The Bulls are backing their Boks to bully champions Bordeaux of France in this weekend’s opening round of the Investec Champions Cup, writes Mark Keohane.

Every Bulls player on tour with the Springboks in November will be involved as the Bulls look to maker a statement performance against last season’s champions.

Bordeaux and the Bulls played each other at Loftus in the 2024 Pool Stages, with the Bulls winning a 12-try thriller 46-40. Both teams scored six tries two seasons ago and the difference ultimately proved two penalty kicks.

Handre Pollard, the king of kickers, returns to Loftus for his first start in the Champions Cup in the colours of the Bulls. Pollard’s previous Champions Cup history had been with French club Montpellier and English club Leicester.

Pollard will be significant to any Bulls challenge in the greatest club competition in the world, but it is the potency of a power bench that will be the determining factor in this match.

The starting front row from the Springboks 73-0 against Wales in Cardiff a week ago, are on the bench in Gerhard Steenekamp, Johann Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw. Ruan Nortje, the Boks form lock, is among the replacements, as are Elrigh Louw and Embrose Papier, who have played for the Springboks.

AFRICA PICKS: HOW TO CASH IN ON BULLS, SHARKS AND STORMERS

Louw will start his first match in a year after a lengthy spell out of the game because of injury.

Springboks flyer Canan Moodie links up with Springboks Test Centurion Willie le Roux in a back three complimented by the talents of winger Sebastian de Klerk and current Bok Marco van Staaden joins former Bok Marcelle Coetzee in the back row.

There are 13 Springboks in the match 23, with eight of them part of the Springboks 2025 squads. That includes Elrigh Louw, who was picked in the initial squads but did not play because of injury rehabilitation.

WATCH: KEO & ZELS ON THE BULLS, STORMERS AND SHARKS

The Stormers have also mixed and matched for their opening round at Bayonne, where the hosts only home defeat last season was to the Bulls in the Champions Cup.

Boks back superstars Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse and Cobus Reinach were not considered for the match, given their heavy workloads for the Stormers and Boks over the past two months, but Boks flanker BJ Dixon will play.

The Sharks, who play six-times champions Toulouse, are without several of their current Boks, but will still field a match 23 with international experience.

It is unlikely to be enough to prevent a one-side beating, given the Sharks struggles all season in the URC.

ALL THE WEEKEND’S TEAMS

INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP LATEST

SOUTH AFRICA’S INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP TRIO CHASE THEIR FIRST STAR

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South Africa, at Test level, rules the rugby world, but in the Investec Champions Cup, the toughest club competition in the sport, the winning of the golden star has remained elusive for South Africa’s top club trio, writes Mark Keohane.

Toulouse, with six stars (titles), are the most successful club in the history of the Investec Champions Cup. Ireland’s Leinster have four stars and Toulon and Saracens have three each. For the rest, it has been a fight to get on the board and just 13 of the 40 clubs from Europe and South Africa have won the title.

It shows just how tough it is to succeed in the most battle hardened and complex knockout tournament in world rugby.

Saracens and England veteran Jamie George described the tournament as a World Cup knockout played over six months, with each match, from the opening league match, to the final, a knockout.

Home wins, in the league stages are non-negotiable, and wins on the road are as golden as the star the players are chasing.

Northampton’s Saints last season travelled to Pretoria and stunned the Bulls in the league stage, which proved crucial to their play-offs, where the English club won at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin against Leinster, before being edged 28-20 by France’s Bordeaux.

The defending champions are in South Africa to start the defence of their historic first ever Investec Champions Cup title. They play the Bulls at Loftus in Pretoria on Saturday, revisiting the scene of their dramatic 46-40 league defeat to the Bulls on the 20th January, 2024. It is the only time the two teams have met in the competition.

Both teams scored six tries in a 12-try thriller, with Bordeaux finishing the stronger.

Bordeaux, winners of the title in Dublin last season, beat their French rivals Toulouse in the semi-finals, but lost in the final of the Top 14.

The Bulls also lost in the final of last season’s United Rugby Championship, beaten by Leinster in Dublin, and both teams have had an indifferent start to their local competitions. The Bulls are three from six in the URC, having lost their last two matches, including a stunning home upset against the South African Lions last Saturday, while Bordeaux are also three from six in the Top 14, including successive defeats in the past fortnight, at home to Pau (33-34) and away to Montpellier (24-28).

The defending champions have a star-studded international squad with French flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert and flying wingers Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud among the best in the world.

South African prop Carlu Sadie is a regular in the Bordeaux set-up, as is the popular former All Blacks and current Tongan captain and 150 kilogram prime rugby beef Ben Tameifuna.

French scrum half Maxime Lucu is the general of a squad that includes a handful of imports from Australia and the Pacific Islands.

The Bulls, with 20 Springboks, past and present in their Champions Cup squad, will have their imposing Bok quartet of Gerhard Steenekamp (loosened prop), Johan Grobelaar (hooker), Wilco Louw (tighthead prop) and Ruan Nortje (lock), back for the tournament.

All four featured prominently in the Springboks five successive Tests wins in the Northern Hemisphere during November.

Springboks double World Cup winner Handre Pollard is another who will significantly improve the Bulls prospects of being the first South Africa team to wear an Investec Champions Cup star.

The struggling Sharks have the toughest of starts, away to Toulouse this weekend, while the in-form Stormers are in France to play Bayonne, who last season lost just once at home. That defeat was to the Bulls.

For all the latest EPCR Investec Champions Cup News

Follow the news on the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers

Investec Champions Cup fixtures (Round 1, SA times)
Friday, 5 December
Bayonne vs Stormers, 10pm
Sale Sharks vs Glasgow Warriors, 10pm
Saturday, 6 December
Saracens vs Clermont, 3pm
Bulls vs Bordeaux Begles, 5:15pm
La Rochelle vs Leicester Tigers, 7:30pm
Leinster vs Harlequins, 7:30pm
Scarlets vs Bristol Bears, 10pm
Bath vs Munster, 10pm
Sunday, 7 December
Pau vs Northampton Saints, 3pm
Toulouse vs Sharks, 5:15pm
Gloucester vs Castres, 5:15pm
Edinburgh vs Toulon, 7:30pm

ALL THE SEASON’S INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP FIXTURES

The EPCR Challenge Cup returns this coming weekend for what promises to be a landmark 30th season, with action kicking off from 5 to 7 December. Clubs from France, England, Wales, Georgia, South Africa, Italy and Ireland will begin their pursuit of glory as the road to the 2026 Finals in Bilbao officially begins.

The season opener will set the tone in emphatic fashion. On Friday 5 December, Ulster Rugby host Racing 92 at the Affidea Stadium, as two European powerhouses prepare to bring all their experience and intensity to the first clash of the campaign.

Ulster Rugby captain Iain Henderson said, “We are really excited to get our European campaign underway at Affidea Stadium against Racing 92.

“European nights are always special for us, the fans always get behind us, and we have a big French side in town which always brings a lot of excitement. The team is buzzing at the thought and I’m sure we will see some exciting rugby!”

Racing 92 centre Gaël Fickou said: “We are delighted to kick off our Challenge Cup campaign with this opening match of the 2025-2026 season. It’s a demanding start, but one that the whole team is eagerly awaiting. Our ambition is clear: to reach the final stages and show Racing 92 at its best on the European stage. We are proud to represent French rugby.”

On Saturday, 6 December, Lyon Olympique Universitaire will be aiming to go one step further than last season in their quest for a second title, as they welcome Newcastle Red Bulls to Matmut Stadium de Gerland for a primetime showdown.

Lyon Olympique Universitaire scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud said: “It’s always interesting to play against teams from other countries. The style of play is different, it’s a different kind of preparation. We’re looking forward to welcoming them, especially in front of our home crowd.”

Speaking about the club’s history in the competition, Couilloud said: “Even though we have some big games coming up in the TOP 14, we are eager to start a new EPCR Challenge Cup campaign. It’s a competition that means a lot to us. We won it in 2022 in Marseille against Toulon. It was a wonderful memory. The first major trophy for the club since the sport turned professional! Last year, we reached the final at the Principality Stadium, one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world. Unfortunately, we lost.”

Also on Saturday, newcomers US Montauban make their long-awaited return to European competition after 15 years away. They will be looking to make an immediate impression when they travel to Zebre Parma.

Two-time winners Montpellier Hérault Rugby begin their own campaign on the road, taking on Georgian invitees Black Lion at Tbilisi’s Avchala Stadium.

On the same day, Cardiff Rugby – another two-time winner – kick off their season with a heavyweight contest against 2017 champions Stade Français Paris at Stade Jean Bouin. Simultaneously, South Africa’s Lions host Benetton Rugby at Ellis Park in what promises to be another fiercely contested matchup.

The action continues on Sunday, 7 December, as USAP and Dragons RFC open the final day of Round 1. Later that afternoon, Ospreys welcome Irish challengers Connacht Rugby, before Exeter Chiefs close out the weekend at Sandy Park against South Africa’s Toyota Cheetahs. The Chiefs will be looking to carry over the momentum from their impressive Gallagher PREM form.

Dayffyd Jenkins, Exeter Chiefs lock said: “We’re really looking forward to the Challenge Cup and getting to kick off our campaign at home is really important to us.

“We know it’s going to be an incredibly tough competition, but we’re hoping to replicate the strong form we’ve enjoyed in the Gallagher PREM to try to progress as far as we can in the Challenge Cup.

“Playing rugby at Sandy Park is a massive boost for us, and we’d love to give our fans an exciting performance in our opening match against Toyota Cheetahs.”

With EPCR Challenge Cup action just days away, fans are already eyeing the EPCR Finals Weekend in Bilbao, on 22 and 23 May 2026 – the biggest weekend in international club rugby.

Demand has been extraordinary, with over 50% of tickets sold for both the EPCR Challenge Cup and the Investec Challenge Cup before the new season even kicks off.

Bilbao is the ideal backdrop for an EPCR Finals Weekend, and supporters are encouraged to act quickly to avoid missing out.  

The global rugby press reaction to the Springboks 73-0 slaughter of Wales in Cardiff was split three ways: awe at the Boks, horror at Wales, and anger at the red-carded Eben Etzebeth.

The global rugby media didn’t so much report on South Africa’s 73–0 demolition of Wales as conduct a post-mortem.

Eleven tries, a clean sheet and a performance dripping with menace left the Welsh press stunned, the English papers grim, and the New Zealanders nodding with familiar respect. For the Springboks, it was another ruthless reminder of the standard they set.

For Wales, it was a national reckoning.

WalesOnline labelled it the “darkest day in Welsh rugby”, a humiliation years in the making. Their writers spoke of sadness and inevitability as a proud Test nation was “pulverised” in its own cathedral.
The Times questioned whether “men against boys” even captured the mismatch, praising South Africa’s precision while condemning Eben Etzebeth’s moment of madness as the only stain on an otherwise brutal masterclass.
The Sunday Telegraph called Wales “pointless” in every sense: a non-contest, a miscalculated fixture, and a record defeat that exposed the gulf in class.
The Rugby Paper described an “avoidable mismatch” that taught Wales nothing about their future and reinforced everything about South Africa’s relentlessness.

From a South African lens, the tone was clinical rather than triumphant.

SA Rugby Magazine, TimesLIVE and Keo.co.za all stressed that this was the full stop on an unbeaten tour and another data point in Rassie Erasmus’s expanding blueprint. Fringe players flourished, structure and brutality blended seamlessly, and the trademark refusal to concede even a consolation point in the 80th minute said more about this team’s identity than the scoreline.

Even in New Zealand, the reaction was clear: NZ Herald credited a “superpower doing superpower things” and noted that South Africa end the year not only as world champions, but as the sport’s pace-setters.

The world didn’t just witness a hiding. It witnessed a statement.
South Africa’s standards are non-negotiable. Their depth is frightening.

And Wales – under-strength, underpowered and overwhelmed.

KEO & ZELS – SIYA’S BOKS PURR WITH PERFECTION 

WalesOnline – “Welsh team crumble in record home defeat”

WalesOnline’s match coverage framed this as the darkest day in Welsh rugby at the Principality: 11 unanswered tries, first time “nilled” at home in decades, and a scoreboard that felt like an execution rather than a contest. Their pieces stressed how under-strength Wales were, but made it clear that selection politics and WRU mismanagement created the circumstances for this humiliation. The tone mixed shock and resignation – the sense that this 73-0 was years in the making. Follow-up reaction columns spoke of “very real sadness” and a tragic unravelling of a proud Test nation in front of its own people. Flashscore+1

Welsh Sunday voice – Nation.Cymru / Welsh reaction

As a distinctly Welsh lens outside the big UK dailies, Nation.Cymru’s weekend take treated 73-0 as a national reckoning. The piece stressed that the result wasn’t just about missing Premiership-based players; it was about a structural decay in Welsh rugby – from pathway to finances – exposed brutally by the world champions. The article highlighted a fanbase oscillating between anger and apathy, a stadium with worrying gaps in the stands and a governing body “out of answers”. It argued that the scoreline must force WRU members to confront whether the current model can produce anything other than more days like this. The Independent+1

The Times / Sunday Times (London) – Steve James

In The Times (from the same London stable as the Sunday Times), Steve James called it “every bit as grim as feared”: a physical mismatch that made “men against boys” feel like understatement. He emphasised the Boks’ scrummage and aerial dominance, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s 28-point masterclass and Wales’ inability to execute even basic set-piece chances. But his central theme was Etzebeth: the eye-gouge described as a “blatant act of thuggery” that soiled a magnificent team performance and will likely bring a long ban. For Wales, he portrayed a low ebb – empty seats, fragile confidence and shallow depth laid bare. The Times

Sunday Telegraph – James Corrigan

For The Sunday Telegraph, James Corrigan’s live report and follow-up hammered home one idea: “pointless Wales”. His copy stressed how uncompetitive the hosts were from the opening scrum, how quickly South Africa’s power game turned into a procession, and how little value the fixture offered anyone by the final quarter. Corrigan underlined that this was Wales’ worst home defeat and first Cardiff whitewash since the 1960s, and questioned the wisdom of scheduling such a mismatch outside the Test window. He also leaned into the Etzebeth incident, arguing that an 11-try rout did not need to be accompanied by such unnecessary nastiness. Telegraph+1

The Rugby Paper (UK) – weekend broadsheet

The Rugby Paper’s headline – “Steve Tandy’s pointless side put to shame in 11-try thrashing” – captured its harsh verdict. Their report stressed how this was a weakened Wales, stripped of Premiership-based players, but insisted that didn’t excuse the scale of collapse. The analysis described South Africa as operating in a different weight division, with their bench alone out-capping the entire Welsh match-day 23. The paper portrayed the game as a damaging non-contest that taught Wales nothing, eroded public faith and raised serious questions about WRU strategy. The Etzebeth red card was the grim coda to what they saw as a “needless mismatch”. Ground News+1

Planet Rugby – Winners & Losers

Planet Rugby’s “Wales v Springboks Winners & Losers” piece leaned into the contrast: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Andre Esterhuizen and the Bok pack among the big winners; Eben Etzebeth and the sport’s image squarely in the losers column. They praised South Africa’s “floor-filling tunes” in attack – the variety of their strike plays and the fluency of a heavily rotated side – and highlighted Esterhuizen as the poster boy of Rassie’s hybrid revolution, this time unleashed as a classic ball-carrying 12. On Wales, the verdict was that an under-powered side were “out of their depth” and that 73-0 will haunt the WRU for years. Planet Rugby+1

Rugby365 – Warren Fortune & Leezil Hendricks

On Rugby365, Warren Fortune’s match report and Leezil Hendricks’ player ratings built a coherent picture: South Africa ended their Nations Series with a “73-0 command performance”, scoring 222 points across the tour and conceding just 51. The site stressed how thoroughly the Boks dominated the collisions and set piece, and how many so-called fringe players enhanced their 2027 World Cup credentials. Follow-up video pieces focused on Rassie Erasmus’ reaction to Etzebeth’s red – Erasmus admitting the card was justified and that “the optics weren’t great”. At the same time, Rugby365 emphasised how ruthlessly the Boks defended their line in the closing minutes to protect the nil. Rugby365+3Rugby365+3Rugby365+3

Keo.co.za – Mark Keohane

On Keo.co.za, your “Andre the Giant & his fellow Boks slay the Dragons” column framed 73-0 as the ultimate expression of Rassie’s “no let-up” mentality. You leaned into the symbolism of the Boks still fighting for a turnover in the 79th minute with the score already at 73-0, arguing that this spoke to the aura and internal standards of this group. The piece highlighted the dominance of the forwards, the impact of Esterhuizen in his new hybrid role, and the statement made by finishing an unbeaten tour with a record win. Etzebeth’s red was acknowledged, but the core theme was character and ruthlessness rather than controversy. KEO.co.za+2KEO.co.za+2

Sunday Times South Africa / TimesLIVE

Within the Sunday Times SA / TimesLIVE stable, coverage underlined the professional coldness of the Bok performance rather than the chaos of the scoreline. The Business Day/Sunday Times reports talked of a “clinical” and “commanding” demolition that completed a clean sweep on tour and cemented South Africa’s No 1 ranking. They emphasised how many combinations Rassie experimented with across Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales, yet still produced an 80-minute performance in Cardiff. The Etzebeth incident was treated as an ugly, isolated flashpoint in an otherwise near-perfect collective exhibition from a side that “simply don’t do dead rubbers”. Business Day+2Sunday Times+2

SA Rugby Magazine – Borchardt & co.

SA Rugbymag.co.za ran a suite of pieces: Simon Borchardt’s “Brilliant Boks demolish Dragons” match report, features on Rassie being “proud of hungry Boks”, Siya Kolisi hoping the red card wouldn’t overshadow things, and a big-picture “Springboks gaze down on rugby world”. The mag stressed that 73-0 was one more data point in a two-year stretch of dominance, not a freak outlier. They homed in on the hunger of fringe players, the work-rate in chasing the shut-out and the seamless integration of youngsters like Feinberg-Mngomezulu. The red card was acknowledged but framed as a disciplinary headache rather than a stain on the team. SA Rugby magazine+3SA Rugby magazine+3SA Rugby magazine+3

AFRICA PICKS: CASHING IN ON THE BOKS

NZ Herald – Kiwi view on a Bok juggernaut

The NZ Herald piece (“Springboks crush Wales 73-0 in historic test demolition”) was a wire-style report but with a clear Kiwi subtext: respect for a rival superpower doing superpower things. It highlighted Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s Llandovery College link and 28-point haul, noted that this surpassed England’s 68-14 as Wales’ worst home defeat, and pointed out it was the first time Wales had been held scoreless at home in the professional era. For New Zealand readers, the article placed the rout in the context of South Africa closing 2025 with 12 wins from 14 Tests, reinforcing the sense that the Boks remain the team to beat in world rugby. NZ Herald+1

Planet Rugby, RugbyPass & others

RugbyPass, Guardian live, ESPN, RTE and TNT Sports all reinforced the same themes: “men against boys”, a structural Welsh crisis, a Bok machine that finishes the year indisputably No 1, and a sour taste from Etzebeth’s red. Many pundits, notably Dan Biggar on TNT, questioned whether such mismatches should continue to be scheduled; others argued it showed exactly why South Africa are on a different tier to every northern-hemisphere side right now. TNT Sports+4The Guardian+4ESPN.com+4

*Compiled by Keo.co.za & ChatGPT (All references verified)

Andre ‘The Giant’ Esterhuizen led the charge at the Principality as the Springboks took the sword to the throat of the Welsh Dragons, Mark Keohane.

Esterhuizen was the official Player of the Match. He was also my standout Boks individual in a performance where numbers one to 23 were outstanding, as individuals, but their potency was the collective as a 15, regardless of who was wearing what number.

Boks coach Rassie Erasmus, post the match, was delighted at the control and clinical nature of the performance, and pleased with the manner in which his players never veered from the disciplined game plan approach of playing the game in the Welsh half, suffocating the Welsh set piece, and also the game management of his halfbacks Morne van den Berg and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, with the latter scoring two tries and kicking nine conversions from 11 attempts for 28 points.

Damian Willemse, at fullback, was equally impressive in how he owned the space at the back.

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi, at the forefront of everything that was strong about the Boks, spoke afterwards of playing the game in the right areas and not been seduced by the team make-up of Wales, who were missing 13 players, or early scoreboard advantage.

Kolisi said they have enormous respect for Welsh rugby and for the fight within the players. The Boks had also been impressed with the first 60 minutes from Wales against the All Blacks, when they trailed 24-21.

Kolisi said the Welsh had shown their pedigree when the game gets loose and opens up and the Boks had to be at their most disciplined not to want to turn the Test into a Barbarians-style match.

Erasmus and Kolisi, as always, kept their focus on the collective, the appreciation of a squad that goes beyond 45 players and the role of each player and management member within the squad.

The Boks coach applauded Kolisi and his players for the powerful finish to a season that totalled 14 Tests and a non-international against the Barbarians in Cape Town to start the season.

Erasmus also said the players and coaches had learned the lesson of the Castle Rugby Championship opener against Australia at Ellis Park, when the Boks led 22-0 playing tempo rugby, only to lose their legs and lose the match 38-22.

There had to be greater balance in how they wanted to play, said Erasmus, but that did not mean sacrificing anything when it was one to attack.

The Boks biggest weapon is their set piece, particularly the scrum, but Erasmus said that weapon could easily be defused by the Boks themselves, if they played too much rugby in the wrong areas and fatigued their powerhouse pack.

‘We learned from that Australian Test,’ he said. ‘That pleased me.’

Kolisi was equally pleased with the manner in which his players fought for turnover ball, regardless of field position or the scoreline, and to see the Boks throw themselves at the breakdown and Welsh ankles and legs to keep the hosts out in the final minute was the measure of the character of these Boks.

The Boks were 73-0 ahead in the 79th minute when they fought to deny Wales a try and won a penalty turnover.

CELEBRATING COBUS REINACH & HIS 50th TEST

BOKS v WALES TEST MATCH REACTION

Scorers

Springboks

Tries: Gerhard Steenekamp, Ethan Hooker, Jasper Wiese, Morne van den Berg, Wilco Louw, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Canan Moodie, Andre Esterhuizen, Ruan Nortje and Eben Etzebeth.

Convs: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (9)

BACKING THE BOKS WITH AFRICA PICKS 

WALES – 15 Blair Murray, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Alex Mann, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Rhys Davies, 4 Ben Carter, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas.
Bench: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Chris Coleman, 19 James Ratti, 20 Morgan Morse, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Ben Thomas.

SPRINGBOKS – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Damian de Allende, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Zachary Porthen, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Ben-Jason Dixon, 22 Kwagga Smith, 23 Cobus Reinach.

Springboks No 9 Cobus Reinach plays his 50 Test in Saturday’s season finale against Wales in Cardiff. It is a salute to a remarkable Test career, in which Reinach has shown that patience is a virtue and from patience comes the ultimate rewards, writes Mark Keohane.

I’ve covered enough Test rugby since 1992 to know that some players arrive like fireworks, bright and loud, and then disappear before the smoke has even cleared. And then there are players like Cobus Reinach, who is built on staying power, steel, speed, and a stubborn refusal to ever be counted out.

Reinach’s 50th Test comes 11 years after he debuted for the Boks at Newlands against Australia in 2014. He was 24 then. He is 35 now, and he looks quicker today than he did the afternoon he played his first Test.

That alone tells you everything about the athlete and the attitude.

But to salute Reinach purely as a survivor undersells him because he has thrived wherever he has played, be it in South Africa, England or France, at club level or for the Springboks.

He has done more than most scrumhalves who have ever worn the No 9 jersey for South Africa. Two World Cup titles and a hattrick in four minutes – the fastest in Rugby World Cup history – against Canada in 2019. He has scored 19 tries in 49 Tests.

And then there’s what he has done in the past month: two individual tries, each worthy of its own movie trailer. There was the crucial scorcher against France at the Stade de France in Paris that showcased his straight-line speed, and one as important against Ireland in Dublin, where again instinct and acceleration combined for five points.

Reinach has been electric throughout the Castle Rugby Championship and the November internationals, whether starting or closing out the Test.

Reinach, who made his Stormers debut a fortnight after being part of the Boks’ Rugby Championship title defence, played nine consecutive years overseas, at Northampton’s Saints for four years and then for the past five at Montpellier in France, where he finished on 103 matches. He played 76 for the Saints.

BOKS GO FOR THE KILL AGAINST WALES

He was never a case of  ‘out of sight and out of mind’. He was always a part of the national equation under Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber.

Rassie Erasmus, speaking after the 2019 World Cup pool win over Canada, said: “Cobus is one of the best finishers in world rugby. His speed is one thing, but his attitude is what sets him apart. He never stops working.”

Jacques Nienaber has always maintained: “Cobus brings intensity. Whether he plays ten minutes or 80 minutes, he changes the game. That’s his gift.”

Montpellier’s Philippe Saint-André, upon his arrival at the French club, called Reinach “the fastest scrumhalf in the world – and the most professional player in the squad.”

Teammate Jesse Kriel, ahead of the 2023 World Cup playoffs, said: “Cobus doesn’t age. He trains like a 20-year-old and competes like a Springbok who knows the standard. We trust him with our lives.”

Even the great Aaron Smith, after the Boks beat the All Blacks in Auckland in 2014, commented privately (later repeated in interviews): “That No 9 is rapid. South Africa have something special there.”

WIN WITH THE BOKS & AFRICA PICKS

Everyone who has ever played with him or against him has said the same thing in different ways: Reinach is a game-breaker. You blink and he is gone. You hesitate and he burns you. You switch off and he is already under the posts.

For me, the beauty of Reinach’s Test career is that it hasn’t followed the script. It hasn’t been linear or predictable. He never became the “permanent” Bok No 9, but he became something far more valuable in being the player who can tilt a Test match at any moment, from anywhere on the field. He has been and is a player whose selection is never a gamble, because the return is almost always guaranteed.

KEO & ZELS TALK BOKS AND COBUS REINACH

He is the definition of a 23-man squad player in the modern era: dependable, devastating, disciplined.

Reinach’s route wasn’t easy and many within South Africa felt that he left the country when at the peak of his powers, but he continued to improve at the Saints and Montpellier.

His club mates speak of his lack of ego, his obsession with conditioning, his attention to video detail and his leadership and mentoring of newbies or less experienced players.

Saint-André once joked: “Cobus doesn’t drink wine. He doesn’t eat dessert. He eats speed.”

At 35, playing his 50th Test, he is still eating speed and burning international defences.

When I think of Reinach, I think of the Springboks’ identity under Erasmus and Nienaber, which is one rooted in readiness and not reputation.

There have been exceptional scrum halves playing for South Africa in the past 11 years, which is a statement on its own that Reinach gets to 50 appearances in Cardiff.

Cobus Reinach’s career is a lesson in perseverance, professionalism, and possibility, and a reminder to every wannabe Springboks scrum half in South Africa about consistency and relentless work ethic.

READ SA RUGBY MAG FOR ALL THE BOKS V WALES TEST PREVIEWS

There will be no let off from Rassie Erasmus’s Springboks in their final Test of 2025 in Cardiff against Wales, and that is the attitude there should be from the sport’s best team, the official No 1 team for 2025 and the current World Cup holders, writes Mark Keohane.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has shown Welsh rugby the utmost respect by picking his strongest available match 23 for a Test the Boks are expected to win with a record score.

Wales are without 13 of the players who fronted the All Blacks a week ago, and while the Boks are missing as many, there is no comparison in the quality of depth in both national camps.

Wales have won just two of their last 20 internationals, but there is a high regard within the Boks set-up, especially from Erasmus for what Welsh rugby represents.

There was a time, not long ago, that Wales was smashing the Boks, has been a consistent echoed by Erasmus this week.

In Erasmus’s first tenure as Bok coach, he won just seven from 14 Tests, losing to Wales in Washington DC in his first Test in charge and finishing the season beaten in Cardiff by Wales again.

There was the brutal 16-9 World Cup semi-final win in Japan in 2019, but what followed was a last minute win, via a Damian Willemse penalty at Loftus, a last minute defeat in Bloemfontein and then a tough 30-14 win in Cape Town to seal a 2-1 home series win.

In the past few seasons, it has settled more in Erasmus’s favour and Cardiff has become the happy hunting ground it was for Erasmus as a player.

Erasmus appreciates and recognises tradition and he knows just how passionate the Welsh are about their rugby.

They may be in a slump, but it was only eight years ago and Boks supporters were burning the Boks jersey and Wales were on a winning streak against the Springboks.

Erasmus has honoured the meaning of Test rugby with the strength of his selection, but also showcased how brilliantly he has integrated new squad players, post the 2023 World Cup, and managed the playing demands of veterans he is giving every chance to make it to Australia in 2027 for the challenge of an unprecedented third successive RWC title.

Carifff is a great city for Test rugby fans, none more than the Boks supporters, with so many making the trip down from London and various part of England, Scotland and Ireland.

The Principality Stadium is a rugby cathedral and magnificently impressive in terms of a spectator experience.

I was fortunate to report on the Boks win against Wales in 1996, which was the last time they played at the Cardiff Arms Park, before construction began for the building of the Millennium Stadium, which is now the Principality Stadium, right opposite the famous Angel Hotel, where again I was blessed to stay in the week the Springboks beat the All Blacks in the 1999 World Cup play-off for third place.

Breyton Paulse scored the only try of the play-off.

In my time covering the Springboks and being a part of the management, I have wonderful memories of great wins, even more impressive post-match experiences celebrating and a rich joy at the gift it is to write about and, having been part of, the Springboks.

The 1996 win was sweet and compelling. The Boks won 37-20 in what would be Andre Markgraaff’s last Test in charge.

The next time the Boks beat Wales away from home was at Wembley Stadium in 1998, as the Millennium Stadium had not been finished.

I missed the 1999 once-off visit to the Millennium Stadium when the Welsh stunned Nick Mallett’s Springboks. The Stadium was not yet complete, in terms of the stands, but the day is a historic one for Wales.

I was back with the Springboks under Harry Viljoen, working as Communications Manager, and the Boks won a difficult match 23-13 in 2000. We returned to Cardiff for the last match of the tour to beat a star studded Barbarians 41-31, and then did a Sunday all night season-ending party at the Walkabout in Mary Street. It was glorious.

There were wins for Jake White’s Boks in 2004, 38-36, in a match where Newport-based Percy Montgomery thrived and produced a Player of the Match performance. White’s Boks also won comfortably in 2005 and 2007 and Pieter de Villiers’s Boks enjoyed success in Cardiff in 2008 and 2010.

Heyneke Meyer continued the Boks success story in Cardiff in 2013, but in 2014 his Boks lost 12-6.

This started an unprecedented period of Welsh dominance over the Boks in Cardiff, with Bok coach Allister Coetzee’s team losing in 2016 and 2017.

Erasmus’s Boks lost 20-11 in 2018, but ever since then it has been all South Africa in Cardiff.

Frans Steyn, as a replacement, turned back the clock with a glorious kicking display to engineer a 23-18 escape for the Boks in 2021 and in 2023 Jacques Nienaber’s Boks, en-route to the World Cup, produced the biggest ever win for the Boks against Wales in Cardiff.

The Boks won 52-16 and completed their 2024 season with a 45-12 win.

KEO & ZELS: BOKS TO BURY WOEFUL WELSH

The bookies have given Wales a 38 point start, which means if you bet on them losing by under 38 points you are in the money and if you go with the Boks to win by more than 38 points, you are in the money.

WIN WITH AFRICA PICKS – BACK THE BOKS

If the Boks do win by 38 or more points, then it will represent another record for Erasmus and Siya Kolisi’s already record-breaking world champions.

It’s good to be back in Cardiff, after a decade of missing this match-up from the seats of the Principality’s Press Box.

THE WELSH VIEW 

The city is still humming and selfishly the Boks are the ones on a winning streak and favoured to make it five wins in succession against the Dragons.

READ SA RUGBY MAG FOR ALL BOKS V WALES TEST BUILD-UP

With just over a week until EPCR competition returns, the annual EPCR Club Conference reaffirmed that the club game remains central to the sport’s global future.

Representatives from Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup clubs, joined by influential figures from across the international and professional landscape, convened for two days of discussion and strategic alignment on 24-25 November, reinforcing the message that club rugby is the beating heart of the game.

Established in 2023, this forward-looking forum brings together leaders from across the club rugby ecosystem to share insights, confront shared challenges and identify new opportunities for growth.

This year’s edition once again demonstrated EPCR’s commitment to a truly collaborative model – one that champions open dialogue, collective problem-solving and a united approach to ensuring a sustainable, successful future for the club game.

The conference was led by EPCR Chairman Dominic McKay, who said: “Three years ago when we outlined our new strategy, we wanted clubs to be at the heart of our decision making, and the EPCR Club Conference is an important element in this. Over the last few days, we’ve been joined by representatives from our 42 clubs, eight unions and three leagues, as well as World Rugby. Bringing together these key stakeholders is an opportunity to further strengthen relationships and ensure alignment behind a shared vision for the sport’s future.

“To navigate both the challenges and opportunities ahead, we must continue to work closely and constructively together. Collaboration enables us to make informed decisions for players, supporters and the wider rugby ecosystem. It is the foundation on which we will build the next era of club rugby.

Club rugby is the beating heart of the game. The Club Conference reflects our collective commitment to strengthening these foundations, enhancing the experience for all involved, and ensuring our clubs and competitions continue to thrive.”

The programme highlighted a record-breaking 2024/25 EPCR season, celebrating both on- and off-pitch achievements during its landmark 30th anniversary year. Standout moments included 1.5 million fans attending matches in person – with more than 110,000 at the Finals Weekend in Cardiff – and an economic impact of over €50 million for the host city. The season also delivered record television audiences and a major surge in YouTube viewership, with more than 91 million viewers and a target of reaching 100 million this season. Additionally, two new partners joined the EPCR family: JAECOO and Groupe Apicil.

Investec also reflected on its second season as title partner of rugby’s biggest international club competition, taking a deep dive into the commercial landscape of sport and the opportunities within rugby. This was followed by insights from UK & Ireland broadcaster Premier Sports on its first year working with EPCR competitions, with both partners encouraging open discussion with the clubs.

Abey Mokgwatsane, Chief Marketing Officer at Investec said: “Investec really values being part of this club conference because it brings us closer to the federations that are running the clubs and that are driving the fan engagement, it brings us closer to the broadcasters and it brings us closer to the best practices that makes this competition what it is, which is the best club rugby competition in the world.

“Collaboration is important to make sure you can maintain your world-class credentials, we find that talking to people in different facets of this ecosytem, only enriches what we are able to do as a brand. It drives those partnerships for success.

“What Investec is really looking forward to this season is more fan engagement and more stories. We believe that club rugby is where legends are born. How we tell those stories and engage fans with those stories is something we really look forward to.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming season and beyond, EPCR reaffirmed its commitment to its strategic pillars: sustainability, innovation and expansion, alignment and knowledge-sharing, delivering brilliant rugby, and elevating the narrative of the sport.

Jacques Raynaud, EPCR CEO said: “We are now firmly progressing through EPCR’s long-term strategy, which has delivered record engagement and unprecedented sponsor interest – demonstrated most recently by our signing of Emirates at the level of Premium Partner as Official Airline Partner for the next five years.

“We’re also excited by innovations that fans can expect this season, including Italian-language commentary on EPCR TV for our growing Italian audience, a new in-house fan-friendly ticketing platform, updated TV graphics, and a refreshed digital gaming experience.

“Our focus remains on innovation, responsible growth, and creating long-term value for the entire rugby ecosystem.”

Throughout panel sessions and interactive workshops, attendees explored a range of priorities: commercial growth and financial sustainability, optimising competition formats, boosting stadium attendance, expanding broadcast and digital audiences, enhancing player welfare, and improving the fan experience through ongoing innovation.

Ian Flanagan, Chief Executive Officer at Munster Rugby – who won their first Champions Cup title 20 years ago in 2006, and their second in 2008 – said: “The club conference is really important. Firstly it’s great to have the review of last season and understand what we achieved. But more importantly, we have so little opportunity to engage with our peers and colleagues from the French league and the Premiership, so it’s a good opportunity to spend time together talking about the collective issues we all have to face.

“I don’t think anyone has any doubt about what the Investec Champions Cup means to Munster. It’s the thing that probably we’re best known for all around the world, especially the amazing away days when the Red Army show up. The amount of travelling support we have shows the importance our supporters attach to the competition. And for the players, you can really detect the change in the mood at our training ground when the Champions Cup rolls around.

“This year is the 20th anniversary of our first win and I know it will give an even greater incentive for the current squad and coaching staff to emulate what was achieved back in 2006 this season.

“The conference also showcased two remarkable club stories. Bath Rugby reflected on their historic treble last season and their promotion to the Investec Champions Cup, while Union Bordeaux Bègles celebrated their first-ever EPCR title.”

Jean Baptiste Machenaud, Deputy General Manager at Union Bordeaux Bègles said: “These two days allow us to meet our counterparts from different clubs and different countries, so we always learn from each of them and then prepare for this competition together. We know we’ll challenge each other on the field, but we also know we can collaborate off the field.

“The Investec Champions Cup is important to us. It allowed us to win our first title in UBB’s history. So today, we have stars on our logo, but we also have stars in our eyes when we talk about this competition.”

Tarquin MacDonald, Chief Executive at Bath Rugby said: “The club conference is extremely important. This is about working together to understand the impact we have with the competition and how through collaboration we can create more value for the club, the competition, sponsors and most importantly, the fans.

“It’s the pinnacle of the game, there is so much history and heritage bound up in the champions cup and the challenge cup, they are great competitions. Every player, every club wants to be crowned the best in Europe and I don’t think that will ever change.

“We kick-off with a really fantastic game against Munster. It’s one step at a time. if we can put on a great performance at home and come away with the win, we’ll see where we go from there.

“It’s been a privilege this season, and as we close the chapter on 2024/25 season, we open the chapter on 205/26 and who knows what that will bring.”

EPCR action returns with Round 1 from 5–7 December. As clubs make their final preparations, rivalries spark back to life and supporters gear up to cheer on their teams, the anticipation is already building for another unforgettable season.

Fans are also looking ahead to the EPCR Finals Weekend in Bilbao on 22–23 May 2026, the pinnacle of international club rugby. Demand has been exceptional, with over 50% of tickets already sold before the 2025/26 season has even begun.

Click HERE for all Investec Champions Cup fixtures.

Click HERE for all EPCR Challenge Cup fixtures.

Jurie Matthee knows what a big shadow the likes of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse and the departed Manie Libbok cast at the Cape Town club, but he is ready to make his own mark in the Stormers No 10 jersey.

He has racked up 52 points so far this season from two tries, ten penalties and six conversions to help the DHL Stormers win their opening five league matches.

The prolific fly-half will once again be a key man for the Cape Town-based outfit when they take on Munster Rugby in a top-of-the-table clash at Limerick’s Thomond Park on Saturday evening.

Last season, he was vying for the No 10 jersey with both Libbok and Feinberg-Mngomezulu. With the former having joined Japanese club Kintetsu Liners and the latter away on Test duty, Matthee has really grabbed his chance this term.

The 25-year-old says having worked with the two Springbok stars has really helped develop his own game.

“It’s an opportunity to measure yourself every single day against the guy that’s playing in front of you,” he said.

“You have the privilege of seeing your competition, knowing what they do. It’s quite cool.

“I learned a lot from Manie. The way he kicks the ball with both feet is quite incredible and there’s also his natural ability to go to space. The way he kicked is something specifically I learned from.

“I have been training with Sacha now for a couple of years and what he does on a rugby pitch is incredible.

“He has been playing amazing and is having a great run. He is playing good rugby and is obviously inspiring.

“I have learned a lot from those two guys.

“It’s a very privileged position to be in at the Stormers. You have all these world class players around you. There’s always something you can learn from them.”

As for his own international ambitions, the Western Province product says: “I want to play at the top level, that is my dream.’

“I want to get there, that’s where I want to go.

“How to get there is just playing a lot of rugby now over the next couple of years. You have got to play to become one of the better guys in our industry. It’s our currency.

“You can maybe put pressure on yourself, especially having dreams to play for the Springboks. But I think the best way to get there is just to express yourself and enjoy your rugby.

“I obviously want to get there, but for now it’s just about expressing yourself and getting confident in what you are doing and what decisions you are making as the game driver.”

With Feinberg-Mngomezulu lining up for South Africa against Wales in Cardiff this weekend, Matthee is set to continue as the playmaker for the table-topping Stormers against Munster in a battle between the two unbeaten sides in the league.

“It’s going to be almost Test match-like in wet conditions,” he said.

“I think we are well prepared for what’s ahead. It’s going to be a physical battle, but we are ready for it.

“It’s about getting the momentum right, ending up on the right side of the pitch and scoring points on the board.

“It’s an opportunity to play against quality players and measure yourself against them.

“But, whatever they bring, we will be looking to execute from our side and do what we’ve prepped for.”

The former Stellenbosch University student added: “It’s been a very good start to our season, five wins on the trot. We couldn’t be happier.

“It’s quite satisfying to get the results. You can’t complain too much.

“It’s been so fun implementing a game model that gets us over the line. Everybody has had smiles on their faces.

“Now it’s Thomond Park and we are ready for the conditions and ready to react to what we see and whatever the day brings.”

Sponsorships within South African rugby continue to flourish, with mobile phone giants Samsung the newest arrivals at South African rugby’s carnival of on-field and off-field success.

The partnership forms part of a wider agreement between Samsung and SA Rugby, creating a unified presence across the Vodacom URC in South Africa and the national teams. For the Vodacom URC, the collaboration brings world-class technology directly into the match-day and digital fan experience.

Samsung’s involvement will introduce a range of new touchpoints for supporters, both inside stadiums and online. Central to this will be Samsung’s flagship device, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which leads the partnership’s focus on AI-enhanced imaging and next-generation connectivity. The full Galaxy ecosystem including Galaxy S Series, Z Series, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Ring will also be integrated across activations to elevate how supporters capture and share their match-day moments.

A standout innovation will be Samsung’s AI-powered stadium crowd-cam, a world-first initiative that blends live match footage with fan-generated content in real time. Supporters’ reactions, celebrations and moments of passion will be captured and enhanced instantly, transforming the way fans become part of the Vodacom URC story.

Martin Anayi, CEO of the United Rugby Championship, said: “The South African teams have added immense strength, diversity and global interest to the Vodacom URC, and their success has deepened the connection between the competition and the South African rugby community. Partnerships like this one with Samsung are vital to that growth. Their investment in the Vodacom URC in South Africa reflects a shared belief in innovation, excellence and the power of technology to bring fans closer to the sport they love. We look forward to working with Samsung to continue building the profile of the Vodacom URC and enriching the fan experience across the region.”

Justin Hume, Vice President of Mobile Experience at Samsung South Africa, said: “Through the power of Galaxy devices and Galaxy AI, we’re enabling fans to connect to rugby in ways that feel immediate, personal and deeply immersive. Samsung’s ecosystem brings supporters closer to the action, whether they’re in the stadium or watching from home, and our shared commitment to innovation and progress makes this partnership a natural fit with the Vodacom URC.”

Keo & Zels were as emphatic as the Boks scrum against Ireland that the STECO Power Play was every time the Boks packed down to scrum Ireland into the Aviva turf in Dublin.

STECO is all about power, precision, sustainability and quality, and Keo & Zels, on their Rugby Podcast, said every member of the Boks pack combined to make the collective that much more powerful than any individual effort.

They acknowledge the individual try-scoring genius of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the individual merits of Cobus Reinach, the relentlessness of Canan Moodie and the power of Damian de Allende.

But when it came to their weeks Springboks STECO Test moment, it was the Boks scrum that won the day, with the Boks feeding the scrum in 12 of the 16 scrums, and winning eight penalties on the 12 put ins. There were also more scrums on resets.

Ireland lost two players to yellow cards because of repeated scrum infringements and conceded a penalty try just before halftime to trail 19-7.

WORLD MEDIA REACTS TO POWER OF THE BOKS SCRUM

The general consensus, post the match, was that Ireland should have lost more players to the sin-bin for deliberate professional fouls at scrum time.

The Boks won 24-13; their first win at the Aviva Stadium during Rassie Erasmus’s eight years at the helm of the Springboks. It was also only the second time the Boks had played at the Aviva Stadium since Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber took charge of the Boks in 2018.

Ireland, who beat the Boks 13-8 in Pool Play at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Paris, France, also beat the Boks 25-24 in Durban in 2024, a week after losing 27-20 to the hosts in Pretoria in the opening Test of the July internationals.

IRISH LOCK GETS SLAP ON WRIST FOR RED CARD OFFENCE

STECO IS GIVING YOU BACK YOUR POWER

The Powerful Bok scrum earns this week’s @STECO_Global #PowerPlay award! pic.twitter.com/5Cbpy9tHJt

SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) November 25, 2025

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