2020 saw Springbok fans robbed of their chance to see their championship side in action, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Springboks have a plethora of games scheduled for 2023, facing some of World Rugby's top sides. They will play 6 games spread across 5 provinces and many would have been looking forward to seeing the World Champions in action, a side that has done so much for our rainbow nation. Tickets for the two tests against Ireland sold out in record times. Loftus and Kings Park will be filled to the rafters, waiting to settle the score on who really is 'the worlds best team ..read more

Let’s be honest (your boss isn’t reading this) – Monday morning productivity was at an all time low in South Africa this week, and not just because of a few derby weekend hangovers. Tickets went on general sale for the first Springboks v Ireland game in July…and promptly sold out in under an hour. The only thing that surprises me about this is that people are actually surprised. Outside of the fact that big Springbok games always sell out pretty quickly, perhaps a bit of context is required. Join me, if you will, on a (slightly traumatic) trip back in time to the months that followed our 2019 ..read more

There is no longer any denying it, the Sharks are in a dire situation and fans are tired of waiting weekend after weekend to see if their side is finally going to 'click'. A humbling 40 - 10 loss to the Lions at Emirates Airline Park this weekend is the latest in a string of poor results that has seen them confined to the bottom of the URC table with a single win in their 11 games. Whilst the hope of a play-off berth has long since bolted, there is also precious little time left to earn some respect back. Only a handful of rounds remain in the regular season. Tune into the Pod as Ronnie & ..read more

Benjamin Franklin once said that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. I’d like to add a third – rugby fans complaining about the referee after a game. And while this has often been painted as a particularly South African pastime, the fall out after the Rugby World Cup alone has certainly confirmed what many of us have long suspected….Saffas don’t hold exclusive rights to that unfortunate hobby. One of the biggest complaints shared by diehard and casual rugby fans alike is the complexity of rugby’s laws, and the seeming inconsistency with which they are applied. This hasn't been h ..read more

Whilst the Northern Hemisphere is gearing up for the Guinness 6 Nations kicking off at the end of the month, all of us down South have a while to go before we see our Nations battling it out in the Incoming Tours and later in the Rugby Championship. All four of the Championship sides have undergone coaching changes since the Rugby World Cup ended in October, some more so than others. I however can't contain my excitement at the prospects of seeing Rassie, Razor, Joe and Filipe Contepomi leading their sides into battle. Whilst rugby's main focus is on the players and what happens between the fo ..read more

This weekend’s Investec Champions Cup promises hard-hitting rugby action, with the Bulls and the Stormers at leading the South African charge, ready to face tough English opposition. On Saturday, the Stormers will lock horns with Sale Sharks, a team featuring three South Africans with the Du Preez brothers all plying their trade up North. The clash goes beyond tactics, as former teammates now find themselves on opposing sides, promising an emotionally charged encounter. The Stormers, known for their no-nonsense playstyle, aim to disrupt Sale Sharks' plans and make their mark on the European st ..read more

There’s a lot of negative talk about the Sharks at the moment, and I’m loathe to add to it. I don’t believe it’s particularly helpful. But the reality is that, despite a host of stellar players, the Sharks have sunk to the very bottom the URC table. It’s perplexing, to say the least, and obviously upsetting for fans. Let’s be clear. Every team has their share of bad seasons. Once upon a time, the Lions were relegated from Super Rugby. But after being forced to sit out the 2014 season, they went on to make the final in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The Cheetahs were unfortunate to be dumped out of Sup ..read more

I, as I'm sure many of you are, am still suffering from Rugby World Cup withdrawal symptoms. It has been a good six weeks or so since the Bokke went back to back in Paris. The trophy tour swept Bok fever around the country and its been all anyone can talk about. This coming Friday we are getting an extra public holiday thanks to the men in Green & Gold and I hope everyone will be wearing their Bok jerseys to celebrate it. There was more good news this week however, as SARU confirmed the Springboks home fixture for 2024. A total of 6 tests will be spread out across the country. Unlike 2020 ..read more

By Clicking on this article you must be thinking I am going to offer some sage advice about how the Springboks can overcome the hurdle that is Andy Farrell's Ireland. This is of course their first task to front up to after their World Cup triumph a few short weeks ago. Unfortunately that is not what this one is going to be about, I will be leaving it up to Rassie to devise an appropriate strategy for sorting out the tourists. Instead this article is about making sure the Springboks are accessible to all South Africans and not just those in the big money cities. There were many cries from all c ..read more

With the end of every World Cup cycle, comes the sad departure of some legends of the game. It happens with every international side and as bleak as it is to see Duane Vermeulen hang up his boots for example, it is also an exciting time for the next generation of players to come to the fore. The show must go on as the saying goes and with that, new challenges will come. The Springboks are only in action again in June/July 2024 when Ireland will arrive on our shores for a 3 test series. I imagine the Springboks, barring injury will field a similar squad to that used in the 2023 Rugby World Cup ..read more