Mark Keohane

(L/R): New Zealand's scrum-half Finlay Christie, New Zealand's flanker Dalton Papali'i, New Zealand's lock Samuel Whitelock and New Zealand's number eight Ardie Savea gesture to English referee Wayne Barnes during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Final between New Zealand and South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on October 28, 2023. (Photo by Antonin THUILLIER / AFP)

Let the ref run the show again

MARK KEOHANE advocates for a return to the traditional role of referees in rugby, arguing that the expansion of the television match official’s scope is ruining the sport.

South African loose forward Duane Vermeulen tries to break through during the final phase of the Four Nations tournament rugby union match between South Africa and New Zealand at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg on October 4, 2014. AFP PHOTO/MARCO LONGARI (Photo by MARCO LONGARI / AFP)

Duane’s tale a ‘hell of a rugby lesson’

Duane Vermeulen’s journey to become the greatest Springbok No 8 of all time is a powerful story of patience and perseverance, writes MARK KEOHANE.

Cane-less Kiwis no match for Bok ‘mongrels’

Once the All Blacks lost captain Sam Cane to a red card in the World Cup final, they were never going to be able to stop the brutal Springboks, writes MARK KEOHANE.

Bok coaches dodge World Cup ‘disaster’

While hailing the match-winning Handre Pollard, MARK KEOHANE says the Bok brains trust has played their ‘get out of jail’ card in the semi-final victory over England.

All Blacks mauling of Pumas ‘just wrong’

MARK KEOHANE is troubled by the 38-point differential of the All Blacks’ 44-6 win over Argentina in their World Cup semi-final, given the significance of the match.

Bok bosses set to deliver big prize

Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber are risk-takers, but their “potent” coaching combination is worth it as the Boks stand on the cusp of a fourth World Cup title, writes MARK KEOHANE.

World Cup is not what it seems

While many rate the first month of the 2023 World Cup as impressive, MARK KEOHANE highlights a vast disparity between perception and reality at this year’s tournament.

Bok coach Jacques Nienaber and All Blacks rival Ian Foster

Boks lose to Tonga? You must be mad

The Springboks will thump Tonga on Sunday, and it’s crazy to suggest otherwise, writes MARK KEOHANE.

France 2023 a four-nation ‘yawn’

This year’s World Cup has suffered from too many one-sided matches in the pool stages, writes MARK KEOHANE, with the too many teams set to exit in the quarter-finals.

Les Bleus copy Bok ‘poetry’

Fabien Galthie has scrapped the romantic brand of rugby employed by France teams of old, and taken a leaf out of the Springboks and Rassie Erasmus’ playbook, writes MARK KEOHANE.