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Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 2d

Bulls claimed maximum points from first 2 games, but there was a big question around their D.

Chickens came home to roost in Belfast. 4 tries and 28pts leaked (now 14 tries conceded in 3 games, and 99 pts).

Game management not good enough v Ulster, but D was poor once again.

Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 2d

Game slipping away from the Bulls... physicality lacking, discipline and game management poor in the early stages of the second half. By contrast Ulster growing in confidence, winning territory and getting rewards

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Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 2d

Mixed bag by the Bulls in 1st half.

Ulster D fighting hard to hang on, but Bulls lacking patience and decisiveness, and not converting set-piece dominance and territory into points.

Ulster will be happy with the 7-7 scoreline... interesting to see how Bulls adjust in 2nd half.

Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 2d

Really disappointing tour for the Sharks.

Two heavy losses to Glasgow and Leinster, and a draw with the Dragons, one of the weaker teams in the URC.

Should have been aiming for five to seven log points from this tour... but they will go back to Durban with two...

Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 2d

Ethan Hooker's skill to catch that, composure to sum up the situation, and then the pace to finish... ray of hope for the Sharks in more ways than one

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Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 2d

Sharks getting caught out of position on attack and defence... losing the race to rucks and conceding soft linebreaks and tries.

Ominous in Dublin, with Leinster already 21-0 up inside 30

Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 2d

Lions finish a poor tour to the north with a 0/3 record, and just a single log point.

Will need to rack up as many points as possible against Scarlets and Ulster in Joburg over the next two weeks, before the URC breaks for the November Tests...

Playing catch up again.

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Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 3d

3/3 for the Stormers this season, and their second shut-out 🍩

Stormers not at their best in Llanelli. Something to be said, however, for a team that wins 34-0 (BP) without playing to their potential.

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Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 3d

Stormers 17-0 up at half-time, and the scoreline flatters the Scarlets, who've leaked 15 pens.

Still the Stormers 6-2 bench to come... If they keep their heads they'll clinch a valuable BP win

Reposted by Jon Cardinelli

Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 4d

Young Test stars are getting more exposure, but consider the next wave, the Junior Boks who won the world title, the schoolboys in the pipeline – and a system that's bearing fruit.

My @dailymaverick.co.za piece on the outlook for SA rugby (Spoiler: it's good)
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...

Forward planning by Rassie Erasums and Saru will extend golden era for Springboks

South African rugby has the talent, structures and the leadership to succeed at the highest level for years to come.

www.dailymaverick.co.za

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Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 4d

Young Test stars are getting more exposure, but consider the next wave, the Junior Boks who won the world title, the schoolboys in the pipeline – and a system that's bearing fruit.

My @dailymaverick.co.za piece on the outlook for SA rugby (Spoiler: it's good)
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...

Forward planning by Rassie Erasums and Saru will extend golden era for Springboks

South African rugby has the talent, structures and the leadership to succeed at the highest level for years to come.

www.dailymaverick.co.za

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Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 5d

My in-depth review of the Springboks' Rugby Championship campaign, for @RugbyPassPlus

– Young guns come of age
- Older warriors rage against the light
– Tonyball 🤝 Totalball
– 5-3 split in vogue, but...
– Platform set for 5/5 in Europe this November?

www.rugbypass.com/plus/tonybal...

'Tonyball, ageing warriors and worrying growth' - What the Springboks learned from the Rugby Championship

Rassie Erasmus continues to strengthen his player pool and diversify his game plan, but there is room for improvement ahead of a massive northern tour.

www.rugbypass.com

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Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 8d

What the stats say about the Boks' Rugby Championship campaign, why it was their best since Rassie took charge in 2018, and how the ongoing quest for an all-court game is taking shape.

More offloads, less carries yet more metres, and (yes) more kicks!

rugby365.com/countries/so...

Rugby Championship showcased a Bok attack at its peak

COLUMN: Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks shattered their own attacking and kicking records for the Rugby Championship across a monumental 2025 campaign.

rugby365.com

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Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 9d

Bok scrum magnificent once again.

Five scrum penalties awarded to the big green machine, and played through a few more advantages.

Used the maul a lot more today too – after barely using it earlier in the Rugby Champs.

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Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 9d

Been a rollercoaster of a campaign.

Great response after the humiliating loss in Joburg.

Auckand was disappointing, but they fought back to get a losing BP – how crucial was that to the final tally?

Cut loose in Wellington and Durbs, more pragmatic at Twickers today.

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Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 9d

The Boks go back-to-back in the Rugby Champs for the first time in history!

Close race for the title this year, but can't say that the Boks didn't deserve it.

Fantastic way to retain the southern hemisphere crown and their place at the top of the World Rugby rankings.

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Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 9d

Cagey 1st half – following the pattern of games in Wellington and Durban...

Discipline letting Boks down early on. Not patient enough with ball in hand.

Finding rhythm, though, at the end of the 1st. Maul and scrum pens are ominous.

Think we may see more kicks too in the 2nd

Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 9d

Bledisloe done and dusted, and as expected, the equation for the Boks is thus:

If they beat Argentina at Twickers, they will win the Rugby Championship.

If they lose (even with BPs), the All Blacks will take the title.

Opportunity to make history is there

Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 10d

Stormers race away in the 2nd to secure a good win against Ospreys in CT.

That's 9 out of possible 10 log points from their first two URC matches.

Massive, considering they played Leinster in R1 and are without key Boks.

Great platform set for the tour to Wales and Italy.

Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 10d

Ruhan Nel has made such a difference to this Stormers backline in the early stages of this comp. Massive rugby IQ. Lovely touches to set up Simelane for a crucial try

Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 10d

Mad game in CT... Stormers now a lot stronger over the ball in 3rd quarter, but Wales arewinning the aerials and scraps!

Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 10d

Will they learn in the 2nd, or are they gluttons for punishment?😅

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Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 10d

Stormers have picked up where they left off from last week – at least at the scrum and kick chase. Matongo and Fouche feasting at the set piece!

Tough night at the breakdown though – as it always is against Welsh teams. Storm have to sharpen up around the tackle in the 2nd half

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Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 11d

Malherbe, Nyakane, Fassi, Arendse et al are unavailable, but more should be read into the fact that Pollard, De Klerk, De Jager, Koch etc are in London and have been omitted from the 23.

Closer look at the stakes ahead of TRC final, for @dailymaverick.co.za
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...

Rassie Erasmus’ record-breakers close in on historic Rugby Championship double

Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks will become the first South African side in history to defend the Rugby Championship title if they beat Argentina in London this Saturday — a result that could set the platf...

www.dailymaverick.co.za

Jon Cardinelli @joncardinelli.bsky.social · 13d

Rassie Erasmus may have been tempted to pack his Springbok team with senior statesmen (and a more conservative approach), given the mission to Twickenham amounts to a final.

Yet he's selected younger players and surrounded them with veterans.

A lot to gain this Sat.

rugby365.com/countries/so...

Final selections highlight Rassie’s faith in new order

OPINION: Rugby365 columnist Jon Cardinelli runs the rule over Rassie Erasmus' matchday squad for Saturday's Rugby Championship decider in London.

rugby365.com

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