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Contributors

Daniel Gallan

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.

Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre
Let’s start with the glaring caveat: Rassie Erasmus knows a thing or two about rugby. He’s on track to retire as the most deco…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
01 Nov 2024, 11:18
Would a Springboks B team really conquer the world?
South Africa's phenomenal depth and conveyor belt of muscular titans makes this a question worth asking.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
01 Nov 2024, 3:08
Did Rassie Erasmus miss a trick with his latest South Africa squad?
Rassie Erasmus’ latest Springboks squad selection serves as evidence of two important truths in elite sport: nothing comes easy …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
23 Oct 2024, 7:34
'No scrum, no win' - Why props could become rugby's new poster boys
The front-row juggernauts are big athletes with big personalities, and a job which requires brain as well as brawn.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
22 Oct 2024, 7:47
Siya Kolisi is right: The Springbok Women are a force on the rise
No one could deny that rugby is disproportionally tilted towards the men’s game around the world, but nowhere is this imbalance …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
17 Oct 2024, 10:53
Is this why Ireland and England struggle to win World Cups?
Hulle weet nee wat ons weet nie. They don’t know what we know. This refrain, popularised by the UFC fighter Dricus du Plessis, h…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
11 Oct 2024, 8:34
'If I lose my position, I lose my contract, my family won’t eat'
Springbok Women prop Sanelisiwe Charlie has never conceded a scrum penalty. She talks to Daniel Gallan about the secrets of her su…
Interview
Daniel Gallan
11 Oct 2024, 7:18
'I struggle to trust people': How trauma shaped Springbok star Nadine Roos
Nadine Roos does not remember the most traumatic moment of her life, but the consequences of it have stayed with her for more than…
Exclusive
Daniel Gallan
03 Oct 2024, 12:37
Five key questions the Springboks urgently need to answer
Rassie Erasmus helped engineer the first Rugby Championship win in 15 years but there are still areas that need improving
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
30 Sep 2024, 14:55
Springboks player ratings vs Argentina | 2024 Rugby Championship
The South African Springboks secured the Rugby Championship title with a clinical 48-7 thumping of Argentina in Mbombela. A bliste…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
28 Sep 2024, 11:52
Rassie Erasmus has an old problem to solve
Six years ago Rassie Erasmus had a problem to solve. He’d only been in charge of the Springboks for 10 games at that point and h…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
27 Sep 2024, 5:41
Tayla Kinsey: How women’s Springboks are embracing the Bomb Squad
The Bomb Squad. Just reading those two words stacked together like interlocking second rowers is enough to send some rugby fans in…
Exclusive
Daniel Gallan
26 Sep 2024, 8:50
'Beauden Barrett couldn't hold my eye contact' - How the Impi warriors channel South African rugby spirit
These ultra-muscular men who leap before away teams are a visceral symbol of Springbok identity.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
26 Sep 2024, 3:17
Is Eben Etzebeth the GOAT of locks?
Is Eben Etzebeth the greatest lock of his generation? Perhaps if we find a definitive conclusion there, we can then ponder where h…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
20 Sep 2024, 5:29
Any Prem-URC merger should be rejected out of hand
So why is this story of a possible merger between the United Rugby Championship and the Premiership being taken seriously?
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
13 Sep 2024, 10:49
'With near-religious conviction, how good does it feel to be a Bok fan?'
For those with longer memories than 2019, the Rassie Erasmus era is a time of vast plenty.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
13 Sep 2024, 5:41
Springboks player ratings vs All Blacks | The Rugby Championship
This 18-12 win in Cape Town was hard won, but there is no doubting they deserved it after keeping the All Blacks at arm’s length…
Analysis
Daniel Gallan
07 Sep 2024, 13:34
What the Springboks must do to reach Richie McCaw levels
Pragmatism is required from Rassie Erasmus' evolving group if South Africa are to scale new heights.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
06 Sep 2024, 6:31
'I hate the name Cape Crusaders': Meet the South African fans who support the All Blacks
A group of supporters from the Western Cape have a deep-rooted tradition of backing New Zealand.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
05 Sep 2024, 7:22
The Haka is a challenge - it should be met in kind
I’m referring to the abominable treatment of the Haka before kick-off in Johannesburg on Saturday that has forever stained a cen…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
02 Sep 2024, 10:28
Out of a crisis, Rassie Erasmus has unlocked a new Bok cheat code
It is common knowledge that crises create opportunities. And thanks to a staggering spate of injuries in the Springboks’ second …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
30 Aug 2024, 3:20
'Heady days for Springboks but depth boasts need more scrutiny'
The world champions have a vast slew of talent, but will there really be much turnover in personnel?
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
21 Aug 2024, 5:15
'Is Kolbe, and not Dupont, the true all-round generalissimo of our sport?'
The power-packed wing can play in a multitude of positions and is a key cog in Rassie Erasmus' Springbok machine
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
14 Aug 2024, 8:37
Springboks player ratings vs Wallabies – Rugby Championship round one
We all know that Australia are a group in transition. We know that Joe Schmidt will need time to bed in his ideas and that rugby u…
Analysis
Daniel Gallan
10 Aug 2024, 3:41
The angle to the Siya Kolisi story that is the real cautionary tale
As revealed by RugbyPass last week, Siya Kolisi, the face of South African rugby, is set to leave Racing 92 after just 18 games. H…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
09 Aug 2024, 6:02
The rugby union myth that the Olympics has dispelled
The Olympics has truly dispelled the myth that rugby fans are sceptical about individual superstars. But no one ever really belie…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
01 Aug 2024, 8:57
There's only one answer to the Springboks' fly-half conundrum
How many of those pundits and punters would want to trade places with Rassie Erasmus and select the starting fly-half for the Spri…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
26 Jul 2024, 6:17
The missing piece in the Springboks puzzle
Ireland’s win over the Springboks means we’re no closer to declaring with any certainty which of the two teams is the best in …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
18 Jul 2024, 8:52
Time to say goodbye to this Springboks team
Like a great siege engine capable of flattening a fortress, Rassie Erasmus has built a destructive rugby machine. For the series d…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
12 Jul 2024, 7:11
South Africans are the masters of taking offence
There are a few things that the South African rugby ecosystem does better than any of their competitors.
Daniel Gallan
04 Jul 2024, 5:17
Jordan Hendrikse: 'There’s a reason I wear the No 10 jersey - so I can express myself. That’s just who I am.'
It was a flawed debut from the Springbok 10 but he knows it's all part of the baptism of fire at Test level
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
02 Jul 2024, 2:07
The terrifying Boks' message Rassie is about to send rugby
That was Rassie Erasmus’ staunch endorsement of Siya Kolisi, who copped heavy criticism from Jacky Lorenzetti, the owner of Koli…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
27 Jun 2024, 7:33
Leinster vs Bulls deserves a full house... where is it?
Which is why Jake White, head coach of the Bulls, was compelled to call upon the faithful from Pretoria to fill up Loftus Versfeld…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
14 Jun 2024, 8:38
'Fit players, elite players, struggle. You can see it in their eyes. They don’t know what’s hit them.'
Leinster are stacked with Irish superstars and the URC semi-final is a delicious hors d'oevre ahead of the titanic Springbok Test …
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
14 Jun 2024, 7:09
Neethling Fouche: 'It’s amazing how just two scrums can change your life'
Neethling Fouche's love of scrummaging has earned him a call-up to the Springbok alignment camp but Glasgow await
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
07 Jun 2024, 5:32
George Hendy: 'I know if I perform at my best I can do some damage.'
The flame-haired wing has burst onto the scene in recent weeks and is riding a wave with Northampton's thrill seekers
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
05 Jun 2024, 11:40
Vincent Koch: 'Never think you’re the big dog because they fall the hardest'
The decorated two-time World Cup winner could add more medals to his collection but has a humility that has been earned the hard w…
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
22 May 2024, 14:30
Why so many great Springboks are such disappointments for their clubs
Three drunk blokes on the train from Leicester to London don’t represent the views of all Tigers’ supporters. But their shared…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
20 May 2024, 8:22
It's the same old South African story for the Sharks
The line outside the South African Food Stand inside the Stoop was already 20 deep an hour and a half before kick-off. The space i…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
04 May 2024, 9:41
Makazole Mapimpi: 'My life is somewhere I never thought it would be.'
The popular World Cup winner is a rags-to-riches story and he is desperate to enjoy the hand life has dealt him
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
02 May 2024, 16:06
What the 'Cry Boks' say about the modern South African male
In a sport filled with tough men, Duane Vermuelen stood out across a 19-year career. You don’t earn the nickname “Thor” by p…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
02 May 2024, 12:03
Tyrone Green: 'I want my team-mates to expect me to do something special'
The hot-stepping Harlequins full-back could play for England next year if his native South Africa don't want him.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
01 May 2024, 6:57
The simple way to prove Boks also hold the 'unofficial world title'
There is precedent for lineal championships. The Ranfurly Shield in New Zealand domestic rugby has garnered enough interest to cre…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
25 Apr 2024, 10:06
Ethan Waller: 'I’d rather bow out with more in the tank than claw onto a career'.
The Northampton prop says he's still in excellent shape but wants to retire now to prioritise his family.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
12 Apr 2024, 7:28
Wales women tap into powers of menstruation
Wales’ women are trialling a new concussion tracking technology to help female athletes better understand how the different phas…
Exclusive
Daniel Gallan
09 Apr 2024, 8:12
Louis Rees-Zammit's NFL switch is a net positive for rugby
Which is why the hand-wringing and pearl-clutching over Louis Rees-Zammit’s move to the National Football League has struck a ne…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
06 Apr 2024, 3:13
Ollie Sleightholme: 'If you speak to players, every single one cares about player safety.'
The young Saints flyer is in a rich vein of try-scoring form and tackles rugby's pressing issues head on
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
03 Apr 2024, 2:18
Time to remove the kid gloves with Red Roses
According to Duggan, harsh treatment - in the right context - was a marker of esteem, which is why recent comments by Ugo Monye ab…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
29 Mar 2024, 6:27
Andy Christie: 'Diversity breeds strength in a group rather than weakness'
Between Saracens and Scotland, the burgeoning back-rower draws an inner strength that allows his talent to thrive.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
29 Mar 2024, 3:23
So-called 'world's best' Ireland set for Springbok reality check
The kegs of Guinness have been emptied and the confetti has all been swept away. Now that Ireland have secured a second consecutiv…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
21 Mar 2024, 11:56
We need to talk about the 6-2 split
It revolves around the use of six forwards and two backs on the bench, a tactic employed by both the Scots and Irish as they were …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
14 Mar 2024, 12:56
Wales player ratings vs France | 2024 Guinness Six Nations
Wales player ratings: A fourth defeat and a one-sided scoreline might point to a team that struggled to match France. And that is …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
10 Mar 2024, 12:34
Has England's imitation of the Springboks winning machine malfunctioned?
England have recruited a glut of coaches who tasted World Cup success with the Springboks but the golden touch is yet to rub off
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
08 Mar 2024, 2:27
Why the world needs a reverse Lions tour
There’s nothing like a British & Irish Lions tour. But what if there was something else? Something that could match the prestige…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
28 Feb 2024, 4:22
Wales player ratings vs Ireland | 2024 Guinness Six Nations
Even Welsh fans must admit that a defeat, and a comfortable one at that, was the most likely outcome at the Aviva. But the result …
Daniel Gallan
24 Feb 2024, 9:45
Are Scotland soft?
The most talented Scottish team in decades continues to flop when the chips are down
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
23 Feb 2024, 5:34
Wales player ratings vs England | 2024 Guinness Six Nations
Wales player ratings: A young Welsh side was asked to go to Twickenham and show some fight. That they did. Daring on attack and fe…
Daniel Gallan
10 Feb 2024, 12:16
The World Cup cycle does matter, despite what Irish fans think
“There is nothing more intoxicating than victory.” So said Robert Greene, the American author of six international best-seller…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
09 Feb 2024, 10:55
Wales player ratings vs Scotland | 2024 Guinness Six Nations
Wales player ratings: There’s no other way to say it. This was truly a game of two halves. Wales were dreadful in the first. Arg…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
03 Feb 2024, 12:13
South Africa is already in the Six Nations
There is so much South African meat knocking about Scottish rugby at the minute that black puddings are being made with kudu blood…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
02 Feb 2024, 3:55
Tommaso Allan: 'English press are nasty and brutal - I don't envy English players'
The veteran Italian reflects on a brutal World Cup, life in England and new beginnings for the Azzurri.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
01 Feb 2024, 2:18
How Damian Willemse produced the World Cup's iconic image
The Springbok talks historical biographies, wearing his jersey for six days straight, and the scrum call now enshrined in rugby fo…
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
28 Jan 2024, 3:33
'The time is now!' - Rugby must embrace its stars or wither on the vine
ROC Nation Sports president Michael Yormark issues an impassioned plea for change.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
24 Jan 2024, 8:31
'It serves them well to have us...' - SA teams have improved Europe
If anyone needs a stout defence for the reorganisation of the Champions Cup, the above line by John Dobson is a good place to star…
Daniel Gallan
18 Jan 2024, 6:31
Prepare for the Springboks' wheels to fall off
Just what is going on with the Sharks? It’s a question that continues to confound sharper rugby minds than the one expressed in …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
11 Jan 2024, 9:21
Will South Africa men's World Cup win launch a revolution for Springbok Women?
A new year has brought newfound optimism at SA Rugby headquarters. And for Lynne Cantwell, the former Irish international now work…
Interview
Daniel Gallan
09 Jan 2024, 4:16
It's time South Africans come to the party in Europe
Ticket sales for Saturday’s clash between the Bulls and Stormers have already passed the 30,000 mark. That’s more than the cap…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
20 Dec 2023, 8:57
Aphelele Fassi: 'I’ve got a better chance of making a difference if I start putting in consistent performances'
The Sharks flyer is aiming to change perceptions on the pitch and inspire others off it.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
15 Dec 2023, 7:50
Theo Dan: 'Whenever someone tells me how well I’m doing I still can’t quite take it in'
Twelve months ago the Saracens hooker was playing at Ampthill but in a whirlwind year he won a Premiership trophy and played in a …
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
08 Dec 2023, 17:05
Part apex predator, part immovable bovine - meet the new-look Bulls
Jake White's team are lacing their traditional oomph with flourishes of flair
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
07 Dec 2023, 9:32
England must follow South Africa's lead to achieve any success again
It’s fair to say that English rugby has seen better days. The now ring-fenced Premiership has been reduced to just 10 teams afte…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
05 Dec 2023, 3:16
Aphiwe Dyantyi deserves praise, not condemnation
What is the purpose of punishment? Can a sinner ever be forgiven? Should the condemned forever walk this earth as marked men?
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
24 Nov 2023, 8:16
The bitter aftertaste from the Springboks World Cup win
Seven seconds passed between Siya Kolisi lifting the Webb Ellis Cup and South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa taking it from …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
10 Nov 2023, 6:37
'The Springboks didn't do it for you. They did it for us'
You don't like the South African team? Good. Your hate doesn't matter.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
31 Oct 2023, 6:17
This Springboks team go to places that other sides can't
This is why the Springboks have deeper wells than most teams. This is why when three knockout games are decided by just a...
Daniel Gallan
29 Oct 2023, 6:14
Springboks player ratings vs All Blacks | Rugby World Cup 2023
South Africa are world champions for a record fourth time. It wasn't pretty. There were large chunks of the match when it looked l…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
28 Oct 2023, 16:28
'For South Africans, there is no greater challenge'
The 2023 Rugby World Cup final is just another chapter in a 102-year page-turner in which the All Blacks currently have bragging r…
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
27 Oct 2023, 9:00
South Africa have painted themselves into a corner
Fair play to Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus. They don’t play by anyone else’s rules. 
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
26 Oct 2023, 15:30
How the France and England wins showed the Springboks are built different
After narrow one-point wins over France and England, South Africa have proved a resolve that few can match
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
25 Oct 2023, 11:57
The crunch decision making that turned the Springboks' tide
Was there ever a point where they didn’t believe it would happen? Every time the camera switched to the Springboks coaches’ bo…
Daniel Gallan
21 Oct 2023, 17:21
Springboks player ratings vs England | Rugby World Cup 2023
Springboks player ratings: How on earth did they do that? So many of them were terrible. Truly terrible. And yet they found a way.…
Daniel Gallan
21 Oct 2023, 16:20
Rassie Erasmus has let us all down
Rassie Erasmus has told us often and loudly that the Springboks represent the best of South Africa. He’s right. They are proof o…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
20 Oct 2023, 7:50
Louis Koen on the tackle that shook the rugby world
It was a hit that shook the foundations of the game. Not just women’s rugby. Not just South African rugby. But the entire galaxy…
Exclusive
Daniel Gallan
20 Oct 2023, 4:57
The Springboks have just made it harder for themselves
For only the second time in their time together in charge of the Springboks, a run that stretches 64 Tests...
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
19 Oct 2023, 11:51
'The Boks will go again. It is what they do.'
In sport, there can only be one winner and at the Stade de France, France mourned for its stars, while South Africans rejoiced for…
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
17 Oct 2023, 4:03
Where does the Rugby World Cup go from here?
What happens next? Not just for France who must now accept that their fairytale is over. Not just for South Africa who march on wi…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
15 Oct 2023, 17:53
Springboks player ratings vs France | Rugby World Cup 2023
South Africa triumphed in what is surely one of the greatest games of rugby ever played. A truly sensational show that could have …
Daniel Gallan
15 Oct 2023, 16:14
This Springboks selection will knock France out of their own World Cup
Well done Jacques Nienaber. Well done Rassie Erasmus. You nailed it. No notes. Ten out of ten. This is the side that will advance …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
13 Oct 2023, 7:58
Can Handre Polllard and Manie Libbok be accomodated in the same team?
With the crucial quarter-final against France incoming, the Springboks need to nail their selection with questions at 10 and 12
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
12 Oct 2023, 7:05
Springboks' hopes of defending World Cup rest on getting Am call right
Let’s work under the assumption that Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber wouldn’t waste around £3,000 (or R70,000) of SA Rugb…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
04 Oct 2023, 10:52
Springboks player ratings vs Tonga | Rugby World Cup 2023
Springboks player ratings: South Africa have one muscled leg in the quarterfinals after a seven-try, 49-18 win over a spirited Ton…
Daniel Gallan
01 Oct 2023, 16:19
The grain of truth buried in rumoured Springboks plot
Tin-foil hats? Check. An evidence board with criss-crossing red strings? Check? A Joe Rogan podcast at the ready? Buckle up Spring…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
28 Sep 2023, 6:32
Wales player ratings vs Wallabies | Rugby World Cup 2023
Wales were simply brilliant. They made an admittedly ropey Australian side look an absolute mess as they dominated from front to b…
Analysis
Daniel Gallan
24 Sep 2023, 16:19
Ireland use their breakdown smarts to outwit Springboks in clash of the titans
South Africa may come to rue missed opportunities where the Irish showed their collective resolve to thwart the World Champions at…
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
24 Sep 2023, 9:45
Let's get real about Manie Libbok
Manie Libbok is unquestionably a talented fly-half. Despite only being a Springbok since November last year, one could still make …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
24 Sep 2023, 5:15
South Africa player ratings vs Ireland | Rugby World Cup 2023
South Africa gave as good as they got and were it not for some very wayward goal kicking they might have won this. However, if Spr…
Analysis
Daniel Gallan
23 Sep 2023, 16:23
For Chile's Martin Sigren, it's a family affair
Chile will face the might of England at their first World Cup but for the Sigren family, it's all part of life's inspiring journey
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
22 Sep 2023, 9:40
Why Jesse Kriel is fundamental to the Springboks' rush defence
While the Springboks may miss some of the silky handling of Lukhanyo Am, they certainly benefit from Jesse Kriel's defensive steel
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
22 Sep 2023, 4:01
Five reasons why the Springboks will beat Ireland
We’ve never been here before. Thanks to a quirk of the draw and recent inconsistencies from the New Zealand All Blacks, we’ve …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
19 Sep 2023, 10:28
Springboks player ratings vs Romania | Rugby World Cup 2023
Springboks player ratings: A hard one to judge, really. They were obviously the better side and the scoreline would sugge…
Analysis
Daniel Gallan
17 Sep 2023, 11:56
Wales player ratings vs Portugal | Rugby World Cup 2023
Wales made it two wins from two on Saturday evening against Portugal in Nice, but it was far from a vintage performance.
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
16 Sep 2023, 13:13
Canan Moodie: 'I can’t get ahead of myself but I really feel that this is just the start.'
The fascinating journey the young Springboks flyer had to make to the top of the game
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
15 Sep 2023, 10:10
How do the Springboks cope without arguably their most important player?
It’s the news every South African rugby fan was dreading. Rumours had already started circulating late on Wednesday night. But s…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
14 Sep 2023, 4:33
Wales player ratings vs Fiji | Rugby World Cup 2023
Wales player ratings: A single knock-on. That will be the reason many cite when trying to figure out how Wales won a matc…
Daniel Gallan
10 Sep 2023, 17:10
South Africa player ratings vs Scotland | Rugby World Cup 2023
South Africa player ratings: It wasn't perfect. Far from it. The scrum and line-out misfired as much as it worked and the backline…
Daniel Gallan
10 Sep 2023, 12:37
Japan player ratings vs Chile | Rugby World Cup 2023
The scoreline might trick you into thinking Japan were brilliant today. They were anything but. A disjointed performance was made …
Daniel Gallan
10 Sep 2023, 9:33
The Springboks are not just 'huge mutants'
“Huge mutants”. Those are the words used by the 1.91 m tall, 108 kg Alix Popham to describe South African rugby players. 
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
07 Sep 2023, 9:40
Biltong, brandy and Boks: The ties that bind South Africa's ex-pats
For the almost one million South Africans who now live abroad, the rugby team the Springboks are the most powerful anchor to their…
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
06 Sep 2023, 6:31
The sad demise of Elton Jantjies
Still, they played an attacking brand that was soon dubbed 'Lions rugby'. The beating heart of this enterprising play was Elton Ja…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
31 Aug 2023, 10:50
The Springboks 2.0 are finally giving us the feels
Canan Moodie's electric try may have been chalked off on a technicality but it was symptomatic of a newfound freedom and lifted a …
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
31 Aug 2023, 1:49
Springboks player ratings vs All Blacks | Qatar Airways Cup
Springboks player ratings: Sound the alarm. Ring the bells. Tell your friends and neighbours. The Springboks are coming to France …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
26 Aug 2023, 1:31
Bulls Daisies have shown the way, now the rest of South Africa must follow
“In a way it would actually be a good thing for everyone if the Bulls Daisies win,” admits Stanley Raubenheimer, whose Western…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
25 Aug 2023, 7:32
Libbok can take Springboks to new heights... if Nienaber is willing to risk it
Jacques Nienaber is a self-identifying 'numbers guy'. He sees the game of rugby as if he’s plugged into the Matrix. That isn’t…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
23 Aug 2023, 10:44
Four-word answer highlights how Eben Etzebeth doesn't miss a beat
Eben Ezebeth was already breaking out into a wry grin before the journalist on the video call had finished his question to the Spr…
Daniel Gallan
22 Aug 2023, 10:45
Springboks player ratings vs Wales | 2023 Summer Nations Series
Daniel Gallan
19 Aug 2023, 11:35
The Springbok conspiracy theory raises an awkward point
The Springboks’ World Cup squad announcement ceremony last week was, let’s face it, pretty ridiculous. Hulking men in tightly …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
18 Aug 2023, 4:40
Springboks can still win World Cup with Plan B
The best thing about a bulletproof strategy is that there is little need for another one. Four years ago in Japan, South Africa bu…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
11 Aug 2023, 10:30
Why South Africa hosting WXV2 is a step forward on National Women's Day
The WXV is simply the start. Strong performances against higher ranked opposition could galvanise a rugby-hungry public and morph …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
09 Aug 2023, 4:54
Springboks player ratings vs Argentina | 2023 RWC Warm-ups
Springboks player ratings: They called this a B-team. That didn't quite tell the full story. It would have been more accurate to …
Daniel Gallan
06 Aug 2023, 2:19
A prediction for the 33-man Springboks Rugby World Cup squad
Spare a thought for Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus. Whether you’re reading this before or after the Springboks’ match aga…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
04 Aug 2023, 5:26
The gnawing doubt at the heart of the Springboks selection policy
If you’re a fan of the Springboks and still in your 20s, you’re in luck. No other side with a realistic shot at winning the Wo…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
28 Jul 2023, 3:23
Malcom Marx is the world's best hooker. Why is he not starting?
Let’s put jingoism and blinkered biases aside. Malcom Marx is undeniably world class. We can quibble over the title of world’s…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
20 Jul 2023, 8:18
The great strength that makes the Springboks the envy of the world
Let’s start with the players who are absent. Siya Kolisi, the most inspirational leader in world rugby and one of the most dynam…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
12 Jul 2023, 7:59
Springboks player ratings vs Wallabies | 2023 Rugby Championship
Springboks player ratings: The Springboks steamrolled the Wallabies without leaving third gear and did so without nine first choic…
Daniel Gallan
08 Jul 2023, 13:16
What Kleyn's selection really says about the Springboks
“It will always be different, you know, it’s your home country.” Jean Kleyn spoke for all South Africans on Wednesday when h…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
06 Jul 2023, 5:56
Overreaction to Baby Boks defeat needs perspective
On Thursday, the South African U20 ‘Baby Boks’ lost in the mud and sludge to their Italian counterparts in Paarl by a score of…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
30 Jun 2023, 9:40
'Make sure you get this right': Bismarck du Plessis' tears as Springbok warhorse retires
The Springbok legend wells up as he talks brotherhood, Dan Carter, mobile phone frustrations and ending his incredible career.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
24 Jun 2023, 2:33
The key to the Springboks' World Cup defence
South Africa’s potential lies in its diversity - and though corrupt politicians and bigoted citizens...
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
22 Jun 2023, 12:47
Farrell may come to regret Kleyn call
Two years ago World Rugby proposed a radical change to the game’s eligibility rules. Recognising that too many developing nation…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
16 Jun 2023, 4:50
South Africa's Bulls Daisies: 'It wasn’t until that first payslip came through that it sank in.'
At the start of May, the Bulls Daisies made history by becoming the first fully professional women’s rugby team in South Africa.…
Interview
Daniel Gallan
05 Jun 2023, 6:02
Opinion: Climate activists in rugby and sport deserve support, not hate
Speaking after his team’s painful loss in the Gallagher Premiership final on Saturday, Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson was asked…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
31 May 2023, 8:25
Sale player ratings vs Saracens | 2023 Premiership final
Sale player ratings: We were told throughout the season that “Northern Rugby Matters”. Sale Sharks had body-surfed across this…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
27 May 2023, 11:07
'I was stunned, it was surreal... I couldn't have dreamed of it'
Ivan van Zyl has learned plenty of new tricks since he joined Saracens in 2021. By his own admission he needed to sharpen his skil…
Exclusive
Daniel Gallan
24 May 2023, 2:34
Opinion - Why many people hate Leinster
Not all champions are loved by the masses. Floyd Mayweather, Novak Djokovic, Manchester City, the New England Patriots; no matter …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
20 May 2023, 3:02
'We looked at our recruitment strategy and we went out to get the players that could make a difference'
Gloucestershire is gorgeous. With its endless green hills and valleys, it’s a nature lover’s dream. It's no wonder Extinction …
Interview
Daniel Gallan
19 May 2023, 11:58
Premier 15s: 'All dynasties eventually wash away. In Devon, a new power is rising.'
Since its launch in 2017, the top tier of women’s club rugby in England, has been dominated by Saracens. However, like undulatin…
Analysis
Daniel Gallan
13 May 2023, 1:59
The streets won't forget Jaque Fourie
Which is why I had to double-take at a tweet last month that started with the line, “The streets won’t forget Jaque Fourie”.
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
11 May 2023, 9:04
Reality bites Sharks after a season of underachievement
An underwhelming season in Durban has seen a new coach recruited and promises that brighter days lie ahead
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
10 May 2023, 1:54
Jean de Villiers: 'I’d say there’s even a bit of hate when they get together'
The North v South rivalry taken on in a sporting sense by the Bulls and the Stormers dates back to the 18th century
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
05 May 2023, 9:08
Kate Zackary: 'This is bigger than me. It’s bigger than any player'
If there’s anyone who understands that club rugby and the international game are worlds apart, it’s Kate Zackary
Interview
Daniel Gallan
04 May 2023, 5:31
Losing Siya Kolisi is a dire blow for Boks
“Remember you cannot look at the sun or death for very long.” Surrounded by dazzling colours and shape shifting images, Dav…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
27 Apr 2023, 2:07
Stick should be the next Springboks coach
Opinion polls aren’t necessarily accurate predictors of the future. If they were, the UK would have voted to remain in the Europ…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
20 Apr 2023, 10:32
Change is needed if SA teams are to compete in Champs cup
In the wake of a chastening weekend for South African rugby, a plethora of excuses were bandied about on social media to help expl…
Daniel Gallan
14 Apr 2023, 3:18
Claudia MacDonald: I know now this doesn't last forever so you have to enjoy every moment'
The scrum-half turned wing has had to cope with the loss of her mother and a spinal injury that threatened her career but is still…
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
25 Mar 2023, 3:45
Babalwa Latsha: 'I know that every time I step on the field I have eyes on me.'
When Babalwa Latsha signed with Harlequins, the 28-year-old prop became the 44th player from her country representing a top flight…
Interview
Daniel Gallan
24 Mar 2023, 6:11
Which World Cup winning team overcame the toughest challenge?
Every World Cup winning team deserves its place in rugby’s pantheon. These nine squads, captained by eight men, representing jus…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
23 Mar 2023, 13:15
How fitness guru Aled Walters can boost flagging England
England have been off-the-pace in the last 12 months but the addition of the respected S&C coach will lick them into shape for the…
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
17 Mar 2023, 12:49
Scotland must wean itself off imported talent
A home game to end the Six Nations against the bottom-ranked team. Win that and they’ll end third on the league table, their fir…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
17 Mar 2023, 6:49
I like the lopsided nature of this Rugby World Cup
It’s not often those with their hands on the levers of power pay heed to the baying rabble and their noisy quibbles. Especially …
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
10 Mar 2023, 4:47
Change is scary but Welsh rugby not changing is even more frightening
Change can be scary. Besides, if it’s not broken, why try to fix things? Except things are broken, very broken, in Welsh rugby a…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
07 Mar 2023, 8:43
The end of the road for Manu Tuilagi
Maybe Manu Tuilagi is just never going to be the man England rugby needs him to be.
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
20 Feb 2023, 12:22
England player ratings vs Italy | 2023 Guinness Six Nations
This is not a game that will live long in the memory, and considering the fireworks in Dublin and Edinburgh yesterday, this one-si…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
12 Feb 2023, 11:11
Why do Scotland struggle to breed homegrown props?
Every Test team likes to talk about its depth chart but Scotland have been forced into importing top class props to stay competiti…
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
10 Feb 2023, 4:27
SA Rugby had no choice but to expel Israeli club
SA Rugby really had no other choice. Sure, they got themselves in this mess by shortsightedness in the first place...
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
09 Feb 2023, 12:19
A South African's view of the Guinness Six Nations
I’d have bet the farm on the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks lifting the Six Nations trophy if given the chance.
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
02 Feb 2023, 13:03
Ross Tucker: 'The public have made their mind up without looking at the evidence'
But how much change is too much? For Ross Tucker, a respected sports scientist and consultant for World Rugby, there is no obvious…
Interview
Daniel Gallan
27 Jan 2023, 9:19
Ross Tucker: 'Doing nothing wasn't an option'
Ross Tucker, the respected sports scientist and research consultant for World Rugby, begins our conversation with a clear message.
Interview
Daniel Gallan
26 Jan 2023, 10:53
RFU's tackle law opens new front in rugby's culture war
Columnist Daniel Gallan attempts a waistline tackle on the RFU's controversial new tackling laws that have angered so many rugby f…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
20 Jan 2023, 6:59
Schalk Brits: 'We love proving people wrong. I know that the guys will want to show that they belong'
South African franchises have finally joined the Champions Cup but their influence on the competition is already pronounced
Owain Jones
10 Dec 2022, 3:41
Joe Marler remarks won't earn him any new fans in South Africa
Joe Marler had a twinkle in his eye. With a medal round his chest for his player of the match display in Harlequins’ 19-13 win i…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
08 Dec 2022, 9:48
Rassie has once again masterfully manipulated the storyline
It lasted only 20 minutes and 34 seconds, but the brief monologue from Rassie Erasmus on Wednesday evening contained multiple plot…
Daniel Gallan
01 Dec 2022, 9:20
Ditch the stereotype: This Springboks team can play
On Saturday, shortly after his team had trampled over England, Jacques Nienaber attended a press conference with a satisfied look …
Daniel Gallan
28 Nov 2022, 6:04
Springboks player ratings vs England | Autumn Nation Series
Jacques Nienaber and his captain Siya Kolisi spent all week answering questions about social media conduct...
Daniel Gallan
26 Nov 2022, 13:53
Jacques Nienaber needs a hug
After the base requirements of physiological and safety concerns, the need for love and a sense of belonging are most important to…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
24 Nov 2022, 13:57
Manie Libbok gives Boks reason to dream
Something strange took place in Genoa on Saturday. It started just before 15:00 local time and lasted around 34 minutes.
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
21 Nov 2022, 6:22
Ireland player ratings vs Australia | Autumn Nations Series
The second half opened up with Ireland ultimately winning the arm wrestle. The fans won’t mind. By claiming a clean sweep of the…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
19 Nov 2022, 16:55
Springboks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series
Springboks player ratings: It is six years to the day that Italy beat South Africa in Florence, but there was to be no repeat of t…
Daniel Gallan
19 Nov 2022, 10:02
The truth is the Springboks just want it more
No other side with realistic ambitions at next year’s World Cup has struggled as much against their rivals as South Africa.
Daniel Gallan
17 Nov 2022, 9:17
Springboks heroism shone through the chaos of Marseille
It washed over us like a gathering storm. A cacophony of sound that rattled glass and steel and bones. Down below an electric ligh…
Daniel Gallan
13 Nov 2022, 9:52
Springboks player ratings vs France | Autumn Nation Series
Some of you will balk at the numbers posted below. A few may even assume that the Springboks came out on top of a thrilling encoun…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
12 Nov 2022, 18:19
Monty Ioane: 'I came close to quitting. I thought it was the end'
After a roller-coaster year with Italy and a move back to Melbourne, the jet-heeled wing is in a reflective mood
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
11 Nov 2022, 10:13
Rassie's narrative arc is turning us off
Twitter is a hellscape as far as public discourse is concerned. But it has also been a thermometer for gauging public sentiment.
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
10 Nov 2022, 7:39
Springboks player ratings vs Ireland | Autumn Nation Series
Springboks player ratings: If the Springboks are going to defend their World Cup title next year, they’ll have to find an extra …
Daniel Gallan
05 Nov 2022, 15:13
Adam Beard: 'We've shown we can compete with the best in the world.'
The Ospreys lock has become a tower of strength with Wales and he has the size and ability to keep ruling the skies in the Test ar…
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
05 Nov 2022, 3:44
In defence of the maul
That their driving maul from the base of a perfectly drilled line-out was somehow turning people off the sport even though it was…
Daniel Gallan
03 Nov 2022, 10:45
'Barring a gargantuan upset, the Red Roses will comfortably beat the Black Ferns'
An England World Cup win would send a message to their competitors. “If you want to match us on the field, you have to match us …
Daniel Gallan
02 Nov 2022, 17:53
Would Scotland have won if Finn Russell was playing?
For 79 minutes no one missed their exes. Ollie Smith was tearing up the Murrayfield turf from fullback. Blair Kinghorn was running…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
30 Oct 2022, 7:26
Scotland player ratings vs Australia | Autumn Nations Series
Scotland player ratings: It was a scrappy game, one that could have ended with either team lifting the Hopetoun Cup. It all came d…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
29 Oct 2022, 14:47
Why Springbok Women's reaction to biggest ever World Cup defeat rankled
Something didn’t sit right after England’s 75-0 rout over South Africa. What rankled, was the sight of the South Africans cele…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
27 Oct 2022, 18:57
Why the Wallaroos refused to swap their First Nations jerseys
Last week, after Australia's 13-7 win over Wales that took them to the World Cup quarterfinals, not a single member of the Wallaro…
Interview
Daniel Gallan
26 Oct 2022, 15:54
Solving the Springboks' No.10 conundrum
There are serious problems at No 10. There is no universally loved figure ready and able to occupy this crucial post.
Daniel Gallan
20 Oct 2022, 8:28
The gloves are off in rugby's newest rivalry
Last week I sobbed through Kenneth Branagh’s ode to his home town of Belfast. It doesn’t take much to move me to tears...
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
13 Oct 2022, 8:08
Springbok Women: South Africa's 'deeply patriarchal' society and why it won't hold them back
In August this year, the Springboks rugby teams gathered for a photo. Notice the plural in the previous sentence. But a photo is l…
Interview
Daniel Gallan
04 Oct 2022, 5:27
Rugby can be a force for good in this world... but let's be real
Rugby is no more or no less noble than any other sport - it has elements worth celebrating and it has elements that need reform.
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
01 Sep 2022, 3:43
Rage fuels the rugby machine
Mere minutes had passed since the All Blacks had trounced the Springboks at South Africa rugby’s spiritual home.
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
18 Aug 2022, 4:30
How should I feel about a crap All Blacks side?
But every hero needs a villain and the All Blacks, those monsters under the bed who’d snatch me away in the night...
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
05 Aug 2022, 3:09
Four South Africa takeaways from Wales' tour of SA
South Africa beat Wales in Cape Town to claim the three-Test series and ensure that at least one of the southern hemisphere’s bi…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
17 Jul 2022, 11:00
Lukhanyo Am: 'I just needed someone to notice. Rugby had to become my life'
One of the world's best midfielders had to stare longingly as South Africa's top schools battled it out and he wants to make rugby…
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
14 Jul 2022, 11:56
Playtime is over. Only a resounding win will do for Springboks
There are no excuses. No one is making any. The Springboks mean business and nothing but a resounding and comprehensive display wi…
Daniel Gallan
14 Jul 2022, 9:53
This Springboks' loss is a blessing in disguise
Fans of the Springboks won’t be happy to hear it, but the team’s one-point loss to Wales in Bloemfontein is not only a positiv…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
10 Jul 2022, 6:18
'I'd rather have RG playing for me every week than for Munster'
Jake White wants to set the record straight. After a Rugby Pass article published last week challenged the 2007 World Cup winning …
Interview
Daniel Gallan
08 Jul 2022, 7:26
Cunning Nienaber shuffle elevates - not reduces - series with Wales
Hold the phone. This isn’t what was promised on the tin. Springboks rugby doesn’t do whacky. It doesn’t do zany or experimen…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
06 Jul 2022, 4:10
We need to talk about Elton Jantjies
But if there is one cause for concern it is undoubtedly the performance of Elton Jantjies at flyhalf.
Daniel Gallan
03 Jul 2022, 10:30
You're wrong, Jake. Overseas players only make South African rugby stronger
In the wake of his side’s 18-13 loss to the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship final, the Bulls head coach Jake White opt…
Daniel Gallan
29 Jun 2022, 6:30
Sorry Wales, but don't expect Springboks 'Lite' this July
By most accounts, the upcoming series between South Africa and Wales has already been decided. It’s the top ranked team in the w…
Daniel Gallan
16 Jun 2022, 6:12
Max Malins: 'We were humbled by Toulon. If we're not at our best we won't win anything'
The free scoring Saracens and England back three player is learning to embrace his natural instincts and just Harlequins lie betwe…
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
09 Jun 2022, 11:57
The root cause of English disapproval with South Africa's Champions Cup entry
One of the major drawbacks to being a South African living in the UK is putting up with people’s interpretations of your accent.
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
07 Jun 2022, 2:59
'I want to play at the World Cup and I haven't shied away from that'
Mako Vunipola wants to win a World Cup. Of course he does. Every rugby player around the world dreams of lifting that famous golde…
Daniel Gallan
23 May 2022, 3:21
South Africa have been done dirty once again
World Rugby, the game’s overlords, saw fit to grant Australia and the United States of America the right to host the next two me…
Opinion
Daniel Gallan
12 May 2022, 9:22
Jasper Wiese: 'If you cut me open, I'll bleed the green, white and red of Leicester Tigers'
The Tigers and Springboks No 8 is an abrasive character and he'll need that edge if English front runners are to roll the four-tim…
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
06 May 2022, 16:31
Age is no barrier
Victor Matfield says Alun Wyn Jones can still thrive as part of the old-boy network
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
01 Jun 2021, 4:00
Lifting the weight
How do you keep elite athletes in prime shape when gyms are shut and plans decimated? Meet rugby's S&C gurus.
LONG READ
Daniel Gallan
19 Feb 2021, 2:40
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