SA RUGBY May 2025

The days are shortening and the nip in the air has got you digging at the back of the wardrobe for your favourite slippers. The platoon of Springboks based in Japan have also noticed the change in season, and have responded by turning up the heat in their performances. Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Malcolm Marx, Jesse kriel and Kurt-Lee Arendse evaporated from local headlines after South Africa crushed Wales in November last year, returning to Japan Rugby League One (JRLO) duty for their clubs. At the time of writing, De Allende had pushed the Saitama Wild Knights to the top of the table, Marx had scored nine tries for the Kubota Spears, and Kolbe and Arendse had each scored seven tries for Tokyo Sungoliath and the Mitsubishi Dynaboars respectively.…

BLITZBOKS 19 SPAIN 5 The Blitzboks saved their best for last to win the SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles. Pool victories against France, Great Britain and Argentina were followed by a 31-5 semi-final win over New Zealand and a 14-point triumph over Spain in the decider. STORMERS 34 CONNACHT 29 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored a hat-trick in a 24-point haul as the Stormers won a see-saw URC battle at Cape Town Stadium. The flyhalf showcased his full repertoire, including a perfectly executed chip-and-chase for his third try. MUNSTER 13 BULLS 16 The Bulls became the first South African team to beat Munster at Thomond Park with a gutsy performance in wet conditions. Munster had won all seven of their previous meetings in Limerick against SA opposition. The victory also clinched…

WHO SHOULD START AT FLYHALF FOR THE BOKS IN 2025? ZELÍM NEL SAYS SACHA FEINBERG-MNGOMEZULU If Handré Pollard is fit and in form, he’s going to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Finish and klaar. It was utter madness that he wasn't included in the initial 2023 Bok World Cup squad and, fortunately for all of South Africa, circumstance rectified the error when an injury to Malcolm Marx parachuted the veteran flyhalf into his third such tournament. Feinberg-Mngomezulu is in form and, if he’s fit, it would be an error in judgement not to start him in the biggest Tests of 2025. Why? Because Pollard has proven time and again over the course of 80 Tests that he has the temperament, expertise and experience to win under the brightest…

RASSIE HELPS SPARK CATS' SUPER 12 REVIVAL Having finished 12th and 11th on the Super 12 log in 1998 and 1999 respectiveiy, the Cats (made up of Lions and Cheetahs players) came fourth in 2000 to reach the semi-finals. Cats captain Rassie Erasmus, who had moved from the Cheetahs to the Lions in 1999, played a big part in the team’s revival under former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains. Erasmus told SA Rugby magazine that while his job had been made easier by having the likes of André Vos, André Venter, Chester Williams and Willie Meyer in the team, he wasn’t sure he was captaincy material. 'I get a bit down on myself when we play badly,’ he said. ‘I wear my heart on my sleeve, whereas a good captain…

LOFTUS VERSFELD ‘In 1999, I played for the SA Schools team in a curtain-raiser for a Springboks-All Blacks Test. That was my first experience of Loftus and really great for me. After that, I played a number of matches there for Western Province and the Stormers, which were good and bad experiences, and for the Springboks, which were always amazing experiences at what is a fantastic stadium.’ FREE STATE STADIUM 'In the Test against England in 2007, I scored one of my best tries for the Springboks and we hammered them [58-10]. It was always nice to play the English on those hard, firm grounds at altitude.' ELLIS PARK ‘My first Test match for the Springboks in South Africa was there, against the All Blacks in 2004. We won that…

• Slogan is ‘Passing on the Passion'. • Biggest rugby development platform in the southern hemisphere. • With the support of key sponsors, Sarla runs the Vuka rugby programme countrywide and stages the national Hollywood Foundation iQhawe Week for U15 development teams. • The Cell C SA Rugby Legends team gives former players a chance to play classic matches in SA and around the world. • Organises charity events, golf days, auctions and national food drops. - Visit sarugbylegends.com…