It was a hot and humid night in Kumagaya when Ayanda Malinga last faced Japan, but the memory of that special Test 26 months ago still fuels the Springbok Women winger.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus released three players, Ben-Jason Dixon, Johan Grobbelaar, and Canan Moodie, to their local franchises after the Boks wrapped up their main training block for the week on Wednesday, before the Castle Lager Rugby Championship decider between South Africa and Argentina at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday.
Ayanda Malinga will make a return to Test rugby for the first time since 2022 after being named on the left wing for the Springbok Women’s opening match of WXV 2 against Japan at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday.
Eben Etzebeth will set the record as the most capped Springbok of all time on in Nelspruit Saturday when he runs out at lock against Argentina, while Jaden Hendrikse and Manie Libbok are paired as starting halfbacks for the first time in the title-deciding match of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship at the Mbombela Stadium.
Naka Bulle will start the defence of their African Rainbow Community Gold Cup crown against Sishen when the exciting club competition kicks off on Saturday, 21 September, with matches scheduled at 16 club grounds across South Africa and at venues as far afield as Louis Trichardt, Kimberley, Groot-Brakrivier and Strand.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to his starting team for their penultimate Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash against Los Pumas in Santiago del Estero on Saturday.
Springbok Women performance coach Swys de Bruin has made two changes to the starting team that will face Spain at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Thursday, and three tweaks to the bench from their comprehensive victory over the Barbarians just over a week ago.
Morne van den Berg has been called up as an injury replacement for Grant Williams for the Springboks’ penultimate Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against Argentina at Estadio Unico Madre Ciudades in Santiago on Saturday 21 September.
Former Springbok Sevens captain Phillip Snyman has been appointed as head coach of the Blitzboks after taking care of the team in an acting capacity for the last six months, SA Rugby confirmed on Thursday.
As he looks towards the 20 September kick-off of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, Vodacom Bulls coach Jake White says he’s excited about the growing experience in his squad and singled out Ruan Nortjé as an example of it hopefully benefitting his team this season.