The Springboks will continue their Nations Championship campaign when they host Scotland at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 17:40 SAST, as Rassie Erasmus’ side looks to maintain its winning momentum and strengthen its position in the new global competition.

South Africa heads into the clash brimming with confidence after a commanding 45-21 victory over England in their tournament opener last weekend.

While the scoreline against England suggested a comfortable afternoon, the Springboks know Scotland will present a significant attacking challenge.

Gregor Townsend’s side arrives in Pretoria after an entertaining 47-38 victory over Argentina, proving they possess the attacking quality to punish even the best defensive teams.

The Springboks, however, will take confidence from history. South Africa has never lost to Scotland on home soil, winning all seven previous Tests played in the country. The Boks also defeated the Scots 32-15 at Murrayfield in their most recent meeting in 2024, continuing their dominance in the fixture.

Saturday’s encounter also marks a significant milestone for Erasmus, who will oversee his 55th Test as Springbok coach, making him the South African head coach with the most Tests in charge.

With Siya Kolisi sidelined through injury, two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit will captain the side and has praised the team’s well-established systems ahead of another crucial test.

A win would hand the Springboks a second consecutive Nations Championship victory, while scoring four or more tries would secure another bonus point and strengthen their position near the top of the Southern Hemisphere standings ahead of the remaining rounds.

It would also maintain their unbeaten start to the competition and reinforce their status as the team to beat in world rugby.

A defeat would hand Scotland a famous first-ever Test victory on South African soil while denting the Springboks’ early title ambitions. Losing at home would also end their unbeaten start to the competition and leave the Southern Hemisphere standings far more open heading into the next round of fixtures.

With Loftus Versfeld expected to provide its customary intimidating atmosphere, the Springboks will be determined to produce another statement performance in front of their home supporters.

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The Springboks opened their 2026 international season with an 80-31 win over the Barbarians at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, but coach Rassie Erasmus said the world champions still had discipline and defensive lapses to fix before facing England.

The Boks ran in 12 tries in a dominant attacking performance, but Erasmus said the scoreline did not tell the full story after the Barbarians exposed defensive lapses and capitalised on periods of poor discipline.

“Our discipline wasn’t great, and they (the Barbarians) scored tries in quick succession, so yellow cards were not ideal,” said Erasmus after the match.

Yellow cards were handed to Grant Williams and Aphelele Fassi, even though the Boks also benefited from Barbarians cards in the first half.

South Africa led 40-26 at halftime after a loose and entertaining first half in which the Barbarians found space and kept the Boks under pressure despite the hosts’ early dominance.

“[W]e have to remind ourselves that it’s been six or seven months since we’ve played together, and some guys were new in the mix, while we also didn’t know when the DHL Stormers or Vodacom Bulls players would be available at some stage, which are all aspects we have to keep in mind,” Erasmus said.

The Barbarians arrived with a strong invitational side drawn from 11 countries and including 19 Test-capped players.

The team was captained by former All Blacks scrumhalf TJ Perenara and included South African-born Scotland and British & Irish Lions wing Duhan van der Merwe, former Springbok fullback Warrick Gelant, Wallabies back Andrew Kellaway, France centre Virimi Vakatawa and Argentina flyhalf Tomás Albornoz.

Edwill van der Merwe led the Bok scoring with a hat-trick, while Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese, Riley Norton, Cheslin Kolbe, JJ Kotze, Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen and Zachary Porthen also crossed for South Africa.

Kolbe was influential with the boot and ball in hand, converting nine tries and scoring one himself before Vusi Moyo added the final conversion after Porthen’s late try.

Despite the size of the victory, Erasmus said the Boks could not ignore the way the Barbarians broke through before halftime.

“To score 80 points is nice, but the Barbarians were thrown together quite late, and had only three training sessions, which makes them difficult to analyse. They scored four or five great tries, so we need to eliminate those defensive lapses and be better as a unit when we play against England.”

The Boks will play England at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, on 4 July, in their opening Test of the Nations Championship.

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“This extension is a vote of confidence in Rassie’s proven ability to deliver results, refine our strategy and inspire future generations. Together, we look forward to building on this foundation of success, confident that under his guidance, South African rugby will continue to thrive, lead and unite our nation through the power of the game,” said Alexander.

“This decision reflects not only Rassie’s remarkable track record of success, but also the enduring impact he has made in shaping the identity of our game. Under his leadership, the Springboks have achieved historic milestones, consistently setting the standard for performance on the global stage.”

Erasmus will lead the Springboks through the next two Rugby World Cup cycles, including the 2031 tournament in the United States.

Erasmus was first appointed as Director of Rugby in 2018.

Under his leadership, South Africa captured the Rugby World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023, cementing their reputation as one of the most dominant teams in world rugby.

In 2024, he transitioned into the role of Springbok head coach, overseeing back-to-back victories in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship and maintaining South Africa’s position as the top-ranked team globally for three consecutive seasons.

 “This was a quick and easy conversation to reach agreement. I have always said that I would find it hard to coach any other international team, and I’m very happy to continue as long as the South African public wants me,” said Erasmus.

“I’d like to thank SA Rugby and the franchises for the support and backing they have given me and the Springboks over the past few years. It hasn’t always been easy but we’re improving. Although this a long-term agreement we’re not looking beyond a really tough 2026 schedule right now.”

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The Springboks overcame adversity and a hostile Stade de France to defeat France 32 – 17 on Saturday night.

The victory, which also marked Siya Kolisi’s 100th test cap, was a testament to the lineup’s grit and champion pedigree.

Trailing 14 – 6 and reduced to 14 men after lock Lood de Jager was sent off for a dangerous tackle just before halftime, South Africa exemplified an electrifying second-half comeback.

The world champions outscored France 19 – 3 in the final 40 minutes, silencing a crowd that was thirsty for revenge after their heartbreak in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

While France started convincingly with winger Damian Penaud scoring twice to become his country’s all-time leading try scorer, surpassing Serg Blanci’s record, South Africa clawed back through two long-range penalties from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and a solo try by veteran scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, who chipped Ramos and regathered to score.

Kolisi’s men reassured forward dominance and punished French mistakes.

Replacement Andre Esterhuizen powered through in the 64th minute to give South Africa the lead for the first time.

Grant Williams then sliced through the defence to extend the margin, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu sealed the win with a convincing run from fullback, finishing with 17 points and the man-of-the-match award.

France, missing injured captain Antoine Dupont, failed to capitalize on their numerical advantage. Their only second-half points came from a Ramos penalty, as reckless infringements and a yellow card handed control to the Boks.

The result was South Africa’s ninth win in ten matches against France and a great tribute to Kolisi’s leadership.

It also reaffirmed the Springboks’ status as the most resilient team in world rugby, able to absorb pressure, adapt tactically, and deliver when it mattered most.

With the win, the Springboks not only avenged past heartbreak but sent a clear message ahead of the 2026 season, the crown still belonged to …the Boks.

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Australia’s bid for its first rugby Grand Slam in 40 years is over.

The Wallabies lost 27-13 to Scotland on Sunday to end their hopes of a sweep of victories in the season-closing tour of Britain and Ireland. They’d previously beaten beaten England and Wales, and will end the tour in Ireland next week.

Adding to Australia’s woes was the sight of Joseph Sua’ali’i, the team’s new star back, going off injured in the first half at Murrayfield after hurting his right arm tackling Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu.

Tuipulotu, born in Australia, was one of four try-scorers for Scotland while Harry Potter — an 18th debutant in 2024 for the Wallabies and the target of pre-match puns because of his name — went over for a late consolation for the tourists.

The Scots ended their autumn campaign with three wins from four, having also beaten Fiji and Portugal. They were defeated 32-15 by world champion South Africa.

The current crop of Australians were looking to emulate the class of 1984, who won the end-of-year Grand Slam but fell short in the face some brilliant finishing from Scotland.

Tuipulotu was playing in front of his 77-year-old grandmother, Jaqueline, for the first time after she flew in from Melbourne for the occasion. He marked it by running onto a long lineout and bursting through two tackles to go over for a converted try and make it 7-3.

Giant winger Duhan van der Merwe scored Scotland’s second try — his record 30th in 44 tests — and Josh Bayliss chargeed over down the right after a break by winger Darcy Graham to push the hosts into a 22-6 lead.

Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell then added a fourth try with the best of the game, finishing off a flowing sequence of passes by running onto Blair Kinghorn lay-off and diving over.

The England-born Potter marked his debut by running onto a kick over the top of Scotland’s defense and grounding just before going out of touch.

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Brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse will start as South Africa’s halves against Wales in their autumn tour finale in Cardiff on Saturday.

The world champion Springboks have changed seven in the starting lineup after beating England 29-20 last weekend at Twickenham, and uncapped Bulls flanker Cameron Hanekom is in the reserves.

The Hendrikses — Jaden at scrumhalf and Jordan at flyhalf — are the first brothers to appear together for the Boks since Dan and Robert du Preez in 2018 against Wales in Washington. The last brothers to start for the Boks were front-rowers Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis in the 2015 Rugby World Cup against Scotland in Newcastle.

The five who have come into the forward pack include front-rowers Johan Grobbelaar and Thomas du Toit, locks Franco Mostert and Jean Kleyn, and flanker Elrigh Louw. Only captain Siya Kolisi, No. 8 Jasper Wiese and loosehead Ox Nche were retained, Nche after recovering from a cut above his knee against England.

Kleyn, who replaced the injured Ruan Nortje on tour, makes his first appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and Grobbelaar his first since August.

“Jordan played against Wales in June, and we are very excited to see how he dictates play with Jaden alongside him,” coach Rassie Erasmus said on Tuesday. “We are also delighted that Cameron is getting a chance to play after showing his class at training throughout the tour and for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship.

“Cameron also offers us a few options at loose forward as he can play No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8, and that will be valuable with two locks on the bench.”

Locks Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman, who started against England, have been rotated onto a bench split 6-2.

Erasmus said they were determined to complete an unbeaten tour and were not underestimating Wales, which has lost a record 11 straight tests. The streak includes a 41-13 defeat to South Africa in June at Twickenham.

“We’ll show Wales the same respect we showed England and Scotland, and we know we have to be at our best to come out with the result we want,” Erasmus said.

“They are a team with everything to gain and nothing to lose, so it would be careless of us to think that we just need to pitch up and the result will go in our favor. In fact, a little over a year ago, they played in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal, which is a testament to the force they can be.”

South Africa: Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; Jasper Wiese, Elrigh Louw, Siya Kolisi (captain), Franco Mostert, Jean Kleyn, Thomas du Toit, Johan Grobbelaar, Ox Nche. Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard.

AP

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South Africans must not lose momentum in supporting the Springboks following another win against New Zealand’s All Blacks, according to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture chairperson Joe McGluwa.

The Springboks beat the All Blacks with an 18-12 victory at the Cape Town Stadium, claiming the Freedom Cup from their bitter rivals for the first time in 15 years.

 The fourth straight victory over New Zealand also consolidated South Africa’s place at the top of The Rugby Championship standings, after their back to back victories against both Australia and New Zealand.

McGluwa congratulated the Springboks on their two hard-fought wins against the All Blacks.

“What we saw over the past two weeks has been unbelievable. New Zealand had decent and gracious visitors. The Springboks were excellent hosts of the All Blacks and have truly played for the country.

They represented all there is to know about South Africa, unity, resilience and the winning mentality,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

“The Boks have proved once more that they are a uniting force for all South Africans. They literally made the country revisit the levels of unity we only saw when they won the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups. The country should build on this momentum and work to advance social cohesion.”

The committee extended a congratulatory message to the Springbok management under the leadership of coach Rassie Erasmus, saying his mandate spoke to that of the Sport, Arts and Culture Department to build and enhance social cohesion, promote participation and deepen the spirit of unity amongst South Africans.

“Bringing the freedom trophy home after so many years, Rassie has shown me what this country is capable of,” McGluwa said.

South Africa will face Argentina for the last two rounds of The Rugby Championship. The Pumas lie second in the standings, eight points behind the Boks, after beating Australia 67-27 on Saturday.

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