It’s roughly halfway through the Test season yet sensational Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am has already been hailed as World Rugby’s Player of the Year.
The embattled All Blacks rallied to end their slump by punishing the rattled Springboks with a well-deserved victory in Johannesburg on Saturday.
No 8 Duane Vermeulen returns to the starting XV for the Springboks with prop Frans Malherbe set to earn his 50th Test cap in the Rugby Championship clash with the All Blacks on Saturday.
Assistant coach Deon Davids has confirmed that fit-again Springbok No 8 Duane Vermeulen is in contention to face the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Jacques Nienaber and Siya Kolisi say the Springboks' mauling of the All Blacks on Saturday is only the first step to perfecting their gameplan for the rest of the Rugby Championship.
Kurt-Lee Arendse made a big impression on his Test debut, and the Springbok flyer is determined to make the most of the offered big-stage clash with the All Blacks in Nelspruit on Saturday.
Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk admits there’s pressure on him to perform for the world champions after regaining his starting berth to face the All Blacks on Saturday.
The All Blacks are preparing to face the world champion Springboks, with coach Ian Foster under intense pressure to end their dire run of form after four defeats in their past five matches.
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says the Springboks are concentrated solely on improving their game before preparing for back-to-back Tests against the All Blacks in South Africa.
The Springboks received a timely boost with the inclusion of Duane Vermeulen and Frans Steyn in a 41-man squad chosen for the Rugby Championship, but the injured Cheslin Kolbe is doubtful to recover in time to feature in the tournament.