Latest news with #BARvRSA
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
‘We know the emphasis they place on the scrums': Boks on Azzuri challenge
Springbok assistant coach Daan Human and utility forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels stressed on Monday that they would not underestimate Italy in their opening Incoming Series Test at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, saying they respect the Azzurri immensely. Italy may be ranked 10th in the world, but the Bok duo expected a tough encounter against the visitors this weekend, especially given their emphasis on the scrums and the quality of their rugby in general. 'Unlike the Barbarians, who do not play regularly, Italy do, so we will be facing a proper Test team on Saturday,' Human said. 'The one thing about the Springboks is we do not underestimate any side, and we know Italy are focused on their forward play, so it will be a proper Test match.' Human elaborated on Italy's performances this season, especially their set pieces. Champagne rugby by the Boks 🥳🎉 📺 Stream #BARvRSA on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 28, 2025 'They were competitive in their first two Six Nations matches and they have a 93% scrum completion rate, which says a lot about that area of their game,' he said. 'They also won four scrum penalties and got a penalty try against Namibia, who had a few players who have played in Rugby World Cups before, so we certainly respect them as a team. 'We are not sure who they will play in the pack this weekend, but we know it will be a good contest.' Wessels, one of the Boks' try-scorers in their 54-7 victory against the BaaBaas, spoke equally highly of the opposition. 'I faced Zebre Parma and Benetton in the United Rugby Championship and we did our homework on those players then, so we know the emphasis they place on the scrums. 'In fact, Zebre Parma had one of their best seasons this year and beat a few big teams in the competition, so we are expecting a proper battle against them.' How can Sacha do this to Peter O'Mahony? 🤣🤣 📺 Stream #BARvRSA on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 28, 2025 Zoning in on what the Springboks want to achieve up front, Wessels said: 'We want to go into this match setting a high standard for ourselves. We have huge respect for all the teams we face, and knowing how strong their scrums are, we really want to make a big impact in the set pieces.' With Wessels equally adept at playing prop and hooker, he said he doesn't mind which role he has to fill when he takes the field. 'I don't have a preference. I just want to contribute wherever I am picked and as much as I feel for Gerhard [Steenekamp] when he got injured, having to play both positions certainly helped me in getting game time at prop and hooker.' Wessels spoke on the benefits for himself and prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye of the time they spent with Human on the coach's farm in the Free State working on his scrummaging ahead of the Boks' home season. Junior Boks grounded after thrashing Aussies in U-20 champs opener 'Our preparation was key, both physically and mentally and I think our conditioning was outstanding,' says coach Kevin Foote Sport 2 hours ago 'We had a break during the URC and my parents live in Bloemfontein, so Daan offered to help me grow in that role. It's the small things that make one a better player, and though it was tough, I really enjoyed it.' Human said the focus on the farm was 'first, to ensure they are conditioned to scrum well and we also worked on the fundamentals of scrummaging'. 'I've always said you do not scrum against a machine on the field, so we try to use techniques to make the players better scrummagers in general.' Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will name his match day squad on Tuesday. Lock Jean Kleyn has been ruled out of the squad travelling to Johannesburg for the match after sustaining an injury during against the Barbarians. Kleyn, who started the match with lock partner Lood de Jager, will return to Irish club Munster to recover from the injury and undergo the necessary rehabilitation.
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
@TRENDING: The Gees is back as the Boks run rampant and delighted fans react
SPRINGBOK players Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Vincent Tshituka held their own against the Barbarians in Cape Town. | AYANDA NDAMANE/Independent Newspapers The gees was back as South Africans from all walks of life came together for the Springboks' first match of 2025 on Saturday. The Boks didn't disappoint, rewarding their fans, beating the Barbarians 54-7. These were some of the online reactions on X: restore all settings to the default values Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Seek to live, currently behind live @theferrence Imagine being on this Barbarians side getting hockied by the Boks then have to see the bomb squad subs coming on and now playing with 14 men. Wave the white flag. #BARvRSA @CaptSpringbok Cheslin Kolbe is generational! Swagger, aura, humble, magician, hardest worker on the field, electric, team player, Springbok GOAT! @RealityPale Cheslin Kolbe's strength and skill shocks me every time!!! Like GO OFF#Springboks #BARvRSA @SerenityNzo· I want to see the players name NOT sponsor's #BARvRSA @PRASA_Group Big love to all the fans who rode with us to the game – your energy was ELECTRIC! That pregame vibe was next level. No DNA, just RSA. Congrats to the Springboks on the massive WIN! @Elle_Mahri What a night!!!! Thank you @ Springboks for being the best in the world! #BARvRSA @MarietteAdams_ 'Let us live and strive for freedom, in South Africa our land.' @Springboks Wasn't it great to see the Boks back in action again? DAILY NEWS
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Kolbe shines through storm to power Boks to dominant win
Though clashes against the Barbarians are devoid of Test status the hunger to improve in the Springbok camp was perhaps best exemplified by wing Cheslin Kolbe in Saturday's 54-7 win at a rain-soaked Cape Town Stadium. Kolbe delivered a star-studded performance in atrocious conditions to help elevate the home team to an emphatic win to start off their season. Kolbe, a man who has risen to the occasion on the game's best illuminated stage, again shone with restless, relentless energy en route to a man of the match performance against the game's most revered and cherished composite team. Though he scored a first half try when he chased after a well weighted Aphelele Fassi toe poke, it was after the break that he stamped his authority on proceedings. While others tread water, Kolbe ran and manoeuvred like a player fitted with all-weather tyres as he deftly teased and tormented the Barbarians defence. He ran onto and jumped for the ball with zeal and purpose. He slid past defenders at will and even ran over visiting hooker Ricky Riccitelli in a surge for the try line before being halted just short. The Springboks retain the Qatar Airways Cup 👏👏 #SSRugby | #BARvRSA — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 28, 2025 Barbarians coach Robbie Deans is an admirer of Kolbe's work. 'I always enjoy watching Cheslin. Even when you're playing against him. He's just so positive. You can see his positivity into contact and in the air. He is just a freakish footballer.' Kolbe, 31, showed that his desire to make an impression in the Bok jersey remains undiminished. To be fair, that attitude permeated the Boks ranks with several players putting shoulder to the wheel in the kind of match often dismissed for its frivolity. After a two-year absence lock Lood de Jager made an impressive return to the Bok fold. He tirelessly toiled for 70 minutes before being withdrawn from the action. Jean-Luc du Preez, another Bok absentee in the last few seasons, also showed his worth in the No.8 jersey. He however left the field injured just before the break. Flank Vincent Tshituka went through a huge workload and would have been well satisfied with his effort. Like Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse also sparked when opportunity presented. It was the need to impress before the two-Test series against Italy that drove the Boks. In the second half in particular they played with greater hunger and urgency, displaying also the willingness to go the extra mile. Centre Andre Esterhuizen certainly fell into that category when he was deployed as a loose forward when he came on as a second-half substitute. Champagne rugby by the Boks 🥳🎉 📺 Stream #BARvRSA on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 28, 2025 'If I wasn't willing I would not have played today,' he said. 'I'm willing to learn and slot into a bit of a hybrid role that covers forwards and backs. It can help me as a player as well and it can help the team. Hopefully we can see more of that in the future.' Knowing head coach Rassie Erasmus and his penchant for innovation Esterhuizen wasn't surprised to be pressed into a new role. 'I was waiting for the conversation to happen. It has been brought up in the past and it was shrugged off by different people. As you get older you learn how you can slot in everywhere. How you can get yourself into the team more constantly. You have to adapt as a player. I'm looking forward to see what it can be.' It is another example of the back-to-back Rugby World Cup holders forever pushing boundaries. At the last Rugby World Cup they often pushed players into situations and positions with which they are less familiar. The players by and large responded positively and rose to the occasion. A fleet-footed forward like Kwagga Smith may find himself in the backline but now a hulking back like Esterhuizen finds himself mixing it with the heavies upfront. The Boks keep innovating and it is keeping the rugby world on its toes.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Springboks wanted to be brave and bold with ball in hand against Barbarians, says captain Jesse Kriel
Springbok captain Jesse Kriel sizes up the Barbarians defence at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix It rained almost non-stop in Cape Town this week, and when more grey skies greeted the Mother City on Saturday, you were expecting the worst as a rugby fan. Despite the Barbarians being in town for what is usually a festival-type running-rugby game, the slippery conditions would've been expected to affect both teams' approach at Cape Town Stadium. But the Boks actually didn't hold back in that regard in their 54-7 victory over the invitation side to entertain the 45,000-strong crowd. As early as the fourth minute, there were an array of impressive passes from the home side that would've been expected from the visitors. The South Africans put together a series of phases, with Lood de Jager running hard a few times, debutant prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye showcasing his deft handling skills, and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu slinging out a long pass to Kurt-Lee Arendse out wide. Lively scrumhalf Morné van den Berg also kept the tempo going with some slick clearances from the base, and the one audacious dummy from Feinberg-Mngomezulu had his Cape fans dancing in the stands. Fullback Aphelele Fassi also entered the attack chat, and delivered two delicious grubbers that set up the first two tries by Malcolm Marx and Cheslin Kolbe. Arendse and Kolbe were energetic throughout the eight-try rout, and that attack-minded theme continued into the second half, with captain Jesse Kriel breaking the line, and centre partner Damian de Allende pushing through a deft grubber for Arendse's touchdown. 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 ✕ Fassi 🤝 Kolbe Cheslin doing what he does best in Green and Gold 🤩🔥 📺 Stream #BARvRSA on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 28, 2025 The Tony Brown playbook was on full show, and the growth in the Bok game in such dreary conditions speaks volumes about how they are pushing the envelope ahead of the blockbuster two Tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand in September. 'I'm obviously very happy with all of that. I think it actually started in the week. On Wednesday, we spoke about our mindset and mentality going into training – whether we are going to let the weather affect us or not. I think it was nothing different today,' Kriel said in the post-match press conference. 'We came in here positive. We wanted to be brave and bold with the ball in hand, and I think we looked dangerous with turnover ball. 'It's always great if you get the ball into guys like Fassi, Cheslin and Kurt-Lee's hands. 'They are special rugby players, and they can make something out of nothing. Ja, I think we saw a lot of that today.' Bok coach Rassie Erasmus said afterwards that he was 'satisfied' with the performance, but felt that they had gone a bit too far on attack at times in the wet weather. But the South Africans are on the right trajectory heading into next Saturday's first Test against Italy at Loftus Versfeld. 'We won't get carried away with a game like this. We know it's a festival game and we are playing at home against a team that only practiced a few times together,' Erasmus said. 'But certain things came through. We want to get better in the next matches that we will play, where we are trying to focus a lot on us. 'When we hit the Rugby Championship – and Georgia will also be a grind… 'If the weather was drier, I think some of the line-breaks and half-gaps that we got, we were a bit ambitious in trying to offload and just force the last pass. In dry weather, I think that could've stuck. 'But after halftime, when the guys spoke about that, they toned it down a little bit, and we played a little bit more conservatively and got more points.
