level
Victory in Paris with 14 men warns us what the world champions are capable of
Matt Williams: Entitled fans must stop whinging about Ireland’s defeat to New Zealand
Price of Irish dominance in Lions team over summer meant November would always be tough
Matt Williams: Whether Ireland are ready for All Blacks is big ‘unknown unknown’
Springboks have already exposed New Zealand flaws, but can Andy Farrell’s side take advantage?
Johnny Watterson: Haters gonna hate the next four weeks of intense Test rugby
The outcomes of the November internationals will shape how Ireland fare in the Rugby World Cup draw
View from New Zealand: Huge pay day the main reason All Blacks are facing Ireland in Chicago
There’s a growing concern in New Zealand that the focus is more on winning investment than on the All Blacks’ ability to win games
Ireland’s autumn squad set to have familiar look with some summer springers set for inclusion
Caelan Doris set to make a return although doubts remain over fitness of Joe McCarthy after foot injury picked up on Lions tour
Leinster add South African backrow Josh Neill to academy
Backrower to join Leinster from Western Province early next year
Is Father Time catching up with this legendary generation of Springboks?
Spine of team that won two World Cups is past its best and the next generation have yet to be battle-tested
Wallabies break South Africa’s aura of invincibility in win that asks: is Australian rugby back?
Joe Schmidt’s side earned a first win in Johannesburg since 1963 on Saturday
Springboks’ new approach is great news for the game of rugby
Encounter with Springboks at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, will be daunting task for Joe Schmidt’s squad
Australian rugby could be off life-support thanks to Wallabies’ Test win over Lions
‘Genial’ Joe Schmidt did the impossible by building a squad able to compete against the Tourists in first place
From all-out brawls to eye-gouging and worse: a brief history of Lions Tour violence
Games over the last 50 years have been marred by stand-out brutality on both sides
How Jacques Nienaber made Leinster’s defence thrive on the knife edge
Jacques Nienaber helped Leinster do something no team had ever done in the Champions Cup - and then they did it again
RG Snyman: Leinster lock happy to stay another year with the province
Springbok has been one of Leinster’s star performers after arriving from Munster this season
Felix Jones will return to coaching role with South Africa
Former Ireland international had previously helped Sprinboks win two World Cups before joining England’s backroom team
Springboks extend Wales’ record losing run with victory in Cardiff
Pressure mounts on Wales head coach Warren Gatland to resign
Ireland fall to third in world rankings after defeat to New Zealand
Ireland lose top spot as South Africa take over first after defeat of Scotland and New Zealand second
Wallabies make gains but need wins to capitalise on golden decade ahead
Joe Schmidt has overseen progress since taking the reins but no one at Rugby Australia HQ will be grinning until its teams start winning
Thaakir Abrahams: ‘What Cheslin Kolbe has done is open doors for players like me’
Munster player may be small in size but has the ability to make a big impact
Springboks welcome back experienced cohort ahead of home Tests against New Zealand
Return of experienced quintet including prop Steven Kitshoff and number eight Jasper Wiese a boost for South Africa while RG Snyman also likely to be fit for Johannesburg clash against New Zealand
Blunt Australia attack gives Joe Schmidt a headache ahead of Argentina trip
Rugby Championship: Head coach will be hoping outhalf Noah Lolesio can build on decent display against Springboks’ B-team
Argentina braced for New Zealand backlash as Kiwis call up experienced Sam Cane
South Africa make 10 changes to their side for the second Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Perth
Matt Williams: Liberated Springboks rediscover their rugby soul
Showing the influence of new attack coach Tony Brown, South Africa produced sensational rugby against outclassed Australia while Felipe Contepomi’s brilliant Pumas shocked New Zealand
Australia left licking their wounds after mauling by the Springboks
Joe Schmidt must somehow rebuild his young squad’s shattered confidence as they brace themselves for the second Test against South Africa this weekend at Perth's Optus Stadium
Matt Williams: Joe Schmidt’s biggest problem in Australia stems from the Kiwis who came before him
New trial laws in the Rugby Championship could make the sport more entertaining
Wallabies face true test of rediscovered mettle against heavy-hitters South Africa
Australia have made a bright start to coach Joe Schmidt’s reign but will learn more about their standing in two Tests against the Springboks
By the numbers: the key questions facing Ireland after dramatic South African tour
Who can make up for Dan Sheehan’s lost impact? Do Ireland need to adapt their possession-based attack? Where are the props?
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