The world’s media lauded the dominance of the Springboks in Dublin against Ireland and were awed at the physicality of the world champions and No 1 team in the sport.

A summary of how the global rugby media reacted to the Springboks 24-13 win in Dublin.

The Boks scored four tries to one.

The Irish Times – Gerry Thornley

Thornley framed it as “the one that got away” for Ireland and a long-time-coming statement win for South Africa. He highlighted the Boks’ scrum dominance and physical edge, but also the surreal card chaos and inconsistency around Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s high shot versus the multiple Irish cards, leaving Ireland feeling hard done by while still acknowledging South Africa as clearly in control. The Irish Times

Irish Examiner – Simon Lewis

Lewis hit the same two big notes: Ireland’s “ill discipline” and the Springboks’ set-piece power. Ireland’s yellow-card avalanche and James Ryan’s 20-minute red created an unwinnable scenario against a pack as dominant as this Bok eight. He stressed that, even with 12 men, Ireland showed guts, but the champions were ruthless enough to end their Dublin drought. Irish Examiner

Sunday Independent (Ireland / Independent.ie cluster) – Edward Elliot & Indo Sport team

On the UK Independent (closely echoing the Indo line), Edward Elliot’s match report headlined the game as “cards, chaos and carnage” and said Ireland “paid a heavy price for ill-discipline” as South Africa ended a 13-year wait for an Aviva win. The coverage zeroed in on the five Irish cards, the decisive scrum penalty try, and Sacha’s solo effort that effectively killed the contest, while stressing that Ireland’s late fight only reduced the margin, not the gap. The Independent

On Independent.ie (Irish), the locked match piece – “Springboks’ scrum power proves unstoppable for Ireland after flurry of yellow cards” – is clearly framed around the same themes: scrum dominance, card carnage, and Boks in control. The Independent

Sunday Times (Ireland)

• Boks physically and tactically superior at scrum time,

• Ireland’s indiscipline fatal.

The Rugby Paper (UK) – John Fallon

Fallon’s match coverage in The Rugby Paper described a “scrum masterclass” from the Springboks and a self-inflicted implosion from Ireland. His tone was that of respect for Ireland’s resilience but little doubt about who was boss: the world champions used the set-piece to squeeze, strangle and finally break Ireland, leaving Farrell with more questions than answers two years out from 2027. The Rugby Paper

The Guardian – Brendan Fanning

Fanning’s Guardian match report ran under the headline “South Africa make heavy weather of victory over indisciplined Ireland”. He called it “a truly crazy event”, stressing how four Irish players were binned in the first half, Ryan’s card was upgraded to red, and the Boks only really converted their scrum supremacy when Ireland were down to 13. His core critique: a team this dominant at set piece should win far more comfortably – but they still reminded Ireland of the gap in power when it really mattered. The Guardian

The Telegraph (UK)

The Telegraph’s live coverage and write-up is trailed with the line that Ireland’s future questions “come to the boil” after a “plucky defeat” in which the scrum was “utterly dominant” in South Africa’s favour and Ireland were reduced to 12 men. From the available blurb, the angle is:

• Ireland’s card-fuelled collapse at the set piece,

• South Africa’s ruthless exploitation of that edge,

• and the uncomfortable question of whether Ireland are slipping behind the Boks again in raw physicality and depth. The Telegraph+1

French Rugby & European Press

L’Équipe (France)

L’Équipe’s live commentary and report framed it as a “demonstration de force” by the double world champions, noting that after conquering Paris and Rome this November, the Boks had now imposed themselves in Dublin as well. They highlighted:

• a monstrous scrum and maul,

• Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s class with ball in hand,

• and an Irish side that remained combative but simply couldn’t live with the Springboks’ power and pressure over 80. L’Équipe

Midi Olympique / Rugbyrama

Midol and Rugbyrama carried pieces and social posts casting the Boks as “seemingly invincible”, talking of South Africa “continuing their festival in the north” with another statement win. The tone is almost admiringly fatalistic: this Bok side, in French eyes, has turned Europe into its playground – Dublin now joining Paris and Marseille as venues where they impose their will.

New Zealand & Global

NZ Herald – AFP report

The Herald ran an AFP match report: South Africa’s first win in Dublin since 2012 after a 24–13 victory over an “ill-disciplined Ireland side that at one point was reduced to 12 men.” It underlined:

• tries by Willemse, Reinach and Feinberg-Mngomezulu plus a penalty try,

• Ireland’s courage in keeping the scoreline respectable,

• and the personal milestone for Rassie Erasmus finally winning at Lansdowne Road, something he hadn’t done even as Munster coach. NZ Herald

South African Print & Online

Rapport – Louis de Villiers (Netwerk24)

De Villiers’ column “Bok-stutte wys hul spiere in Dublin-orgie van kaarte” (“Bok props flex their muscles in a Dublin orgy of cards”) sums up Rapport’s mood. He revels in the Bok front row’s destruction of Ireland’s scrum and embraces the madness of the yellow-card storm, effectively arguing:

• chaos or not, this was a deeply satisfying, forward-dominated away win,

• and a reminder that in the trenches, the Boks remain unmatched. Netwerk24

Sunday Times (South Africa) – Mark Keohane

In the Sunday Times, Mark Keohane’s column “Boks shake off Irish monkey” (as flagged in SA Rugby Mag’s wrap) celebrates the end of the Dublin hoodoo. His core beats:

• Ireland were “brave”, but the Boks were “brutal”,

• the scrum and collision dominance finally aligned with the scoreboard,

• and Rassie’s world champions have reclaimed the psychological high ground in what’s now the sport’s premier rivalry. SA Rugby magazine

SA Rugby Magazine (sarugbymag.co.za)

SA Rugby Mag’s online coverage led with pieces like “Boks break Dublin deadlock” and “Boks crush ill-disciplined Ireland”, plus a deep-dive analysis referencing Keo’s pre-game call that the Boks would win by 11. The tone is unapologetically triumphant:

• Dublin “belonged to the Boks” for the first time in 13 years,

• Ireland’s aura at Lansdowne took a serious dent,

• and the win validated Rassie’s decision to go full strength and target this fixture as the unofficial World Cup rematch that 2023 never gave them. SA Rugby magazine+1

Rugby365

Rugby365’s match report (and sidebar pieces) emphasised that the Springboks “ended their Dublin drought despite chaotic scenes” – focusing on:

• the Boks’ dominance at scrum time and in the collisions,

• the unprecedented five Irish cards to one South African,

• and questions over Matthew Carley’s consistency, even while acknowledging that Ireland’s discipline invited trouble and the better team still won.

Planet Rugby

Planet Rugby’s early reaction came via their news and social channels: “Springboks too strong for ill-disciplined Ireland” and “five Irish cards in chaotic Dublin Test.” Their line is simple and punchy:

• South Africa bullied Ireland at the set-piece,

• ill-discipline wrecked any hope of a home win,

• and the result re-asserts the Boks as the team to beat heading towards 2027. Planet Rugby

RugbyPass 

RugbyPass ran player ratings and reaction pieces with the headline flavour of “Ireland player ratings after ruthless Springboks dismantle Andy Farrell’s men” and similar. The ratings hammered Ireland’s discipline and scrum, while giving big numbers to Malcolm Marx, Boan Venter, Eben Etzebeth and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. The key RugbyPass take:

• this was a statement win from the Boks,

• Ireland’s supposed set-piece improvements were “exposed” under real pressure,

• and the contest showed there’s still a gap in depth and physicality between the sides. rugbypass.com

Keo.co.za – Mark Keohane 

On Keo.co.za and its AfricaPicks crossover piece, Keohane doubled down after calling Boks by 11 in the build-up. His reaction article, effectively a victory lap, framed the win as:

• Rassie’s Boks reasserting themselves as the sport’s true No 1,

• Ireland’s Lansdowne aura being shattered in 80 ugly, beautiful minutes,

• and confirmation that the rivalry is now tilted back towards South Africa, with Dublin no longer a graveyard but another green-and-gold hunting ground. SA Rugby magazine+1

Other Significant Angles

Several other outlets pushed similar themes that echo across your requested titles:

• ESPN (Tom Hamilton): “Cards, chaos and a challenge answered” – Boks reminded Ireland of the gap in a bruising win, ending a 13-year wait in Dublin. ESPN.com+1

• Daily Maverick (SA): “Springboks end Dublin drought against ill-disciplined Ireland” – very much in line with the Irish Examiner / ESPN story-arc. Daily Maverick

Quick Summary of the Global Mood

Across the spectrum – Irish, UK, French, Kiwi and South African:

• Everyone agrees the game was utterly chaotic: a once-in-a-decade card-fest.

• Irish writers strike a balance between feeling aggrieved at some decisions and admitting their side’s indiscipline and scrum issues cost them.

• Neutral & global outlets (ESPN, AFP/NZ Herald, L’Équipe) frame it as a clear, deserved Bok win driven by set-piece domination, against an Ireland who never quite folded but were outgunned.

• South African outlets are openly celebratory: the “Dublin curse” is gone, the rivalry is reset, and Rassie’s Boks have just walked into Ireland’s fortress and kicked the door down.

*Courtesy of ChatGPT 5.1 & all verified references

The All Blacks, France and England won the big three match-ups this weekend, outside of the heavyweight battle in Dublin between the Springboks and Ireland. The reaction was peculiar as France was roasted for scoring 48 points and Wales was complimented for only conceding 52. The rugby world has officially gone mad, writes Mark Keohane.

England are the next world champions, despite spending minutes 79 to 83 defending their line from defeat against Argentina, the Wales can only find positives in shipping 52 points and France were given a pounding for the way they played in scoring 48 points against the Wallabies.

Australia, for the first time in 70 years, could not win a match on their end of season tour, and, despite beating the British & Irish Lions in the third and final Test and shocking the Springboks with 38 unanswered points in a 38-22 win at Ellis Park in the opening match of the Castle Rugby Championship, they then won just two from their remaining 10 matches, beating the Pumas and beating Japan 19-15.

Their defeats were against the Springboks in Cape Town, the Pumas in Australia, the All Blacks, in Auckland and Perth, against England, Italy, Ireland and France.

Joe Schmidt’s two-year tenure ended with a 21 percent win record against the sport’s Top 10 ranked teams.

KEO ON THE BOKS WIN IN DUBLIN

All Blacks 52–26 Wales, Cardiff

New Zealand

• NZ Herald – Liam Napier
  Napier called it a “late flourish” that eases pressure but doesn’t rewrite a turbulent All Blacks year. The 52–26 looks emphatic, but his piece stresses that beating an 11th-ranked Wales side with two wins in 22 is “no barometer of world dominance,” even if seven tries and a strong bench finish restored some polish to the season. NZ Herald

• 1News (Patrick McKendry)
  Framed as a response performance after the Grand Slam dream died against England. McKendry talks about the All Blacks “turning on a late flourish” in Cardiff, turning a tight contest into a blowout and highlighting the wing combination of Caleb Clarke and Sevu Reece as the difference once the game opened up. 1News

• Reuters
  The wire leads on Tom Rogers becoming the first Welshman to score a hat-trick against New Zealand – “heroics in vain” – as the All Blacks still run away 52–26 and stretch their streak to 34 straight wins over Wales. It notes the two Welsh yellow cards as the turning point and underlines how Japan’s win in Tbilisi locks Wales into 11th for the World Cup draw. Reuters

• RugbyPass – Wales player ratings
  RugbyPass is relatively kind on Wales: they “were very much in the match in the first half,” only trailing by three on 35 minutes, but physically overwhelmed when the All Blacks rolled their bench. Their line is that the scoreboard is ugly but there were genuine signs of life, with Rogers and Rees-Zammit getting strong write-ups. RugbyPass

UK & Welsh reaction

• The Guardian – match report & live
  The report (“Tom Rogers makes hat-trick history in vain…”) calls this a “spirited but ultimately unsuccessful” Welsh performance. Rogers’ hat-trick is framed as a symbol of a new, more ambitious Wales, but the piece is ruthless about the ill-discipline: two yellows in quick succession gave the All Blacks the space to run in three late tries and kill any notion of an upset. The Guardian+1

• The Independent – Harry Latham-Coyle / Luke Baker
  The Indy live says “a valiant Wales faded to a 52–26 defeat” and leans on the 72-year wait narrative – no win over New Zealand since 1953. They talk up the atmosphere, Rogers’ history-making hat-trick and another highlight-reel finish from Rees-Zammit, but ultimately file it under “encouraging but still a gulf in class.” The Independent

• Newstalk ZB / NZ Herald ‘World media reacts’
  That round-up pulls in WalesOnline’s line that this was “the first time in a long while they offered some hope,” and the Daily Telegraph’s description of Wales as “rather heroic in this defeat,” while still conceding that seven decades of All Black dominance is the cold reality. The overall tone: moral victory in effort, brutal reality on the scoreboard. newstalkzb.co.nz

• Planet Rugby – 5 takeaways
  Planet Rugby focuses on the All Blacks’ attack finally clicking, but labels one “dismal” facet – their defence still leaking soft points – as a concern heading into 2026, even on a night when they scored seven tries. Planet Rugby

Bottom line:
NZ media see it as a necessary but limited corrective to a messy year; Welsh and English writers talk about “hope” and “heroics in defeat” but everything is framed against the brutal 34-match losing streak.

France 48–33 Australia, Paris

French & neutral

• Reuters
  The wire sets it up as a high-tempo, chaotic Test where France’s attacking quality and bench power finally broke Australia in the last 20. Six French tries, Thomas Ramos running the show with boot and ball, but plenty of mention of French “indiscipline and defensive lapses” that kept the Wallabies in touch. Reuters

• RugbyPass – France player ratings
  RugbyPass calls the second-half a “joy to behold” and says the 48–33 win gives Fabien Galthié “breathing space heading into the new year.” It notes this is a third straight win over the Wallabies, with the backline – Depoortere, Bielle-Biarrey, Ramos – getting the big scores in their ratings. RugbyPass

• SuperSport
  SuperSport describe it as a “lacklustre 48–33 win” that closes a “turgid” French autumn and quickly pivots to the return of Antoine Dupont and defending the Six Nations. The theme is: result good, performance still short of 2022–23 heights. SuperSport

Australian & Southern Hemisphere reaction

• The Australian
  Brutal. They call it “the worst European tour since 1958” and underline the milestone: a winless four-Test tour and a record 10 Test defeats in a calendar year. The piece laments the same recurring issues – discipline, lineout failures, late-game fatigue – while acknowledging bright sparks like Max Jorgensen and Fraser McReight. The Australian

• Rugby.com.au (Nathan Williamson)
  The official site tries to find the silver lining: “much-improved Wallabies fight but fall.” The attack structure and tempo under Joe Schmidt get praise, and there’s a sense that the 48–33 loss shows growth compared to earlier hidings… but the last-quarter fade, defensive lapses and basics still draw criticism. Rugby.com.au

• ABC News
  ABC goes heavy on the history – “historic Test loss” and “unwanted record” dominate the copy. The 10th defeat of 2025 and the first winless European tour in 67 years are presented as a line in the sand moment for Rugby Australia. ABC

• Rugby365 (via AAP)
  Rugby365 carry a wire piece headlined around “apologetic Wallabies.” Harry Wilson’s post-match apology to fans and insistence they will “be better” becomes the emotional hook, with the site framing it as a crestfallen but united squad at the end of a brutal 22-week, 15-Test slog. Rugby365

Bottom line:
France: relieved, talking about flair and depth but still concerned about discipline.
Australia: almost uniformly grim – lots of “effort” talk, but everything is filtered through record defeats, a winless tour and what it means for 2027.

Japan 25–23 Georgia, Tbilisi (last-minute win)

News wires & mainstream

• Reuters (carried by The Star, Straits Times, others)
  Reuters sets the scene: Georgia ahead late, then “ill-discipline let the Georgians down in the final minute” as Lee Seung-sin nails a last-kick penalty for a 25–23 win. The key angle is the World Rugby rankings shake-up – Japan up to 12th, Georgia down to 13th, and the result locking Japan and Wales into the second seeding band for the World Cup draw. Reuters+2The Star+2

• The Star (Malaysia)
  Runs the Reuters copy with extra emphasis on Georgia’s late penalty concession and Japan’s composure under pressure, calling Lee’s kick “a nerve-shredding winner” and framing the result as bigger for rankings than for the match itself. The Star

Rugby punditry & opinion

• RugbyPass – “Eddie Jones’ Japan raid fortress for vital win”
  RugbyPass goes much more tactical: Georgia’s early control through Tedo Abzhandadze off the tee, then Japan’s response via Dylan Riley’s try and 11 points from Lee before the chaotic finale. The narrative is “vital win” in a hostile Tbilisi, but also that Japan made it harder than it needed to be. RugbyPass

• AllThingsRugby – opinion
  That piece is almost grumpy in tone: “even a win… can’t wash over disappointing 2025 for the Brave Blossoms.” It notes Japan’s healthy 5–2 head-to-head over Georgia, argues that slipping behind them in the rankings earlier in the year was the real red flag, and suggests this escape shouldn’t distract from a flat season overall. All Things Rugby | Rugby Union

• Social media / rankings chatter
  Rugby analysts on X frame it as a huge rankings swing – “big result for Japan in Tbilisi” and specifically credit Seungsin Lee’s last-minute penalty for flipping Japan and Georgia on the ladder. X (formerly Twitter)

Bottom line:
Global wires treat it as a big rankings story and a World Cup draw subplot; rugby nerds see it as papering over cracks in Eddie’s Japan while cruelly punishing Georgian ill-discipline at home.

Scotland 56–0 Tonga, Edinburgh

Scottish & international media

• The Scottish Sun
  The Sun goes for the scoreboard: “Scots score EIGHT tries” to end a “tricky year.” They hammer Tonga’s discipline – four cards including a 20-minute red – and celebrate Duhan van der Merwe becoming Scotland’s all-time leading try-scorer. But even in a 56–0, they talk about “a lull” and inconsistency, and flag questions over Gregor Townsend’s future. The Scottish Sun

• ESPN
  ESPN echo the big themes: eight tries, Tonga “ill-disciplined”, van der Merwe back ahead of Darcy Graham in the try charts, and the game as a much-needed mood shift after a “disappointing autumn” that included blowing a 21–0 lead to Argentina. ESPN.com

• SuperSport
  SuperSport call it a “56-0 hammering” and emphasize Scotland rounding off the series by finally cashing in on their attacking structure. The angle is less on crisis and more on Scotland restoring some credibility after narrow and painful losses earlier in November. SuperSport

• RugbyPass – player ratings
  RugbyPass say Tonga “presented them a golden opportunity” to right the wrongs of that dire Argentina loss – and Scotland took it. Their ratings praise the physicality and tempo, with big marks for van der Merwe, Ashman and Horne, while noting that Scotland were “wasteful” during one long scoreless period despite the numerical advantage. RugbyPass

Player & camp reaction

• The Offside Line – Sione Tuipulotu interview
  Tuipulotu refuses to get carried away: he talks about “doing the talking on the pitch” rather than promising the world, and acknowledges that a 56–0 over Tonga doesn’t erase the frustration of the autumn. Rugby News from The Offside Line

• RugbyPass – Tuipulotu quoted again
  In a separate piece he’s even more blunt: “I’ll be honest” – he calls the series “frustrating” and says Scotland aren’t close to where they want to be, even with a big win and a record-breaking winger. RugbyPass

Bottom line:
Scoreboard says rout, and everyone notes Tonga’s discipline meltdown and Duhan’s record. Scottish voices, though, are almost defensive – this was a necessary reset, not proof that deeper issues are fixed.

England 27–23 Argentina, Twickenham (frantic finale)

English press

• The Times – live/Will Kelleher
  The Times’ live report paints it as a near-shambles turned salvage job. England race 17–0 ahead on Max Ojomoh’s home-debut brilliance and an Immanuel Feyi-Waboso finish, but then “invite pressure” with missed kicks, a clunky attack and discipline issues. Argentina storm back to 23–20 before Henry Slade’s try and a late George Ford penalty cling on for 27–23. The line is: unbeaten autumn intact, but attacking fluency and reliance on Ford’s boot remain concerns. The Times

• The Guardian – live blog/report
  Similar story in the Guardian: “England edged out Argentina 27–23” after conceding 20 unanswered points. They praise Ojomoh’s composure and Itoje’s defensive work, but note that England’s attack went into its shell once the initial strikes landed. The frantic finish – Argentina line-out inside the 22 in added time, fluffed – is described as a reminder that England are still learning how to close out big games. The Guardian

• The Times – preview ‘This is England’s World Cup final – don’t mess it up’
  The pre-match column framed this fixture as a psychological “final” after beating the All Blacks. The message: avoid the 2019 trap of emotional peak then post-All Blacks drop-off. In that context, today’s narrow win will be filed as job done, but only just. The Times

• The Guardian – Robert Kitson, ‘Beating Pumas could open pivotal chapter…’
  Kitson’s preview is all about 2027: he draws a line back to England v Argentina in 2000 as the seed of the 2003 champions, and suggests this Pumas clash could play a similar role. He notes Argentina’s recent scalps (All Blacks, B&I Lions) and argues that getting over the line – however scrappy – is a key staging post for Borthwick’s project. The Guardian

Pumas / Americas angle

• Americas Rugby News (preview)
  ARN’s guide talked up an Argentina side that has been “beating big teams all year” and pitched this as a 50-50 clash. That pre-game framing will only be reinforced by what actually happened: England hanging on and Argentina one clean line-out away from an historic Twickenham heist. Americas Rugby News

Bottom line:
English media: relieved, mildly critical, but happy to sell it as part of an 11-match hot streak and a 2027 build.
Neutral/Americas view: confirmation that Los Pumas are a genuine tier-one menace who nearly nicked another big scalp.

Quick snapshot of the weekend’s narratives

• All Blacks v Wales – Result expected, tone more nuanced: NZ press says “good, not great; flaws remain.” Welsh/UK press cling to signs of progress beneath a 34-match losing streak.

• France v Australia – Scoreline fun, post-match mood split: France happy enough but still scratching heads; Australian media basically stage an intervention about a historically bad year.

• Japan v Georgia – One kick that changes rankings, seeds and headlines. Japan get their result; pundits warn it can’t mask a flat 2025, while Georgia are left ruing one moment of ill-discipline.

• Scotland v Tonga – Score looks like a statement, Scottish voices treat it as damage control and a reset rather than proof of arrival.

• England v Argentina – Perfect autumn on paper, scratchy reality on the pitch. England bank the win; everyone else files it under “Pumas are coming” heading to 2027.

• Africa Picks: Our Boks call gives you the cash
• Sourced by ChatGPT 5 and verified by Keo.co.za – the ultimate weekend wrap

The Boks won by 11 points in Dublin, and the No 11 is often called a “master number” in numerology, and is thought to represent intuition, insight, and enlightenment. Add power and brutality and you have a summary of what happened at the Aviva Stadium against Ireland on Saturday night, writes Mark Keohane.

This was an assault.

If it was a boxing match, Ireland would have been counted out by the referee at halftime.

In rugby terms, this was not going to happen as the Irish spirits refused to yield to a knock out and the referee, deducting points throughout, refused to send Ireland to the corner on a TKO.

There can be no complaints in Dublin or anywhere in Ireland. The hosts were beaten up physically, lost by four tries to one, and should have finished the game in single player figures.

Ireland’s James Ryan should have had a straight red card and not the kindness of bunker review on his awfully malicious and cheap off the ball clenaout on the head of Boks hooker – and World Rugby Player of the Year – Malcolm Marx.

The record books will show the Irish got one bunker red and four yellow cards and the Boks got one. The Boks’ yellow card, in the 78th minute, was for celebrating a turnover. WTF!

It was an interesting call, to say the least, but the Boks refused to yield and kept Ireland scoreless in the last two minutes, when every call went Ireland’s way.

So much in Dublin has been made of Rassie Erasmus’s Golden Generation of Springboks never having won in Dublin between their RWC title wins in 2019 and 2023, which included a 2-1 home series win against the British & Irish Lions in 2021, with all three Tests played in Cape Town behind closed doors.

The Boks, back to back World Cup winners in 2019 and 2023, back to back Castle Rugby Championship winners in 2024 and 2025, Lions series winners in 2021, have also won in Italy, in Argentina, in Scotland, in Australia, in New Zealand, in Wales, in England at the Allianz in Twickenham, in Japan in the 2019 WRC and in France in the 2023 RWC.

The only country Erasmus’s boys had not won was in Dublin, courtesy of a three point defeat (19-16) in 2022.

Ireland, who have never advanced beyond a RWC quarter-final in 10 tournaments, held onto the Dublin win as justification as to why they should be considered the best team in the world.

That all ended on Saturday night and now Ireland’s claim to being the world’s best is to win the RWC, which would mean making history in going beyond the last eight in Australia in 2027.

Ireland has nothing left in bragging rights when it comes to the Boks, and they have a long wait until they meet the Boks in Dublin in November in 2026 in the inaugural Nations Championship.

For those South Africans working and living in Dublin, enjoy the next 12 months.

HOW KEO CALLED THE BOKS WIN ON AFRICA PICKS

The scoreline of 24-13 was kind to Ireland and the rugby gods were generous in allowing Ireland to leave the Aviva with scoreline respectability, even if the state of play should have read 30-plus points, and not the 11 differential.

The Irish were brave and they ripped up the law book to defend their try line. Their scrum was humiliated and on another night they may have ended up with no forwards on the field.

They will cry foul for the cards, but every single one was justified and there were more that should have gone against them.

They played for damage control and the Boks played to bury the hyped talked about ghosts of the Aviva.

The Boks won at the Aviva for the first time in 13 years, but it may be 13 years before Ireland ever threatens the Boks at the Aviva, such was the one-sided nature of the contest.

Ireland, when they review the match tape, will wonder how they did not concede 40-plus points, and the Boks, once the beers and brandy have settled, will wonder how they did not score 40-plus points.

For South Africa, the score will not matter, just the fact that Dublin was downed, not as smoothly as a Guinness, but with the brutality these boys put away a double brandy.

Boks by 10- plus 1.

KEO & ZELS INSISTED BOKS WOULD WIN IN SAYING RASSIE’S COWBOYS WOULD GUN DOWN IRELAND 

READ SA RUGBY MAG DIGITAL FOR ALL REACTION TO THE BOKS 24-13 WIN v IRELAND IN DUBLIN

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is the playmaker the Springboks have not had at No 10 in their last four Tests against an Ireland team, who have found a way to win in three of those matches, writes Mark Keohane.

For all the dominance of the Springboks under Rassie Erasmus and for five of those years, from 2019 to 2023 Jacques Nienaber and Erasmus, Ireland is the one team that has matched the Boks minute for minute, try for try and big moment after big moment.

Respect is due to the Irish because they are the one side that has no inferiority complex when it comes to Erasmus’s all-conquering back to back World Cup winners and back to back Castle Rugby Championship winners.

Erasmus and Nienaber only played one Test against Ireland in Dublin since returning from Munster, Ireland to coach the Boks in 2018.

It was in 2022 and Ireland won 19-16.

A year later, at the Stade de France in Paris, Ireland won 13-8 and the teams drew a two-test series in South Africa in 2024, with the Boks winning 27-20 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria and losing with the final kick of the game 25-24 in Durban.

Those four Tests are the only historical relevance to Saturday’s match-up in Dublin because the core of the players remain from 2022, on both sides, as does the coaching leadership.

Erasmus, after the win in Pretoria, said the squad felt they had got ‘a monkey off our backs’ in beating Ireland, but Dublin, even though it has only been over one Test and 80 minutes in 2022, sits more like a Gorilla on the backs of the Boks than a Monkey.

Earlier this season the Boks stumbled at Eden Park in Auckland, losing 24-17 to the All Blacks, having found themselves 14-0 down within the opening 10 minutes. It was a massive disappointment for the squad as there was such belief they could be the history-makers to end the All Blacks unbeaten run at 50 Tests at Eden Park; a run that now sits at 52.

Dublin carries a similar kind of mission. Win there and then this squad, many of whom are into their eight International season together, would have conquered every team in their own respective backyards.

Ireland, who won 19 in succession at the Aviva Stadium before losing to the All Blacks in 2024, also got whipped by France in the Six Nations last season.

For the most the Aviva has proved a fortress and the respect of the occasion, from both sides, is emphasised by how little click bait headlines there has been in the build-up.

It has been the most dignified of days, with Erasmus heaping praise on Ireland and Irish coach Andy Farrell being as flattering of the Boks in response.

Players on both sides have said little and those who have spoken at media conferences have talked up the magnitude of the occasion and the virtues of their opposition.

The Boks, like Ireland, have said they have to be at their best to win.

Even the dark world of social media has been more an ocean of calm and reverence.

Ireland’s faithful can simply state three wins from four, one in Dublin, one in Paris and one in Durban when backing their side, while the Boks supporters comeback is to remind Irish fans of the 2023 World Cup, the 2019 World Cup, the 2007 World Cup and the 1995 World Cup, all won by the Springboks.

Statistically, half a point separates the two teams over the four Test matches, with Ireland’s 19.25 edging the Boks 18.75. In four matches, Ireland has scored 77 points to South Africa’s 75 and seven tries to six.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu was among the substitutes in Pretoria and Durban and if the Boks are to win in Dublin, he needs to be starting at No 10.

Pollard, who kicked eight penalties in Durban, also started at No 10 in Pretoria, while Damian Willemse started at No 10 in Dublin 2022 and Manie Libbok started at No 10 in Paris in 2023. In both those defeats, the missed penalties and conversions proved costly for the Boks.

Ireland have earned the right to be favourites in Dublin, even though the bookies have the Boks as favourites.

AFRICA PICKS: PREDICT THE SCORE IN DUBLIN AND WIN WITH THE BOKS

Springboks World Cup winners Willemse, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Pollard, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Kwagga Smith, Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Malcolm Marx and Bongi Mbonambi have all been part of those match day squads who have come second in three of the four match-ups.

Those are some power names and among the best to have ever played for the Springboks. They are also among the best in the world.

WHY KEO IS BACKING THE BOKS

There will be another opportunity in Dublin in 2026 when the Boks play a league match against Ireland in the inaugural Nations Championship, but for some of the big name veterans, this may be their last hurrah to get that elusive win in Dublin.

KEO & ZELS: RASSIE ON RED ALERT FOR DUBLIN DELIGHTS

SA RUGBY MAG: IRELAND HAVE THE BOKS NUMBER

Ireland 19 Springboks 16
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 2022
Ireland held of a late charge by the Boks to underline their status as the No 1-ranked team in world rugby. In a tight game featuring two tries apiece, the Boks missed seven points off the kicking tee which proved crucial in the end.

Stade de France, Paris, 2023
A truly thunderous affair which lit the torch paper on the 2023 World Cup. The game was played before a crowd of over 78,000. It was epic. It was brutal. And it ended in a third consecutive win for the Irish over their southern hemisphere rivals. It was also Ireland’s 28th win out of their last 30 matches.

South Africa: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Libbok, De Klerk; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Wiese. Subs: Fourie, Nche, Nyakane, Kleyn, Snyman, Van Staden, Smith, Reinach.

Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Porter, Kelleher, Furlong, Ryan, Beirne, O’Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris. Subs: Sheehan, Bealham, Kilcoyne, Henderson, Baird, Murray, Crowley, Henshaw.

Springboks 27 Ireland 20
Loftus Versveld, Pretoria, 2024
Part of an incoming two-Test tour, the Springboks managed to bag a first win against Ireland since 2016. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus admitted afterwards that it felt great to finally get the win as “they really had our number”. Still, it was a tight contest decided on a couple of marginal calls involving the TMO. The Boks showed early season rustiness against an Ireland team who a few months earlier had claimed another Six Nations crown but managed to hold out for an important victory.

South Africa: W le Roux; C Kolbe J Kriel, D de Allende KL Arendse; H Pollard, F de Klerk; O Nche, B Mbonambi, F Malherbe; E Etzebeth, F Mostert; S Kolisi (capt), PS du Toit, K Smith. Subs: M Marx, G Steenekamp, V Koch, S Moerat, RG Snyman, M van Staden, G Williams, S Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Sin-bin: Arendse, 73

Ireland: J Osborne; C Nash, R Henshaw, B Aki, J Lowe; J Crowley, C Casey; A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong; T Beirne, J McCarthy; P O’Mahony (capt), J van der Flier, C Doris. Subs: R Kelleher, C Healy, F Bealham, J Ryan, R Baird, C Murray, C Frawley, G Ringrose.

Sin-bin: Kelleher, 78

Springboks 24 Ireland 25
King’s Park, Durban, 2024
An absolute humdinger which was decided by a last-minute drop goal by Ciaran Frawley. The win saw the series spoils shared and was a fitting way to celebrate Ireland coach Andy Farrell’s 50th match in charge. A flawless Handre Pollard slotted eight penalties to peg back Ireland, but two late Frawley drop goals proved decisive. The first one on 70 minutes got Ireland to within two, and then the final crushing blow right on the hooter to give Ireland another win in the latest instalment of an epic rivalry.

Like Rassie Erasmus, the boys are at peace with the fact the Boks will be a man down in Dublin long before half time.

It was a moment of wing wizardry from Canan Moodie, combined with the pace and precision of Grant Williams that made for the STECO Power Play against Italy in Turin.

Moodie, starting in the Springboks No 13 jersey, found himself on the left wing and he turned on the Moodie charm in turning Italian winger Louis Lynagh inside out, beating him with pace on the outside and then throwing a glorious inside pass to the advancing Grant Williams.

The Boks scrum half, introduced in the last quarter, is said to be the quickest player in the Boks squad. He also played two matches on the wing in the 2023 World Cup. Williams, once the pass had been gathered, was lethal in finish. He stepped a few players and accelerated for the try of the match.

Keo & Zels, in their Monday podcast, rated this combination try as their STECO Power Play of the Test match, won 32-14 by the Springboks.

AFRICA PICKS: BETTING LESSONS FROM THE WEEKEND’S INTERNATIONALS

MOODIE ON BOKS WIN

There’s no stopping Canan Moodie and Grant Williams 😮‍💨

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/w9ypBhWTAt

Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) November 15, 2025

World Rugby has been ridiculed: From former Italian international lock Carlo del Fava to former All Blacks wing Jeff Wilson, to former England international Andy Goode, there has been ridicule at world rugby’s officials for the straight red card given to the Springboks lock Franco Mostert in Turin, Italy, writes Mark Keohane.

Mostert was shown a straight red card, as the second tackler, for what match officials deemed was an intentional shoulder to the head of Italian flyhalf Paolo Garbisi, who never went for an HIA and was up and running a few seconds after taking the tackle of Ethan Hooker and the secondary hit from Mostert.

Below is a collection of X feeds, which also showcased the inconsistency in all this weekend’s internationals when it came to shoulders to the head. In some instances, like James O’Connor taking one to the head in Dublin, it was play on. Others, like in Cardiff in Wales’s match against Japan, it was a yellow with a bunker referral to see if it was a red.

Same incidents, all different interpretations and applications.

World Rugby is a joke at the moment with its head contact policies that lack all consistency and all common sense.

If player welfare is indeed the reason, then why not send the victim of any head contact for an HIA?

Thomas Ramos, against the Boks last weekend, never went for an HIA and played the entire match. Garbisi never went for one in Turin and played the entire game.

It is a joke.

South Africans are justified in feeling aggrieved.

In my Sunday Times match review, I wrote that Justice, in the quality of the Springboks, triumphed over injustice, in the form of incompetent match officials, in Turin as the Springboks won for the 19^th time in 20 Tests against Italy.

These Boks have a spirit that can’t be bought or manufactured. It is inherent because of an environment that has been nurtured over the past nine years.

Jared Wright posted this: Brilliant stat via @StatBoy_Steven

‘Since the introduction of the 20-minute red card, the Springboks have been given a full red card 3 times: July 12 vs Italy: Wiese in the 12th minute November 8 in France: Lood de Jager in the 40th minute November 15 in Italy: Franco Mostert in the 12th minute In 178 minutes combined in those matches after being shown the red card, they have conceded just 17 points and just 1 try, and won all 3.’

Screenshot

FRENCH V FIJI RED GOES UNPUNISHED

O’CONNOR GETTING SMASHED GOES UNPUNISHED

A COLLECTION OF INCONSISTENCIES FROM THE WEEKEND

WALES V JAPAN – ANOTHER INCONSISTENCY TO MOSTERT’S 

WALES’S JOSH ADAMS INTENTIONAL THUGGERY GOES STRAIGHT TO BUNKER REVIEW

MARK KEOHANE ON BOKS 32-14 WIN v ITALY

Some X comments

https://x.com/AndyGoode10/status/1989727007467360333?s=20

https://x.com/PlanetRugby/status/1989701468635451731?s=20

https://x.com/SARugbymag/status/1990034224963854816?s=20

https://x.com/jaredwright17/status/1989700599630204977?s=20

https://x.com/SportyBetZA/status/1989747718961447247?s=20

https://x.com/SSRugby/status/1989681762075570494?s=20

https://x.com/mark_keohane/status/1989756004096168227?s=20

https://x.com/SSRugby/status/1989692773055041607?s=20

Photo: Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

Rassie Erasmus gave a coaching tactical and substitution master class as the Springboks beat Italy in Turin, writes Mark Keohane.

What next for World Rugby and the Boks? 12 v 15?

The Boks were too strong for France in Paris, winning 32-17 despite playing for 30 minutes 14 versus 15.

In Turin, the Boks were down to 14 players after Franco Mostert’s straight red in the 11th minute.

It was a shocking call and for 10 minutes the Boks were 13-15 when Marco van Staden was sin-binned, but this was a win down to sheer heart, guts, determination from the players and Erasmus’s tactical appreciation of the match, his knowledge of his players and his understanding that change comes in the moment and not once the damage could be done, and then it being too late.

These Boks have ticker, but they also have a rugby genius at the helm, who is three moves ahead of the opposition.

Italy were brave and resolute. They were in the face of the Boks and physically they did not take a step back. They have improved immeasurably, but the reality is that for all the fire in their belly they are now three wins from 10 matches this season, including three successive defeats against the Boks in 2025.

There was the 42-24 reverse in Pretoria and week later they were done 45-0.

For 31 minutes there was no score in Turin, but what made that so significant is that Italy had so much of the ball, territory and a one-player advantage, but had nothing to show for it.

The Boks, showing their class, scored first through a Handre Pollard penalty after his successful drop goal was ruled out because of an earlier infringement and then Van Staden scored a game changing try on the 39th minute.

Given that the Boks entered the Italian 22 for the first time after 30 minutes, it was a massive moment in the match.

Italy, as they have done all season, did not go away, but they were just not good enough to handle 13 Boks, when gifted a two player advantage.

For the Boks, Damian Willemse was class at fullback and Kwagga Smith made the most impact off the bench.

Van Staden was everywhere and Ruan Nortje, off the bench early to give balance to the remaining players, just gets better at Test level and Grant Williams and Manie Libbok added the last quarter glitz to the first hour grind.

The Boks won under such adversity, which emphatically states their class as the sport’s No 1 team.

FOR ALL SPRINGBOKS REACTION, GO TO SA RUGBY MAGAZINE

HOW KEO AND ZELS CALLED THE BOKS WIN

Razor Robertson’s players may have worn black at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, but they were an insult to the great All Blacks teams that have visited Rugby’s headquarters, writes <strong>Mark Keohane. </strong>England crushed them.

The coach feted as the Knight in Shining Armour never arrived on a stallion. Instead he has come on a donkey, such has been his lack of impact with the All Blacks.

The Springboks, in Johannesburg and Cape Town, showed up the conservative lack of intent with Robertson’s selections and game plan in winning back to back Tests in 2024.

In 2025, the Boks humiliated the All Blacks 43-10 in Wellington, New Zealand, scoring 36 unanswered points.

Argentina also felled Robertson’s All Blacks , in Wellington in 2024 and winning easily in Buenos Aires in 2025.

At Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, every critique of Robertson’s conservatism in selection and indifference in style of play and consistency in performance, was again on display.

The All Blacks scored two early tries to lead 12-0 before 20 minutes, but lost the last hour 33-7. It could – and should – have been more.

This was a dominant England and the only time I can recall England being so in control was in the 19-7 World Cup semi-final in 2019. Back then the only question was how did the All Blacks get seven points and how did England only get 19?

On Saturday, how did England only get 33?

Robertson was gifted the All Blacks job on the basis of seven successive Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders, but Test rugby is not Super Rugby, and Robertson has been the biggest disappointment in his lack of vision and lack of delivery in the biggest Tests.

Since his opening Test in 2024, a one point win against England in Dunedin, his teams have underwhelmed and scraped wins.

The highlight was the 24-17 win at Eden Park against the Springboks in 2025, when the All Blacks led 14-0 after 15 minutes and then hung on for the last 65 minutes. A week later they lost in record-breaking fashion.

Robertson’s All Blacks have gone nowhere in two seasons and walloping Wales next Saturday won’t mask the stagnation of the All Blacks under Robertson.

England’s win was just their ninth in history against the All Blacks in 47 starts, but given the state of the All Blacks they should demand playing them a few times every year while Robertson is in charge. They will quickly move that figure into double figures.

England, 10 wins in succession, are easy on the eye and look very good.

They will be tested more in the Six Nations than they were by Australia, Fiji and the All Blacks, but unlike Robertson’s All Blacks, their graph is on the up.

KEO’S ACCUMULATOR: I GAVE ALL BLACKS HISTORY TOO MUCH CREDIT

⌚️ Henry Pollock chipping through the loose ball to set up Tom Roebuck for the try to seal England’s victory over the All Blacks at the Allianz 💪🤩
#Breitling
#DefiningMoment
@Breitling
pic.twitter.com/UiQnbzbGwm

Quilter Nations Series (@QuilterNations)
November 15, 2025

Siya Kolisi is the Springbok dream the late President Nelson Mandela refused to give up on, but it took 30 years to come to fruition, and fittingly it did so in the city of Love, Paris, writes Mark Keohane.

In Paris, last Saturday night, Springbok rugby’s baton was finally passed, 30 years after Nelson Mandela’s memorable and mighty gesture to wear the Springboks No 6 jersey at the 1995 World Cup final at Ellis Park.

Siya Kolisi, wearing the same No 6 jersey, took Madiba’s baton of reconciliation and confirmed the Springboks as a nation’s sporting love child and not outcast.

Kolisi’s story, in the context of South Africa post-apartheid, is rich, raw and far more personal.

Kolisi’s toughness was born on the streets of Zwide, in the Eastern Cape. Rugby was his escape but it did not mean he initially would board that train of hope.

His mentality was that of any teenager but it needed tough love to put him on that train, and the toughest of love from mentors and coaches to keep him on that train.

Hilton and Kendra Houghton were parents to him when he arrived in Cape Town. They took him in as a son, opened their home to him and gave him a room and initially represented his business interests and gave him comfort and love. They did this when he was 18 years-old and not the revered 34 year-old of today.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus, then the Director of Rugby at the Stormers, loved the fight and passion of the young Kolisi and refused to give up on the potential of their rugby partnership, even though other coaches may have ended it before the first whistle.

Kolisi missed his Stormers debut because he had gone out the night before with friends, got into a street fight with gangsters to protect his friends and had been hurt so badly that he could not play the game the next day.

Erasmus was livid that he had gone out, but loved that he had fought to protect his friends.

A father/son relationship revelled in adversity and it was one that would take shape in 2018 when Erasmus, in his first season as Springboks coach, appointed Kolisi as his captain.

If not for Erasmus and his faith and trust in the player, then there is no Siya Kolisi story in 2025

“He’s been on the tough side of being a South African. He knows hunger and he knows poverty. He knows struggle and he knows survival. His story is an inspiration because it speaks to so many young boys and girls in South Africa,” said Erasmus.

Erasmus easily compliments Kolisi but, behind closed doors, he is as comfortable delivering a harder message.

“Siya Kolisi is not bigger than South Africa. South Africa is bigger than Siya Kolisi,” he barked at Kolisi at a team meeting pre the 2023 World Cup quarter-final. His message to Kolisi and the senior players was simple: Shape up or ship out.

“We’ve come a long way as coach and player and as coach and captain. It’s been an incredible journey and I’ve seen his growth as a leader and a human being. He’s done it tough and not without mistakes,” said Erasmus. “He knew his journey could be bigger than him because it could be about the dreams and hopes of so many kids. Now it is.”

Former Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer picked Kolisi for the Springboks, but with Schalk Burger the incumbent, it took Kolisi 14 Tests to get a start.

“He was popular and so eager to learn from the likes of Schalk and Duane Vermeulen, but I knew he would become a Springbok captain and a real statesman.” said Meyer.

Robbie Fleck, when the Stormers coach, selected Kolisi as his captain.

“I love his passion, his rawness and his intent. His teammates responded to his energy and influence and I also rated his game,” said Fleck.

Stormers coach John Dobson was inspired by the subtle nuances of Kolisi’s play and the work that the television cameras don’t follow.

“His second effort in the tackle and at the breakdown is phenomenal. He’s the best there is,” said Dobson.

Stormers centurion and Springbok Scarra Ntubeni is Kolisi’s best friend. They arrived in Cape Town together as 18 year-olds and no one knows Kolisi’s story better than Scarra.

“I’d go to Siya as a friend and tell him I was done with rugby. He’d give me tough love and tell me to quit … and not to come back one day crying that I wasn’t prepared to fight back,” said Ntubeni. “He has had his own struggles off the field and was prepared to own them and fix them. He is a great friend and an inspiration.”

Kolisi, under Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber’s mentorship, has prospered in the national jersey. They have always promoted humility over arrogance and team over individual.

It sits comfortably with Kolisi.

“It is always bigger than one player and the team because the team plays for the country, and that country is every culture and race. We play for South Africa and for South Africans because we are South Africans.”

Kolisi gets symbolism and he lives symbolisms. He has embodied the baton passed from Madiba; one of hope, unity, toughness and authenticity.

Meyer described him as statesman and most South African rugby fans on social media this week spoke of him as a superhero, but Kolisi has known too much hardship and darkness to know that he is as much sinner as he is superhero.

Madiba and the late and incomparable Muhammad Ali always laughed off the ‘Saint references’ and both would say that they were more ‘sinner than saint’ because they lived the reality of a mortal and not the romance of an immortal.

Kolisi, in his autobiography, is transparent about his battles and he speaks of indulgence and mistakes. His marriage breakdown to Rachel (Kolisi) stunned the nation, but both have publicly attempted to safeguard their kids and promoted the virtues of co-parenting.

Kolisi, the most inspirational captain in Springboks history, is the sport’s most influential ambassador.

SA Rugby President Mark Alexander, in honouring Kolisi, spoke of legacy more than milestone and of a nation’s gratitude to Kolisi.

“Thank you for the 100 games of heart, honour and hope,” said Alexander.

KEO & ZELS: SELFLESS SIYA’S BOKS MUST BE SAVOURED

*This article appeared in the Sunday Times

Frans Steyn and the new Toyota Hilux Legend 55 carry a similar status and legacy in being world-class and winners, writes Mark Keohane.

Steyn is an iconic rugby figure in South Africa and the sport internationally and thanks to a collaboration with Toyota Hilux Legend 55 and the Keo & Zels show, we get to showcase and celebrate a player who won the World Cup, in 2007, as a 20 year-old and won the 2019 World Cup as a seasoned veteran.

Photo: Ross Land/Getty Images

Steyn spent half his career playing in France but finished his playing career at the Toyota Cheetahs, then immediately was appointed Director of Rugby at the Cheetahs and has extended his role to head coach of the Cheetahs, who played in the SA Cup, Currie Cup and will from December play in the EPCR has taken charge of the Cheetahs as head coach.

In celebrating the arrival of the @ToyotaSA Hilux Legend 55, we salute one of South Africa’s most legendary players — Frans Steyn, double World Cup winner and Bok great.#Toyota #Legend55 #ToyotaBakkiesSA #NotJustABakkie pic.twitter.com/EwJ2y3gvQs

— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) October 21, 2025

The Cheetahs are in a action on Sunday, 26th October against Georgia’s Black Lion in the second of a two-match Toyota Challenge Series.

Black Lion won last Friday’s match 39-38.

Steyn’s career is one of excellence and quality and it is fitting that the lad who made Grey College’s rugby fields in Bloemfontein his own as a schoolboy is now in charge of making the Cheetahs a professional force in rugby once again.

He played 78 matches for the Springboks, Steyn won the World Cup on two occasions in 2007 and 2019, and is the second South African player to have won the tournament twice, as well as the youngest World Champion in the history. He also won The Rugby Championship (previously named Tri Nations) twice.

RUGBY WORLD: 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT FRANS STEYN

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images

Years Team Apps (Points) 2009–2012 Racing Métro 92 59 (159) 2014–2015 Toshiba Brave Lupus 11 (47) 2015–2016 Toshiba Brave Lupus 10 (65) 2016–2020 Montpellier 102 (228) 2020–2022 Cheetahs 1 (0) Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 2006–2009 Sharks 18 (70) 2013 Sharks 2 (0) 2021–2023 Free State Cheetahs 18 (87) Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 2007–2009 Sharks 38 (78) 2012–2014 Sharks 30 (167) 2015 Sharks 7 (38) 2020 Cheetahs 5 (0) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2004–2005 South Africa U20 10 (64) 2006–2014 Springbok XV 3 (9) 2006–2022 South Africa 78 (168) 2007–2014 Barbarians 2 (0) Coaching career Years Team 2025- Cheetahs

hide Medal record Men’s Rugby Union Rugby World Cup 2007 France Squad 2019 Japan Squad

The new Toyota Hilux Legend 55 and World Cup-winning Springbok Schalk Burger could have been manufactured in the same factory’s such are their similarities in status and excellence writes Mark Keohane.

Few players have embodied the raw power, resilience, and reliability of a Toyota Hilux quite like Schalk Burger — the tireless warrior who turned collisions into poetry and setbacks into stories of legend.

In his debut international season, the young blond loose forward — all energy and aggression — became the heartbeat of Jake White’s rejuvenated Springboks. His fearless tackling, breakdown dominance and relentless work rate defined the Bok identity that year, earning him the 2004 World Rugby Player of the Year award.

At just 21, Burger was the world’s best.

Three years later, in Paris, he was a world champion. Part of South Africa’s 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning side, Burger’s uncompromising presence in the loose trio set the tone for the Boks’ triumph. He was never just a player — he was a symbol of South African grit, loyalty and endurance.

Yet his greatest fight came not on a rugby field but in a hospital bed.

In 2013, Burger contracted bacterial meningitis following a neck operation — a brush with death that left him in isolation for weeks and nearly claimed his life. He lost 25 kilograms and faced the terrifying possibility that his rugby career was over. But like the Hilux, built to endure the harshest terrain, Burger’s spirit was unbreakable.

He fought his way back to full health, regained the weight, the fitness, and, most importantly, the fire. Within a year he was back in a Stormers jersey, and soon again in the green and gold. His comeback was more than sport — it was a triumph of human will and a testament to toughness and faith.

Burger closed his storied career in the north of London with Saracens, adding English Premiership and European Champions Cup titles to his already bulging résumé. He brought leadership, humility and that familiar ferocity to every contest — proof that legends never fade; they evolve.

From Stellenbosch to Twickenham, from near tragedy to ultimate triumph, Schalk Burger remains a man forged in adversity — a legend built tough, like the Toyota Hilux Legend 55.

Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images

Burger won an under 20 World Championship title, a senior World Cup gold in 2007 and a World Cup bronze in 2015.

Career appearances

2003-2014 – Western Province (37)

2004-2016 – Stormers (123)

2014-201- Suntory Sungoliath/Japan (17)

2003-2015- Springboks (86)

2014-2015- Springboks XV (2)

Toyota Hilux Legend 55 speaks to the rugby legacy of Bakkies Botha

In celebrating the new Toyota Hilux Legend 55, we pay tribute to the incredible Schalk!@ToyotaSA #Legend55 #ToyotaBakkiesSA #NotJustABakkie pic.twitter.com/L0Sw0tSOiw

— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) October 17, 2025

Toyota Hilux Legend 55 & Danie Rossouw’s decorated career

Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

While Munster and Ulster made headlines abroad, it was the DHL Stormers who once again flew the flag proudly for South African rugby in Europe.

John Dobson’s men extended their unbeaten run in the Vodacom URC with a composed 31-13 bonus-point win over Zebre Parma in Italy — a victory that keeps the Cape Town side top of the log after four rounds. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was the standout star, contributing 16 points including two tries, as the Stormers collected a full haul and made another powerful statement away from home.

With this win, the Stormers remain one of just three unbeaten teams in the competition alongside Munster and Ulster, who also impressed on their respective travels.

In front of a massive Croke Park crowd of 51,859, Munster laid down their own marker, dispatching arch-rivals Leinster 31-14 in a bruising Irish derby. Four tries and a suffocating defensive performance saw them claim their fourth straight win. Head coach Clayton McMillan praised his side’s intensity and physicality, saying it was a privilege to win at one of Ireland’s most iconic venues.

Over in KZN, a near full-strength Hollywoodbets Sharks outfit — featuring Etzebeth, Kolisi, Mbonambi, Mapimpi, Nche and others — were outplayed by a fired-up Ulster side, who left Durban with a stunning 34-26 bonus-point win. Despite a try from Makazole Mapimpi, the Sharks were hampered by a red card to the Bok winger and a yellow to Vincent Koch, reducing them to 13 men. Ulster took full advantage to keep their unbeaten streak alive.

The Vodacom Bulls continued their strong start with a dramatic 28-27 win over Connacht in Galway. A missed conversion at the death spared the Bulls’ blushes as they secured their third win in four games — further evidence of the Pretoria side’s growing resilience on the road. Coach Johann Ackermann hailed the character shown in a match where momentum swung throughout.

The Lions also got off the mark with a 29-18 win over Scarlets at Ellis Park, thanks to two late tries from hooker Morne Brandon. It was a timely result for the Johannesburg outfit after early season frustration.

Edinburgh bounced back emphatically with a 43-0 demolition of Benetton, while Cardiff — led by South African-born Corniel van Zyl — continued their hot streak with a derby win over the Dragons. Van Zyl has now guided Cardiff to three wins from four since stepping into the interim head coach role.

Looking ahead, the Stormers continue their European tour with a clash against Benetton in Treviso this weekend, aiming to extend their unbeaten run and maintain top spot going into the international break. The Bulls travel to Glasgow, the Lions face Ulster at home, and the Sharks will be desperate to register their first win when they host the Scarlets.

Keo’s URC Accumulator – How it played

The teams for this weekend’s Round 4 fixtures of the Vodacom URC have been named with all details of match officials and broadcast information below.

TEAM NEWS HEADLINES

#EDIvBEN

Three changes in the Edinburgh Rugby side as double-centurion Grant Gilchrist returns

Manuel Zuliani and Leonardo Marin return for Benetton

#CONvBUL

British & Irish Lions Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen all start for Connacht

Vodacom Bulls team sees 11 changes in the starting lineup, including Reinhardt Ludwig being named as captain

#DRAvCAR

Wales Under-20 captain Harry Beddall makes his Dragons RFC debut

Taulupe Faletau returns to the starting XV for Cardiff Rugby

#LIOvSCA

Reinhard Nothnagel returns from injury as he is named the Lions matchday squad

On-loan second rows Harvey Cuckson and Alex Groves handed debuts for Scarlets

#SHAvULS

Hollywoodbets Sharks Ox Nche, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi join fellow Springboks Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch after the pair played off the bench last week

Michael Lowry returns from injury for Ulster

#LEIvMUN

Tommy O’Brien set to make 50th Leinster appearance

Munster captain Tadhg Beirne returns and will become the 36th player to line out for the province so far this season

#ZEBvSTO

Captain Giovanni Licata returns to starting XV for Zebre Parma

Hencus van Wyk set to make his DHL Stormers debut

#OSPvGLA

Gwilym Evans is in line to make his Ospreys debut off the bench

Seb Stephen and Nathan McBeth set for first appearances of the season for Glasgow Warriors if called upon from bench

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17

Edinburgh Rugby v Benetton

Hive Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 12th league game)

AR 1: Jonny MacKenzie (SRU) AR 2:  Finlay Brown (SRU)

TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport,  Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Edinburgh Rugby: Wes Goosen, Darcy Graham, Piers O’Conor, James Lang, Duhan van der Merwe, Cammy Scott, Charlie Shiel, Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, D’arcy Rae, Sam Skinner, Grant Gilchrist, Liam McConnell, Dylan Richardson, Magnus Bradbury (CAPT)

Replacements: Paddy Harrison, Jame Whitcombe, Paul Hill, Glen Young, Freddy Douglas, Ben Vellacott, Ross Thompson, Ross McCann

Benetton: Matt Gallagher, Rhyno Smith, Filippo Drago, Malakai Fekitoa, Ignacio Mendy, Jacob Umaga, Louis Werchon; Mirco Spagnolo, Siua Maile, Giosuè Zilocchi, Giulio Marini, Eli Snyman (CAPT), Alessandro Izekor, John Bryant, So’otala Fa’aso’o

Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Thomas Gallo, Tiziano Pasquali, Riccardo Favretto, Federico Ruzza, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Garbisi, Leonardo Marin

Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Sean Everitt: “We’re excited to be back at home after a false start with the postponed Ulster game.

“It had already felt like a long time since we’d been back with our fans, and now even more so – so we can’t wait be playing in front of them again.

“Benetton can’t be underestimated with the squad they have. They’ve got plenty of Italian internationals playing for them, and they’ve got overseas internationals as well, so they’re a really good team.”

Benetton Head Coach Calum MacRae said: “We know that Edinburgh will be hungry and determined to deliver a strong performance in front of their home crowd. In these opening matches, they’ve shown to be an extremely physical side, so we’ll need to be ready for the battle from the very first minute. Finally, discipline will be a key factor: Edinburgh are very consistent when they get into the opposition’s 22, so we’ll need to minimize errors and stay focused throughout the game.”

Connacht Rugby v Vodacom Bulls

Dexcom Stadium, Galway – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 93rd league game)

AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2:  Jack MacNeice (IRFU)

TMO: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Connacht Rugby: Mack Hansen, Chay Mullins, Byron Ralston, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton, Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade, Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray, David O’Connor, Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast (CAPT), Sean Jansen

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Joe Joyce, Sean O’Brien, Matthew Devine, Sean Naughton, Cathal Forde

Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Sebastian de Klerk, Keagan Johannes, Paul de Wet, Alu Tshakweni, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese, Reinhardt Ludwig (CAPT), Nama Xaba, JJ Theron, Jeandre Rudolph

Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, Francois Klopper, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Mpilo Gumede, Embrose Papier, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs

Connacht Rugby Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “The Vodacom Bulls are a formidable side, with a strong blend of power up front and pace in the back field. They were Vodacom URC finalists for a reason last year, and we’re expecting a response after their defeat in Ulster last week. With the fans behind us, the three returning Lions and a much-improved performance, it should make for a great game.”

Vodacom Bulls Head Coach Johan Ackermann said: “I’m surprised Connacht lost to Cardiff after a strong first game. They’re a quality team, like Ulster, with big ball carriers and Stuart Lancaster coaching. With several British & Irish Lions returning, they’ll be strong and motivated after a home loss. It’s a tough challenge in difficult conditions, so we must prepare fully for a hard-fought match.”

Dragons RFC v Cardiff Rugby

Rodney Parade, Newport  – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR, 17th league game)

AR 1: Craig Evans (WRU) AR 2:  Keith David (WRU)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)

Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien (C.CAPT), Rio Dyer, Aneurin Owen, Harri Ackerman, Fine Inisi, Tinus de Beer, Rhodri Williams; Wyn Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Robert Hunt, Seb Davies, Ben Carter (C.CAPT), Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harry Beddall, Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: Oli Burrows, Rodrigo Martinez, Dillon Lewis, Matthew Screech, Ryan Woodman, Niall Armstrong, Cai Evans, Huw Anderson

Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett, Josh Adams, Jacob Beetham, Ben Thomas, Tom Bowen, Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Corey Domchowski, Liam Belcher (CAPT), Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, George Nott, Alex Mann, Dan Thomas, Taulupe Faletau

Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Danny Southworth, Javan Sebastian, Rory Thornton, Alun Lawrence, Taine Basham, Johan Mulder, Ioan Lloyd

Cardiff Rugby Coach Corniel van Zyl said: “We were really pleased with the fight and resilience last week against Connacht, in what was an attritional, hard-fought win.

“There’s no doubt we will need a lot of the same characteristics on Friday against the Dragons. It’s a Welsh derby, which are always tight affairs and Rodney Parade is a tough place to go.

“The Dragons rotated their team a bit last week so they will be fresh and hugely motivated to take us on Rodney Parade.

“They will throw everything at us, but we are excited by the challenge. It has been a short turnaround, but we have prepared well. Again, it is a case of concentrating on ourselves and putting our game on the pitch.”

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18

Lions v Scarlets

Ellis Park, Johannesburg – KO 12.45  IRE & UK / 13.45 ITA & SA

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 31st league game)

AR 1: Griffin Colby (SARU) AR 2:  AJ Jacobs (SARU)

TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, TG4, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Lions: Quan Horn, Eduan Keyter, Henco van Wyk, Richard Kriel, Angelo Davids, Chris Smith, Nico Steyn, SJ Kotze, Franco Marais, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Etienne Oosthuizen, Darrien Landsberg, JC Pretorius, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn (CAPT)

Replacements: Morne Brandon, RF Schoeman, Conraad van Vuuren, Reinhard Nothnagel, Jarod Cairns, Layton Horn, Lubabalo Dobela, Kelly Mpeku

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas, Ellis Mee, Macs Page, Johnny Williams (CAPT), Blair Murray, Sam Costelow, Archie Hughes, Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Archer Holz, Harvey Cuckson, Alex Groves, Jarrod Taylor, Dan Davis, Taine Plumtree

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Sam O’Connor, Henry Thomas, Dan Gemine, Ben Williams, Dane Blacker, Joe Hawkins, Joe Roberts

Lions Assistant Coach Ricardo Loubscher said: “The energy within the camp is good, he commented. We can’t wait for Saturday, it’s great to be back home.”

“We know that it’s going to be a tough challenge on the weekend. Scarlets present a different approach defensively, so from an attack point of view we need to be ready for that, he cautioned.”

“Our training this week was focused mainly on simulating the pressure we can expect from the opposition in terms of defense and attack pictures, in order for the players to get a feel of what it will be like come Saturday.”

Scarlets Head Coach Dwayne Peel said: “The Lions are always a difficult proposition at home, you are playing at altitude and it is a place where they look to run teams off their feet, they are also a physical, athletic team so we will have to manage that. Winning here last season was big for us and a lot of the boys here were part of that squad. We have to bring the same physicality and intensity again. Ellis Park is one of the great rugby stadiums, always a great place to play. We have been disappointed with the results so far, but we are only two games in, it is a long season and things can change quickly in rugby.”

Hollywoodbets Sharks v Ulster Rugby

Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 111th league game)

AR 1: Morne Ferreira (SARU) AR 2:  Sean Muller (SARU)

TMO: Ben Connor (WRU)

Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Hollywoodbets Sharks: Edwill van der Merwe, Ethan Hooker, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Siya Masuku, Grant Williams, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Marvin Orie, Siya Kolisi, Vincent Tshituka (CAPT), Phepsi Buthelezi

Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Simphiwe Matanzima, Ruan Dreyer, Bathobele Hlekani, Emmanuel Tshituka, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Lukhanyo Am

Ulster Rugby: Michael Lowry, Werner Kok, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Jack Murphy,  Nathan Doak, Sam Crean, Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson, Iain Henderson (CAPT), Harry Sheridan, David McCann, Nick Timoney, Juarno Augustus

Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Reid, Tom O’Toole,  Joe Hopes, Sean Reffell, Conor McKee,  Jake Flannery, Jude Postlethwaite

Leinster Rugby v Munster Rugby

Croke Park, Dublin – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 44th league game)

AR 1: Peter Martin (IRFU) AR 2:  Jonny Erskine (IRFU)

TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)

Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Leinster Rugby: Jamie Osborne, Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Paddy McCarthy, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, RG Snyman, James Ryan, Alex Soroka, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (CAPT)

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley

Munster Rugby: Shane Daly, Andrew Smith, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Thaakir Abrahams, Jack Crowley, Ethan Coughlan, Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (CAPT), Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson

Replacements: Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Ronan Foxe, Jean Kleyn, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Nankivell

Zebre Parma v DHL Stormers

Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 109th league game)

AR 1: Filippo Russo (FIR) AR 2:  Lorenzo Pedezzi (FIR)

TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Zebre Parma: Giovanni Montemauri, Mirko Belloni, Giulio Bertaccini, Damiano Mazza, Simone Gesi, Giacomo Da Re, Thomas Dominguez; Muhamed Hasa, Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Ion Neculai, Guido Volpi, Leonard Krumov, Davide Ruggeri, Samuele Locatelli, Giovanni Licata (CAPT)

Replacements: Giovanni Quattrini, Juan Pitinari, Matteo Nocera, Franco Carrera, David Odiase, Migael Prinsloo, Marco Zanon, Lorenzo Pani

DHL Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel (CAPT), Damian Willemse, Leolin Zas, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Stefan Ungerer, Ali Vermaak, JJ Kotze, Zachary Porthen, Adré Smith, Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers,  Ben-Jason Dixon, Evan Roos

Replacements: André-Hugo Venter, Vernon Matongo, Hencus van Wyk, JD Schickerling, Ruan Ackermann, Marcel Theunissen, Imad Khan, Wandisile Simelane

DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said: “It was fantastic to get a win in our first game on tour last week, but there is no doubt that there are several areas that we can improve on as we take on a very competitive Zebre side this weekend.

“Having a player like Warrick back in the mix is a boost for us and the other players coming in are also keen to make an impression so hopefully that will work in our favour,”

Ospreys v Glasgow Warriors

Dunraven Brewery Field, Bridgend – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 56th league game)

AR 1: Ben Breakspear (WRU)  AR 2: Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ospreys: Jack Walsh, Dan Kasende, Phil Cokanasiga, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake (CAPT), Ben Warren, Rhys Davies, James Fender, James Ratti, Morgan Morse, Ross Moriarty

Replacements: Ethan Lewis, Garyn Phillips, Kian Hire, Huw Sutton, Gwilym Evans, Luke Davies, Tom Florence, Iestyn Hopkins

Glasgow Warriors: Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn (CAPT), Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Rowe, Adam Hastings, Jamie Dobie; Patrick Schickerling, Johnny Matthews, Murphy Walker, Max Williamson, Alex Samuel, Euan Ferrie, Angus Fraser, Matt Fagerson

Replacements: Seb Stephen, Nathan McBeth, Sam Talakai, Jare Oguntibeju, Alex Craig, Macenzzie Duncan, Ben Afshar, Dan Lancaster

Ospreys Head Coach Mark Jones said: “Glasgow were the champs two years ago and have made the semi-finals on a few occasions. They’re an all-court team that can threaten on all fronts.

“It’s a top-class outfit that is well coached by Franco and his team, so we’re going to have to be at our absolute best to get the result.”

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith said: “We were pleased with the result last weekend, but know that there is still plenty for us to build and improve upon as we move forward.

“The Ospreys have shown so far that they can pose problems for any team, with a squad packed with talent across every position on the field.

“They showed how proudly they defend their home record by shutting out Zebre last weekend, and we know we will need to raise our level to meet their challenge.”

Catch all the action live on URC.tv

The Sharks winger Ethan Hooker is STECO’s Man of the Moment, according to Keo & Zels.

Each week Keo & Zels, on their Rugby Podcast, collaborate with STECO to bring you a moment that screams power, talks to the future and is about sustainability.

Hooker is all those things. He has been since making his professional debut two years ago as a 19 year-old and the Sharks and Boks winger, voted as the Players and Fans Player of the Year at the Sharks last season, has only got better in 2025.

Hooker was outstanding starting on the wing in the last three Tests of the Springboks victorious Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign, and he went straight from being a title winner with the Boks to being the standout player in the Sharks 31-5 defeat against Leinster in Dublin.

Hooker is a beast, in size and potency, but he also has subtlety to his game and like all the best he has time when on the ball.

The intercept, the step and the acceleration too turn his calculated risk of using his eight to an advantage when going for the intercept, was special. To combine the necessary elements and execute it immediately was a summary of his all-round talent.

Hooker starts against Ulster in the Sharks first home match of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, and expect him to have a ripper.

John Plumtree has named a star-studded Sharks starting XV with 13 Springboks, 2024 SA Junior Springbok of the Year Jurenzo Julius, and flyhalf Siya Masuku, who shone in the 2023-24 Challenge Cup, but that pedigree means nothing without performance: The Sharks, given the quality of a match 23 that has 17 internationals in the mix, should whip most teams playing at home in Durban.

TOASTING THE BOKS, BAFANA & THE PROTEAS

KEO & ZELS LATEST PODCAST

KEO CALLS THIS WEEKEND’S URC WINNERS ON AFRICA PICKS

Ethan Hooker brings his Springbok form to the #VURC 😤🦈

He gets the Sharks on the board 🔢

📺 Stream on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/e8swBIMCcd

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) October 11, 2025

SHARKS AND BULLS MUST DELIVER STATEMENT WINS

Ethan Hooker’s brilliant try against Leinster is this week’s @STECO_Global PowerPlay of the week! pic.twitter.com/euOsGjReML

— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) October 13, 2025

There is no greater rivalry in rugby than the All Blacks and Springboks, and it does not get bigger than the men in black touring South Africa, writes Mark Keohane. Finally it is official. Rugby’s worst kept secret is rugby’s best news for 2026.

The All Blacks will tour South Africa in 2026, play all four Vodacom United Rugby Championship teams and three Tests against the Boks, with a fourth to be played on a neutral venues, still to be announced but most likely in London.

The All Blacks have toured South Africa just six times and their only success, in a Test series, was 30 years ago, in 1996. It was the last time they toured.

Sean Fitzpatrick’s history makers won the first two Tests in Durban and Pretoria before losing the third Test at Ellis Park.

The 33-26 win in Pretoria is iconic, for the result, the quality of the match and the pedigree of the two teams.

SA Rugby’s Communications revealed all details on Thursday, 16th October.

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry announced: Springboks and All Blacks reignite traditional tours

· Quadrennial tour between Springboks and All Blacks announced

· Eight match schedule of All Blacks’ 2026 tour of South Africa confirmed

· Historic fourth Test to be played internationally

· Springboks’ first professional era tour of New Zealand to occur in 2030

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, an alternating quadrennial tour between South Africa and New Zealand, was confirmed on Thursday, marking a defining new chapter for the intense rivalry between the sport’s most successful and storied nations.

In the tour’s maiden year, South Africa will host New Zealand in August and September 2026. The All Blacks kick off the tour against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town on Friday, 7 August and take on the Hollywoodbets Sharks, Vodacom Bulls and Lions, to complement a four Test series against the Springboks.

Ellis Park (Johannesburg), DHL Stadium (Cape Town), and FNB Stadium (Johannesburg) are confirmed as South African Test venues, preceding a landmark fourth Test hosted at a neutral international venue. Details of the fourth Test will be confirmed in the coming months.

By reigniting rugby’s traditional roots, the tour will renew the legacy of a rivalry known for its fierce competition and societal significance across the last century.

Next year marks 30 years since New Zealand’s last major tour of South Africa, where the visitors embarked on an eight-match schedule, culminating in a historic 2-1 Test series win. In the reciprocal 2030 iteration, South Africa will conduct their first professional era tour to New Zealand.

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said: “This fierce competition between two very proud nations has delivered more than a century of drama on rugby fields across the world, including two Rugby World Cup finals.

“We saw last year how much it means for Springbok supporters to welcome the All Blacks to South Africa, and we can’t wait to see them tour our country next year, as we rekindle our friendship with our greatest adversaries.

“Today’s announcement promises more drama, physicality, strategy, and unpredictability in a rivalry regarded as one of the most intense in world sport.

“This tour will also mean so much for our four franchises and their players – facing one of the best teams in the history of the game – as well as their fans, who will have the opportunity to see their team in action against international opposition for the first time since 2009. We know next year’s tour will be nothing short of epic.”

Mark Robinson, CEO of New Zealand Rugby added: “The rivalry between the All Blacks and the Springboks is fierce, but it’s also steeped in history and respect. Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is everything that is great about traditional rugby tours whilst finding new ways to offer more for fans to see and engage with. All eight matches during this tour will be a showcase of our sport for fans, whether they are in New Zealand, on the ground in South Africa, or across the globe.”

RASSIE RAVES ABOUT RIVALRY TOUR

Back-to-back Rugby World Cup winning Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said: “This is going to be something huge and something this generation will never forget. These are the tours we’ve only heard of. To experience this for the first time, where it’s like a Lions tour, is unbelievable for us as a group.

“I have no doubt the Springbok fans will be there waiting to welcome the All Blacks fans to South Africa. Let’s get excited; let’s get behind it and, people of South Africa, it’s an opportunity for us to show the world once again who we are and what we are about – we certainly can’t wait for it.”

All Blacks captain Scott Barrett said: “This is a huge rivalry, and one that is founded off mutual respect, but for 80 minutes these are two teams that every time they play there’s everything on the line. The intensity is right up there, and it is shaping up to be a heck of a tour. The format will be great, and there will be a whole lot of excited fans watching from home, and travelling with us as well. We are looking forward to it.”

Tickets for the tour, including match bundles, will go on general sale early next year. Fans can sign up to be the first to hear and gain priority access to pre-sales by visiting greatest-rivalry.com

The launch of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry sees the creation of a new and bold visual identity for the tour. Its logo brings together the iconic Springbok and All Black marks inside a ‘V’ shape, putting them at the heart of the ‘versus’ terminology used when debating heavyweight international clashes. Its earthy colour palette takes inspiration from the tones from each nation’s landscapes.

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour fixtures 2026

Friday 7 August: DHL Stormers v All Blacks at DHL Stadium, Cape Town

Tuesday 11 August: Hollywoodbets Sharks v All Blacks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban

Saturday 15 August: Vodacom Bulls v All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Saturday 22 August: First Test – Springboks v All Blacks at Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Tuesday 25 August: Lions v New Zealand at Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Saturday 29 August: Second Test – Springboks v New Zealand at DHL Stadium, Cape Town

Saturday 5 September: Third Test – Springboks v New Zealand at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg Saturday 12 September:

Fourth Test – South Africa v New Zealand (International venue to be announced)

*The tour replaces the 2026 Castle Rugby Championship, as does the 2030 Springboks tour to New Zealand, where the Boks will play three Tests and five matches against the Super Rugby franchises.

BOK BEFOK: Springboks 43 All Blacks 10