South Africa director of rugby punished for criticising officialsSA Rugby apologise and abandon appeal against £20,000 fineRassie Erasmus and South Africa Rugby have issued a brief apology to Nic Berry and other match officials involved in the first Br…
Warren Gatland favourite among Lions hierarchy to lead 2025 Australia tour
Jason Leonard supports coach despite loss to South AfricaLions concept is ‘alive and kicking’ says Ben CalveleyWarren Gatland has been told by the British & Irish Lions hierarchy that the job of head coach for the 2025 tour of Australia is his if h…
Can Springboks ever get beyond their ends-justify-the-means approach? | Gerard Meagher
For their benefit, and for rugby union, it feels almost incumbent on South Africa to find a more expansive way to playOne of the more amusing moments of this British & Irish Lions tour came on the eve of the third Test, when a South American journa…
Steyn shatters Lions with late kick to edge South Africa to series win
Third Test: South Africa 19-16 British & Irish LionsMorne Steyn comes off bench to score winning penalty They do not come much more tense than this. Nor, from a British & Irish Lions perspective, do they come any more gut-wrenching. For the sec…
South Africa v British & Irish Lions: third and final Test – live!
Updates from deciding Test in Cape Town, kick-off 5pm BSTThe Breakdown: sign up and get our free rugby union emailGet in touch! You can email Niall or tweet him 5.57pm BST The good news for the Lions is plentiful: they lead, they’ve scored the only try…
Dan Biggar: Lions need to ‘fire more shots’ if they are to win third Test
The fly-half says Warren Gatland’s side must avoid getting bogged down as they did in the second TestThe bigger the game the more Dan Biggar likes it. Nor does anyone need to tell him what the Lions must seek to do if they intend to win the all-importa…
Lions told they are welcome to ‘play touch rugby’ as Springboks defend style
South Africa fire back at ‘boring’ accusations before third TestCourtney Lawes says Lions need to stay out of dog fightThe British & Irish Lions have been told they are welcome to “play touch rugby” in the third Test against South Africa on Saturda…
Warren Gatland in favour of extra time if final Lions Test ends in stalemate
2017 tour to New Zealand deadlocked after draw in final TestCurrent tour agreement states series would be sharedWarren Gatland would be in favour of Saturday’s third Test decider between the British & Irish Lions and South Africa going to extra tim…
The Breakdown | Refereeing rows have polluted the Lions narrative – enough is enough
Changes need to be made immediately if we ever want to see a tour where the players live in less fear of officiating confusionIt is Saturday evening in Cape Town Stadium and up goes the final restart. There is no audible roar around the empty arena, ju…
Decisive Lions Test overshadowed by unsporting behaviour and ugly rugby | Robert Kitson
Warren Gatland must make changes before Saturday, not least because the sport needs a better spectacle than first two TestsTo say there are mixed emotions swirling around the final week of this British & Irish Lions Test tour is an understatement. …