New Zealand senior assistant coach Neil Barnes slammed the officiating following his team’s 43-28 defeat to the Springboks in Baltimore, claiming the world champions “got the rub of the green” from referee Karl Dickson. According to Newstalk ZB reports on the Saturday fixture, the loss concluded a 3-1 series victory for South Africa in the … Read more
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has made two changes to his starting line-up for the fourth and final Test against the New Zealand All Blacks in Baltimore, according to Planet Rugby. The tactical shifts come as South Africa enters Saturday’s clash at M&T Bank Stadium holding a 2-1 lead in the four-Test Greatest Rivalry series. … Read more
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has hit back at All Blacks boss Dave Rennie after he complained about the legality of the hosts’ scrum. Ahead of the second Greatest Rivalry Test, according to the New Zealand head coach, grievances were discussed with World Rugby following a dominant set-piece performance by South Africa in the opening … Read more
Quade Cooper is eyeing a return to the Rugby World Cup stage at age 38, but according to Planet Rugby, the veteran playmaker faces a major hurdle because there currently is no appetite from an Australian Super Rugby club to sign him on a short-term deal. The player announced he “never retired” and wants another … Read more
France possesses the player depth and forward power required to challenge the back-to-back world champion Springboks and potentially snatch the 2027 Rugby World Cup, according to former Scotland head coach Matt Williams. Writing in the Irish Times, Williams highlighted Les Bleus’ recent squad experiments under Fabien Galthié as evidence of a formidable team on the … Read more
The Nations Championship has reset the international rugby hierarchy, with New Zealand and South Africa finishing their July series unbeaten while emerging nations like Japan and Fiji secured historic landmarks. According to Planet Rugby, the tournament’s success relied on a three-game “body of work” model, favoring consistent performers over one-off explosive displays. Tactical Evolution and … Read more
The All Blacks’ 52-match unbeaten streak at Eden Park, a record spanning 32 years, faces a significant challenge this weekend as Ireland prepares to face New Zealand in Auckland. While the All Blacks have remained undefeated at the venue against 12 different opponents since 1994, former Springboks captain Jean de Villiers has publicly predicted that … Read more
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has selected four uncapped players—Vusi Moyo, Jaco Williams, Ruben van Heerden, and Carlu Sadie—to face Wales in the Nations Championship. This selection marks a tactical shift toward a high-tempo attacking game and a departure from the team’s traditional “Bomb Squad” forward dominance, according to Planet Rugby. Rassie Erasmus Pivots to 5:3 … Read more
The inaugural Nations Championship moves into its second round this Saturday, July 11, 2026, featuring a full slate of six international fixtures. With the All Blacks hosting Italy in Wellington and the Wallabies facing France in Brisbane, the global tournament schedule spans time zones from New Zealand to Argentina, as confirmed by official match organizers. … Read more
England’s rugby team faces a critical period of transition after a loss to South Africa in Johannesburg extended their losing streak to five matches. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) had previously backed Steve Borthwick following a fifth-place finish in the Six Nations, citing “clear plans” to improve discipline and execution. However, recent on-field performance suggests … Read more