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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Paul Phelan/ProSports/Shutterstock (14182988w) Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu of Stormers is dejected after the United Rugby Championship match between Glasgow Warriors and Stormers at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow Glasgow Warriors v Stormers, United Rugby Championship - 03 Nov 2023

URC is not won in November

MARK KEOHANE has delved into the history books to show that the local franchises can bounce back from a tough start on tour in the opening month of the Vodacom URC.

(L/R): New Zealand's scrum-half Finlay Christie, New Zealand's flanker Dalton Papali'i, New Zealand's lock Samuel Whitelock and New Zealand's number eight Ardie Savea gesture to English referee Wayne Barnes during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Final between New Zealand and South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on October 28, 2023. (Photo by Antonin THUILLIER / AFP)

Let the ref run the show again

MARK KEOHANE advocates for a return to the traditional role of referees in rugby, arguing that the expansion of the television match official’s scope is ruining the sport.

South African loose forward Duane Vermeulen tries to break through during the final phase of the Four Nations tournament rugby union match between South Africa and New Zealand at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg on October 4, 2014. AFP PHOTO/MARCO LONGARI (Photo by MARCO LONGARI / AFP)

Duane’s tale a ‘hell of a rugby lesson’

Duane Vermeulen’s journey to become the greatest Springbok No 8 of all time is a powerful story of patience and perseverance, writes MARK KEOHANE.

Cape Town cheers for the Springboks during the World Cup trophy tour

World Cup trophy tour reveals Boks’ drive

The World Cup trophy bus tour has showcased what fuels the history-making Boks, writes DYLAN JACK.

Pieter-Steph du Toit Boks RWC final Dave Winter:Shutterstock:Backpage

Boks must drive home dominance

The Springboks need to be consistently great over the next four years, writes SIMON BORCHARDT.

Rassie: Rugby’s greatest showman

On the surface, the Springboks had no business winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but in hindsight there was always magic in Rassie Erasmus’ ‘madness’, writes DEVIN HERMANUS.

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 28: Handre Pollard (R), of South Africa, who scored all their points in the match, celebrates victory at the final whistle during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Gold Final match between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France on October 28, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Ode to World Cup final

The ball was in play for 38 minutes in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final and it will require the same time investment to savour this decadent memoir of the decider from @haribaldijones.

South Africa's head coach Rassie Erasmus looks on ahead of a training session at the Mayol Stadium in Toulon, southern France, on September 28, 2023, during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Please Boks, never change

The world champion Springboks have to evolve their personnel, but not their tactical philosophy, writes RYAN VREDE.

Pieter-Steph du Toit celebrates with his Springbok teammates PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 28: Mbongeni Mbonambi, Willie Le Roux and Pieter-Steph Du Toit of South Africa celebrate after defeating New Zealand during the Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France on October 28, 2023 in Paris, France.

Boks much more than just a rugby team

In sport, some victories transcend the pitch to leave an indelible mark on the hearts of a nation, writes ZELIM NEL.

Cane-less Kiwis no match for Bok ‘mongrels’

Once the All Blacks lost captain Sam Cane to a red card in the World Cup final, they were never going to be able to stop the brutal Springboks, writes MARK KEOHANE.