
Bok fans in their thousands flock to Mbombela Stadium
Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images
7m ago
Fans are seated as the teams are out for the warm-ups. (Athenkosi Tsotsi/News24)
13m ago
16m ago
Fifty minutes to kick-off in Mbombela ⏰ #Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #RSAvGEO pic.twitter.com/N7hnlV7y9Q
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 19, 2025
20m ago
These two happy chappies have reason to smile. Test debutants Neethling Fouche, left, and Boan Venter. (Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images)
25m ago
The Georgians take in the scene at Mbombela ahead of their Test against the world champion Springboks. Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images
46m ago
Pre-match fun 😊 #Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #RSAvGEO pic.twitter.com/iU3ot4SjpK
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 19, 2025
48m ago
Leaving nothing to chance, these Bok fans have marked their territory early inside Mbombela Stadium. (Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images)
1h ago
The Boks have arrived at Mbombela Stadium 🏟️ #Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #RSAvGEO pic.twitter.com/ztDoTxULR5
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 19, 2025
1h ago
Fun day out for these folks at Mbombela Stadium on July 19, 2025 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images)
1h ago
The Mbombela Stadium pitch is ready for the Springbok and Georgia showdown. (Athenkosi Totsi/News24)
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S Africa leave out experienced trio for Australia Tests
South Africa have named their squad for the two Rugby Championship Tests at home to Australia next month as they begin the defence of their title, with a trio of dual World Cup winners missing out. There was no place for 2019 and 2023 World Cup winners Lukhanyo Am, Faf de Klerk and Makazola Mapimpi when coach Rassie Erasmus released his squad on Wednesday. The experienced trio are on a stand-by list in case of injury as Erasmus named a 37-player group to meet the Wallabies in Johannesburg on August 16 and in Cape Town a week later. Recent new caps Ethan Hooker (utility back), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter (both props), Marnus van der Merwe (hooker) and Cobus Wiese (utility forward) have all been included. Bath prop Thomas du Toit has been granted a compulsory two-week rest as agreed with the English Premiership, while number eight Jasper Wiese, the brother of Cobus, is serving a four-week suspension. Erasmus has already used almost 50 players in three Tests this year as he looks to add depth to the squad with the 2027 Rugby World Cup in mind. "It's always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands (in wins over Italy and Georgia this month), but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Rugby Championship," Erasmus said. "We probably have three players who can cover each position. One of our key pillars as a team is to build squad depth, and there is no better way to see what some of the younger players are capable of than to expose them to some of the top teams in the world." The Springboks have also invited three players from South Africa's victorious side at the recent Under-20 World Cup to train with the team to gain experience. They are loose-forward Bathobele Hlekani, wing Cheswill Jooste and scrumhalf Haashim Pead. SOUTH AFRICA SQUAD: Forwards: Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Edwill van der Merwe, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse


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39 minutes ago
- New York Times
Georgia's Gunner Stockton has his skeptics, but is it too early to judge?
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In defense of Finebaum, he's far from the only person doubting, or at least wondering, if Stockton is the answer for Georgia at quarterback. In the game and a half most of the world has only seen him play, Stockton was good at times and underwhelming at others. There is no assurance Stockton will be any good. However, the skepticism, if it's based just on that game and a half, overlooks some key points. Stockton played against Texas and Notre Dame, two of the best teams and defenses in the country. Plenty of quarterbacks, if not most, would show plenty of flaws. 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'Gunner got the message.' 😂 #collegefootball #georgia #football #funny ♬ original sound – SECNetwork As for how Stockton played in those two games, Smart last week downplayed it a bit by saying offensive coordinator Mike Bobo 'took care of' Stockton with some short throws early on to get confidence. However, Smart also pointed out that Stockton wasn't helped by the dropped passes or the lack of a running game. 'The best friend of a quarterback is a run game. And he didn't have a lot of that in those two games,' Smart said. 'It's really hard to run the ball against really good defenses, and so it puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback to win other ways.' To that end, Georgia added Illinois' leading rusher Josh McCray, a physical runner, to pair with dynamic sophomore Nate Frazier. Smart also said they made some offseason changes 'I don't disclose' to help the running game. 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an hour ago
- News24
Honor and Blue Bulls announce tech device partnership
The Blue Bulls are proud to announce global technology brand, HONOR, as their exclusive technology devices sponsor. The significance of this partnership signifies the huge shift that has been happening in global sports, in which gaming tactics and technology are increasingly relying on each other to ensure the best possible team coordination and performance outcomes. The collaboration emphasises HONOR's dedication to fuse useful technology with everyday life, work and play. The brand's notable 180% growth rate in 2024 and the milestone achievement of over one million units sold in South Africa, demonstrates its investment and activeness in the South African market. It's latest corporate strategy, the HONOR ALPHA PLAN, aims to transform the future of AI and smart technology, from digital AI agents to physical applications that will redefine human interaction with intelligent devices. As the technology partner to the Bulls, HONOR will equip the team with smart technology, supporting the players and technical teams with smart devices across its extensive product range to improve their game, connect with fans and simplify their daily living. Fred Zhou, CEO of HONOR Technologies Africa, expressed that, 'The Blue Bulls are a South African brand that is synonymous with sporting achieving that unites South Africans from all walks of life. The team has a great history of brilliance in on-the-field performance as well as fostering a strong relationship with communities that form part of its fanbase. As HONOR, we've decided to join this family and together we intend on ushering an era of technology and innovation driven performance and connection.' Rugby is a huge part of the lives of South Africans. Every success attained on the pitch greatly impact the mood and attitude of the country. The link between this sporting culture and technological innovation can only maximise the success we've come to expect over the years. 'For us as the Bulls, this partnership with HONOR entrenches our longstanding commitment to continually improve the efficacy of our team's coordination, communication and performance on and off the field. This extends beyond the players and technical staff, but to the fans who have supported this great team and who see it as extension of themselves,' says Blue Bulls CEO, Edgar Rathbone. Seamless trust between technological innovation and people can be likened to the tact, adaptability and awareness required in the field of play. The association between performance and innovation is implicit. 'As with our recently launched HONOR 400 & 400 Pro devices which deliver steady, social-ready results every time, manifested in crisp, AI-enhanced zoom of up to 50×, the Blue Bulls player is an individual who stays steps ahead in the game, and I must say that we're glad to be partnership with them,' summed up Fred Zhou.