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INTERVIEW: World Cup hopeful Sam Burgess shrugs off the debate about whether he should play in the back row or at centre.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 cartoonist Matthew Ackermann looks at the Springboks' World Cup baggage.

NEWS: Springbok loose forward Ryan Kankowski has been hit hard in the pocket, after he was ordered to pay R322,500 to his former agent.

INTERVIEW: Has the world gone mad? The Blue Bulls will be playing an expansive game and Western Province will kick for points.

In Australia this week, the nine-team National Rugby Championship starts and implements law variations by popular consent.

As the season winds  down there are fewer school matches in the Eastern Cape.

NEWS: Premiership side Harlequins have appointed England scrumhalf Danny Care as their club captain.

George High School captain Waydon Daniels will have plenty of pressure on his shoulders to continue the dominance over Pacaltsdorp.

Former Leinster captain and stalwart Leo Cullen has been appointed head coach of the club on a two-year deal.

EXCLUSIVE: AussieBoer, in his latest contribution to rugby365, looks at the best openside flanks in his search for an all-time World XV.

Queen’s College hosted Cambridge High School at The Recreation Ground this past weekend.

Former Highlanders flank John Hardie will play for Scotland against Italy in Turin at the weekend but has no guarantees about his future.

Montpellier's New Zealand lock Tom Donnelly has been ruled out for up to two months with a knee injury, the French Top 14 club confirmed.

Lesego Legoete, nicknamed Pro, refereed the second Test between the Deafboks and Wales Deaf.

Wing Sergeal Petersen is set to make his Free-State Cheetahs Currie Cup debut for the showdown against Griquas on Friday.

Loose forward Jacques Engelbrecht has returned to the starting line-up for the Eastern Province Kings' clash against the Pumas on Friday.

Sonny Bill Williams confirmed a switch to Sevens and the Olympics as his next sporting target after being named in the NZ squad for Rio.

INTERVIEW: Young players with the right attitude. This is the recipe Director of Rugby Gary Gold believes will get the Sharks back on track.

Helpmekaar College beat Oos-Moot 24-19 in a semifinal of the Beeld Northvaal Trophy, and a spectator attacked the referee.

World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper warned teams they risk "sanctions" for failing to comply with concussion protocols at the World Cup.

NEWS: Regular England captain Chris Robshaw was restored to the side for the World Cup hosts' second warm-up match.

NEWS: Influential Pumas captain Stefan Watermeyer has passed a fitness test and will lead his team in Round Three of the Currie Cup.

Eight of the 12 players chosen for this year's Commonwealth Youth Games are SA Schools players.

NEWS: South African born-and-bred prop Willem Nel will get his first crack at playing for his adopted country, Scotland, on Saturday.

The management of the All Blacks have been fined by SANZAR for a breach of the technical zone on Saturday.

Scarlets have confirmed that some of the region's top young prospects have been awarded development contracts for the new season.

Wales are in better shape than they were for the 2011 World Cup, according to their captain Sam Warburton.

INTERVIEW: Iconic Springbok Chester Williams does not share in the pessimism sweeping South Africa ahead of next month's World Cup.

World Rugby has announced that enhanced video replay and review technology will be used at the Rugby World Cup 2015.

This week there was a major surprise when Boland Landbou beat Paul Roos, which had an impact on the rankings.

The Golden Lions will be without the services of centre Harold Vorster for the remainder of the season after he tore his ACL in his left knee.

The greatest Currie Cup rivalry in South Africa will once again commence on Saturday August 22, at Loftus Versfeld.

Hudson Park captain Lazola Nunwana is on a high at the moment having led his side to a rare victory over Dale College last week.

Revenge will be on Ronaldo de Vos' mind when he leads Pacaltsdorp against George High in a Classic Clash on Saturday.

There are Test matches, of a sort, and France's professional clubs swing into serious action.

The All Blacks have been fined AUS$ 2000 over waterboy Liam Messam's involvement in an on-field scuffle with Australia.

Tonga President Epi Taione has named the World Cup squad which is filled with a mix of youth and experience.

Langenhoven het drie drieë gedruk en heelagter Whinrey Stoffels 12 punte geskop om Punt met 27-11 te klop in 'n Classic Clash.

NEWS:Glasgow hooker Kevin Bryce has been called up to Scotland’s World Cup training squad following an injury to Fraser Brown.

Again we give the results we have been sent of more than just the first team. They are in the order in which we recived them.

Framesby captain André Lategan has just returned from representing SA Schools against Wales Under-18.

NEWS: All Black prop Charlie Faumuina's World Cup hopes suffered another setback after he was knocked out cold in training on Tuesday.

Japan coach Eddie Jones has dismissed speculation that he has penned a deal with the Stormers but said he was in talks with the Cape side.

NEWS: The Queensland Reds have re-appointed head coach Richard Graham in a new-look high performance structure.

Glenwood travelled up to Grey College in Bloemfontein on the 15 August 2015to take on a strong and well-structured Grey College side.

NEWS: There are no changes up or down in the world rankings, following wins for New Zealand, Ireland, England, South Africa and Namibia.

On Saturday 15 August the ‘mighty’ Paul Roos came to the Farm and got beaten by a highly motivated Boland Landbou team.

A valiant second-half by Muir College was not enough and went down 31-26 in their season' final encounter against Graeme in Uitenhage.

NEWS: The table-topping Blue Bulls were dealt a devastating blow ahead of their big North-South derby against Western Province.

NEWS: England's World Cup build-up hit a slight wobble on Monday with the news that seasoned centre Bard Barritt is injured.

Toulon has called on the services of Cheetahs flyhalf Willie du Plessis to bolster their depleted squad.

France captain Thierry Dusautoir will miss Saturday's World Cup warm-up against England at the Stade de France, this coming Saturday.

EXCLUSIVE: Hosts England's World Cup warm-up campaign is underway and Mark Cueto spoke to rugby365 about their prospects.

REPORT: Hoërskool Diamantveld emerged 16-10 winners against a tough Noord-Kaap side in their  Classic Clash this past Saturday. 

NEWS: Western Province were dealt a cruel blow with the news that captain Juan de Jongh has been ruled out of action for eight to 10 weeks.

With South Africa's premier domestic competition well underway, some of the future gems are unearthed and under the spotlight.

New Zealand's premier domestic competition, the NPC, will become a trial for several World Cup hopefuls

The Pumas face an injury crisis ahead of Friday's Currie Cup Round Three clash with the Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth

Eastern Province coach Brent Janse van Rensburg identified a weakness in his sides kicking game which cost them against the Sharks.

NEWS: Code-hopper Glen Fisiiahi is set to make a return to Rugby Union and will be joining the Chiefs for the next two years.

NEWS: A Waratahs forward and a young speedster will boost Australian Sevens program for 2016.

NEWS: There were no great surprises as Argentina head coach Daniel Hourcade named his 31-man World Cup squad on Sunday.

NEWS: New Zealand legend Richie McCaw is set to become a 'sir' after the conclusion of the World Cup.

Western Province coach John Dobson said that his team are up for what could be a 'season-defining' clash with the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

Selborne College of East London went to PE to play Grey High and held on to win 22-18.

Gary Gold knows that his young Sharks team are going to make mistakes, but he intends to back them through the rough and the smooth.

Namibia thrashed Zimbabwe 80-3 in front of close to 5000 people at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek to reclaim the African Cup.

Bulls coach Nollis Marais says he does not want to discourage his young team from expressing themselves on the pitch.

In the wind and the wet SACS beat Bishops for a second time this season as the oldest schools derby in South Africa lived up to expectations

Cheetahs coach Franco Smith pointed to a much-improved defensive showing as the silver lining to their dour 9-3 defeat at Newlands.

The Springbok victory over Argentina was built on solid set-pieces and defence which will be key at the World Cup.

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt praised his side's fighting spirit as they came through against Scotland in Dublin.

There are some surprising results this week and some results of end-of-season derbies.

England coach Stuart Lancaster has got 'plenty to ponder' after Sam Burgess and Henry Slade's performance against France.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has defended Quade Cooper after his key role in the crushing defeat to the All Blacks.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says their emphatic victory over the Wallabies at Eden Park will count for little at the World Cup.

OPINION: Argentina were outplayed and outclassed in every department by the Springboks in front of their home fans.

OPINION: The Springboks were a completely different side and gained a massive psychological boost in their victory over Argentina.

REPORT: South Africa took revenge for last week's aberration, beating Argentina 26-12 in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

REPORT: England held on in the face of a late charge by France to get their World Cup warm-up matches underway with a win.

REPORT: Ireland won their second World Cup warm-up match when they beat a willing Scotland 28-22 in Dublin on Saturday.

REPORT: The Sharks were forced to come-from-behind to secure maximum points with a 33-25 victory over the EP Kings in Durban.

REPORT: A Taqele Naiyaravoro hat-trick and Andy Ellis brace helped the World XV claim an emphatic 45-20 victory over Japan.

REPORT: The South African Schools finished the Under-18 International series unbeaten.

REPORT: Defending champions Western Province retained their winning start to the 2015 Currie Cup season.

A standing ovation from 48,000 fans at Richie McCaw's farewell appearance in New Zealand was received by the Kiwi legend.

OPINION: Australia got a rude wake-up call when New Zealand smashed them in Auckland on Saturday.

OPINION: New Zealand made a massive statement of intent when they smashed Australia in Auckland on Saturday.

Springbok captain Victor Matfield hopes his team can once again be a unifying force for South Africa.

REPORT: New Zealand took revenge for last week's Rugby Championship loss by handing Australia a severe beating on Saturday.

Francois Trinh-Duc and Morgan Parra will be reunited at halfback for the first time in two-and-a-half years.

REPORT: The Golden Lions were made to work hard, but came away with a second consecutive bonus-point win.

It is one of the oldest matches in the rugby world - Bishops vs SACS.

The Blue Bulls came from behind to beat Griquas 36-12 in their Currie Cup clash at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

Glenwood High School are off to play Grey College in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

PREVIEW: Hoërskool Diamantveld will be out to prove that their win against Noord-Kaap in last year's Classic Clash was no fluke.

Selborne College of East London is going this week on its biennial  migration to Port Elizabeth.

The 2015/16 European Rugby Champions Cup kicks off when Leicester Tigers host Stade Francais Paris.

EXCLUSIVE: AussieBoer, in his latest contribution to rugby365, compares Heyneke Meyer to his peers and predecessors.

Hoërskool Noord-Kaap will have the experienced Brandon de Melim as their captain when they meet Diamantveld in their Classic Clash.

SA Schools head coach Hein Kriek has made five changes from the team that beat France for their final match against England on Saturday.

HS Punt of Mossel Bay will make a near 100 kilometre journey to face Langenhoven Gimnasium in Oudshoorn for their Classic Clash.

Hexvallei captain Fyzel Isaacs is expecting nothing less than 100% effort from both sides when his team faces De Kruine in their first-ever FNB Classic Clash.

Owen Farrell believes Rugby League convert Sam Burgess is primed to make a major impact on his England debut.

NEWS: All Blacks captain Richie McCaw will become the world's most capped player in Saturday's Test against Australia. 

Paul Roos go across the N1 to Boland Landbou for 18 matches on Saturday.

The Springboks are set to field a specialist No.7 for the first time this season when they take on Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Wallabies playmakers Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley have been told they will be named in the Australian World Cup squad.

As een van die oudste interskole in die land (sedert 1922), het die gees van interskole nog glad nie verander nie.    

Newcastle Falcons secured a deal for England lock Mouritz Botha ahead of the 2015/2016 season.

Bitter Northern Hemisphere rivals Ireland and Scotland clash in Dublin in a World Cup warm-up match this Saturday.

Craven Week star Janco Cloete will lead out his school Diamantveld in their Classic Clash against Noord-Kaap on Saturday.

The Melbourne Rebels have signed highly-rated New Zealander Leo Crowley, currently with Canada ahead of the 2015 World Cup. 

Following their historic first win against the Springboks last week, the Pumas will be looking to repeat the dose in Buenos Aires.

NEWS: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has urged his players to make the most of the Scotland 'audition'.

Australia fly across the Tasman Sea, as the Rugby Championship champions, to play New Zealand.

The Currie Cup competition continue to fly under the radar, but for those who bother there will be another healthy serving of entertainment.

Unbeaten Paarl Boys' High can be sure of a warm welcome when they go up to Riversdale to play Oakdale with its tough farm boys.

NEWS: Fringe hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni has been released by the Springbok coaching staff.

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning spoke to Golden Lions Rugby Union President Kevin de Klerk about the ongoing John Mitchell saga and allegations of a vendetta.

Waisake Naholo is back on the All Blacks' World Cup radar after coach Steve Hansen backed his alternative treatment.

Experienced trio James Hook, Mike Phillips and Richard Hibbard were among eight players released from Wales's World Cup training squad.

Uncapped Leinster flank Jack Conan was named in Ireland's team for their World Cup warm-up match against Scotland in Dublin on Saturday.

Springbok lock Hilton Lobberts makes a welcome return for the Griquas to face the Bulls at Loftus on Friday.

Western Province coach John Dobson names an unchanged  line-up for Saturday's Currie Cup clash against the Free State Cheetahs.

NEWS: New Zealand-born flank Hugh Blake will make his Scotland debut in Saturday's World Cup warm-up match against Ireland.

On 8 August in Graaff-Reinet, the Volkskool and Union High met in many competitive activities.

Grey High and Selborne will again square up for the Eastern Cape schools rugby bragging rightsh on the Philip field in PE on 15 August.

Two players have been promoted to the SA Schools side because of injuries.

Trevor Nyakane is firmly focused on making the most of a rare opportunity to start for the Springboks rather than the sideshows.

NEWS: The Sharks will welcome the return of centre Paul Jordaan to their matchday-22 for Saturday's clash with the Eastern Province Kings.

INTEVIEW: Nemani Nadolo is looking forward to striking fear into his opponents at the World Cup.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Australia and All Black clash marks the final opportunity for players to book their seats to the World Cup in England.

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels' and young outside back Jonah Placid have agreed on a new contract until the end of the 2017 Super Rugby season.

NEWS: Vern Cotter said he was looking forward to planning for the long term after signing a new contract that will see him coach Scotland until 2017.

World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson said being drawn in the "toughest pool" the tournament has ever known could benefit England.

NEWS: Australia have recalled Quade Cooper and rested David Pocock - ditching their successful twin openside flank weapon.

European champions Toulon of France and Super Rugby winners the Highlanders of New Zealand are hoping to face-off in Hong Kong on February 6.

Argentina have made seven changes to the team that humiliated South Africa last weekend for a Test rematch in Buenos Aires Saturday.

Scrumhalf Morgan Parra hopes to be part of a French trap for an unsuspecting England, as they look to upstage the World Cup hosts.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 cartoonist Matthew Ackermann looks at the Springboks' lack of direction.

Here we give some of the results of teams apart from the 1st XV, large numbers of boys who get a chance to play.

NEWS: The All Blacks have restricted fallout from last week's loss to Australia to just three changes for the return bout in Auckland.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Jan de Koning looks into claims by COSATU that the Springbok team is selected by a 'racist' establishment.

Samoa became the first team to announce their 31-man World Cup squad, made up of predominantly European-based players and will be led by London Irish flank Ofisa Treviranus.

Francois Maartens will lead a full strength HS Punt side onto the rugby field for their Classic Clash against Langenhoven Gymnasium.

Langenhoven Gymnasium's Ruan Steyn will want to captain the side to victory number 12 over rivals HS Punt when the sides meet in a Classic Clash on Saturday.

The Springboks are likely to play a more conservative style of rugby against Argentina in an indication of what is to come at the World Cup.

REPORT: Klein Nederburg and New Orleans had to settle for a share of the spoils in their Classic Clash in Paarl on Saturday.

REPORT: A crowd of about 2500 spectators were treated to a spectacle of running rugby as Hawston pipped Swartberg 15-5 in a Classic Clash.

Glenwood High School of Durban have been invited to take part in the Sanix 2016 Tournament in Fukuoka Japan, in April-May 2016.

New recruit Fred Zeilinga will make his first start for Free-State when they go head-to-head with Western Province on Saturday.

Australia are now amongst the favourites for the upcoming World Cup with an impressive victory over the All Blacks, in Sydney last week.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer says that he is committed to transformation and hopes to keep his job for as long as possible.

Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais has named the same run-on side that beat Free-State last weekend for Friday’s Currie Cup clash against Griquas in Pretoria.

Pumas coach MJ Mentz has named an unchanged side to face the Golden Lions on Saturday in Round Two of the Currie Cup at Ellis Park.

The one played a flying superhero. The other is a flying All Black wing.

All Blacks wing sensation Waisake Naholo declared himself back in the running for a World Cup berth after a rapid recovery from a broken leg using traditional Fijian medicine.

Leinsterman Zane Kirchner and flyhalf Pat Lambie will start for the Springboks in a new-look team against Argentina on Saturday.

EP Kings coach Brent Janse van Rensburg has kept the changes to a minimum as his team prepare for their second Currie Cup game against the Sharks on Saturday.

NEWS: Glasgow scrumhalf Henry Pyrgos will captain a 25-man Scotland squad for Saturday's World Cup warm-up match against Ireland in Dublin.

REPORT: In a tough, physical encounter in George on Tuesday, the South African Schools team beat France Under-18 12-5.

The big match this weekend is at Eden Park. New Zealand hold the Bledisloe Cup but Australia won the first leg.

Western Province coach John Dobson was in an unforgiving mood on Monday, despite a big win and a clean bill of health.

The Eastern Province Kings have suffered two new injuries after their hapless display against the Lions in their Currie Cup opener at the weekend.

If Goldstones wrote its autobiography one day, this match would feature prominently for it was an excellent rugby match.

On lush Outeniqua Park with mountains in the background, Wales Under-18 beat Italy Under-18 32-10 in the 2nd round of the six-team international series.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann has named a virtually unchanged team for their Currie Cup Round Two encounter with the Pumas.

In a truncated version of the Rugby Championship some players had just one game to show Rugby365 what they have got.

The South African Rugby Union has responded to the claims by the Congress of South African Trade Unions that the Springbok team is 'too white'.

REPORT: Hoërskool Outeniqua continued their dominance over Hoërskool Oudtshoorn when they emerged 70-12 winners in their Classic Clash on Monday.

REPORT: A second-half blitz helped Gill College thrash Hoërskool Cradock 44-0 in their Classic Clash in Somerset East on Saturday.

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Springbok defence coach John McFarland says that the players will have a big point to prove against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

With the Springboks in crisis mode, will Heyneke Meyer turn to his old stalwarts Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez to lead the side?

In what has been a dark period for the Springboks, one shining light has been Lodewyk de Jager who has the valuable ability to play both lock positions.

EXCLUSIVE: It was a long weekend, so for some schools it is a chance to play rugby with zest, for others a chance for a break.

NEWS: Argentina have retained the squad that stunned South Africa at the weekend, except for injured centre Jerónimo De la Fuente.

Rugby League convert Sam Burgess will have a chance to book his place in the England's World Cup squad.

NEWS: Ireland flank Tommy O'Donnell will miss next month's World Cup after suffering a dislocated hip.

PREVIEW: Monday is Kwaggadag in George when Hoërskool Outeniqua welcome Hoërskool Oudtshoorn in their Classic Clash.

World Rugby on Monday confirmed what everybody had expected - Ireland is the new No.2 and South Africa slumped to their lowest ranking in Heyneke Meyer's tenure.

The Blue Bulls were given a clean bill of health on Monday, following their 57-19 demolition of the Free State Cheetahs in the opening round of the Currie Cup at the weekend.

Springbok scrum coach Pieter de Villiers says they will ask World Rugby for 'clarity' on some of referee Romain Poite's scrum calls.

Hoër Volkskool captain Dirk Louw said he was lost for words when he was named captain of school's first team. 

PREVIEW: There will be no love lost when Gill College welcome rivals Hoërskool Cradock for their Classic Clash in Somerset East on Saturday.

New Zealand have vowed not to be bullied at the breakdown by Australia when they face off in the Bledisloe Cup decider.

REACTION: According to the New Zealand media the All Blacks deserved to lose the game while Australia have become "genuine World Cup contenders".

NEWS: Long-serving All Blacks Sevens captain DJ Forbes has stepped aside to improve his chances of being selected for Rio 2016.

Backs Sebastien Tillous-Borde and Frederic Michalak have been left out of the French squad for next weekend's World Cup warm-up against England.

Four Wallabies squad players released for the World XV match against Japan in Tokyo on Saturday August 15.

As if suffering a first round loss to the Pumas wasn't bad enough, the Sharks were dealt more harsh news as a number of players went down injured.

The Springboks have slipped three places down the world rankings due to be published by World Rugby on Monday.

Namibia recorded an emphatic 46-13 win over Kenya in a Africa Cup match at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday. 

NEWS: Springbok captain Jean de Villiers has suffered yet another injury setback in the lead up to the World Cup in England in September.

WP head coach John Dobson was happy with his team's Currie Cup opening win over Griquas, but he has highlighted a few areas for improvement.  

The original Pumas team from 1965 played an important role in Argentina's first victory against the Springboks in Durban on Saturday.

The Springboks' first defeat to Argentina has left coach Heyneke Meyer at the lowest point of his tenure with the World Cup looming.

Joe Schmidt admits he is facing some tough decisions after Ireland’s impressive 35-21 World Cup warm-up win over Wales in Cardiff.

The Springboks ended their Rugby Championship campaign with a shock 25-37 defeat to Argentina to finish the campaign without a win.

Argentina recorded their first ever victory over South Africa, and what a performance it was, as they outshone their opponents in every aspect.

New Zealand missed out on claiming the Rugby Championships, but they still have a chance to retain the Bledisloe Cup.

Australia claimed their first victory over New Zealand since 2011, and with it, the Rugby Championship trophy thanks to the impact of their substitutes.

REACTION: Coach Steve Hansen said his world champion All Blacks would bounce back from their 'off-night'.

Argentina recorded their first ever win over South Africa, when they beat them 37-25 in their Rugby Championship outing in Durban Saturday.

Wallaby coach Michael Cheika played down his team's 27-19 victory against New Zealand on Saturday, which also won them the 2015 Rugby Championship.

REPORT: Australia, as they did four years ago, won the Southern Hemisphere championship and a World Cup year.

Ireland sent out an early warning to their rivals ahead of the World Cup with a comfortable 35-21 victory over Wales in Cardiff.

The Blue Bulls ran rampant in Bloemfontein on Saturday as they scored an impressive 57-19 win over a hapless Free State Cheetahs.

Sevens Springbok Albertus Smith scored a hat-trick as the Golden Lions recorded an emphatic 51-14 win over the Eastern Province Kings.

Hoërskool Outeniqua captain Niel Otto is expecting Hoërskool Oudshoorn to throw everything at them in their Classic Clash on Monday.

REACTION: Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika played down his team's 27-19 victory against New Zealand on Saturday on Saturday.

NEWS: Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is hoping that Tommy O'Donnell will be fit for the World Cup after the player was seriously injured their warm-up match against Wales.

France captain Thierry Dusautoir is a major doubt for next weekend's World Cup warm-up against England due to a knee injury.

Union High School captain Phillip Nel is expecting another physical encounter when his team faces Hoër Volkskool in a Classic Clash.

Adriaan Coetzee will lead out Hoërskool Oudtshoorn's first team out for their Classic Clash against Hoërskool Outeniqua on Monday.

NEWS: Chris Ashton was one of seven players axed from England's World Cup training squad on Friday.

The Pumas caused the first upset of the season when they beat the Sharks 33-24 in a six-try Currie Cup thriller in Nelspruit on Friday.

REPORT: Western Province got the defence of their Currie Cup title off to a perfect start.

Springbok captain Jean de Villiers has put the emotions of his comeback aside as he focuses on proving he deserves his place in the team.

The All Blacks upped the psychological pressure on the Wallabies on Friday ahead of their Rugby Championship decider.

Marcelo Bosch knows that Argentina will have to be at their absolute best if they are to record their first victory over the Springboks.

INTERVIEW: New Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais spoke to Jan de Koning about 'culture changes' and things that are 'foreign' to the players.

The winner of the match in Sydney on Saturday, between Australia and New Zealand, will be a double winner.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland and his Ireland counterpart Joe Schmidt have picked vastly contrasting routes to the World Cup

In a World Cup year it is understandable that the Currie Cup will get a substantially reduced portion of the spotlight.

On the face of it the clash between the Springboks and the Pumas at Kings Park is a dead rubber, but there is a bit more to it than that.

Juan Martin Hernández was recalled as Argentina made 11 changes to the starting line-up to face South Africa.

Jamie Heaslip will captain Ireland in their first pre-World Cup warm-up match, against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais opted for a youthful squad for his Currie Cup coaching debut on Saturday.

The Wallabies are to pit David Pocock and Michael Hooper against All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw in Sydney on Saturday.

Argentina wing Juan Imhoff says the focus for his team this week has been to make better use of the opportunities they create.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has opted for continuity over experimentation this weekend in their last home game before the World Cup.

The saga of Jaque Fourie's availability for the Springboks seems to be over with Heyneke Meyer admitting that he will probably not be required going forward.

Having walked a long road to get back in the frame, Pieter-Steph du Toit knows that he has to make every moment he gets in the Springbok jersey count.

NEWS: Michael Hooper and David Pocock have both been named in Australia's starting line-up for the Rugby Championship decider.

NEWS: Former Namibian Under-20 players, scrumhalf Damien Stevens and loose forward Wian Conradie, will make their senior debuts.

Hurricanes flyer Nehe Milner-Skudder will make his Test debut for New Zealand in the Rugby Championship decider against Australia.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 cartoonist Matthew Ackermann looks at what awaits the Springboks in the final round of the Rugby Championship.

Sevens Springbok Ruhan Nel will make his debut for Griquas at centre, when they host Western Province in the Currie Cup season-opener in Kimberley on Friday.

Jean de Villiers will captain the Springboks when South Africa host Argentina at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.

Saracens loose forward Nick de Jager has left the club to join the Blue Bulls ahead of the start of the Currie Cup season.

Golden Lions coach Johann Ackermann has dismissed the notion that he is playing in the Currie Cup competition with a Super Rugby team.

Niel Marais will run the show for Free State when they kick off their Currie Cup against the Bulls in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

New recruit Joe Pietersen will line-up at fullback for the Sharks as they open their Currie Cup campaign against the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday.

Daniel Froneman will be looking to lead Selborne College to victory over Dale College in a Classic Clash, with the derby itself dating back as far as 1892.

Wallaby scrumhalf Nick Phipps will go heat-to-head with arguably the best scrumhalf in the world - Aaron Smith, and he is cautious of the challenge. 

There will be changes to the Springbok team as Heyneke Meyer looks at his options ahead of the World Cup, but how much is he willing to gamble?

EXCLUSIVE: AussieBoer, in his latest contribution to rugby365, looks at the Springbok captaincy options at the World Cup.

Pumas loosehead prop Marcos Ayerza says he regards the Springboks as the most physical team in the world.

Seasoned midfielder Stefan Watermeyer will lead the Pumas in the opening round of the Currie Cup, when they host the Sharks in Nelspruit on Friday.

Scott Williams will captain Wales against Ireland on Saturday, leading a team that contains four uncapped players.

The Eastern Province Kings' stuttering build-up to the Currie Cup season had another wobble on Tuesday.

The Pumas have made two key signings ahead of the start of the Currie Cup competition.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann wasted no time in drafting in Springbok training squad member Franco Mostert for their opening match of the Currie Cup season.

Flank Rynhardt Elstadt is back in the mix from a broken leg and will start at No.6 for Western Province in their Currie Cup opener against Griquas.

The Sharks may have recorded an impressive pre-season win over the Golden Lions, but Director of Rugby Gary Gold is making sure his team stays grounded.

When the final ended players and officials were seen sprinting off the field because of a 46,000-strong pitch invasion.

Fox got the better of Hastings in the quarter-finals, kicking 22 points as the hosts walked away with a 30-3 win in Christchurch.

New Zealand showed their dominance by crushing Fiji 74-13 in Christchurch.

Thirty-two matches were played from 22 May to 20 June and the tournament featured one African nation, three American nations, one Asian nation, seven European nations and four Oceanic nations.

Bitter Northern Hemisphere rivals Ireland and Scotland clash in Dublin in a World Cup warm-up match this Saturday  

New Zealand referee Glen Jackson is set to make the history books this weekend.

In the second round of the international Under-18 series, England Under-18 thrashed the South African Schools A team 33-3 on lush Outeniqua Park in George on Tuesday.

There have been changes to both the SA Schools team to play France in George on Tuesday and the SA Schools A team to play England, two tough matches. Italy have also changed for their match against France.

King Edward VII School received Jeppe for the big Johannesburg derby to end the season and beat them 24-0.

Sunday is Women's Day and so Monday is a holiday, which means a long weekend and in some places rugby takes a back seat to prolonged idleness. Still there were several big matches, including five FNB Classic Clashes.

The annual rugby match between rival schools Pretoria Boys High and the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) generates more interest than most Currie Cup matches across the road at Loftus Versfeld, and yesterday’s encounter at Brooks Field was no different.

Selborne and Dale, Fish and Cats, have been playing each other for 123 years, and are still doing it with enthusiasm - marvellous rugby where all the players on the field try to run with the ball without fear or constriction. As expected Selborne won comfortably, as  44-13 suggests, but at no stage were Dale bowed.

Glenwood het Baai-toe gereis om kragte te meet met Hoërskool Framesby en wen toe die wedstryf 25-19.

Klein Nederburg will play hosts to New Orleans in a Classic Clash on Saturday in an encounter that is sure to attract thousands of spectators.

On a beautiful, cloudless day with Table Mountain and Devil's Peak rising in splendour the South African Schools A side beat Italy Under-18, 29-14 after leading 9-7 at half-time.

Monday is Kwaggadag in George when Hoërskool Outeniqua welcome Hoërskool Oudtshoorn in their Classic Clash.

This was the third match between these two teams. Each had won once and England's 15-7 victory at City Park in Cape Town meant they now lead 2-1 for 2015.

In the this match in the International Under-18 Series at City Park in Cape Town, South African Schools beat Wales Under-18 42-11 on Friday afternoon, scoring five tries to one. At half-time the score was only 13-6.

On Saturday Jeppe go over the hill to King Edward VII School for what is probably Johannesburg's most intense derby.

There will be no love lost when Gill College welcome rivals Hoërskool Cradock for their Classic Clash in Somerset East on Saturday.

Getting from one school to another is a walk across a road. They are that close. Close neighbours make for keen rivalries, whicxh exist, but also for good friendships, which also exist.