Province aim to take big step towards Play-Offs in final home game
Ulster know they likely need to pick up some points in their final home game of the season if they are to make it into the United Rugby Championship Play-Offs as they welcome South African side the Hollywoodbets Sharks to Ravenhill on Saturday night (kick-off 7.35pm).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
19 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
New Ulster signing receives first Springboks call-up ahead of summer Test series
The rampaging number eight, who will move to Ravenhill over the summer from Northampton Saints, is one of nine uncapped players called up to Rassie Erasmus' 54-man extended panel. South Africa begin their summer schedule with a game against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28, followed by Tests against Italy in Pretoria and Gqeberha on July 5 and 12 respectively and finishing off against Georgia in Nelspruit on July 19. It seems unlikely that 27-year-old Augustus will see any game time as six of the eight back rowers from the Springboks' last squad have been retained, including reigning and two-time World Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit and captain Siya Kolisi. However, it says much about the Alexander Bay native that he has been included in the squad after being part of last month's national alignment camp, with Erasmus clearly a fan of the Ulster-bound back row. Augustus has been in red-hot form for Northampton this season and only missed out on their Champions Cup Final against Bordeaux due to injury, helping them reach their first decider since 2011 with a bulldozing performance against Leinster in the Semi-Finals. His call-up, however, could prove to be an issue for Ulster, who were anticipating the former Stormers man being available for the start of the United Rugby Championship campaign on September 26 but may now be without him should he see any action for his country. Even more concerning would be if he impresses sufficiently to be called up to the Springboks squad for firstly the Rugby Championship, which extends into the first weekend of October, and then the Autumn Internationals, when Erasmus' men face France, Italy, Ireland and Wales in November. While Ulster would never prevent a player from representing their country, the intention was for Augustus to be a fulcrum at the centre of their forward pack in their bid to return to the URC Play-Offs next season, and being without one of their marquee players for a significant period – Ulster have six League games before the end of November – would be less than ideal for head coach Richie Murphy. The province are well-stocked in the back row, with James McNabney emerging last season alongside Ireland flanker Nick Timoney and David McCann, and Ireland lock Cormac Izuchukwu also able to step in at blindside flanker, but Augustus was set to provide a new dimension to the loose forward trio.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
New Ulster signing Augustus named in Springboks squad
New Ulster signing Juarno Augustus has been named in an extensive 54-man South Africa squad for the world champions' first four internationals of coach Rassie Erasmus has retained 31 of his 2023 Rugby World Cup-winning squad, with 27-year-old back row Augustus - who has joined Ulster from Northampton Saints - one of nine uncapped players addition to Augustus, Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe, forwards Neethling Fouche and Asenathi Ntlabakanye, flankers Renzo du Plessis and Vincent Tshituka, utility forward Cobus Wiese and Sharks centre Ethan Hooker are hoping to feature at Test level for the first time. Backline talent Ntokozo Makhaza, who has recently signed for Toyota Cheetahs, has also been Springboks face the Barbarians in Cape Town on 28 June, followed by Tests against Italy in Pretoria and Gqeberha on 5 July and 12 July before a 19 July match against Georgia in a busy year, the Springboks will also play Tests against Italy, France, Ireland and Wales as part of their European tour in November."We are excited to have the luxury of announcing a squad with so much depth and talent," said Erasmus."Having an expanded squad will not only afford us the opportunity to have productive training sessions, but it will also bode well for the younger players in the group to learn from the senior players, many of whom are Rugby World Cup champions."With a few more talented youngsters in this group, we hope that they will learn valuable lessons and stake a strong claim for places in what will be a challenging, yet exciting season." South Africa squad Forwards: Juarno Augustus (Northampton Saints), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Renzo du Plessis (Lions), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Neethling Fouche (Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Bulls), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi (both Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu (both Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls), Vincent Tshituka (Sharks), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (both Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi (both Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker (all Sharks), Quan Horn (Lions), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Ntokozo Makhaza (UCT), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg, Edwilll van der Merwe (both Lions), Damian Willemse (Stormers), Grant Williams (Sharks).
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Maebh Corrigan backs Tyrone to overcome dissapointment ahead of All-Ireland
Tyrone's Maebh Corrigan has backed her county to overcome recent defeats in big occasions ahead of the start of the All-Ireland Championship. It has been a difficult season so far for Tyrone, with relegation from Division One followed by a narrow defeat to Down in the Ulster Intermediate semi-final. Advertisement Last season ended in heartbreak as Tyrone lost the Intermediate All-Ireland final by a single point. They will compete in Group Two, alongside Westmeath and fellow Ulster side Down. While Corrigan admitted the defeats were hard to take, she is confident Tyrone can learn from their mistakes. 'It does stick with you coming into this year. Whenever you are playing in Croke Park on those big occasions, there is such a build-up, but you're not getting a result out of it. Advertisement 'It shows that playing in Croke Park is brilliant, but winning in Croke Park is more important. We have that in the back of our minds this year. 'The Intermediate Championship is just so competitive—this year more so than any other—so you can't look past the first game.' In a season where many teams have lost experienced players and undergone significant squad overhauls, Tyrone have retained much of their panel from last season. With game management in big matches a key focus, Corrigan believes keeping the core of the squad together will be an advantage, but warned they must learn from last season's failings. Advertisement 'We have a very similar panel this year to last year, so we have to learn from it. There's no other choice. 'If we go out and do the same thing this year, we're not going to get a result from it. In terms of player turnover, this is probably the year our squad has remained the most consistent compared to previous years. 'Hopefully, we can use that to our advantage. We have to play to our strengths, and hopefully it will help that we've all played together at that level.' Meath and Kildare are two teams that have provided a template for success at the Intermediate level before making their mark in senior competition. Advertisement For Corrigan, whether it's Tyrone or another team, she is confident that whoever wins the All-Ireland will be a side to be reckoned with at senior level. 'The Intermediate Championship is so competitive, and a lot of teams are in a position to push on to the senior scene. 'Meeting those teams in the league—we lost by a point to Dublin, we stayed with Kerry and Armagh in the first half—shows that we're capable of keeping up with those strong Division One senior teams. It's just about making that breakthrough. 'I think any team that makes it to the latter stages of the Intermediate Championship this season has a good chance of competing at senior because the standard is so high.'
