Os du Randt is on the cover of the August issue as the two-time World Cup winner has been selected by SA Rugby magazine among the Top 30 Springboks since 1995.

“Du Randt’s career typified every character trait that defines the stature of the greatest names to have played the game,” states the latest edition of our magazine – on sale this Friday – as the writers undertook the mammoth task of selecting the best players to have worn the green and gold since 1995.

Bok captains past and present – John Smit, Francois Pienaar and Siya Kolisi – join Du Randt on the cover, as does the ever-underappreciated Frans Malherbe, but who else has made the cut?

Willie le Roux has not been included in the top 30, but the veteran playmaker is featured as a player with a big role to play for the world champions as they prepare to defend their World Cup title next year.

In keeping with the theme of flashy fullbacks, Devon Williams reveals the story behind his funky hairstyles and which Pumas teammate would make the worst Uber driver. We also take a look back at how Werner Greeff helped the Springboks avoid a Tri-Nations whitewash against the Wallabies in 2002.

Williams helped the Pumas win the Currie Cup this year, but what should be done about the tournament’s future? Two SA Rugby magazine team members go head to head on the heavily debated topic.

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Photo: Tertius Pickard/Gallo Images/Getty Images

The post Bok Top 30: Who makes the cut? appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Following a captivating series home series victory over Wales, the Springboks have contributed four players to this star-studded World XV based on performances during the Incoming Tours.

In a dream team compiled by BBC Sport after the July global Test schedule, former England players Chris Jones and Ugo Monye picked their starting XV and bench.

MORE: Cut-and-paste Kurt-Lee for Kolbe

Unsurprisingly, Ireland dominated the selections after a historic series victory in New Zealand, contributing a total of six players, including captain and flyhalf Johnny Sexton, fullback Hugo Keenan and inside centre Robbie Henshaw.

The Springboks are next up, with four players selected from the squad that claimed a 2-1 home series victory over Wales.

Three of those players are in the pack as centurion Eben Etzebeth, hooker Bongi Mbonambi – who won his 50th cap in the third Test – and tighthead prop Trevor Nyakane getting the nod.

“Tight-head prop in the second Test, loose-head in the third. That is extraordinary versatility and the Springbok scrum was powerful throughout the series,” said Monye about Nyakane.

Lukhanyo Am is the only Bok back to get selected.

“I think Am is phenomenal. He has to be in our starting XV. He is brilliant,” said Monye.

Damian Willemse, who shifted between flyhalf, centre and fullback in the series, earns a place on the bench.

BOK TOP 30: Who makes the cut?

BBC Sport’s Dream XV:

15 Hugo Keenan (Ireland), 14 Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales), 13 Lukhanyo Am (South Africa), 12 Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), 11 Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina), 10 Johnny Sexton (Ireland), 9 Kieran Hardy (Wales), 8 Caelan Doris (Ireland), 7 Josh van der Flier (Ireland), 6 Courtney Lawes (England), 5 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), 4 Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), 3 Trevor Nyakane (South Africa), 2 Bongi Mbonambi (South Africa), 1 Ellis Genge (England).

Image courtesy of @Springboks/Twitter

The post Four Boks named in July Series ‘dream team’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

England prop Joe Marler has “buried his head in the sand” over the dangers of dementia from playing rugby, admitting that on one occasion he had forgotten he had children.

The 32-year-old, who has played 83 times for England, made the admission just days after former Wales captain Ryan Jones, 41, revealed he was suffering from early onset dementia, probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

MORE: ‘Boks no match for Les Bleus beasts’

“It’s awful for Ryan to be told that and be going through that,” Marler said in an interview with TalkSport.

“It has kind of struck a chord with me because it’s been quite well spoken about in rugby over the last few years with all of the discoveries that they’ve had with concussions and the relation to it all.

“I’ve just buried my head in the sand, to be honest because it scares me.

“I remember getting knocked out a couple of seasons ago – a big, big blow when I was trying to tackle Billy Vunipola. I was out cold and the next thing I remember was being in the physio room and the kit man came in.”

The kit man asked Marler whether his wife and children were at the match.

“I just paused and broke down and I had no recollection of having kids and it just really scared the life out of me,” he said.

How rugby deals with the issue of head injuries and concussion has become a major talking point within the game.

A number of ex-players, including England World Cup winner Steve Thompson and Jones’ former Test team-mate Alix Popham, are part of a legal case against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union over an alleged failure to protect them from concussion risks.

Marler, however, remains sanguine about the repercussions of playing the game.

“Those concussions happen in rugby, it’s a contact sport,” he said.

“I just ignore it and bury my head in the sand, but the more it comes out and the more apparent it becomes in the sport, the more boys are getting diagnosed with this stuff, it’s sad.”

MORE: Cut-and-paste Kurt-Lee for Kolbe

Marler admitted playing on through a concussion last season only to be admonished at home by his wife Daisy.

“The look I got from her, she was like ‘no, I’m not having it any more. If you get a head knock, you follow the right protocols and you tell someone because it’s not about you anymore’.

“She said: ‘do you want to be here for the kids, or not? Do you want to be here for me, or not?’

“They’re definitely things that I think about a little bit more.”

Marler said improvements were being made and players were becoming better informed about the risks in rugby.

“There is always going to be that element of danger and you don’t want to remove it so that it isn’t rugby anymore.

“But you do want to be well informed going into it. As long as I am informed with what the dangers are I can make an informed choice.”

ON THIS DAY: Jantjies bursts onto Bok scene

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON 

The post England prop ‘buried head in sand’ over concussions appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

England prop Joe Marler has “buried his head in the sand” over the dangers of dementia from playing rugby, admitting that on one occasion he had forgotten he had children.

The 32-year-old, who has played 83 times for England, made the admission just days after former Wales captain Ryan Jones, 41, revealed he was suffering from early onset dementia, probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

MORE: ‘Boks no match for Les Bleus beasts’

“It’s awful for Ryan to be told that and be going through that,” Marler said in an interview with TalkSport.

“It has kind of struck a chord with me because it’s been quite well spoken about in rugby over the last few years with all of the discoveries that they’ve had with concussions and the relation to it all.

“I’ve just buried my head in the sand, to be honest because it scares me.

“I remember getting knocked out a couple of seasons ago – a big, big blow when I was trying to tackle Billy Vunipola. I was out cold and the next thing I remember was being in the physio room and the kit man came in.”

The kit man asked Marler whether his wife and children were at the match.

“I just paused and broke down and I had no recollection of having kids and it just really scared the life out of me,” he said.

How rugby deals with the issue of head injuries and concussion has become a major talking point within the game.

A number of ex-players, including England World Cup winner Steve Thompson and Jones’ former Test team-mate Alix Popham, are part of a legal case against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union over an alleged failure to protect them from concussion risks.

Marler, however, remains sanguine about the repercussions of playing the game.

“Those concussions happen in rugby, it’s a contact sport,” he said.

“I just ignore it and bury my head in the sand, but the more it comes out and the more apparent it becomes in the sport, the more boys are getting diagnosed with this stuff, it’s sad.”

MORE: Cut-and-paste Kurt-Lee for Kolbe

Marler admitted playing on through a concussion last season only to be admonished at home by his wife Daisy.

“The look I got from her, she was like ‘no, I’m not having it any more. If you get a head knock, you follow the right protocols and you tell someone because it’s not about you anymore’.

“She said: ‘do you want to be here for the kids, or not? Do you want to be here for me, or not?’

“They’re definitely things that I think about a little bit more.”

Marler said improvements were being made and players were becoming better informed about the risks in rugby.

“There is always going to be that element of danger and you don’t want to remove it so that it isn’t rugby anymore.

“But you do want to be well informed going into it. As long as I am informed with what the dangers are I can make an informed choice.”

ON THIS DAY: Jantjies bursts onto Bok scene

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON 

The post England prop ‘buried head in sand’ over concussions appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

England prop Joe Marler has “buried his head in the sand” over the dangers of dementia from playing rugby, admitting that on one occasion he had forgotten he had children.

The 32-year-old, who has played 83 times for England, made the admission just days after former Wales captain Ryan Jones, 41, revealed he was suffering from early onset dementia, probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

MORE: ‘Boks no match for Les Bleus beasts’

“It’s awful for Ryan to be told that and be going through that,” Marler said in an interview with TalkSport.

“It has kind of struck a chord with me because it’s been quite well spoken about in rugby over the last few years with all of the discoveries that they’ve had with concussions and the relation to it all.

“I’ve just buried my head in the sand, to be honest because it scares me.

“I remember getting knocked out a couple of seasons ago – a big, big blow when I was trying to tackle Billy Vunipola. I was out cold and the next thing I remember was being in the physio room and the kit man came in.”

The kit man asked Marler whether his wife and children were at the match.

“I just paused and broke down and I had no recollection of having kids and it just really scared the life out of me,” he said.

How rugby deals with the issue of head injuries and concussion has become a major talking point within the game.

A number of ex-players, including England World Cup winner Steve Thompson and Jones’ former Test team-mate Alix Popham, are part of a legal case against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union over an alleged failure to protect them from concussion risks.

Marler, however, remains sanguine about the repercussions of playing the game.

“Those concussions happen in rugby, it’s a contact sport,” he said.

“I just ignore it and bury my head in the sand, but the more it comes out and the more apparent it becomes in the sport, the more boys are getting diagnosed with this stuff, it’s sad.”

MORE: Cut-and-paste Kurt-Lee for Kolbe

Marler admitted playing on through a concussion last season only to be admonished at home by his wife Daisy.

“The look I got from her, she was like ‘no, I’m not having it any more. If you get a head knock, you follow the right protocols and you tell someone because it’s not about you anymore’.

“She said: ‘do you want to be here for the kids, or not? Do you want to be here for me, or not?’

“They’re definitely things that I think about a little bit more.”

Marler said improvements were being made and players were becoming better informed about the risks in rugby.

“There is always going to be that element of danger and you don’t want to remove it so that it isn’t rugby anymore.

“But you do want to be well informed going into it. As long as I am informed with what the dangers are I can make an informed choice.”

ON THIS DAY: Jantjies bursts onto Bok scene

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON 

The post England prop ‘buried head in sand’ over concussions appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

On this day in 2019, Herschel Jantjies made a starring Springbok debut with two tries in the Rugby Championship clash with the Wallabies at Ellis Park.

Photo: Willem Loock/BackpagePix

The post On this day: Jantjies bursts on to the Bok scene appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Before Rassie Erasmus exchanged his boots for a clipboard he was a barnstorming Springbok loose forward, as this crunching tackle on Wallabies icon Stephen Larkham attests to.

@elevated_modified Rassie Erasmus! #springboks #SA #rassie #rassieerasmus #wallabies #australia ♬ original sound – Joe Exotic

The post Watch: Rassie smashes Larkham appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

After tripping up Frans Malberbe to the main stage, Danie Rossouw now faces the next challenger in the series to determine the most unheralded Springbok.

Rossouw won 67% of the vote in last week’s clash with Malherbe, who previously barged over Butch James following his duel with Albert van den Berg.

Now, Rossouw faces Ricky Januarie, who wrote his name into the history books with his 75th-minute try against the All Blacks in the 2008 Tri-Nations that gave the Boks their first win at the infamous House of Pain.

ICYMI – Unsung Hero: Rossouw tackles Malherbe

The diminutive scrumhalf broke away from a ruck just outside the All Blacks’ 10-metre line, chipped over the head of Leon MacDonald, regathered possession and dived over the tryline to set up Frans Steyn for the match-winning conversion.

Januarie, who scored the first of his five tries for the Boks on debut against Uruguay in 2005, was capped 47 times by his country, and was a member of Jake White’s World Cup-winning squad in 2007.

He was unfortunately forced to play understudy to the highly impressive Fourie Du Preez throughout his international career, yet the nuggety halfback seized every opportunity in the green and gold with aplomb.

Januarie started his professional career with the Lions in the Currie Cup and the Cats in Super Rugby, before representing Western Province and the Stormers, and then moved to France where he featured for Lyon, La Rochelle and Agen until his retirement in 2019.

ALSO: Unsung Hero: Butch, Frans battle for the spotlight

The post Unsung Hero: Januarie, Rossouw seize the moment appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

The citing complaint against Ireland prop Andrew Porter for the high tackle which broke the cheekbone of All Blacks’ lock Brodie Retallick has been dismissed by a disciplinary committee.

Porter was shown a yellow card for a head-on-head clash with Retallick, who is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks, during Ireland’s series-clinching 32-22 victory in Wellington last Saturday.

MORE: Four Boks in World XV

A World Rugby judicial committee, which included former South African back Stefan Terblanche and ex-Scotland head coach Frank Hadden, found in a hearing late Tuesday that the yellow card against Porter was sufficient punishment.

The panel “agreed with the match officials’ on-field decision that the player’s act of foul play… did not meet the red card threshold due to the absorbing nature of the tackle”, it said in a statement.

Retallick had to be helped off after Porter’s high tackle -– a week after All Blacks prop Angus Ta’aavo was sent off for a similar offence in the second Test, also won 23-12 by Ireland.

That result was Ireland’s first victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand.

Ireland’s 2-1 win in the series lifted them above France to top spot in World Rugby’s men’s team rankings for the first time since the system was introduced 19 years ago. New Zealand are fourth.

ON THIS DAY: Jantjies bursts onto Bok scene

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images

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