Even with a sturdy ship and the help of satellite images, negotiating the frozen ocean requires a dose of humility before nature’s might.

History was unmade last year, as engineers began the massive project of ripping the first-ever transoceanic fiber-optic cable from the ocean floor. Just don’t mention sharks.

The elite layer is concentrated but across the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers there are 64 schools represented. That tells you the base of the South African game is broad and that the state of ...