Is this the end of the Cheetahs?
The Cheetahs’ hope of continuing their European dream was dealt a cruel blow. Confirmation that their Challenge Cup Round Three match against Ulster has been cancelled, could spell the end of their participation in Europe. Even with one round remaining, [the Cheetahs face Racing 92 at Paris La Defense Arena this coming Sunday], there is […]
Will the ‘new’ All Black coach come out of the Bok camp?
OPINION: While New Zealand take a collective breath and ponders the fall-out of the culling of Scott Robertson as All Black coach, it will also be met with trepidation in South Africa. New Zealand Rugby confirmed on Thursday that Robertson has departed his role as All Blacks coach, following the completion of the 2025 end-of-season […]
Remember this?
It was revealed on Tuesday, December 23, that the purge has started at Loftus Versfeld. First leaked on social media and then widely reported, the Bulls axed line-out coach Andries Bekker and backline assistant Chris Rossouw with immediate effect. Two weeks ago, with the Bulls’ season imploding, I asked if they not perhaps fired the […]
The consequences of the Bulls’ decision to go BokBalistic
OPINION: Jan de Koning asks some probing questions about the ‘Springbok coaching invasion’ of Loftus Versfeld. South Africa’s domestic derbies are always spicy, with the big North-South derby taking it to another level. Such is the puffery of the Round Nine United Rugby Championship face-off between the Stormers and Bulls this coming Saturday, that the […]
Why are the Bulls running out of gas?
STAT ATTACK: The Bulls will look to end their four-match losing streak when they travel to Durban for a face-off with an improved Sharks selection. The home team, the Sharks, ended their bad patch with a gritty 28-23 Champions Cup win over a powerful Saracens team at Kings Park last week. Having won just one […]
Was it really all Jake White’s fault?
OPINION: Jan de Koning takes a hard look at the erratic form of the Bulls and the possible reasons for their floundering form. It was French writer Alphonse Karr who coined the paradoxical observation: ‘Plus Áa change, plus c’est la mÍme chose’. Translated, it says: ‘The more things change, the more they stay the same.’ […]