Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus admitted on Saturday that although the Boks’ performance in their victory against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium was not perfect, they were pleased to break their 13-year winning drought in Dublin.
Double Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx became the fourth South African to be crowned the World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year on Saturday in a historic occasion for South African rugby, with two Boks winning the award back-to-back for the first time in history.
The Springboks secured a victory in Dublin for the first time in 13 years following their 24-13 win over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and Irish-born assistant coach Felix Jones spoke highly of Ireland on Friday as the teams prepare to battle it out at the Aviva Stadium, with the Bok skipper saying they had to be at their best and use all their opportunities if they want to walk away with the result in Dublin on Saturday.
Eleven players involved in their season-ending HSBC SVNS World Championship victory in Los Angeles in May will be part of the Springbok Sevens squad for the 2026 HSBC SVNS opener in Dubai next weekend, while Blitzbok head coach Philip Snyman added experienced stalwarts Christie Grobbelaar and Donavan Don to his team.
Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin expressed his satisfaction after a wider training squad completed a first alignment camp for the 2026 season in Stellenbosch on Friday.
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has named 11 changes to his squad to face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, with RG Snyman earning his 50th Test cap for South Africa.
Bafana Bafana have dropped two places in the latest FIFA World Rankings.
Springbok prop Thomas du Toit and scrumhalf Grant Williams shot down talk by the local media that the Boks could approach Saturday’s Test against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium as a grudge match.
Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe emphasised the importance of capitalising on their point-scoring opportunities when the Boks line up against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, if they want to break their 13-year losing run against the Irish at the Aviva Stadium.