Plum: Stronger Sharks losing complacency

John Plumtree expressed his delight at being able to name the “strongest Sharks team” since his return to Durban, featuring seven fit World Cup winners against Ulster on Saturday.

Moerat leads strengthened Stormers pack

Salmaan Moerat will captain the DHL Stormers in his first start since returning from injury in the @Vodacom #URC encounter with Edinburgh on Saturday.

Tshituka in, Venter out for Lions

Emmanuel Tshituka will start for the Lions in the injury-enforced absence of Ruan Venter against Connacht in Galway on Saturday.

Sharks debut for Koch

Springbok prop Vincent Koch will make his long-awaited Sharks debut in the Vodacom URC clash with Ulster in Durban on Saturday.

Jantjies gets coaching gig

Former Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies has confirmed that he has taken up a youth coaching role, as he continues to serve his suspension for a banned substance.

Boks Test ‘crucial’ for Portugal

Captain Tomas Appleton says a new-look Portugal is relishing a “massive” first-ever Test against the Springboks in Bloemfontein in July.

Owens calls for red card clarification

Former Test referee Nigel Owens says World Rugby’s plan to introduce a 20-minute red card is a “kneejerk reaction” and doesn’t solve the issue of what constitutes a sending off.

North-South derby keeps URC purring

The Vodacom United Rugby Championship has set a new all-time record audience with a global viewership of just under 3 million tuning in across Round 8, which included the North-South derby in Cape Town.

Duhan nominated for Six Nations award

Duhan van der Merwe is among the four nominees for the Six Nations Player of the Year award after finishing the tournament as top try-scorer.

World Rugby depowering Bok scrum

World Rugby appears set to make a radical change to the set-piece laws that favours teams with a weaker scrum, affecting a core part of the Springboks’ World Cup double triumph.