Damian de Allende's two options as he heads for Munster exit

The Springboks have announced that centre Lukhanyo Am will be stepping in to replace wing orl following the fractured cheekbone injury sustained in last night's match against Tonga. It's worth noting that Am was a part of the South African squad that secured the Rugby World Cup in 2019, and he even played a pivotal role by providing the assist for…

South African rugby has left its mark across the rugby world. There are very few teams, players or nations who have not been affected or influenced by South Africa. As Nelson Mandela once stated, "Know your enemy- and learn about his favourite sport." Many nations have quality South African-born players involved in their squad in this year's Rugby…

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made 13 personnel changes and a positional switch as well naming a seven-one split in favour of the forwards on the replacements' bench for Saturday's third Rugby World Cup pool encounter against Ireland. Nine players who sat out Sunday's 76-0 win over Romania return to the starting line-up while four others move…

Four years ago Andre Esterhuizen just missed out on World Cup selection, but his consistently impressive performances over the last 18 months have booked him a deserved spot in the Springboks' 33-man squad. Esterhuizen has added real competition at inside centre, and below we highlight some key information about the 29-year-old in our ongoing…

With just a moth to go until RWC kick-off the Springbok squad has been announced in Johannesburg. Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named 21 players with Rugby World Cup experience (nine of whom will be appearing at their third RWC tournament) when he revealed the defending champion's squad of 33 players for the 2023 edition in Johannesburg on…

Yesterday, Jacques Nienaber selected his 33-man Springboks squad to travel to France for this year's World Cup. It's been a selection marred by injuries and quite frankly odd selections that have left South African fans, in particular, perplexed. Springbok fans have been taunting the rugby world for four years now following their 2019 World…

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named 21 players with Rugby World Cup experience (nine of whom will be appearing at their third Rugby World Cup) when he revealed the defending champion's squad of 33 players for the 2023 edition in Johannesburg on Tuesday. Nienaber's squad featured a strong mix of experience and some of the best up-and-coming young…

South Africa Head Coach Jacques Nienaber has named his 33-man squad, as the Springboks look to retain their Rugby World Cup title. The Springboks side is an exciting mix of youth and World Cup experience, with the squad unveiled in Johannesburg today. Nine of the'Boks players will be appearing at their third Rugby World Cup, with 21 in total…

Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber has named his 33-man Rugby World Cup squad ahead of the tournament in France next month, with a number of key players missing. As reported earlier today, first-choice outhalf Handre Pollard (calf), centre Lukhanyo Am (knee) and Lood de Jager (chest problem) are all absent from the squad, and have been placed…

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 8 (Reuters) - South Africa captain Siya Kolisi was included in the squad for next month's Rugby World Cup but other key players left out because of injury, including influential flyhalf Handre Pollard and World Cup-winning centre Lukhanyo Am. Kolisi had major knee surgery in April but South Africa are confident he will be fit in…

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named 21 players with Rugby World Cup experience (nine of whom will be appearing at their third RWC tournament) when he revealed the defending champion's squad of 33 players for the 2023 edition in Johannesburg on Tuesday. Nienaber's squad featured a strong mix of experience and some of the best up-and-coming young…

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has named his 33 players for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The squad was announced in Johannesburg on Tuesday and saw some few key players missing. South Africa's number one choice Flyhalf Handre Pollard will miss the World Cup due to a calf injury while highly rated centre Lukhanyo Am sustained a knee injury…

The Springboks will travel to the World Cup with four scrumhalves, a former Ireland lock and their oldest debutant after it was confirmed that the world champions will be without a trio of key players in France. Jacques Nienaber's 33-player squad features a strong mix of experience and some of the best up-and-coming young players in the country,…

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named 21 players with Rugby World Cup experience (nine of whom will be appearing at their third Rugby World Cup) when he revealed the defending champion's squad of 33 players for the 2023 edition in Johannesburg on Tuesday. Nienaber's squad featured a strong mix of experience and some of the best up-and-coming young…

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will make a notable return from a shoulder injury as the captain of the team to face New Zealand in the second Castle Lager Rugby Championship Test in Auckland on Saturday. Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named 10 of the 14 players who travelled to New Zealand a week ago to acclimatise to the conditions and time zone…

Munster lock Jean Kleyn could be set to feature for South Africa in the World Cup despite the 29-year-old having played five Tests for Ireland and featuring at the 2019 World Cup. Kleyn's fine form had seen him linked with a return to the Ireland squad ahead of this year's addition but now the Springboks have invited him to join their training…

Cape Town - Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard is back in the squad that will prepare for the Rugby Championship from Monday in Pretoria. He is joined by overseas players Cheslin Kolbe (wing), Andre Esterhuizen (centre), Jasper Wiese (No 8), Jean-Luc du Preez (utility forward), as well as Vincent Koch and Trevor Nyakane (props) who all missed the…

South African-born Ireland international Jean Kleyn is one of a host of overseas-based players called up by Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber in preparation for the Rugby Championship. On Saturday, Nienaber named a training squad of 40 players for their next assignment, a three-week training camp in Pretoria from Sunday until Thursday, 29 June. The…

MONDAY is one year since a Munster side containing a dozen debutants defied all the odds to secure a famous bonus point victory over Wasps in the opening round of the Heineken Champions Cup in Coventry on 12 December, 2021. A lot of water has passed beneath Thomond Bridge since. The global Covid crisis has dissipated, Munster have a new coach,…

Former Junior Springbok backs Manie Libbok and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu earned their first Springbok call-ups on Friday, while there was a recall for Jason Jenkins, who is back in the national set-up four years after making his Test debut, as head coach Jacques Nienaber named his 35-man squad for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour. South Africa'A'…

South Africa'A' coach Mzwandile Stick, meanwhile, included nine capped Springboks in a 19-man squad that will travel to Ireland next week Saturday for their two-match tour against Munster and the Bristol Bears, where they will be joined by seven players from Nienaber's squad following the Springboks' opening Test against the top-ranked team in the…

Head coach: Marco Bortolami Captain: Dewalt Duverago/Michele Lamaro Last year: 13th Betting: 150-1 Players In: S Hildago-Klyne (Exeter Chiefs), T Menoncello (promoted academy), A Garbisi (Mogliano), G Nicotera (Rovigo), G Da Rae (Rovigo), F Drago (Mogliano), M Drudi (Mogliano), S Scrafton (Hurricanes), O Ratave (Fijian Drua), M Zanon (Pau), M…

Day one - November 20: 29 days since last game Munster depart Ireland for Pretoria with a squad of 33 players for the URC games against the Bulls followed by the Lions in Johannesburg, their first games since the October 23 loss at Ospreys. Simon Zebo, Gavin Coombes, Jason Jenkins, and Cian Hurley are late additions to the travelling party with…

Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am have established themselves as the most lethal centre pairing in world rugby, writes Jon Cardinelli. Lukhanyo Am fired the first significant shot in the three-match battle between the Springboks and the British & Irish Lions. In the third minute of the first Test at the Cape Town Stadium, the Bok outside centre…