Opinion News

OPINION: Ben Smith takes a look at the question of who should take over injured Sam Cane's mantle as the All Black openside flank.

OPINION: South Africa may have closed the gap, dramatically, but the 2018 Rugby Championship was still a one-horse race.

ANALYSIS: This one will be painful for the Springboks to watch back.

EXCLUSIVE: Springbok Schalk Burger's character on and off the field is what has elevated the loose forward to the status of legend.

OPINION: Australia produced a stunning second-half comeback to finish their campaign on a high note - a 45-34 win over Argentina in Salta on Saturday.

The All Blacks charged back from 17 points down to pick up a massive comeback victory 32-30 in Pretoria and conclude their Rugby Championship campaign.

OPINION: South Africa conceded a 17-point lead to lose 30-32 to New Zealand at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

EXCLUSIVE: Schalk Burger's contract with Saracens comes to an end in June 2019 but the loose forward has still not closed the door on adding to his 86 Springbok caps.

LISTEN to a very special edition of the #podcast as the @rugby365com team is joined by Alejandro Cristian Moreno, a retired Argentine and Italian international prop.

EXCLUSIVE: Saracens tend to go through a slump during the international season in November and it with that in mind that they have focussed on making a fast start to their Premiership season.

EXCLUSIVE: Springbok legend Schalk Burger, who has been recovering from a lengthy injury layoff, took some time out to chat about all things Springboks, his career and a fun story or two.

EXCLUSIVE: Springbok Nizaam Carr is loving life at Wasps as he feels he is able to play his natural game, despite it being suited to dry underfoot conditions.

OPINION: New Zealand bounced back from their loss to South Africa and proved they are still the best team in the world.

OPINION: We're coming to the end of the competition, already. And the cream is rising to the top.

OPINION: Saracens’ run of bonus point wins to start the season continued unabated in Round Five, as they dispatched Bath 50-27 at Allianz Park in a ruthless display of clinical attacking rugby.

EXCLUSIVE: Players are often given the opportunity to test themselves at the highest level but that same concept should be applied to other levels within a Union's structure.

OPINION: The Springboks beat the Wallabies 23-12 in Port Elizabeth, but Rassie Erasmus' will not be happy with some of his players' performances.

OPINION: The Wallabies have a toxic mix of outstanding talent and those who are not worthy to be in a Wallaby jersey.

OPINION: Australian Rugby is as at one of the lowest points in its long history.

EXCLUSIVE: Cheslin Kolbe will make his Springbok run-on debut when they play against Australia in Port Elizabeth and the diminutive wing's former Stormers teammates could not be happier for him.

EXCLUSIVE: Wasps centre Juan de Jongh felt hurt not to be included in the Springboks' squad after an injury crisis in the centre position potentially gave him a route back into the setup.

OPINION: The plight of Argentinean rugby has been one of the game’s most intriguing stories since the turn of the millennium.

LISTEN as the @rugby365com team chat about the role the @BlitzBoks can play in adding value to the @Springboks.

EXCLUSIVE: Wasps duo Juan de Jongh and Nizaam Carr were probably unlucky not to be included in the Springboks squad for the Rugby Championship but that doesn't mean that their dream of once again donning the green and gold has died.

OPINION: Players from Western Province and the Sharks dominate our Currie Cup Team of the Week for Round Six.

EXCLUSIVE: As the Rugby Championship returns and reaches its climax, the Springboks will need to prove their victory over the All Blacks was not a fluke.

OPINION: The highlight of the weekend’s action in the Premiership was undoubtedly Worcester Warriors’ 44-37 victory over Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

The back end of the tournament has begun and the gap between the haves and the have-nots is widening.

EXCLUSIVE: John Dobson's success in the Currie Cup is a classic example of a coach who deserves to make the step-up to franchise level, especially after the lack of success of Robbie Fleck with the Stormers.

EXCLUSIVE: London Irish prop Pat Cilliers was not a favourite of former Leicester Tigers coach Matt O'Connor, which saw the Springbok leave the club with one year left on his contract.

OPINION: The pressure building on Beauden Barrett has been palpable this year.

EXCLUSIVE: South Africa's victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand took the rugby world by surprise, so much so that all critics were made to eat humble pie.

LISTEN as the @rugby365com team unpacks a rare Springbok win over the All Blacks in New Zealand.

EXCLUSIVE: South Africa's dramatic victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand has certainly breathed new life into the hopes that the Springboks will be contenders to lift the 2019 World Cup.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: In the wake of Willie Le Roux’s release to Wasps, the Springboks have been left with a huge void to fill.

EXCLUSIVE: When your resume includes victories over the All Blacks in New Zealand in 2008 and 2009, you would think that person would be able to take a country like Zimbabwe to the 2019 World Cup.

OPINION: Gloucester continued their undefeated start to the season in Round 3 of the Gallagher Premiership, beating Bristol Bears at Kingsholm and shoring up their place in the top four.

OPINION: South Africa won for the first time in New Zealand in almost a decade. They are duly rewarded in @rugby365com's famous weekly selection.

EXCLUSIVE: The game has certainly evolved since speedster Tonderai Chavhanga tore up the field with his blistering pace and he believes speed is more important now than ever before.

EXCLUSIVE: SA Rugby's reasons for wanting to have teams competing in the European leagues have been questions by former Springbok wing Tonderai Chavhanga.

OPINION: The All Blacks have gone down to the Springboks 36-34 in Wellington after conceding a record number of points at home and bombing a chance to steal the match late.

OPINION: The Springboks pulled off a shock 36-34 victory over the world champion All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday.

EXCLUSIVE: Retired Springbok wing Tonderai Chavhanga got a burning issue off his chest and went head first into the most-spoken about topic when the Springboks lose - quotas.

The @rugby365com team is joined by respected New Zealand coach Adriaan Kennedy, as they analyse the @SanzarTRC crunch match between @AllBlacks and @Springboks.

EXCLUSIVE: The All Blacks prove week in and week out just how good they really are, even when they make a host of changes.

EXCLUSIVE: Retired Springbok Tonderai Chavanga pulled no punches as he shared his thoughts on the Springboks, Currie Cup and SA Rugby's plan to increase the number of teams in the PRO14.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It’s been nearly a decade since the All Blacks had a true rival.

OPINION: One match was entertaining, the other a dull affair. Not surprising then that the bulk of our team comes from the encounter between New Zealand and Argentina.

OPINION: Players from the Golden Lions dominate our Currie Cup Team of the Week for Round Four.

EXCLUSIVE: South Africa Rugby president Mark Alexander recently stated that the number of professional contracts will be reduced, which could see an improvement in the overall standard of the game if implemented correctly.

SPRINGBOK SPOTLIGHT: Are we to believe Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus when he suggests that he could be out of a job on Sunday?

ANALYSIS: The reason behind the All Blacks' ability to dominate teams – by an average scoreline of 40 to 12 - in 2018

EXCLUSIVE: Golden Lions loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani has set the Currie Cup alight this season but still needs some time developing his skills before being granted a chance at the highest level.

OPINION: The All Blacks have continued their winning ways with a 46-24 victory over Argentina in Nelson.

OPINION: Australia beat South Africa 23-18 in a scrappy game that was a showcase for just how pathetic both teams are.

OPINION: Australia beat South Africa 23-18 in a scrappy game that was a showcase for just how pathetic both teams are.

EXCLUSIVE: Australia head coach Michael Cheika desperately needs to bag a victory against the Springboks in order to restore the nation's confidence in him.

WATCH as The Short Ball team calls into question South Africa's continued involvement in SANZAAR.

The @rugby365com team analyses the weekend's crucial @SanzarTRC encounter between the @qantaswallabies and @Springboks in Brisbane.

EXCLUSIVE: We delve into the mindset of an Australian coach as a crucial Rugby Championship match between Australia and South Africa awaits.

EXCLUSIVE: The Springboks head to Australasia still licking their wounds from their previous round defeat, however, the 'bigger picture' needs to be front of mind during this competition.

The Premiership returned with a bang for the 2018/19 season this weekend, with Bristol Bears’ 17-10 victory over fierce rivals Bath stealing the headlines.

EXCLUSIVE: While the Blue Bulls have been trying to keep themselves in the Currie Cup running, you have missed a Springbok-turned-consultant in their coaching department.

EXCLUSIVE: With Super Rugby set for another potential change to the format, a case can be made for SANZAAR to do the same to the Rugby Championship, to manage the workload of the southern hemisphere players.

WATCH as Scotty Stevenson & Mils Muliaina decipher the chances of All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett plying his trade in Europe after the Rugby World Cup 2019.

LISTEN as the @rugby365com team chats to respected New Zealander Adriaan Kennedy about why the Kiwi coaching systems are so much further ahead than their main rivals.

READERS VIEW: Regular rugby365 reader Brian Holdsworth, based in South East Melbourne in Australia, looks at the dire financial situation of the South African Rugby Union and makes a few suggestions for a turnaround plan.

EXCLUSIVE: Springbok lock Lood de Jager sheds some light on his road to recovery, what has been keeping him busy, and shares his thoughts on the Springboks' embarrassing defeat to Argentina.

PARODY: If you don’t know Michael Cheika by now, you never will.

OPINION: Players from Western Province dominate our Team of the Week for Round Two of Currie Cup 2018.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND TWO: Never before has a team been as dominant as the current New Zealand outfit.

OPINION: In such a short competition, every round is meaningful and for several teams their season looks bleak already.

OPINION: The All Blacks locked away the Bledisloe Cup for another year with a 40-12 victory at Eden Park.

OPINION: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus admitted he should carry the blame for the team's poor performance in Mendoza, a 19-32 loss to Argentina that effectively confirmed New Zealand will retain the Rugby Championship.

OPINION: Argentina put a huge dent in South Africa's Rugby Championship hopes with a commanding 32-19 win in Mendoza on Saturday.

OPINION: The Wallabies went down 12-40 at Eden Park as the All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup in the second test.

CURRIE CUP DOCUMENTARY: What was once South Africa's premier tournament, has now become a 'development' event.

The @rugby365com team shines the spotlight on the @SanzarTRC and @TheCurrieCup - with a few intriguing titbits thrown it.

WATCH as The 1014 Rugby team examines the minutes played by replacements, position by position.

CURRIE CUP ROUND ONE: The season got off to a low-key start, with just two matches and three teams on byes.

ANALYSIS: With the game in the balance and the All Blacks holding a slim 12-6 lead, the Wallabies received a scrum on their own 40-metre line in the 51st minute.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE: The first shots were fired in the 2018 version of the tournament and the usual suspects are at the top of the pile.

EXCLUSIVE: The Sharks latest coaching acquisition is a decision that has some excited, especially that a foreign coach is coming to South Africa.

EXCLUSIVE: One of the most recognisable referees in the rugby world with his speed and engaging personality will be Late Tackle's special guest and we want you to get involved.

EXCLUSIVE: The All Blacks are once again the overwhelming favourites to claim lift the Rugby Championship trophy, however, the Springboks could bag a rare victory over the New Zealanders.

PODCAST: Scotty Stevenson & Mils Muliaina are back and joined on the phone by former Wallaby captain and rugby great George Gregan to talk all things Bledisloe Cup.

The @rugby365com team chats about the latest dispatches and surprises from Loftus Versfeld and Newlands about their coaching staff for 2019.

EXCLUSIVE: All things Rugby Championship takes centre stage as the Late Tackle team returns with a bang, breaking down each squad and getting involved in some fantasy league.

VIDEO: The 1014 Rugby team examine what squad depth actually means and what it might look like.

OPINION: It was a season of changes at Ellis Park - departures resulted in a new coaching set-up.

OPINION: It is a moniker that will stay with the Sharks until they eventually win a Super Rugby title. However, they are the most successful team never to have won the competition.

OPINION: A promise of new beginning ended up in a very public divorce for the Bulls

SUPER RUGBY AFTERMATH: The Lions most feared weapon heading into the final was their lineout maul, which they had deployed with devastating effect throughout this Super Rugby season.

The @rugby365com takes a look at the latest drama at Newlands and comes to the conclusion that Western Province officials believe in the Tooth Fairy and Santa Clause.

Carlos Spencer and Quade Cooper, much like Springbok Elton Jantjies, could mesmerise the opposition and just as easily flop.

OPINION: Super Rugby 2018 has ended, and it is time to reveal our Team of the Tournament.

OPINION: The Stormers are a team in disarray, both on and off the field.

PODCAST: Scotty Stevenson & Mils Muliaina look back on the Super Rugby season as it draws to a close and discuss the matchups for this weekend’s final in Christchurch.

The @rugby365com team welcomes aboard a passionate voice from Christchurch as try to find somebody that is willing to back the Lions against the Crusaders.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: What distinguishes good teams from great ones is multiple championships, especially in consecutive seasons.

OPINION: The Crusaders and the Lions share the spoils in our Super Rugby Team of the Week for the semifinals.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Renowned New Zealand pundit Scotty Stevenson believes this year's Super Rugby Final will not have the atmosphere it deserves.

Now that we’re approaching the business end of the Super Rugby finals, the question we ask ourselves is how do players and coaches prepare their weekly plan and deal with expectations.

READER'S OPINION: Dan Jardine responds to a fellow viewer's question regarding the All Blacks approach to interchangeable 10/12, which was posed on Late Tackle's Bulling Around with a Scarlet episode.

VIDEO: How often do you get two real legends - like the World Rugby Player of the Century and the South African Player of the Century - on the same stage?

The @rugby365com team welcomes retired Welsh international Haldane Naude Luscombe on board, as they look at early retirements and @SuperRugby #semifinals.

THE SHORT BALL: Do the Hurricanes have a chance? And should the Lions & Waratahs abandon their kicking boots this weekend?

OPINION: The opening round of play-offs produced a number of eye-catching performances in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

EXCLUSIVE: Heading to a foreign country to ply your trade will always be a tough task when you are not accustomed to playing most of your matches in wet weather, especially when joining a new club in the middle of the season.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Renowned New Zealand pundit Scotty Stevenson has made his call on who will be in the Final this year.

EXCLUSIVE: A loyal Late Tackle viewer, Vincent Nortier posed an interesting question around the All Blacks' approach to the 10/12 interchangeability and whether or not that could work for the Springboks.

EXCLUSIVE: The conveyor belt of South African-born players representing another country may soon have another name added the list.

EXCLUSIVE: The debate around whether or not Super Rugby remains relevant and interesting rages on, as it would seem that the final round robin matches did nothing to enhance the tournament's image.

EXCLUSIVE: The BlitzBoks have never won the Sevens World Cup and this year's edition of the competition brings a unique format.

LISTEN as the @rugby365com team - @LoffieEloff & @King365ed - welcomes former Baby Bok and Irish international Richard Strauss to this week's discussion.

EXCLUSIVE: Soon-to-be Welsh qualified David Bulbring of the Scarlets lets us in on what it is like for a South African-born player trying to make a name for himself in a different country.

The influx of playing personnel from the west saw the Rebels instantly become one of the favourites in the Australian conference this season. Along with rising coach Dave Wessels, this new Force-Rebels outfit immediately looked better on paper.

EXCLUSIVE: Much has been said around the recently trailed height of the tackle, with many suggesting that it will take away from a key component of the game.

OPINION: The Crusaders ended the regular season of Super Rugby with another masterful display of rugby against the Blues in Christchurch.

@rugby365com law guru Paul Dobson gives us his view on SANZAAR's general report of officiating in Super Rugby.

EXCLUSIVE: Egon Seconds took to refereeing in 2014 but struggled with the transition from player to referee as he found himself joining the players in some of the on-field antics.

EXCLUSIVE: Super Rugby referee Egon Seconds provides us with unique insight into what happens behind the scenes after each match he and his fellow referees are involved in.

EXCLUSIVE: The current Super Rugby conference system may have been around for a few years but the format remains confusing to some former players.

EXCLUSIVE: The rumour mill continues to grow stronger each day that Newlands Rugby Stadium will be no more and it seems to be a decision that will be welcomed by former players.

LISTEN as @King365ed & @LoffieEloff look at the final round of @SuperRugby league action, before the play-offs.

Super Rugby referee Egon Seconds jumps onto the couch and brings some unique insight into all things refereeing while bringing some humour to the panel.

OPINION: Ngani Laumape produced the most eye-catching performance in Round 18 of Super Rugby.

EXCLUSIVE: Leaving the comforts of home in Wales and shipping your family to South Africa is a daunting prospect in itself, however, the chance to work alongside Rassie Erasmus at international level was an opportunity Aled Walters could not pass up.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The flyhalf also known as the 'first five-eighth' in New Zealand and the 'outhalf' in Ireland, is possibly the most pivotal position on the rugby pitch.

EXCLUSIVE: Rassie Erasmus made a successful start to his Springbok coaching tenure but all eyes are now on what progress will be made as the Rugby Championships draw nearer.

EXCLUSIVE: Player management is not simply a case of resting players from matches as Springboks Head of High-Performance Aled Walters explains.

EXCLUSIVE: Aled Walters' decision to leave Munster and join Rassie Erasmus as part of the Springbok coaching staff was a no-brainer as he holds the team in high regard.

EXCLUSIVE: As the game moves ever closer to becoming a year-long season, managing the number of matches the players are involved in becomes more important than ever.

Scotty Stevenson and & Mils Muliaina talk about the incident when Blues hooker James Parsons denied a SANZAAR statement that claimed he received an apology from Owen Franks.

LISTEN as @King365ed, @LoffieEloff, @wynandclaass & @Tauriq365 try to make sense of the hodgepodge of mediocrity that was evident in @SuperRugby this past weekend.

EXCLUSIVE: Self-confessed Jesse Kriel look alike Aled Walters, the Springboks' Head of Athletic Performance, brings his Welsh charm and shares some funny stories about his time at Munster and the Springboks.

Here is a look at the highest paid players in the 2017/2018 season.

OPINION: Super Rugby is back after the June international break and so is rugby365's Team of the Week.

EXCLUSIVE: Duane Vermeulen made a highly successful return to the Springbok fold, a year after a poor showing that saw him lose his spot, proving that he remains one of the best loose forwards in the world.

OPINION: All Blacks captain Kieran Read maybe propagating the removal of Super Rugby's conference system, but it actually benefits New Zealand rugby.

EXCLUSIVE: There were some solid performances for the Springboks in their series against England and some not-so-solid ones as well.

EXCLUSIVE: The Springboks' defeat to England at Newlands has got some people worried about the lack of depth the country has in certain positions.

After Jerome Kaino’s whiffed conversion in his final game at Eden Park this past Friday, we decided to compile a few memorable ‘big man’ kicks, for better or worse.

EXCLUSIVE: As the Springbok players disperse across the country to their various Super Rugby teams, they will now face a metal challenge of adjusting to the demands of Super Rugby.

This week the Short Ball team brought James McOnie off the bench to join Mils Muliaina in the studio.

EXCLUSIVE: The Springboks have just come off a tough series against England and will now head straight back into their Super Rugby franchises, however, some players deserve a break.

LISTEN as the @rugby365com team delves into suggestions @lospumas players threw matches to get rid of their coach and @wynandclaass tells us about the time when players confronted the @Springboks coach.

The conclusion of the June internationals has answered many questions about where the strength of the international game is but now the southern hemisphere weirdly heads back to Super Rugby.

JUNE ANALYSIS: The June internationals have come and gone. Jan de Koning looks for pointers to what we can expect at the World Cup in Japan next year.

EXCLUSIVE: The new tackle laws which were trialled during the Under-20 World Championships will run the risk of taking away a crucial element of the game.

OPINION: Opposition beware. Scott Barrett has officially arrived and he is here to ruin your night.

EXCLUSIVE: Now that the dust has settled on what was a successful first outing for Rassie Erasmus, it was pleasing to see that the coach was not tempted to hand out free Springbok caps - especially in the dead rubber Test.

OPINION: The June international window has come to a dramatic climax, with plenty of controversies and many more highlights.

OPINION: Michael Cheika’s Australia side went down to the touring Ireland in heartbreaking fashion last night. Here’s how the players fared individually.

OPINION: The All Blacks capped their series against France with a 49-14 victory at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

EXCLUSIVE: Former Springbok flyhalf Butch James reveals who he believes should be Rassie Erasmus' backup flyhalf going forward, and it's an interesting selection.

OPINION: England’s tour of South Africa came to its conclusion, as the visitors salvaged pride with an impressive and disciplined 25-10 win at Newlands in Cape Town.

OPINION: South Africa failed to complete a clean sweep over England at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.

OPINION: Ireland have won their first series in Australia since 1979.

EXCLUSIVE: England are just one defeat away from equalling their longest losing streak and their fall from grace could not have been more dramatic.

LISTEN as the @rugby365com team delves into a month of refereeing controversies in Test rugby.

EXCLUSIVE: Francois 'Faf' de Klerk's return to the Springbok fold has worked wonders for the team's performance, however, it has also raised questions about the depth in the position.

OPINION: Alex Shaw comes up with five key changes that could help England achieve victory in the final encounter of their three-Test series against South Africa.

Having wrapped up their June Test series over England, the general feeling is that the Springboks have renewed the public's belief that they will return to being one of the best teams in the world.

WATCH as yet another New Zealand player gets away with deliberate foul play!

OPINION: Former England flyhalf and now media pundit Andrew James Goode names a team he feels will be good enough to beat the Springboks at Newlands.

EXCLUSIVE: Rassie Erasmus' decision to hand three players their debuts in the opening match of the June Test Series paid immediate dividends as the Springboks have now claimed two consecutive victories over England.

KIWI OPINION: We bring you the view of a New Zealander, as the fallout over the Benjamin Fall against Beauden Barrett incident reverberates around the world.

EXCLUSIVE: Two consecutive wins under Rassie Erasmus' coaching has laid the platform for a successful path on the road to the 2019 World Cup.

OPINION: The All Blacks secured a series victory with an unconvincing 26-13 win over France.

EXCLUSIVE: Rassie Erasmus has made an immediate impact since he took over as the Springboks' head coach, an impact that has clearly galvanised the players.

OPINION: England responded to their defeat in Johannesburg with a similarly frustrating performance in Bloemfontein.

OPINION: South Africa managed to ignore the niggle and off-the-ball stuff to take an unassailable two-nil lead in their three-Test series against England.

OPINION: Ieland picked up their first away win over Australia for 39 years with a 26-21 victory in Melbourne to leave their three-Test series evenly poised at one apiece.

EXCLUSIVE: An act of foul play or a refereeing error can change the outcome of the game but it seems as though recent incidents would not have changed the end result.

EXCLUSIVE: The South African Sevens team retained their World Sevens Series title in the unlikeliest way when they claimed the Paris Sevens leg.

LISTEN as Neil Powell, coach of the back-to-back @WorldRugby7s champion @BlitzBoks, and his captain Philip Snyman join the @rugby365com team.

The Springboks' remarkable come-from-behind 42-39 in the opening Test over England has restored the country's hopes about the revival of the nation's beloved team.

EXCLUSIVE: Skara Ntubeni has been plagued by injury throughout his career but he remains hungry to be able to wear his Springbok blazer.

EXCLUSIVE: The Rugby Pod's Andy Goode had the chance to witness an England training session and shares the experience of watching Eddie Jones put those players through their paces.

EXCLUSIVE: The moment Siya Kolisi led the Springboks onto Ellis Park will forever be etched in the annals of South African rugby but for those closest to him, it means a lot more.

OPINION: The back-to-back World Cup winners, New Zealand, asserted their dominance over France with a 52-11 win at Eden Park in their first Test of the year.

OPINION: A huge performance from David Pocock saw Australia handing Ireland a first defeat in over a year with an 18-9 victory in the first Test in Brisbane.

OPNION: England got their summer series off to a rollercoaster start, racing into a 24-3 point lead in Johannesburg, before imploding late in the first half and ultimately succumbing to a 42-39 loss at Ellis Park.

OPINION: It was two of South Africa's European-based players - Francois de Klerk and Duane Vermeulen - had the biggest impact in a narrow 42-39 win over England on Saturday.

OPINION: Australia record an impressive18-9 win over Grand Slam champions Ireland at the Suncorp Stadium.

EXCLUSIVE: England are now entering their third year under Eddie Jones and it seems as though the standard plateau has occurred after a blistering start to his tenure.

LISTEN as former Springbok captain Wynand Claassen shares his wisdom with @King365ed & @LoffieEloff - ahead of the June Tests.

EXCLUSIVE: The money-making exhibition match between the Springboks and Wales proved that South Africa's international level depth is not as deep as initially thought.

The Rugby Pod's Andy Goode makes his Late Tackle debut to chat all things South Africa vs England as we continue to build toward the all-important series.

Mils and Scotty join you from the rickety podcast studio one last time before The Short Ball gets a shiny new home. This week they’re here to discuss Super Rugby, including the very latest tragedy at the Blues, and back to back losses for the Hurricanes.

OPINION: The Melbourne Rebels secured a good win in Auckland and now they lead the way in our Super Rugby Team of the Week for Round 16.

EXCLUSIVE: In the lead up to the first Test between the Springboks and England, one can't help but wonder who heads into the series as the favourites.

EXCLUSIVE: The sanctions handed down to those who transgressed the laws of the game continue to boggle the mind as Super Rugby's bans have become somewhat of a farce.

EXCLUSIVE: Rassie Erasmus' Springbok squad showcased one thing - he prefers his wings to have some bulk to them.

EXCLUSIVE: Making substitutions has become a key component in ensuring a late surge to win a game but there seems to be a trend of replacing a team's captain early in the second half.

EXCLUSIVE: History was made when Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named Siya Kolisi as the country's new captain, an announcement that has got the country upbeat about the upcoming Tests against England.

EXCLUSIVE: Nic Groom returned to South Africa from the Northampton Saints and shares his views on the Springboks, England and playing alongside one of the "bad boys" of the game.

CHANGES ARE COMING: The rugby365 evolution continues this week as we tweak the website to give it a fresh new look.

EXCLUSIVE: Schalk Brits hung up his boots from the professional game after Saracens reclaimed the Premiership title and believes he knows how the Springboks can defeat England during the June international series.

EXCLUSIVE: In the aftermath of Rassie Erasmus' Springbok squad announcement, we take a look at who the Late Tackle feels should be the starting pack of forwards.  

EXCLUSIVE: Being handed a few weeks ban for foul play does not seem to be deterring players from acts of intentional foul play, so hit them where they will feel it - in their pockets.

With the Waratahs recording a comprehensive win over the Highlanders, New Zealand’s uninterrupted domination of Australia in Super Rugby has finally come to a close.

EXCLUSIVE: The Stormers' defeat to the Sunwolves in Hong Kong seems to be the straw that broke the camel's back as it perfectly sums up the season they have had.

OPINION: After their fantastic win over the Bulls, the Jaguares are well represented in our Super Rugby Team of the Week for Round 14.

SUPER RUGBY OPINION: Have the Sharks found a winning recipe against New Zealand sides?

EXCLUSIVE: Francois 'Faf' de Klerk is yet another on a long list of South Africans to have resurrected their career after playing in Europe and England squad member Jono Ross believes the scrumhalf deserves a Springbok spot.

EXCLUSIVE: After the recent revelation that the prestigious Currie Cup has been reduced to a competition shorter than the Varsity Cup, the question has to be asked about whether there is still a need for it.

EXCLUSIVE: Every couch critic has their opinion on who Rassie Erasmus should select as the starting Springbok backline, so we decided to add two more voices to the selection committee.

EXCLUSIVE: England squad member Jono Ross endured a tough time during his time at the Bulls but that all changed when he made the decision to head north to ply his trade in France.

EXCLUSIVE: The sanction handed to the Crusaders' Joe Moody following a cheap shot on Kurtley Beale has not gone down well with those outside of New Zealand.

EXCLUSIVE: Eddie Jones' recent England squads announcement features another South African-born player who has thrived in Europe.

OPINION: The King and All Black great Carlos Spencer has returned to rugby and will join the Hurricanes coaching staff as an assistant in 2019.

OPINION: Following his recall to the England team last week, Danny Cipriani has joined Gloucester, with the club announcing his signing on Monday.

EXCLUSIVE: James Murphy, who came from relative obscurity to be part of the broader BlitzBok squad, speaks about what he feels is a vitally important aspect of the Sevens game.

OPINION: Leinster claimed their fourth Champions Cup title with a narrow 15-12 win over Racing at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.

EXCLUSIVE: Springbok legend Bryan Habana has put on his selector hat and picked an interesting Springbok backline for the first Test against England in June.

EXCLUSIVE: Not too long ago, Anton 'Worms' van Zyl questioned the Jaguares' Super Rugby inclusion as they offer little value to the competition and, as recent results would have it, he accepted the backlash.

Is Peter de Villiers making progress in Zimbabwe? The answer to that and many other questions are provided by the @rugby365com team.

EXCLUSIVE: While some believe that Bryan Habana's retirement announcement came as a result of not being able to regain a spot in Toulon's matchday squad, however, he gave Late Tackle the exclusive insight. 

OPINION: Jan de Koning and Tauriq Ebrahim look at a possible replacement for the injured Malcolm Marx in the Springbok team.

EXCLUSIVE: Soon to be retired Springbok legend Bryan Habana just can't get enough of Late Tackle as he joins the team to chat all things retirement and drops a Bok bolter or two with the upcoming England Series in mind.

OPINION: After hammering the Melbourne Rebels in their own backyard, players from the Crusaders dominate our Super Rugby Round 12 Team of the Week.

EXCLUSIVE: Jaco Kriel's move to Gloucester to join former coach Johan Ackermann is the right decision for his career.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: In a new series rugby365 offers readers a chance to air their views in a column. Roy Robertson gets the first crack.

EXCLUSIVE: Soon to be retired Sharks stalwart Keegan Daniel looks towards the upcoming series against England and names his ideal loose trio.

EXCLUSIVE: Based on current form believes Handre Pollard is leading the race for the Springbok flyhalf position.

EXCLUSIVE: Keegan Daniel may only be stepping away from the game at the end of the current Super Rugby season, and has already started planning his next step.

EXCLUSIVE: The greatest Springbok wing may have retired from the game but that does not mean that he needs to be lost to South African rugby.

VIDEO: Gareth Wright, Western Province's kicking coach and recruiter, joins the Late Tackle team on the couch to speak about what goes into recruiting players for the Union.

OPINION: Players from New Zealand make up almost half of our selections for our Super Rugby Team of the Week for Round 11.

OPINION: England coach Eddie Jones could find themselves in an uphill battle when his side take on the Springboks in a three-Test Series in June.

EXCLUSIVE: Rebels coach Dave Wessels reveals why gave up the chance to coach Pro14 giants Munster in favour of remaining Super Rugby.

EXCLUSIVE: The Rebels burst into the 2018 Super Rugby with renewed vigour and quickly established themselves as one of the front-runners to claim the Australian conference.

EXCLUSIVE: It does not get any more clear than this as to what the Springbok emblem means to Rebels defence coach Kevin Foote.

EXCLUSIVE: Rebels head coach Dave Wessels has paid tribute to current Western Province coach John Dobson for the role he played in his coaching career.

EXCLUSIVE: Rebels defence coach Kevin Foote has no issue with joining the Rebels' training when they are on tour.

WATCH as a player attempts a penalty kick. The outcome is amazing ...

VIDEO: The Rebels coaching staff of Dave Wessels and Kevin Foote took some time out of their preparations to join the Late Tackle for a catch-up session.

EXCLUSIVE: Many young players are leaving their countries of birth to chase the international dream somewhere else, but what could have been had Zimbabwean-born players remained in the country. 

OPINION: It will be a surprise to some that there are only five New Zealand players in our Super Rugby Team of the Week for Round 10.

OPINION: It wasn’t quite the classic weekend of European semi-final rugby that we all hoped for, with two one-sided results, but what it has done is create a tantalising final between two clinical and in-form teams.

EXCLUSIVE: In days gone by, the primary duty of the tight five was simple - scrum! However, that has now changed.

OPINION: A panel of RugbyPass writers have pooled their thoughts and handed out some fictional awards as a way of assessing the 2018 Super Rugby season so far.

EXCLUSIVE: While most players do not take kindly to any form of homophobic slurs aimed at them, Italian loose forward Sebastian Negri chatted to the Late Tackle boys about his incident.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: When the 18-year-old Sacred Heart College prop went viral in 2014, it was the sheer fascination of a 130kg front rower tearing a team apart returning kicks that captured everyone’s imagination.

EXCLUSIVE: As the Springboks' June series against England draws closer, one cannot help but wonder if Rassie Erasmus will adapt his game plan to suit the current mauling trend. 

ANALYSIS: England and Saracens performance analyst Ross Hamilton looks at what he believes is still the key statistical battleground and exactly why that is the case.

VIDEO: Back in 2010 when John Dobson was the UCT-Ikeys coach, he was forced to make a decision whether to keep or 'fire' Jake White from his coaching staff.

EXCLUSIVE: It is easy to heap praise when a team is successful, but when they do not live up to expectations, the questions of doubt begin to creep in. However, this is not the BlitzBoks' case.

OPINION: Players from the Bulls and the Jaguares dominate our Super Rugby Team of the Week for Round Nine.

EXCLUSIVE: There's a storm brewing in Cape Town and it's not the kind that will bring much needed rain to the drought-stricken city.

EXCLUSIVE: Sport has evolved over the past twenty years like no other, with the introduction of modern technology and the focus on nutrition paired with health, the traditionally smaller aspects of the sport have now come into focus more than ever

EXCLUSIVE: Sharks flyhalf Robert du Preez believes the Sharks are on the right path to return the franchise, and the province, to its glory days.

EXCLUSIVE: There is no doubt that Neil Powell and his Springbok Sevens management team has a system that breeds success.

LISTEN as Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina, from the Short Ball team, described the Sharks are a 'far out' team.

WATCH as special guest Blitzbok stalwart Chris Dry opens the Springbok Sevens door and reveals how they manage to consistently be at the top of their game, especially when new players are drafted into the main team.

OPINION: This time it is the turn of the South Africans to dominate rugby365's Super Rugby Team of the Week.

EXCLUSIVE: The United States rugby fraternity needs to compete with a few major sporting codes and a few adaptations t the game could assist them to drawing more attention to the sport and bring in numerous revenue streams. 

EXCLUSIVE: The current players in the USA Eagles system can now be at ease with the knowledge that their best interests will be front of mind after the formation of the United States Rugby Players Association.

EXCLUSIVE: As the June Test series against England draws nearer, many are starting to debate who should don on the number 10 jersey. However, there may just be an alternate option which could solve the debate.

Scotty Stevenson says New Zealand needs its biggest city to be in love with Rugby Union.

EXCLUSIVE: In a time when money drives many players to leave their homeland to make a living in the big European leagues, former USA Eagles captain reveals why he turned down a European contract in favour of one with the Lions.

EXCLUSIVE: The performance of the Stormers' pack will leave a sour taste in the mouths of many of their supporters as they were outplayed by a lesser experienced Bulls pack.

WATCH as former USA Eagles captain and Sevens representative Todd Clever gives you exclusive access into the state of the game in the United States of America where the XVs players play second fiddle to their Sevens compatriots.

OPINION: It is not exactly a surprise, but rugby365's famous weekly selection is dominated by New Zealand players.

EXCLUSIVE: Getting some game time under the belt at Racing 92 was the first step for Pat Lambie to return to the international stage and now that he has accomplished that, he is hopeful of catching Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus' eye.

EXCLUSIVE: Patrick Lambie headed to Racing 92 under a cloud of uncertainty due to numerous serious injuries, however, the flyhalf has now revealed that making the move has helped him to break that cycle.

OPINION: We have our Champions Cup semifinals. Racing 92 will entertain Munster in Bordeaux, whilst the Scarlets will travel to Dublin to take on Leinster in an all-PRO14 affair.

EXCLUSIVE: Despite having signed a pre-contract agreement to join Brive at the conclusion of the current season, Springbok flyhalf Morne Steyn seems to be in the process of changing his mind.

EXCLUSIVE: As the game starts to gain global traction and Tier Two nations undergo their qualification for the 2019 World Cup, it would seem that their involvement in the showpiece event overshadows Tier One nations. 

EXCLUSIVE: As Rugby Europe is placed under the microscope following the Belgium-Spain fiasco, former Spanish international Guillermo Barcena reveals information about the organisation that many may not have known.

WATCH as former Spanish international Guillermo Barcena lifts the lid on how deep Spain's dissatisfaction goes regarding their World Cup qualifier defeat to Belgium.

OPINION: There is a large contingent of New Zealand players in rugby365's Super Rugby Team of the Week for Round Six.

EXCLUSIVE: Team culture plays an important role in any successful environment but Exeter Chiefs has a loyal, respectful fan base behind them who gets the behind the team regardless of the circumstances.

EXCLUSIVE: There is a sense of excitement brewing in the South African rugby fraternity as a potentially exciting backline, that could match the All Blacks, could take to the field soon.

EXCLUSIVE: England slumped to their lowest position since 1983 as they finished a poor Six Nations campaign in fifth position. 

EXCLUSIVE: Recent results have alluded to the improved performances of the so-called small teams as opposed to many believing the big teams are under performing.

EXCLUSIVE: The controversy surrounding World Rugby's handling of the Spanish complaints in their 2019 World Cup qualifiers has brought unwanted negativity to the sport, something it cannot afford.

World Rugby's administrative blunders are put under the microscope as two incidents occurred within five days of each other, one of which ending in players taking their frustrations out on a referee.

WATCH as the 1014 Rugby team review Round Five of Six Nations 2018.

WATCH as referees are once again thrown into the spotlight following a major incident in Belgium and England loose forward Don Armand speaks about his career and being an Exeter cult hero. 

OPINION: With a Six Nations trophy and a Grand Slam, it is on surprise that players from Ireland dominate our Six Nations 2018 Team of the Tournament.

EXCLUSIVE: Harlequins flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis recently returned to the playing field after recovering from a life-threatening throat injury that occurred during his Premiership debut.

OPINION: The Stormers were in fine form against the Blues at Newlands and their players dominate our Super Rugby Team of the Week for Round Five.

EXCLUSIVE: Former Scotland international Jim Hamilton provides a European view on England's Six Nations struggles and tends to think that their current form is a result of poor management.

EXCLUSIVE: Having played in the Super Rugby and the French Top 14, Harlequins flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis provides insight on his experiences in all three of those leagues.

EXCLUSIVE: Despite a horrendous Australasian tour, where they picked up just one point - a losing bonus point - from their three matches, the Stormers now return home as potential favourites against the Blues.

EXCLUSIVE: Finding themselves 0-19 down at half-time of their quarterfinal match against Australia at the Vancouver Sevens, the Blitzboks pulled off a remarkable comeback that will go down in the annals of Sevens history.

WATCH as Harlequins flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis opens up about his comeback from a life-threatening throat injury and The Rugby Pod's Jim Hamilton brings a fresh look at England's current state of affairs.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The bitter taste of defeat is familiar to some more than others but no one is more in need of a refreshing palate cleanser than Sergio Parisse.

OPINION: The Blues finally got their first win of the season and it was a big one.

EXCLUSIVE: Having a coach who is willing to give you the freedom to express yourself on the field will inevitably allow you to play your best, something Tim Whitehead experienced during his time at the Sharks.

OPINION: Ireland were crowned the 2018 Six Nations champions when they comfortably beat Scotland 28-8 in Dublin in Round Four of the Six Nations.

WATCH as the 1014 Rugby team review Round Four of Six Nations 2018. 

EXCLUSIVE: Former Test referee Jonathan Kaplan has called on the current crop to stop trying to be amicable to both teams, instead they should focus on getting their decisions right.

EXCLUSIVE: Former Stormers and Kings centre Tim Whitehead never planned on becoming a professional player but when his talent was spotted by current Stormers coach Robbie Fleck, he opted to give it a go.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Esportif Intelligence has compiled and released the average ages of every starting position for New Zealand, Australian and South African Super Rugby sides.

EXCLUSIVE: The administration of the EP Kings manipulated their inexperienced players to such an extent that Tim Whitehead lost his love for the game.

OPINION: The billing of England v All Blacks looked to be the ultimate showdown of the two superpowers of North & South. 

EXCLUSIVE: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus' technical knowledge and his unique look at analysing various aspects of the game bodes well for the country to return to its former glory.

WATCH as former Kings player and co-owner of Frankees, Tim Whitehead, provides exclusive access into the administrative chaos that led to the franchise's bankruptcy and the impact it had on his then teammates.

WIN with rugby365 and Hisense, as the proud sponsor of the Lions, is giving away two sets of double stand tickets to rugby365 readers for this weekend's game.

LISTEN as Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina, from the Short Ball team, Scotty and Mils talk to Bryce Lawrence, manager of New Zealand referees about dangerous tackles.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The teams have been ranked, from one to 15, according to the appeal of their jerseys. Let us know if you agree!

OPINION: After their impressive 45-28 win over the Stormers, the Crusaders dominate out Super Rugby Team of the Week for Round Three.

WATCH: In the first of a three part series, the 1014 Rugby team explore the big changes in Rugby Union since the 2015 Rugby World Cup. 

EXCLUSIVE: Once a player retires from the professional game and heads into everyday life, the transition can be so daunting that some end up in a downward spiral form which they cannot return.

EXCLUSIVE: Aphiwe Dyantyi's sublime Super Rugby performances has numerous people calling for the 23-year-old to become a Springbok sooner rather than later but those calls are premature.

EXCLUSIVE: Former Saracens scrumhalf Neil de Kock lifts the lid on how the reigning two-time European Champions have achieved success on the field by investing in their players off the field.

OPINION: After being on the receiving end of alleged physical and verbal abuse whilst travelling back from England’s loss to Scotland in Edinburgh, head coach Eddie Jones has vowed never to use public transport again citing security fears.

EXCLUSIVE: Huw Jones' incredible second try against England in Round Three of the Six Nations, may not have been the pre-planned set-play Scotland wanted but it worked out perfectly for the 24-year-old.

WATCH former Springbok and Saracens scrumhalf Neil de Kock sheds some light on those random trips while Scotland international Huw Jones takes us through his spectacular second try.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: On the surface, Jesse Kriel looks unstoppable. Ben Smith takes a closer look!

OPINION: The 1014 team, in their unique way, takes a look at Week Three of the Six Nations.

SIX NATIONS ROUND THREE: The Six Nations passed the halfway mark, as the runners and riders positioned themselves for their final push for success in the two rounds still to come.

OPINON: Former international referee Jonathan Kaplan added his voice to the growing concern around the current standards of the television match officials.

OPINION: The 125th edition of the Calcutta Cup played out today and, with little surprise, it duly delivered a fascinating rugby spectacle.

OPINION: Huw Jones scored two tries to help Scotlan produced an historic win over England at the Murrayfield.

OPINION: A Jacob Stockdale intercept with the clock in the red wrapped up a 37-27 win for Joe Schmidt’s side, to keep them on track for the Grand Slam.

OPINION: Warren Gatland's 100th match in charge of Wales ended on a rather sour note.

WATCH as the #RugbyLateTackle team brings in former international referee Jonathan Kaplan to get a different view on the controversies surrounding Television Match Officials in the modern game.

OPINION: Super Rugby’s coaching carousel has come to a stop for now, with nine teams – almost two-thirds of the competition – featuring a new man at the helm.

OPINION: There were only two games in Round One of Super Rugby, which means only there were four teams to pick from for our first Team of the Week.

OPINION: As we near the start of the highly anticipated Super Rugby season, the #RugbyLateTackle team identifies South African players who they feel will make a big impact for their franchise.

WATCH the #RugbyLateTackle team break down each South African Super Rugby franchise squad and identify players who they feel will make a massive impact this season.

OPINION: The demise of the once astral and luminous Currie Cup races towards us, as selfish union and personal interest seems to condemn this once great tournament to the scrap heap of South African Rugby.

COMPETITION TIME! We're giving away 3 pairs of tickets to the Aviva Premiership game: Leicester Tigers v. Harlequins on Saturday 17th  February courtesy of LeoVegas.

SIX NATIONS ROUND TWO: It was a weekend of high drama, controversy and - most of all - entertaining rugby.

OPINION: After the embarrassing 7-34 loss to Wales in Cardiff, Scotland reorganised and produced a hard-fought 32-26 win over France.

WATCH as the 1014 team review Week Two of the 2018 Six Nations.

OPINION: France suffered their second consecutive Six Nations defeat after going down to Scotland at the Murrayfield.

OPINION: After all the entertainment of the pre-match press conferences over the past week, England and Wales finally met on Saturday, with England edging a tense 12-6 win at Twickenham.

OPINION: Wales became stronger the later the game went on, but still lost 6-12 top England in  a thrilling Six Nations encounter at a rain-swept Twickenham on Saturday.

OPINION: Ireland picked up their second win of the Six Nations with a comprehensive 56-19 win over Italy.

OPINION: Italy are on course for the wooden spoon in this year's Six Nations tournament.

WATCH as the #RugbyLateTackle team looks at what the immediate future holds for the Springboks now that Allister Coetzee has vacated his Head Coach position.

Argentina captain Agustin Creevy gives us his top five hookers in world rugby. Do you agree?

Yet another thrilling chapter in the history of the Six Nations Championship was written in Paris last Saturday, when Ireland’s Johnny Sexton landed a dramatic late drop-goal to give his side a 15-13 victory over hosts France.

Watch as the 1014 team review Week One of the 2018 Six Nations. 

SIX NATIONS ROUND ONE: It was an interesting weekend, with at least one surprise - the margin of Wales' win over Scotland.

OPINION: England got their 2018 Six Nations campaign underway with a resounding away win in Rome, although they were made to work hard for 60 minutes by an Italian side that was not afraid to play against the reining champions.

OPINION: Italy showed glimpses of improvement in the first half of their 15-46 loss to England, but they still have a long way to go to be considered a real threat in the Six Nations.

EXCLUSIVE: Having just returned to training, following surgery in July 2017, Springbok Bryan Habana revealed to the #RugbyLateTackle team that he is contemplating his future as his Toulon contract reaches its end.

Your favourite site has linked with #RugbyLateTackle and the Cape Town 10s, to bring you behind the scenes coverage of the event.

WATCH as the Late Tackle team is joined by Joe Pietersen to pick his brain about why local players head overseas to ply their trade.

WATCH as the 1014 team looks at the 2018 Six Nations tournament.

WATCH as the 1014 team explore THE DNA for each Six Nations team. 

WATCH as the #RugbyLateTackle team looks at the current Springbok coaching conundrum and shares their opinions on what role Rassie Erasmus will play.

OPINION: As news surfaced that Duane Vermeulen could return to South Africa in the near future, the #RugbyLateTackle team - more specifically Morgan Newman - makes an argument for central contracting in the country.

ANALYSIS: Wasps have uncovered a magic combination this year with flyhalf Danny Cipriani and Springbok fullback Willie Le Roux.

VIDEO: Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina reveal the All Blacks' controversial plans during Super Rugby,

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The pool stage of the Champions Cup came to a thrilling conclusion this past weekend, as 14 teams bade to join Leinster in the knockout rounds.

WATCH as the 1014 team explore the MVP (Most Valuable Player) for each Six Nations team.

What better way to start the new year than with a bit of fantasy rugby.

WATCH as the 1014 team ask some serious questions about the global game.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australian international Christian Lealiifano certainly has had plenty of challenges in his life.

WATCH: England’s Jonny Wilkinson showed his tremendous potential back in 1999 when playing against Scotland in the Six Nations.

RUMOUR MILL: Andy Goode and Big Jim Hamilton reveals what Springbok Duane Vermeulen said when asked how things are at Toulon.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It is often said that Jonah Lomu changed the game in more ways than one.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP ROUND FIVE: It has been an interesting and intriguing week, to say the least. And one competition's players dominate!

In the life of a professional rugby player, there’s still a long way to go before the first weekend in February when the Six Nations commences.

WATCH: As the European Champions Cup reaches a crucial stage and with Super Rugby on the horizon, we bring you the 10 best teams on the planet - as rated by BsporTV !

OPINION: For a long time now, English rugby has been the king of the castle.

WATCH: The 'Run It Straight Challenge' has been around on social media for a while now, originating with Rugby League fans in Australia.

VIDEO: David Flatman is back with his picks for round 13 of the 2017/18 Premiership season.

OPINION: Currently, the Springboks have a 30-cap ruling for South African-born players who ply their rugby overseas, making anyone with less than 30 Test caps ineligible to become a Bok.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Using data collected over the past number of seasons by sports agency Esportif Intelligence, an interesting picture begins to develop on the key positions in Europes three major leagues.

IN THE SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Beauden Barrett is unquestionably the most dangerous 10 in world rugby.

OPINION: As the new year gets underway former England utility back Andy Goode looks ahead to what the next 12 months might bring, as well as reflect on the past year.

WATCH: This tackle, that took place in Spain recently, has caused a large amount of debate on social media.

PREMIERSHIP SPOTLIGHT: It has been a frustrating festive period for London Irish.

The year 2018 is set to deliver more fantastic rugby action. And while there is no B&I Lions tour or a World Cup to look forward to, it will nonetheless be another enthralling, entertaining and intriguing 12 months.

Rugby analysis website Rugby Vision have released their list of the 58 best 'club' sides in the world for 2017 - according to statistics.

VIDEO: Here is a compilation of some of the best tries scored in the 2017 Super Rugby Season.

We see out 2017 with a look at some of the most successful long-range attempts at goal in recent times!

WATCH: Football (or soccer) tends to get a lot of complaints hurled at it from rugby fans.

OPINION: It is fair to say that 2017 delivered its fair share of exciting rugby prospects.

WATCH as Conor Murray reached new heights against Leinster - literally.

THE YEAR THAT WAS: It was not exactly the annus horribilis that 2016 was, but 2017 had its share of apocalyptic events. Jan de Koning shines the spotlight on South African rugby.

WATCH this footage, released by the Australian Rugby Union, of one of the most devastating female players in the game.

With 2017 nearly at its close and 2018 knocking on the door, Alex Shaw takes a look back at a memorable year of rugby by compiling his top 30 players of the last 12 months.

WATCH AS, With 2017 nearing an end, we look back at some of the highlights & most viewed media clips from the past year.

There was plenty drama in the an absolutely riveting 1872 Cup match, with Edinburgh prop Simon Berghan sent off for stamping on the head of Glasgow hooker Fraser Brown.

WATCH this is a compilation of some of the funniest rugby moments to grace the game in recent times.

THE SHORT BALL: With Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina going on holiday early, James McOnie, Melodie Robinson and Liam Napier step in to spread the footy cheer with The Off Season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Jonathan Sexton suffered yet another injury against Exeter last weekend which could potentially see him miss his sides upcoming interprovincial clash with Munster.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ulster’s clash with Harlequins last Friday put two flyhalves head-to-head in contrasting stages of their career. Ben Smith analyses their performances.

OPINION: The European Champions Cup pools really began to take shape this week, as the 'double header' rounds, perhaps the most tactically interesting two-week slot in the competition, were wrapped up.

In the final episode of the year, Anton van Zyl shares his true feelings about the Cape Town Sevens and Currie Cup-winning captain Chris van Zyl joins the team in the hot seat.

WATCH: The 1014 team pick their 2017 World XV and examine three nominations in each position. 

WATCH as the 1014 team - in Part two - explores how the Six Nations teams developed during the November Tests Series.

WATCH: Joe Ravouvou is a big guy, especially for Sevens. Yet 105kg wing had no right to score this try, no matter how big and strong he is.

WHAT'S IN A NAME? The All Blacks went 13-1-2 this year. Pretty good right? Not if you’re actually a New Zealander it seems, with questions being asked if the cracks are starting to show in the world champion's armour.

VODCAST: The World Sevens Series makes its way to Cape Town and the Late Tackle team are so excited that they are giving away tickets to watch the fastest form of the game live!

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: 2017 will be remembered as a year of controversy for a lot of things, and rugby was no different. Jamie Wall looks at the moments on and off the field that made for an interesting season.

WATCH as the 1014 Rugby team takes a look at the match between Wales and South Africa in Cardiff.

WATCH as the 1014 team - in Part one - explores how the Southern Hemisphere and some Tier 2 teams developed through the November Tests Series.

OPINION: The Springboks produced another below average performance when they lost 22-24 to Wales on Saturday.

OPINION: Hadleigh Parkes proved that it is never too late to make your international debut.  

VODCAST: The Late Tackle team of Howie Kahn, Anton van Zyl and Morgan Newman introduce their new panel show for RugbyPass.

OPINION: The year-end Internationals dominated headlines in recent weeks, so for this month’s Watchability Rankings, RugbyPass cast their net a little wider.

THE SHORT BALL: This week Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina are joined by All Black and current Blues captain James Parsons.

WATCH as the 1014 team - in Part two - takes a look at more matches from Week Three of the November Internationals.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Forget concussions, financial troubles in Pacific Island rugby and figuring out how to pick a World Cup host without pissing everyone off – World Rugby have shown clearly where their priorities are by apparently banning players writing on the tape on their arms.

WATCH: This is quite simply one of the worst things you will ever see on a rugby pitch.

OPINION: The final round of November internationals have come and gone and so we deliver the last our famous weekly selections for the year.

WATCH as the 1014 team takes a look at Week Three of the November Internationals.

Man, that was a long one. The All Blacks played their 15th and last test match of 2017 over the weekend, a 33-18 win over Wales in Cardiff.

OPINION: The All Blacks closed out their year in Cardiff with an entertaining 33-18 win over Wales.

OPINION: England wrapped up their year-end series with a 48-14 victory over an outclassed Samoa side at Twickenham, securing their third win from as many games in the month of November.

OPINION: Jacob Stockdale will get the accolades, but it was clear Ireland had too much class for Argentina in the 28-19 win in their one-off Test at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

OPINION: Italy dominated possession and territory, but still got outplayed by an impressive South African team in Padua on Saturday.

OPINION: The Wallabies have ended their November Test series with a heavy 24-53 defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield.

OPINION: South Africa produced their best performance of the year-end tour to score an emphatic 35-6 win over Italy in Padua on Saturday.

Watch as the 1014 Rugby team previews Week Three of the November Internationals.

THE SHORT BALL: Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina discuss the fact that while you might hear about a Scottish B-Team, or a Welsh B-Team, you’d never hear it spoken of an All Blacks Test side.

VODCAST: Howie Kahn, Anton van Zyl and Morgan Newman bring a South African flavour to the market with a unique style of banter and some interesting points of view on a range of topics.

OPINION: Scotty Stevenson reunites with a very tanned Mils Muliaina to discuss why Warren Gatland is misunderstood, Michael Cheika is misunderstood, and pretty much every coach is misunderstood.

INTERVIEW: The 1014 team interview Avan Lee the CEO of Hurricanes Rugby in New Zealand.

OPINION: The 1014 team again does excellent work as they review the past weekend's major international matches.

VIDEO: Steven Prescott, of the 1014 team, chats with Blues team doctor Steven Kara about what exactly happens when a player leaves the field for an HIA (Head Injury Assessment).

OPINION: England recorded their biggest win over Australia, so it comes as no surprise that English players dominate our Team of the Week for Week Two of the November Internationals.

VIDEO: New Zealand already had Crockzilla [Wyatt Crockett] sent to the bin less than a minute earlier for a ridiculously cynical foul, and then this vile act happened.

OPINION: The All Black survived a scare against Scotland at Murrayfield, winning 22-17.

OPINION: France surprised many by pushing South Africa as far as they did but came up agonisingly short, despite a late surge.

OPINION: The match never set the night alight but the Springboks did enough to ensure they bounced back to secure their first victory in the November international Test window.

OPINION: The Wallabies' good recent run of form came to an end at a very dreary Twickenham. 

OPINION: England blew the cobwebs and some of their lingering criticisms away with a 30-6 victory over Australia, their fifth over the Wallabies during the Eddie Jones tenure, in a game where the scoreline certainly flattered the home side.

OPINION: Traditionally, success in rugby has usually come from good player and coach development at all levels, underpinned by effective governance.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: What a difference a few months can make. Ben Smith puts Kurtley Beale on centre stage.

OPINION: A very dusty Scotty Stevenson chats with Mils Muliaina about a wide range of topics, from the 2023 RWC hosting decision to Ronan O’Gara to the problems in Pacific Island rugby.

OPINION: All is not rosy in rugby right now. Bankruptcy, mismanagement, race issues and the structure of the game itself have created turmoil in some of rugby’s most storied outposts, to the point where the future of the game in those countries is genuinely in doubt.

OPINION: It is no surprise that on-field success in rugby is in large part driven by the performance of the governing body and structures behind the national team.

OPINION: Damn Springboks, you were so close. Everything was going well after the heroic loss to the All Blacks in Cape Town, then you go to Dublin and get hosed by the Irish.

VIDEO: With just under 10 minutes to play in their Test in Dublin, Ireland held a 17-3 lead over South Africa. What happned next decided the match.

THE ULTIMATE ANALYSIS: The 1014 team reviews Scotland versus Samoa, England versus Argentina and Wales versus Australia.

THE ULTIMATE ANALYSIS: The 1014 team reviews Ireland versus South Africa and France versus New Zealand.

OPINION: It has been a weekend of records - especially the Irish, who embarrassed the bumbling Springboks in Dublin.

OPINION: Is this the worst Springbok team ever? This question, posed after the record loss to Ireland at the weekend, prompted me to do some digging.

OPINION: New Zealand may have beaten France 38-18 in Paris, but coach Steve Hansen would not be happy with the second-half performance.

OPINION: The Wallabies have begun their European tour with a good 29-21 win over Wales following up their thumping of Japan last week. 

OPINION: Just when you thought it could not get any worse than a 0-57 defeat to New Zealand, the Springboks managed to prove the nation wrong.

OPINION: The Ireland's magnificent killer blow in the in the last 10 minutes made sure they extend the woeful Springboks winless run to five matches.

OPINION: England got their November Test Series off to a victorious start at Twickenham earlier today, defeating Argentina, 21-8, in a resilient but rusty performance.

PODCAST: Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina discuss the upcoming France versus New Zealand Test, and get a double dose of All Blacks on the phone - Colin Slade calls in from Pau, while Wyatt Crockett pauses his Paris dinner for a chat.

OPINION: The beginning of the year-end internationals proper are now just days away, as the Southern Hemisphere’s elite round off their seasons by taking on the best the Northern Hemisphere has to offer.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2019:  Has England gone from joint-favourites to fourth- or fifth-placed favourites overnight?

Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina are back again on the Short Ball and getting emotional while talking to Corey Flynn about his 17-year career and life after rugby.

OPINION: The rugby365 team takes one final stab at identifying the Currie Cup season's nest players.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: After action-packed National Provincial Cup, it comes as no surprise that Canterbury dominate rugby365's team of the tournament selections. Columnist Richard Neal reports.

RugbyPass’s Jim Hamilton has made a bold claim heading into the November international period, saying that England currently would have the wood on the World Champion All Blacks.

WHAT THE COACHES SAY: It is a debate that has been raging for weeks and the hysteria will continue well into next month's year-end Tests.

Here’s why Scotty Stevenson thinks New Zealand's National Provincial Championship is tougher than England's Premiership.

OPINION: On Sunday Allister Coetzee wil name his team for the Springboks' year-end tour.  What will be the biggest suprise?

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The number of lineout steals is the poor cousin in rugby analytics.

OPINION: Soon Allister Coetzee will name his team for the year-end tour. rugby365 selects an alternative team from players based abroad. Who do you think will win?

WATCH: Meetings are always an important place for everyone involved to learn and develop. Unless Siri thinks of other ideas...

WATCH THE ULTIMATE REVIEW: The Wallabies beat the All Blacks in a classic Test in Brisbane. The 1014 Rugby team do their video analysis.

OPINION: The Rugby World Cup is less than two years away and the November Internationals are almost upon us.

WATCH: This week Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina talk to Taranaki assistant coach Paul Tito, who is taking the Bulls to the National Provincial Championship semifinals against Tasman.

Fancy yourself a true creator on the sports field? If so, have some fun with adidas and rugby365 and you could win one of two sets of match tickets to Saturday's Currie Cup semifinal at Newlands.

CURRIE CUP ROUND 14: The Golden Lions and Western Province needed to win and did so in emphatic fashion to secure their places in the semifinals.

CHAMPIONS CUP, ROUND ONE: The Champions Cup kicked off this weekend and reminded us all just what we have been missing over the last five months.

VIDEO: Malcolm Marx is the man of the moment, but what is the hype all about?

THE ULTIMATE ANALYSIS: Despite coach Allister Coetzee's best efforts to wipe it from the record books, the annus horribilis that was 2016 happened. However, it appears the Springboks have turned a corner in 2017.

VIDEO: The final minutes of this year’s Rugby Championship brought one of its most controversial moments.

WATCH as the 1014 looks through the tournament finding patterns in the statistics. It is the ultimate review!

PODCAST: Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina gives us a New Zealand view of just how good Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx is.

CURRIE CUP ROUND 13: The Golden Lions and Griquas both produced amazing come-from-behind victories at the weekend.

REVIEW: Jamie Wall reviews the 2017 Rugby Championship, looking at some controversial moments, standout players and one unbelievable try. 

OPINION: Australia ended their Rugby Championship Campaign with a 37-20 win over an error-strewn Argentina in Mendoza.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: With six wins from six games, it comes as no surprise that players from New Zealand dominate our 2017 Rugby Championship Team of the tournament.

KIWI VIEW: Radio Sport NZ’s Martin Devlin and RugbyPass’s Jamie Wall finally got the All Black versus match they were so desperately looking for, and give it a decent run down.

OPINION: New Zealand escaped with a narrow 25-24 win over a resilient South Africa side in Cape Town on Saturday.

OPINION: The Springboks narrow 24-25 defeat to the All Blacks at Newlands on Saturday has proven that a wounded animal's behavior can be very unpredictable and lethal.

PODCAST: Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina talk about the benefits of the All Blacks playing in Cape Town, a bit of NPC and get a surprise call from World Cup hero Stephen Donald.

RUGBY TAKES A BACK SEAT: From intense football rivalry to playing basketball with All Blacks legend Jeff Wilson and listening to endless repeats of  'Despacito'. Jamie Wall recaps his time in the streets of Buenos Aires.

CURRIE CUP ROUND 12: The Sharks continue to dominate South Africa's premier domestic competition and they are once again rewarded in rugby365's famous weekly selection.

OPINION: From beating the champions on the opening day of the season to equalling their biggest ever Premiership defeat against Sale a few short weeks later, Gloucester must be the most frustrating team in the world to support.