IN PHOTOS: Pumas on fire at captain's practice
The Airlink Pumas took to the training field for the last time in their 2025 SA Cup campaign.
The captain's practice was held at Mbombela Stadium last night, Friday, May 23, just 24 hours before the kick-off against the Griquas today, May 24.
ALSO READ: Pumas and Griquas face each other in final battle of 2025 SA Cup war
The final starts at 18:30 and the Pumas again asked that the fans colour the stadium in pink tonight.
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The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Sharks focus on set-piece ahead of bottom-of-the-table clash
The defending champions have now lost four games on the trot with just three to go. Coach JP Pietersen said he is still proud of his players. Sharks coach JP Pietersen has identified set-pieces as their focal point ahead of their bottom-of-the-table Currie Cup clash with Western Province in Durban on Friday. The Sharks lost 26–17 to the Griquas in Kimberley over the weekend, their fourth defeat in a row with just three games left. The defending champions led 10–7 at half-time thanks to a try by scrumhalf Ceano Everson. But a Griquas resurgence in the second half saw them outplay the visitors. The Sharks produced another try from the hands of Diego Appollis, but three yellow cards (captain Nick Hatton, Matt Romao and Jean Smith) cost them dearly. Each was followed by a Griquas try within a minute or two. Caleb Abrahams, Lourens Oosthuizen, Dylan Maart and Cameron Hufke all crossed for the Griquas, who sit fourth in a closely-contested competition, only one point behind the Cheetahs, who lead. Young Sharks need a win The Sharks only have one losing bonus point over halfway into the competition, and statistically cannot defend their title. But the Durbanites next face Western Province, who are also backing youngsters to increase depth in the long term. Time will tell if the two unions' selection strategy will pay off in the long run. But pride is at stake now. Western Province also only have one losing bonus point after four matches, though their points difference is -83 compared to the Sharks' -116. 'I'm immensely proud of the boys for showing effort and fight [against the Griquas],' Pietersen said. 'To be up at half time and to lead the game. It just showed the fight and growth in the group, that we are moving in the right direction. 'Unfortunately, it just takes time to polish out errors. It happens in rugby. The more you play, the more cohesion you get, the more understanding you get. It was a good fight from the boys.' He targeted the set-piece as the 'big work-on' ahead of the bottom-of-the-table clash. 'But there were some really good players that stand out and we can be extremely proud of them. They did the Sharks jersey very proud,' the Sharks coach added.
The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
Sharks, WP remain winless, Bulls humbled
The past weekend delivered another round of thrilling Currie Cup Premier Division action, headlined by the Boland Kavaliers, who secured their third win of the campaign by defeating the Bulls 28-20 on Sunday in Wellington, while there were also important victories for the Lions, Cheetahs, and Griquas. Griquas saw off a spirited challenge from the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV to run out 26-17 winners in Kimberley on Friday. On Saturday in Nelspruit, the Lions edged the Pumas 36-35, while Western Province went down 31-24 to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. With the single-round competition now past the halfway stage, the Cheetahs have moved into pole position with 16 league points, the same amount as second-placed Boland, who have a slightly weaker points differential. Griquas and the Lions each have 15 points and three wins to their credit – the same number of victories as the Cheetahs and Boland. 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Hawies Fourie's team trailed 12-7 at half-time and also fell 20-14 behind in the second half of an incident-packed encounter, but despite their indiscretions which saw them earning four yellow cards, they showed enormous character to stay in the fight. The Kavaliers eventually reeled the powerful visiting team in and held off the visitors' rally in the end to secure their biggest win to date, adding the Bulls' scalp to that of the Cheetahs and the Lions. Sidney Tobias, the prolific Donavan Don, Kwezi Mafu, and former Bulls front ranker Dayan van der Westhuizen each scored a try, while playmaker Ashlon Davids added four conversions to keep them in touch with the visitors despite the four yellow cards. Blitzbok Don, the top try scorer in the competition this season, wrestled his way over the whitewash despite the Bulls' defence to score his seventh try of the competition. The meeting was a feisty affair, with the Kavaliers matching the Bulls' famed physicality. With the visitors also losing two players to the sin bin, a total of six yellow cards were flashed in this crunch match. Doctor Booysen, Louis Schreuder, Michael Benadie, and Godlen Masimla were the Kavaliers players shown yellow cards, while Cornel Smit and Junior Bok hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele received cards on the Bulls' side. This coming weekend, the Pumas and Boland kick off the round-five action when they meet from 17:00 in Nelspruit, before the Sharks XV and WP go head-to-head from 19:10 in a match that will hand the winner their first victory this season. On Saturday, the Cheetahs face the Lions from 14:00 in Bloemfontein, while the Bulls and Griquas round up the action on Sunday in their 15:00 kick-off in Pretoria. Griquas 26-17 Hollywoodbets Sharks XV Griquas – Tries: Caleb Abrahams, Dylan Maart, Lourens Oosthuizen, Gurshwin Wehr. Conversions: George Whitehead (3) Sharks XV – Tries: Ceano Everson, Diego Appollis. Conversions: Moyo (2). Penalty goal: Moyo Pumas 35-36 Lions Pumas – Tries: Ruwald van der Merwe, Ross Braude, Darren Adonis, Jan-Henning Campher, Tiaan Pretorius. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (5) Lions – Tries: Kelly Mpeku, Angelo Davids, Renzo du Plessis (2), Dylan Sjoblom. Conversions: Lubabalo Dobela (4). Penalty goal: Dobela Cheetahs 31-24 Western Province Cheetahs – Tries: Cohen Jasper, Mihlali Mosi, Banie Britz, Juan Venter, Neels Volschenk. Conversions: Jasper (3) WP – Tries: Shilton van Wyk, Jared Africa, Enos Ndiao; Conversions: Jurie Matthee, Tristan Leyds (2). Penalty goal: Matthee Boland Kavaliers 28-20 Bulls Boland – Tries: Sidney Tobias, Donavan Don, Khwezi Mafu, Dayan van der Westhuizen. Conversions: Ashlon Davids (4) Bulls – Tries: Jean Erasmus, Jaco Grobbelaar, Nama Xaba. Conversion: Boeta Chamberlain. Penalty goal: Chamberlain Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
All Blacks beat Argentina 41-24 to reclaim top world rank
"We talked about starting well and I think we did that. We finished the second half quite strong - it was a bit of a statement there.' New Zealand's Samisoni Taukei'aho scored two late tries to seal a 41-24 Rugby Championship win over Argentina and return the All Blacks to the top of the world rankings on Saturday. Ahead 31-10 at the interval, New Zealand held off a second-half fightback from the Pumas in Cordoba and ultimately emerged victors by scoring six tries to three. The All Blacks clinched the world number one ranking for the first time since 2021, leapfrogging world champions South Africa, who were stunned 38-22 by Australia in Johannesburg in the tournament opener. Winger Sevu Reece also scored a double for the visitors while fly-half Beauden Barrett kicked 11 points and was a controlling figure with his tactical kicking. Barrett's opposite Tomas Albornoz scored 14 points, including a try, but the Pumas were unable to end their winless record on home soil against New Zealand, which stretches to 15 matches. The result continues an unbeaten start to the year for the All Blacks, who swept France 3-0 in their June home series. All Blacks captain Scoot Barrett said he was pleased with the result but conceded his team had only played well in patches. 'Starting well' 'We talked about starting well and I think we did that. We finished the second half quite strong – it was a bit of a statement there,' said Barrett, whose team fell away badly in the closing stages of several Rugby Championship matches last year. 'In the second half we were a little bit slow and probably a little bit of indiscipline fed their game, which was disappointing and allowed the crowd to get in behind them. 'They threw a lot of punches at us and I'm pleased the guys who finished the game were able to win some arm wrestles, get some territory and most importantly come away with a good win.' Reece scored the opening try after an early Beauden Barrett penalty before Argentina responded, when pressure created an overlap for winger Rodrigo Isgro. Pumas prop Mayco Vivas was shown a yellow card for a professional foul and New Zealand capitalised on their one-man advantage. Fullback Will Jordan sliced through on the halfway line and sent scrum-half Cortez Ratima clear for the best try of the match and a 17-7 lead. The visitors took control late in the first half through a try to back-rower Ardie Savea – arguably the game's best player – followed by Reece's second score. Albornoz kick-started Argentina's second-half rearguard with a tackle-busting try. New Zealand lost centre Billy Proctor to a yellow card and the home side closed to within seven points through a try to back-rower Joaquin Oviedo. However, All Blacks replacement hooker Taukei'aho sucked the energy out of the crowd by barging across to score twice in the last 12 minutes. The teams meet again in Buenos Aires next week.
