Plumtree chopped as All Blacks axe coaches
New Zealand Rugby fired two All Blacks coaches on Sunday and brought in Jason Ryan from the Crusaders in a widely expected shake-up following the historic series loss against Ireland.
SA Rugby magazine – Latest South African rugby news
New Zealand Rugby fired two All Blacks coaches on Sunday and brought in Jason Ryan from the Crusaders in a widely expected shake-up following the historic series loss against Ireland.
While Springbok veterans Duane Vermeulen and Frans Steyn are back for the Rugby Championship, Cheslin Kolbe is doubtful to recover in time to feature in the tournament.
Australian Angus Gardner will take charge of the opening Test between the Springboks and All Blacks in the Republic next month, with no South African referees given the whistle in the Rugby Championship.
New Zealand coach Ian Foster insisted on Friday he can right the misfiring All Blacks, resisting calls to drop Sam Cane as captain for the Rugby Championship after a home series defeat to Ireland.
Siviwe ‘Shakes’ Soyizwapi will skipper the South African men’s sevens team at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where Team SA will look to emulate Neil Powell’s 2014 class of gold medallists.
The Stormers begin life in the European Champions Cup with a trip to France, while the Vodacom Bulls and Sharks kick off their campaign on home soil.
Sam Cane will reportedly be replaced as All Blacks captain for the upcoming mini tour of South Africa as New Zealand look to respond to the historic home series loss to Ireland.
Tickets to the clash between Ireland, currently top of the World Rugby rankings, and the World Cup-holding Springboks at the Aviva Stadium in November have sold out.
Under-pressure head coach Ian Foster will still be at the helm when the reeling All Blacks begin the Rugby Championship against the world champion Springboks in South Africa.
Kurt-Lee Arendse ticks all the right boxes to replace the injured Cheslin Kolbe for the Springboks and make the green and gold No 14 jumper his own, writes DEVIN HERMANUS.