logo
Bulls to do it for Cornal Hendricks in URC clash against Dragons

Bulls to do it for Cornal Hendricks in URC clash against Dragons

The Herald17-05-2025

Bulls v Dragons: 1. Jan-hendrik Wessels, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Mornay Smith, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. JF van Heerden, 6. Kuyenzeka Nama Xaba, 7. Ruan Nortje (c), 8. Cameron Hanekom, 9. Zak Burger, 10. Keagan Johannes, 11. Sergeal Petersen, 12. David Kriel, 13. Canan Moodie, 14. Sebastian de Klerk, 15. Willie le Roux
Substitutes: 16. Johan Grobbelaar, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Francois Klopper, 19. Jannes Kirsten, 20. Marcell Coetzee, 21. Bernard van der Linde, 22. Stedman Gans, 23. Devon Williams
Lions v Ospreys: 1. Juan Schoeman, 2. Jaco Visagie (c), 3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 4. Ruan Venter, 5. Ruan Delport, 6. JC Pretorius, 7. Renzo du Plessis, 8. Jarod Cairns, 9. Nico Steyn, 10. Lubabalo Dobela, 11. Edwill van der Merwe, 12. Bronson Mills, 13. Henco van Wyk, 14. Richard Kriel, 15. Quan Horn
Substitutes: 16. Morne Brandon, 17. SJ Kotze, 18. RF Schoeman, 19. Izan Esterhuizen, 20. WJ Steenkamp, 21. Layton Horn, 22. Marius Louw, 23. Kelly Mpeku
Sharks v Scarlets: 1. Ox Nche, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 3. Vincent Koch, 4. Eben Etzebeth (C), 5. Emile van Heerden, 6. Tino Mavesere, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi, 9. Jaden Hendrikse, 10. Siya Masuku, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 12. André Esterhuizen, 13. Jurenzo Julius, 14. Ethan Hooker, 15. Aphelele Fassi
Substitutes: 16. Fez Mbatha, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Hanro Jacobs, 19. Jason Jenkins, 20. Nick Hatton, 21. Bradley Davids, 22. Francois Venter. 23. Yaw Penxe

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

In a WTC of tight margins Ngidi's lack of discipline costly for Proteas
In a WTC of tight margins Ngidi's lack of discipline costly for Proteas

TimesLIVE

time2 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

In a WTC of tight margins Ngidi's lack of discipline costly for Proteas

South Africa won't apportion blame to one player for the tricky position they found themselves in at the end of the first day, but it was hard not to watch Australia's attack give the Proteas batters absolutely nothing in the last session of play on Wednesday and not think: 'What was Lungi Ngidi doing?' Steve Smith and Kagiso Rabada explained how difficult the Lord's surface was for batting. It nipped and moved around a lot, said Rabada. 'It offered something all day,' said Smith. But where Australia's attack conceded two or less runs per over, and Rabada, Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder were all 3.5 runs or less when they bowled, Ngidi's economy rate of 5.62 sticks out like a sore thumb. He certainly bowled like someone with an injured digit. Smith said Australia's batters didn't deliberately counterattack after lunch, when their scoring rate shot up to 4.7 runs an over. 'We got a few more loose balls that we could put away,' he said. Those primarily were delivered by Ngidi, who conceded seven boundaries. 'They didn't miss their lengths and they bowled really well,' Rabada said of the Australians. In a match where the margins are so tight Ngidi's lack of discipline, his inability to control neither line nor length in conditions in which the ball moved more for the South Africans than it did for the Australians — because of the cloud cover — is unforgivable. 'We thought probably 160 is what we should have had them at,' Rabada said of Australia's first innings total of 212. Ngidi conceded 45 runs in his eight overs and there were also 10 no balls, five from Wiaan Mulder. Before the Test, Temba Bavuma said Ngidi's selection over Dane Paterson was 'one of the tougher decisions that have been made.' Paterson bowled superbly when called upon at home last summer — claiming two five wicket hauls — while Ngidi has only played in two Tests during Shukri Conrad's tenure as coach. The decision was a tactical one Bavuma explained, outlining how Ngidi's height could cause trouble on a surface where the bounce might get tricky later and that he bowls quicker than Paterson. The trouble is, that being taller and faster means nothing when the basic demands of Test match bowling aren't adhered to. Ngidi may look in better shape than he has for a long time, but he simply doesn't bowl enough at domestic first class level to warrant a start in the Test team. The two Tests he's played under Conrad — one against India at the start of 2024, and then last August against the West Indies — are the only two first class matches he's played since December 2022. On social media, Dale Steyn pointed out that Ngidi's run up 'needs serious work.' 'He starts good the first half and unfortunately by the time he hits the second half he's almost dropped in speed and momentum, pedestrian really, [he's then] forced to then use his body and action for pace. It's then always a fight to deliver consistency,' Steyn tweeted.

High work-rate vital for Bulls to stop up-tempo Leinster in their tracks in URC final, says Marcell Coetzee
High work-rate vital for Bulls to stop up-tempo Leinster in their tracks in URC final, says Marcell Coetzee

The Star

time2 hours ago

  • The Star

High work-rate vital for Bulls to stop up-tempo Leinster in their tracks in URC final, says Marcell Coetzee

Ashfak Mohamed | Published 2 hours ago The Bulls opened the scoring in both their previous United Rugby Championship finals and lost. So, perhaps the Pretoria side should let Leinster grab the early lead in Saturday's title decider at Croke Park in Dublin (6pm SA time kick-off) if they want to enjoy a case of third time lucky. But having endured the heartache of two defeats, such experiences would have given them the necessary knowledge to handle a similar situation against Leinster this weekend. Perhaps being written off by everyone outside Pretoria may also spur on Jake White's team. But while emotion – Cornal Hendricks' passing will also inspire the Bulls – has a place in a final, it is also about ensuring that you heed the lessons from the past. So, the visitors cannot afford to let an early lead slip this time, or concede yellow cards, like they did in the semi-final win over the Sharks last week. 'I think if I take that first final (18-13 defeat against the Stormers), think we scored off the bat probably like three, four minutes in the game,' loose forward Marcell Coetzee said from Dublin on Wednesday. 'So, we had a good start in the game and we were going well at first, but it just showed you (that) you can't rely on those moments. 'I thought we just might have missed the kicking game in that second half particularly. And that's how we let the Stormers in that day. They used the opportunities. We had a man down in the bin as well. 'And then the second game (last year's 21-16 loss to Glasgow), again great start, and we built on that. But you can't let the opposition in. That's what I meant by soft moments. 'You can't let them really in, and then let them get the ascendancy and momentum. 'It's going to come down to moments, and how we manage it and how calm and collected in control we are. It's all about managing that. 'That comes with experience, and I think over the course of the seasons, that's really been very beneficial for our team.' Coetzee may be asked to pack down at No 8 in the absence of the injured Cameron Hanekom on Saturday, and it shouldn't be an issue for the 34-year-old to fulfil. His energetic ball-carries and high work-rate on defence will be vital if the Bulls hope to stop the relentless Leinster attack. The Irish giants love to stretch the opposition defence early on, and the South Africans will have to be wide awake to prevent conceding points in the opening quarter. At the same time, they need to impose themselves on proceedings as well and force Leinster to make a lot of tackles too. That's where Coetzee, Cobus Wiese and Jan-Hendrik Wessels need to front up with ball-in-hand to create holes for dangerous backs such as David Kriel and Canan Moodie. 'That's the uniqueness about the Leinster team. When they get it right on the day, they can really light it up. That's part of our job,' Coetzee said. 'We need to nullify it as best as possible by certain things we identified. Look, I think there's a time and a place for everything. 'It's all about playing in the right areas. 'There will be times where we want to make the game quick and controlled and tempo, but there's also times to settle it and see where we can go from here, being composed and having good management on the day. 'Playing against a quality side like Leinster, you can't afford to have one guy or two guys in the bin. 'You need all the feet on the pitch, and it's going to take a work-rate to stop their onslaught. 'You don't want to let the guy next to you down by being reckless and stuff. 'That and soft moments we need to cut out in our game, and just building on our DNA that's been working for us this whole season.'

Bafana need to bring their scoring boots in Cosafa semis — Khumalo
Bafana need to bring their scoring boots in Cosafa semis — Khumalo

The Herald

time4 hours ago

  • The Herald

Bafana need to bring their scoring boots in Cosafa semis — Khumalo

Bafana Bafana Cosafa Cup head coach Vela Khumalo said his players needed to bring their scoring boots in the semifinal. Bafana have progressed to the next round of the tournament after playing to a goalless draw against Mauritius in the last fixture of group A at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday. The draw was enough to book SA a spot in the last four of the tournament by topping Group A after Zimbabwe beat Mozambique 3-1. Bafana will now play the winners of Group D in the semis. Khumalo said his players had been struggling to convert their chances throughout the group stage fixtures. However, he was confident that things would change in the knockout rounds. 'More than anything in this tournament so far, it has been us not scoring goals,' he said. 'Our boys need to bring their scoring boots. 'Our session [in the next couple of days] will be more on finishing, and that is exactly what we have been all about. 'But, gradually, it will come back and we will manage to score goals. 'We just need to score goals because in terms of the performance and the play, we do so well. 'We did not start well. 'You can't afford to lose your first game. It puts you under pressure, and that on its own affected the way we played. 'We have been missing some chances because we were not relaxed inside the box. 'We did not have the extra touch because we were thinking that we had lost a game, now we need to catch up. 'We were catching up all the time, and that affected the way we needed to play and be composed in the box. 'But now that we are in the semis, it is going to be a new ball game altogether. 'We are all equal, and we'll start like everyone else. 'I am hopeful. I think we will do well.' Reflecting on their game against Mauritius, Khumalo said: 'Let me start by congratulating our opponents, Mauritius, they gave us a good assignment to work on. 'We couldn't break them, they played low block, and they wanted to play from set-piece in standard situations where they wanted to hurt us. 'We were well aware of that, but what has always been a problem with us since the beginning of the tournament was not being clinical.' The Herald

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store