Sititi: Mum wanted me to stop

All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi says his mother didn’t want him to play rugby again after a “scary” incident during the Super Rugby playoffs.

The 23-year-old returned from concussion to feature off the bench in the All Blacks’ 34-32 Nations Championship win over France in Christchurch last week, but admitted his family were left deeply shaken after he was knocked unconscious while playing for the Chiefs against the Reds in June.

Asked if his mother had tried to stop him from returning to the field, Sititi replied: “Yeah, 100%. She didn’t want to watch another rugby game in a long time. I’m just happy to get through that game. I know my mum will be relieved, that’s for sure.” freshyourfeel.org

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Sititi was hospitalised after the collision and entered concussion protocols, forcing him to miss the Chiefs’ semi-final and final.

“I sort of remember everything that happened right up until then, then I don’t remember anything after that until coming to at the hospital,” he said. “So, obviously it was pretty scary for myself and the family.”

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The incident initially appeared to be the result of a shoulder-to-head challenge from Reds lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, but TV replays later showed friendly fire from Chiefs prop Sione Ahio had caused the knockout blow.

“Obviously scary times, it was a scary moment,” Sititi said.

The All Blacks’ next assignment is against Italy in Wellington on Saturday.

Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images

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In just his fourth Test, 22-year-old Springbok prop Zach Porthen impressed with a cameo off the bench at Ellis Park in the Nations Championship, including this destructive run.

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“ZECHARIAH!!”

The isiXhosa commentators loved Zach Porthen’s massive bump #SSRugby | #NationsChampionship pic.twitter.com/r0fV7mfHpU

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 6, 2026

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

The post Watch: When Zach attacked England appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

An injured rugby player who spends months – or even years – on the sidelines may ultimately prolong his career, says Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus.

On the other hand, players who feature week in and week out are often match-sharp when the time comes, but the accumulated wear and tear on their bodies also increases their risk of injury.

Erasmus addressed the impact of an 11-month season on South African players after naming his team to face Scotland on Monday, noting the heavy workload carried by those based in Europe and South Africa, while those playing in Japan were fresher at the start of the international season.

Springboks deal with the load

Dozens of Springboks were caught in a race to get fit in time for the season, with flyhalf Sacha-Feinberg Mngomezulu, RG Snyman and Kwagga Smith among those still expected to be out for many months.

Meanwhile, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nché and André Esterhuizen all picked up injuries either in the week leading up to the first Nations Championship Test against England last weekend, or during South Africa’s 45-21 victory.

All four play for the Sharks, whose season ended in May after failing to reach the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs.

Thirty-four-year-old Etzebeth, dealing with a concussion after a head knock previously kept him out of action for months, may only return to action in August.

Meanwhile, the Bulls reached the URC final mostly injury-free and have 10 players set to play against Scotland at Loftus this weekend, despite their players barely receiving a break.

“Someone did a study for us on guys who, let’s say, played for six years and were injured for four. I asked him if it’s like a car that stands in a garage – it’s a 1976 model but for five years it’s been in the garage – how much of an impact does that have on prolonging his career,” Erasmus said.

“There are guys like RG Snyman, Lood de Jager who are [in their 30s] but they’ve missed five or six years of rugby. How much is the body actually rested through those years?

“The results were interesting. It varies from position to position: backline, flanker, prop.”

Boks can’t complain – Erasmus

Erasmus said there was indeed a strain on players who competed regularly. But it operated on a cycle.

“We are fairly fresh because we have lots of Japanese guys and guys who fell out of URC and didn’t reach the play-offs.

“We can moan now and say we are not ready because we have not played together much. But at the end of the year we will have played right through the Greatest Rivalry and [Nations Championship].

“Then we are really in sync for the end-of-year-tour and they are only beginning because they have a break after these three Tests.”