Opinion
Nations Championship
Where Rassie Erasmus and his Springboks failed against France
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Contributors
Daniel Gallan
@danielgallan
Daniel Gallan is a journalist and university lecturer specialising in the politics and history of sport at St Mary's University and the University of East London. From Johannesburg and now based in London, he has contributed to The Guardian, CNN, ESPN, The Telegraph and various sports titles around the world.
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Danelle Lochner: 'We’re a much better team than the one that lost last year'
For 15 minutes between the two halves of their Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 quarter-final against New Zealand, South Africa were i…
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It's time rugby took a leaf out of football's book
Do you want to buy a monorail? On Monday, at a four-star hotel in northern Johannesburg, Rassie Erasmus called out the names of…
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01 Sep 2026, 2:26
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What Rassie’s risky business says about the Springboks
An Airlink Embraer E195 jet has no business skimming the roof of a sports stadium. Nor does a rugby coach have much business chang…
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30 Aug 2026, 1:56
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Sorry Bok fans... this call may come back to bite Rassie
Picture the scene: you’re helping your dad with a project in the garage. The smell of oil assaults your nostrils as Lynyrd Skyny…
Daniel Gallan
27 Aug 2026, 8:09
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Opinion
'South Africa have the All Blacks right where they want them'
The Springboks lost the first Test convincingly, but adversity seems to compel Rassie Erasmus' world champions to greater heights.
Daniel Gallan
26 Aug 2026, 4:07
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The Springboks got drunk on their own hype
Wellington, 2025. New Zealand beaten by a record score. 43-10. Thirty-six unanswered points in the second half. A brace for Chesli…
Daniel Gallan
22 Aug 2026, 11:05
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‘Score one try against the All Blacks and your life is made’: Three great Springbok tries v NZ
Thinus Delport, Richard Bands and Ricky Januarie all achieved rugby immortality with career-defining tries against New Zealand.
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19 Aug 2026, 1:07
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There has been a curious sniffiness around Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, as if South Africa and New Zealand have committed some brea…
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10 Aug 2026, 3:37
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Opinion
South African rugby 'family secret' adds extra spice to Boks vs All Blacks series
Great rivalries need more than close matches. They need inherited grievance, disputed memories and old wounds that can be pressed …
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04 Aug 2026, 2:01
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Springboks fans have never been humble
Springboks fans have never been humble... A few years ago, Henry Pollock told me that he wanted to be “spoken about as a great o…
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23 Jul 2026, 5:31
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The Springboks may have just found their skeleton key
After a succession of penalties, Wales are camped inside South Africa’s 22. It is the 50th minute of a game the Springboks have …
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19 Jul 2026, 3:21
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Vusi Moyo: Why has a 20-year-old with barely any senior rugby been trusted to start at No.10 for South Africa?
The Springboks' new fly-half has played one game of senior rugby but his coaches are confident he will swiftly 'make you believe'.
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16 Jul 2026, 4:15
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Toxic Springboks fans miss the point in struggle session against Scotland
Damian Willemse doesn’t have the stopping power of most elite centres. The Springboks’ lock depth is not quite as bottomless a…
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12 Jul 2026, 6:16
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'Rugby's old, muscular truth has survived its new, cerebral jargon'
The thrilling opening round of Nations Championship fare proved big men making hard yards remains a vital part of an ever-evolving…
Daniel Gallan
09 Jul 2026, 5:54
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Opinion
The real Bok man of the match against England was glaringly obvious
There was a moment at the end of South Africa’s 45-21 demolition of England that brought to mind the most infamous Oscars mix-up…
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06 Jul 2026, 1:46
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Interview
Steven Kitshoff: ‘Every scrum is an opportunity to have a full go at the opposition’
Double World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff takes us inside the mindset of the South African scrum... and why losing to England "just …
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03 Jul 2026, 5:42
12
