SA Rugby Magazine

1 day ago | sarugbymag.co.za | Simon Borchardt

Sam Cane will get an unexpected farewell clash against the Springboks when he lines up for the Barbarians in Cape Town on Saturday. The former All Blacks captain, who retired from Test rugby after the 2024 season, starts in the No 7 jersey for the invitational side and says he’s grateful for one more crack at the world champions. Cane led the All Blacks in the 2023 World Cup final in Paris, where he was red-carded in their 12-11 loss to the Boks.

1 day ago | sarugbymag.co.za | Simon Borchardt

Toulouse assistant coach Jerome Kaino doesn’t expect another “walkover” against Bordeaux-Begles in the French Top 14 final on Saturday. Kaino’s side hammered Bordeaux-Begles 59-3 in last season’s Top 14 decider, but have lost three straight games to the newly-crowned Champions Cup winners. On the way to lifting the continental crown in May, Bordeaux-Begles beat Toulouse in the semi-finals, leaving the record 23-time French champions with just the league to play for this season.

2 days ago | sarugbymag.co.za | Simon Borchardt

Pierre Schoeman wears the Lions No 1 jersey against the Force in Perth on Saturday. The South African loosehead prop, who came off the bench in the 28-24 defeat to Argentina in Dublin to make his Lions debut, will scrum down alongside captain Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong. Sheehan is one of five starters, alongside Leinster teammates Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier, who make their Lions debuts this weekend at the Optus Stadium.

2 days ago | sarugbymag.co.za | Simon Borchardt

The All Blacks have been dealt a major blow ahead of the France Test series. Loose forward Wallace Sititi was on Thursday ruled out due to an ankle injury that requires surgery, having already missed most of the Super Rugby Pacific season due to a knee injury sustained on last year’s end-of-year tour. The 22-year-old, World Rugby’s breakthrough player of 2024, was one of five loose forwards named in the All Blacks’ 33-man squad on Monday.

2 days ago | sarugbymag.co.za | Simon Borchardt

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has compared Morne van den Berg to a World Cup-winning All Blacks scrumhalf. The 27-year-old No 9, who earned two Test caps last year, will start for the Springboks against the Barbarians at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. Erasmus told the media that Van den Berg had impressed him this past season despite playing for a Lions side that once again failed to reach the Vodacom URC playoffs. “He’s such a hard worker and he’s so particular about getting things right.