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There was a big postbag for Springbok coach Peter de Villiers with some blunt questions from supporters this week. Peter’s never been one to dodge a tough situation so here are his answers to questions such as: Are the players running the team? How he keeps himself motivated despite the criticism? What can he do about referees? Is he a token appointment? Is it time for younger players? Click here for his frank answers.

“Peter has our full support and we are confident that we can quickly be put back on track,” said Mr James Stoffberg, chairman of SARU’s Technical Committee, after meeting with Bok coach Peter de Villiers earlier on Thursday in Cape Town. For more on this, click here.

The identity of SARU’s new CEO is set to be revealed tomorrow. The Union’s general council – which is constitutionally responsible for appointing the CEO – will hear the recommendations of an independent four-person committee who were charged with working through dozens and dozens of applications. Check back to www.sarugby.co.za tomorrow afternoon for first news of the appointment.

Fans from all over Gauteng and further afield queued overnight in Soweto to snap up the remaining 5 000 tickets – going at a bargain price of R100 – for the Springboks’ historic Test at Soccer City on August 21. If all 88 791 ticket holders pitch it’ll make it the second biggest attendance in Springbok history with only the 1955 Test against the British & Irish Lions exceeding the total – an estimated 95 000 people crammed into Ellis Park that day. The current second highest attendance for a Bok Test is the 82 000 capacity crowds that have twice seen them play at Twickenham this century.

The Springboks were a hit of another kind last week when the South African Rugby Union launched the first-ever digital magazine dedicated solely to the Boks and South African rugby.
To read more about BOK, click here, or simply read BOK and decide for yourself by clicking here.

Andre Watson refereed two World Cup finals and was used to taking a bit of flak. But what does he think of the standard of Vodacom Tri-Nations refereeing to date? And how should referees be assessed – on one mistake or over the entire 80 minutes of game? If you’ve got a question you’ve always to ask about the Laws or refereeing send it to yourquestion@sarugby.co.za and he’ll answer the best ones in next week’s BOKzine.

It’s the turn the Blue Bulls to beat the Lions if the pattern of the Absa Currie Cup continues for a fifth year. The teams have alternated winning for the last seven years and as the Lions won the last encounter (20-13) in Johannesburg the last time they met, it indicates a Bulls win. Meanwhile the durable Shark Jacques Botes is due for his 99th appearance in the competition this weekend; Michael Killian (Lions) makes his 50th and Naas Olivier is closing in on 600 points. For this and more click here.

The KwaZulu-Natal Premier Division title, as well as a place at the 36th annual SAA National Club Championships, will be up for grabs when one of the country’s most fiercely-contested club rugby rivalries resumes in Durban on Friday night. The clash between log leaders Durban Collegians and defending champions College Rovers at the Absa Stadium fields will in all likelihood decide the destiny of the Moor Cup and KZN’s rep at the Club Champs. Click here for more on club rugby.

Along with the Springboks returning for the home leg of the Vodacom Tr-Nations at the end of August, BokTown will make its comeback at Montecasino. To find out more and to book your place at the event please CLICK HERE.

Only a week left to enter our Springbok Golf Day competition. You and a friend could be teeing off with the Springboks at one of Johannesburg's finest Golf Courses. To enter this awesome competition and for more information, please Click Here.

The Springbok Supporters Club is giving you the chance to win a VIP trip to go watch the Springboks take on the All Blacks in the historic Vodacom Tri-Nations clash at Soccer City on August 21. CLICK HERE to find out how you can win!