Rassie Erasmus names exciting Springbok squad
Forwards: Juarno Augustus (Northampton Saints), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Renzo du Plessis (Lions), Jean-Luc du Preez (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 (Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)
Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), André 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), Handré Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg, Edwilll van der Merwe (both Lions), Damian Willemse (Stormers), Grant Williams (Sharks).
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IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Jake White: Goosen's return crucial for URC playoffs as Bulls eye victory over Sharks
Bulls flyhalf Johan Goosen is back from injury and will start as flyhalf in the URC semi-final against the Sharks in Pretoria on Saturday Image: BackpagePix Johan Goosen trained like he hasn't been away and that is one of the reasons why Jake White included him in the Bulls' starting team for the United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-final against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld. The Pretoria side will look to snap a two-match losing streak this season on Saturday evening (6.15 pm kick-off) as they aim for a consecutive finals berth in the tournament. Goosen is the only change to the starting lineup, with Keagan Johannes dropping to the bench for the do-or-die duel. White says considering how well Goosen has played next to scrumhalf Embrose Papier and inside centre Harold Vorster, he has no doubt the flyhalf will slot in with ease. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'One thing about him (Johan) is that he is always in and out and in. So if anyone says he is not game-ready, that is usually how he has played in his career,' White explained the inclusion of the veteran. 'I am sure some of you guys watched a bit of training and those who have will see that it's like he hasn't been away. That is what I always say: at the end of these playoff games, you need your best players fit, available, and ready. Whatever happens during the season is just part of that building blocks. 'To have him back, we have 14 of the 15 players that played last week, so that is continuity. He is a Springbok and our number one 10. We have Keagan who's played really well for us on the bench. It is a good position to be in.' YOUR team to face the Hollywoodbets Sharks tomorrow at Loftus in our VURC Semi-Final 🔥🔥🔥 GRAB YOUR TICKETS NOW 🏆 🎟️TICKETS ➡️ 🐂Vodacom Bulls vs Hollywoodbets Sharks 🗓️7 June | ⏰ 18:15 | LOFTUS @Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA #ForeverBlue — Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) June 6, 2025 White put a question mark behind the omission of Eben Etzebeth from the Sharks' announced squad. He added that they will worry about the team when they get to Loftus on Saturday. Etzebeth was not included in the Sharks' match-day squad with Siya Kolisi taking over as captain in his absence. According to White, they are preparing as if the Durbanites will bring their best team to Pretoria. 'This is probably one of the best Sharks teams on paper. It reminds of Pieter Muller, Henry Honiball, Jeremy Thompson, Kabous van der Westhuizen, and André Joubert. They were all Springboks. 'There are not many players in that team who are not Springboks. In fact, 15 of the 54 players (in the Bok squad for the mid-year Tests) are from the Sharks. So, it is not a bad team to have. 'They have played well in big games, whether it is the Challenge Cup final or whenever they had a big game, they played well. In Springbok games too, so it won't be easy. We don't think for one moment that it will be. They've beaten us twice this year and there is a reason for that.' 🔥 This iconic derby have given us some absolute stunners 🔥 This Saturday, they're back to battle for a place in the Grand Final 🏆 Grab your spot and get ready for more magic 🎟️👉 #URC | #BULvSHA — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 6, 2025 White says they expect it to be as tough as it can be, and they will have to play as well as they can to get the desired outcome. He added that he told his players it would be like (Bok) trials for them on Saturday, but he doesn't want them to play like it is trials. White wants a team effort from his side. 'They know this is an opportunity in front of the selectors and the public for them to stake a claim. Our job is to tell them it is not about the individual. I told them in the changeroom they have been picked (for the Boks) for what they've been doing for the last 18 weeks.
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Plumtree confident Sharks can beat Bulls in URC semi-final without Eben Etzebeth
SHARKS lock Corne Rahl has some big shoes to fill with Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth out injured for the URC semi-final at Loftus. | BackpagePix Sharks coach John Plumtree reckons his blood pressure has only recently returned to normal after the drama of a penalty shoot-out with Munster last week, and the early week injury to Eben Etzebeth won't have helped his stress levels. That said, Plumtree was calm and philosophical when he spoke to the media about his team's chances of upsetting the Bulls in Saturday's United Rugby Championship semi-final at Loftus Versfeld. Etzebeth has been replaced by youngster Corne Rahl while Emile van Heerden comes in for another injured Springbok in Jason Jenkins. Apart from that double blow in the second row, Plumtree has picked the same starting 15 that won the quarter-final. Plumtree said the loss of his first-choice locks was a setback but stressed that rugby is a team sport. 'How much of a loss is Eben? He is probably the best lock in the world, so it's a big loss, but the thing is it's a team game; one person doesn't make this team and we've won games without him this year,' Plumtree said. 'He got a head knock at training,' explained Plumtree. 'We decided that it's best not to risk him this week, so we made a pretty early call. 'He's feeling a lot better by the way, he's been communicating with me and the team, and I'm not overly concerned about it. I'm pretty sure that if we go through, he'll be available next week.' Plumtree admitted that the injury to the in-form Jenkins had also been keenly felt. 'Jason is a big loss for us, too. He played a pivotal role for us, with Eben being out for so much; he's played at four, and he's played at five,' Plumtree added. 'It's really disappointing not to see him in the Springbok squad at the moment as well. I think he deserves to be there.' Etzebeth's replacement, Rahl, is hardly a lightweight. The blond-haired giant is 2.03m and weighs 122kg. Importantly, the 22-year-old has been under Etzebeth's wing for two years and would have learned plenty from the best in the business. The other incoming lock, Van Heerden, is no slouch and has the pedigree of being the son of former Springbok lock Fritz van Heerden. He, in any case, played most of last week's game after Jenkins went off injured. 'Corne is a different player to Emile, in so many ways. Corne's more abrasive, and Emile's the ball winner, and a smart player, and is developing good leadership as well,' Plumtree explained. 'We've got full backing of the boys, and the boys are really pleased they've got this opportunity.' As Plumtree says, his team have won important games this season without the likes of Etzebeth. In fact, the Sharks have yet to field a full-strength side against the Bulls this season, and they are yet to lose to the Pretoria team. They have got over the line in their last three outings against the Bulls, and Etzebeth did not play in those games. Plumtree said that the harrowing, 100-minute quarter-final meant the players had to take it easy this week, and the preparation has been more mental. 'With big games like this, it's often your easiest week as a coach. The players are all excited about the opportunity. 'We had to lighten the load a lot in training based on what happened last weekend, but they're feeling good.' Plumtree said his forwards are excited about going up against the much-vaunted Bulls pack. 'It's not just about who gets front-foot ball but also the psychological battle, and that's what it's all about, these big contests. The Bulls are not just a scrummaging team, they're a good set-piece team, particularly at Loftus,' Plumtree said. 'These are big derby games, aren't they? The Sharks-Bulls game at Loftus, everyone in Durban will be watching this game of rugby because it's based on the contests there have been over the years, and there have been some great contests.' Sharks team 15 Aphelele Fassi 14 Ethan Hooker 13 Lukhanyo Am 12 Andre Esterhuizen 11 Makazole Mapimpi 10 Jordan Hendrikse 9 Jaden Hendrikse 8 Siya Kolisi (captain) 7 Vincent Tshituka 6 James Venter 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne Rahl 3 Vincent Koch 2 Bongi Mbonambi 1 Ox Nche. Bench: 16 Fez Mbatha 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu 18 Hanro Jacobs 19 Deon Slabbert 20 Phepsi Buthelezi 21 Bradley Davids 22 Jurenzo Julius 23 Yaw Penxe.
Daily Maverick
4 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Etzebeth blow for Sharks on eve of URC semi-final against charging Bulls at Loftus
The United Rugby Championship semi-finals featuring the Bulls versus the Sharks, and Leinster against Glasgow, all take place this weekend. As if a trip to Loftus to face the Bulls in the most important game of the year weren't a challenging enough prospect for the Sharks, they will have to do it without their totem Eben Etzebeth. The Springbok great's injury-plagued season continued with a 'head knock' that will keep him out of the United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-final against the Bulls in Pretoria. Etzebeth's performance in last week's dramatic semi-final win over Munster, which went to a penalty shootout, was immense. His quality and experience is irreplaceable. Missed four months More worryingly though, Etzebeth missed nearly four months of the season with complications from a concussion. Another head injury, which is severe enough to keep him out of the URC semi-final, is reason for concern for the player. For the Sharks team, it's obviously not an ideal situation either. The up side is that the Sharks are littered with quality in other positions and have spent most of the campaign without Etzebeth's services. So, it shouldn't be as big a disruption as it might have been. Replacement Corne Rahl has enjoyed significant game time this season, knows the systems and gameplan well and is an honest toiler. He will join Emile van Heerden in the second row. As for the rest of the Sharks lineup, there is vast experience, albeit not in URC play-offs, much proven quality and some new rising stars such as wing/centre Ethan Hooker. In fact, the dry, highveld conditions might better suit the Sharks style than the often slippery, hot and humid conditions they endure in Durban. Calm face from coach Coach John Plumtree presented a calm face before the game. 'He (Eben) got a head knock at training, but like I say, he's feeling a lot better already,' Plumtree said. 'He took a knock at training and we decided that it's best not to risk him this week, so we made a pretty early call. 'He's feeling a lot better, by the way, he's been communicating with me and the team, and I'm not overly concerned about it, I'm pretty sure that if we go through (to the final), he'll be available next week. 'Best lock in the world' 'How much of a loss (is Etzebeth)? Eben's probably the best lock in the world so it's a big loss, but the thing is it's a team game; one person doesn't make this team and we've won games without him this year.' The Sharks will also be without the services of one-cap Bok Jason Jenkins. The lock suffered an injury against Munster, further depleted the Sharks' second row stocks. 'Jason is a big loss for us too. He played a pivotal role for us, with Eben being out for so much; he's played at four, and he's played at five,' Plumtree said. 'It's really disappointing not to see him in the Springbok squad at the moment as well. I think he deserves to be there. 'Obviously Corne is a different player to Emile, in so many ways. Corne's more abrasive, and Emile's the ball winner, and a smart player and a good developer in his leadership as well. We've got full backing of the boys, and the boys are really pleased they've got this opportunity.' Semi experience The Bulls will tread a well-worn path with their third appearance in the URC semi-finals. For the men from KwaZulu-Natal, a URC semi-final is uncharted territory, although a visit to the cathedral of rugby in Pretoria, is not. Overall in the URC, the Bulls lead the head-to-head 3-2 at Loftus. But the Sharks have had the Bulls' number this season. Plumtree's men have won both games in the 2024/2025 URC campaign, including a 29-19 win in round 11 back in February. The Bulls's set piece will obviously be a weapon, one which they love to deploy. They have won the most scrum penalties this year (60) and made the most maul metres (439) off the back of their impressive lineout. Tighthead prop, the colossal Wilco Louw, who stands 1.85-metres and weighs 144kg, has been a huge part of that set piece impact. He and the rest of the pack have provided a strong platform for the likes of dazzling No 8 Cameron Hanekom and fullback Willie le Roux to shine. 'Wilco is a wonderful person off the field… he's almost among those hidden figures of the squad, who are so instrumental to our work do not get the praise that is probably deserved,' Bulls coach Jake White said after Louw was nominated for URC Player of the Year. 'It's amazing to see someone like Wilco being shortlisted. It's something that is very rare, to see a prop being given the spotlight, especially someone like him, who just goes about his job — a man of few words.' His actions have positive consequences though. When it comes to making 22-metre entries count, the Bulls are lethal with an average of 2.7 points per entry. Minimise errors The key then for the Sharks, is keeping the Bulls away from the red zone. An intelligent kicking game, and controlling possession, are ways to achieve that, especially as centre Andre Esterhuizen, wing Makazole Mapimpi and Hooker are such penetrative weapons. Esterhuizen is the bludgeon while Mapimpi and Hooker are a combination of power and finesse. Hooker made two line breaks last week and beat 10 defenders — the most in the match. Mapimpi made four clean breaks last week, showing that despite being 34, he is still one of the best wings in the country. Unsurprisingly, Esterhuizen has made the most dominant carries in URC this season with 46, while also making the second-most post-contact metres (219). When it comes to giving a team attacking momentum, there are few better than Esterhuizen. In No 8 Cameron Hanekom, the Bulls have one of the sport's true rising stars. He operates almost like an auxiliary back, making significant post-contact metres — he made 32 metres in the quarterfinal against Edinburgh last week. There are salivating match-ups everywhere but like most play-offs, collectively doing the basics well will be more important than individual flair. One missed tackle, one dropped pass, or moment of ill-discipline, can undo the best work in an instant. Play-offs come down more to eliminating errors than flashes of brilliance. Leinster desperate After three seasons of near misses and a barren trophy cabinet, Leinster have a chance to atone for their failure in the European Champions Cup again, by winning the URC for the first time. They have to beat defending champions Glasgow in Dublin though, to advance to face either the Bulls or Sharks. And history has shown that for all their pedigree, Leinster have battled to close the deal in recent seasons. Leinster have lost three semi-finals in succession — twice to the Bulls and once to Munster. They need to put that right. 'You have to handle the pressure of the game. It's not about peaking. You have to handle the pressure of a knockout game because there is a lot more pressure,' Leinster coach Jacques Nienaber said this week. 'If you think South Africa played in the World Cup and lost to Ireland, yeah it's bad, but it's not defining. Knockouts are defining. You can be as good as you want to and play as brilliant rugby as you want to in the league stage of the competition. 'Where it counts is you just have to make sure you are a little bit better than the team you play against on that specific day of a knockout game. We must just be better than Glasgow this weekend. That's all. Like last weekend, we just had to be a little bit better than Scarlets.' DM Fixtures: 7 June
