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Jon Cardinelli Jon Cardinelli is a multi-award winning writer with 15 years of experience in the print and digital media. His work has been published in South Africa, Japan, New Zealand and the UK. Jon covered World Cups in New Zealand, England and Japan and is an obsessive on the game's mechanics, and finding the story behind the stories.

EXCLUSIVE
Jon Cardinelli

Handre Pollard: 'Manie has made such a positive impact for the Boks'

The South African double-World Cup winner believes his injury-enforced lay-offs have given him the mental toughness to succeed

EXCLUSIVE
Jon Cardinelli

How South Africa's Bomb Squad waged war on the rugby world

The Springboks' back-to-back World Cup victories were built on iron set-piece foundations

OPINION
Jon Cardinelli

Springboks unite South Africa to transcend a country beset by issues

Siya Kolisi and his team-mates inspired a nation in France but it was only when they return to South Africa that their achievement…

ANALYSIS
Jon Cardinelli

The Boks are favourites, but won’t repeat the egregious mistakes made by England’s class of 2019

As the World Cup semi-final draws nearer, the fortunes of the protagonists are scrutinised and their differing paths laid bare

ANALYSIS
Jon Cardinelli

South Africa: Brutal selections loom for legacy-defining Springbok matches

Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber face several enormous calls for their seminal Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

ANALYSIS
Jon Cardinelli

Bok coaches face toughest call yet following Pollard’s timely return

Manie Libbok's talent is not in doubt but the return of South Africa's most consistent kicker bodes well for the knockout stages

OPINION
Jon Cardinelli

The five players the Springboks dare not lose in France

The Springboks have much vaunted squad depth but the injury to a select band of players would throw a sizeable spanner in the work…

ANALYSIS
Jon Cardinelli

Have seasoned Springboks struck the right balance?

Retaining the Rugby World Cup is fiendishly tough. Are South Africa's experienced group up to the task?

ANALYSIS
Jon Cardinelli

Springbok fly-half headache persists as World Cup looms large

The ongoing absence of Handre Pollard is causing furrowed brows within the Springbok camp, as back-up options vie for his shirt

ANALYSIS
Jon Cardinelli

How the Springboks can storm New Zealand's fortress

The All Blacks, once invincible on home turf, have become vulnerable and Jean de Villiers says the Springboks sense a chance to ma…

INTERVIEW
Jon Cardinelli

How the 2019 Rugby Championship set Boks on course for World Cup glory

Rassie Erasmus will look to the lessons learnt the last time South Africa entered the run up to rugby's greatest tournament

INTERVIEW
Jon Cardinelli

Why 'quitting was never an option' for injury-ravaged RG Snyman

How RG Snyman recovered from two heinous knee injuries to win an improbable URC title and a place in the Springbok squad

EXCLUSIVE
Jon Cardinelli

Duane Vermeulen: 'My goal has never changed, I want to represent the Springboks at the World Cup'

Man-of-the-match at the last World Cup final, and turning 37 next month, the legendary No 8 still has the hunger for one last danc…

INTERVIEW
Jon Cardinelli

Japanese leave gives Springboks precious respite ahead of World Cup rigours

The constant demands of Northern Hemisphere rugby has sent a raft of World Cup winners to Japan to recharge

INTERVIEW
Jon Cardinelli

Unlocking the unique gifts of Manie Libbok

The Springboks need some x-factor in France this Autumn, and the Stormers pivot offers a skill-set few can match

ANALYSIS
Jon Cardinelli

How South Africa's franchises can conquer Europe

Heineken Cup glory was blocked by French and English teams but in their inaugural season, no one in South Africa is seeing it as a…

INTERVIEW
Jon Cardinelli

John Dobson: 'With all due respect, we're desperate not to become rugby's answer to Leicester City'

The Stormers' 15-match winning run, which included a URC Final win, came to an end in Cardiff, but for their charismatic coach, a …

ANALYSIS
Jon Cardinelli

Culture, schooling and community supercharge the SA rugby conveyor belt

Schools rugby is South Africa is revered around the game and many argue it has the best system in the world for future professiona…

OPINION
Jon Cardinelli

Rugby calendar alignment must not threaten epic South Africa v New Zealand duels

The Springboks and All Blacks served up two weekends of theatre but the fabled rivalry could be weakened as administrators seek to…

EXCLUSIVE
Jon Cardinelli

Springbok prop idol Trevor Nyakane revelling in his French leave

Trevor Nyakane may have won a World Cup and a Lions Series but after a move to French aristocrats Racing 92, his ambition remains …

Jon Cardinelli

Andre the Giant springs Bok up after smackdown

Harlequins’ star centre Esterhuizen is hoping to pin down a spot in South Africa’s World Cup squad this year

ANALYSIS
Jon Cardinelli

Kolisi is shining as a leading light for Springboks

Siya Kolisi has taken his leadership to another level and is already viewed as one of the great Springbok captains

INTERVIEW
Jon Cardinelli

Ox Nche: Joker in the pack

Ox Nché' has become a thunderously popular tweeter, but social media only scratches the surface of his remarkable tale.

INTERVIEW
Jon Cardinelli

Bismarck du Plessis still rolling back the years

Bismarck du Plessis has enjoyed a stellar rugby career, winning a Rugby World Cup and 79-caps, but the physical hooker still has a…

Jon Cardinelli

A Test of conviction

South Africa must ignore their mounting detractors and stick to their style to have any hope of beating the All Blacks.

Jon Cardinelli

Springboks relish renewed rivalry with All Blacks

New Zealand have had a firm grip on the Freedom Cup but South Africa plan to prise their fingers off the silverware

Jon Cardinelli

Immortality beckons for Boks and Lions

They’re world champions but don’t underestimate how much a series triumph would mean to South Africa

Jon Cardinelli

Thinking outside the Boks

As Covid-19 ravages the Springboks camp, who can the South Africans turn to as the Lions series looms?

Jon Cardinelli

Touched by genius

Former Springbok boss Nick Mallett explains what sets Rassie Erasmus apart as a player and coach

Jon Cardinelli

One last shot

Five years after his last cap, and a month shy of 37, Morné Steyn could again play his part in a Lions series.

Jon Cardinelli

Bigger isn't always better

LIons need to learn lessons of 2009, when Heinrich Brüssow bossed the breakdown for the Boks

Jon Cardinelli

Back seat driver

All Black legend Sam Whitelock is a stickler for New Zealand's traditions

Jon Cardinelli

Steyn alive

Frans Steyn will be 34 in May, but the two-time world champion's lust to play in a second Lions series burns white-hot.

Jon Cardinelli

Land of opportunity

Rugby will be missing a trick if the USA don't get to host a World Cup in the near future

Jon Cardinelli

Back on their perch

The Bulls, sleeping giant of South African rugby has finally awoken

Jon Cardinelli

Generation next

The progeny of a 1930 British and Irish Lion, Jesse Kriel longs to face the tourists in 2021.

Jon Cardinelli

Heavy mettle

Duane Vermeulen says it would be a mistake to write off the Springboks next summer.

Jon Cardinelli

Unfinished business

To some, he will always be known as the coach who lost to Japan. But there is much more to Heyneke Meyer.

Jon Cardinelli

Green-eyed monster

Tri-Nations success has left Springbok fans with a sense of what might have been

Jon Cardinelli

Massive, massive heart

Makazole Mapimpi's story brought Rassie Erasmus to tears but he wants his situation to inspire change

Jon Cardinelli

The only way is up

It's been a year since Kolisi lifted the World Cup but that's only the start for Springbok skipper

Jon Cardinelli

From Russia with love

South Africans swapping heat of Highveld for cold comforts of a big payday in Russia

Jon Cardinelli

Money matters

Professional players face financial ruin if they don’t adapt to the new Covid world.

Jon Cardinelli

Race against time

Jacques Nienaber says his Springboks are playing catch-up but the Lions should be wary

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