Joost van der Westhuizen was a man of South Africa. There was never to be any mistaking that. The defiance. The physical rigour. The deep-set eyes. The look. He was not going to be easily subdued.
Joost van der Westhuizen, the former South Africa captain, remains in a critical condition in hospital with motor neuron disease (MND) which has been battling for seven years.
Springboks Rugby World Cup hero Joel Stransky says South African rugby is rotten from the bottom up and top down and needs radical reform if the current slump is to be reversed.
The Wallabies are searching for a new starting No.8 after Sean McMahon suffered a serious ankle injury in Australia's 18-10 defeat to South Africa on Saturday evening (Sunday AEST).
On October 8,1969 the lead letter in The Sydney Morning Herald was headlined: South Africa and Sport.
Forget the Wallabies' dreadful record in Pretoria. The international game is in such a state of flux, disrupted by money and the rising power of clubs, that the history books can be temporarily discounted. The win is there if they're good enough.
At times it is hard not to liken the All Blacks to a cruel cat that likes to toy with a bird with a busted wing.
South Africa have freshened up their engine room, making two changes to the tight five to face the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship Test in Christchurch.
Call it a one-game winning streak. The Wallabies are finally on the board for 2016 after grinding out a 23-17 victory over South Africa in front of a disappointing crowd at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
The bad news confronting the Wallabies as they go into Saturday's Test at Brisbane against the Springboks is their six consecutive losses. The good news, of sorts, is that these losses have been against England and the All Blacks, the two best sides in world rugby
Francois Hougaard has been selected on the wing as one of three changes in a revamped South African backline for their Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.
South Africa captain Adriaan Strauss has announced he will quit international rugby at the end of the 2016 season.
Eddie Jones, the England head coach, has labelled South Africa "bullies" ahead of the first Test of the -autumn series at Twickenham on Nov 12. Jones is bracing his men for a physical encounter with the Springboks, whom England have not beaten since 2006.
The 33-year-old, who has a relish for the fray and who is a popular comrade, has less need than most to be reminded of the need to seize the moment.
South Africa are sweating on the fitness of gun five-eighth Elton Jantjies as they prepare to meet the Wallabies in a clash where both teams have a lot to prove.
The Western Force and Melbourne Rebels would be in the firing line if a proposal for a new format in 2018 is adopted by SANZAAR.
South Africa coach Allister Coetzee begins his first Rugby Championship campaign on Saturday knowing the Springboks must master their old strengths against Argentina before they can start to spread their wings.
It was one of the most enjoyable interviews I have done. A couple of years ago, I sat with Jacques Burger on a small sofa on the balcony overlooking the Saracens training base at St Albans.
Allister Coetzee has been confirmed as South Africa's new rugby coach on a four-year deal to take the Springboks past the 2019 World Cup.
Argentina will host Australia at Twickenham in their Rugby Championship match on October 8, moving the southern hemisphere competition over the equator for the first time.