Latest news with #Bulls'
IOL News
34 minutes ago
- Sport
- IOL News
URC Awards: Feinberg-Mngomezulu wins but Wilco Louw was the real workhorse
The Stormers Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu won the URC SA Player of the year Award on Thursday ahead of the Bulls' Wilco Louw and Cameron Hanekom. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Recently, I had the privilege of meeting Roger Federer. It was a big moment for me, as I have always admired the Swiss tennis maestro, and on a list of top sporting heroes, he surely would be among my leading considerations. For years, rather tongue-in-cheek, I have claimed him as a South African, due to his ties to this country through his mother. Over many matches before his retirement, I watched his skills and talents in awe, and have even received a threat or two from those who supported his opponents, due to a sense of humour failure and a lack of comprehensive reading on their part. Bulls prop Wilco Louw. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix I had known for weeks that I would get to meet the 20-time Grand Slam winner, so I had plenty of time to consider how I would approach him. I would be calm, collected, suave, and nonchalant – just another meeting with a normal human being, not the Super Saiyan tennis god that he is. What followed, as I struck out my hand to shake his, was a jumbled, incomprehensible mess that Federer was kind enough to ignore. Yes, in that moment, I was star-struck – overwhelmed that I had finally met the man, the myth, the legend. He was taller than I expected and extolled charisma up the wazoo. Indeed, it was almost tangible. On first meeting Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu last year, at his initial call-up to the Springboks, similar vibes were being transmitted. The 23-year-old is well spoken, self-assured in his abilities, and proud of them. Those in attendance who interacted with him on that first occasion, left Pretoria with an impressed nod, mentioning to each other what a pleasure he was to interview. There is no doubt that Feinberg-Mngomezulu is going places. He will arguably be one of the finest rugby players this country has ever produced. I would go so far as to say he will be a generational talent. He has developed precocious skills no player of his age should possess, and has already done some truly special things with the spheroid. He will do more special things in the future. But for him to win the United Rugby Championship (URC) SA Player of the Year award on Thursday is not totally agreeable. I recall in 2002, Sir Ian McKellen had been nominated for the Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for his turn as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. I was convinced he would win the honour, and was rather miffed – to this day, mind you – that he lost out to Jim Broadbent for Iris. McKellen was, in my estimation, more deserving of the award – just as Wilco Louw is more deserving of this year's URC Player of the Year accolade. I am not faultless in all of this either – I was dazed and confused when the vote for the player award was requested and failed to cast my preference. My bad ... Nonetheless, Feinberg-Mngomezulu has played only 10 matches in the URC this season. Prop Louw is already on 16 – not including the semi-final against the Sharks on Saturday, and the possible final he could play a week later. By the time the URC is finished, he could have played around 1 000 minutes of rugby. Feinberg-Mngomezulu has battled with injuries, had a sub-par performance for the Stormers in a crucial quarter-final against Glasgow Warriors, and completed the season having played 572 minutes. According to the URC stats, Louw is the 15th best player in their Top 100 metric, while the Stormers utility-back did not even breach that list. Feinberg-Mngomezulu has had his moments, for sure, but Louw's input into the Bulls has been consistent, undeniable, inevitable and invaluable. The award was decided by the media and stakeholders of the tournament, and it strikes me that much like my interaction with Federer, we were overawed by the new, shiny item – to the detriment of the grizzled, rough-hewn gem that is Louw. Moreover, it is another case of valuing the sexy, aesthetically pleasing department of rugby union over the physical input and dark arts of the forwards. In short, it's great stuff for Feinberg-Mngomezulu, but Louw? He was robbed … McKellen style. As for Federer — well, at least I have a photo to immortalise the moment. Awkward, of course, but memorable all the same.
Miami Herald
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Northwestern's Tyra Cox is the Miami-Dade Girls' Track and Field Athlete of the Year
Legendary Miami Northwestern girls' track and field coach Carmen Jackson recently called senior sprinter Tyra Cox, 'The Goat.' That's high praise when you consider the extensive list of great athletes Jackson has coached over the years. One thing is for sure, Cox graduates with a firm place among the Bulls' all-time greats after a stellar senior season to cap a stellar career. Cox added two more individual state titles and a relay title to her trophy case in May and is this year's Miami Herald Girls' Track and Field Athlete of the Year for Miami-Dade County. Cox, who competed for Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna her first two years of high school, finished her career with six individual state titles overall. Not counting relay titles, Cox's state championship total ties the most ever for a Northwestern athlete. Cox, a University of Florida commit, is tied with former Northwestern stars Lizzie Harris and Twanisha Terry. Five of her state titles came while running for the Bulls. Cox won her first when she won the 400 meters as a sophomore at Chaminade-Madonna. As a junior, Cox had already won three individual state titles in the same meet, joining a feat once accomplished by another Northwestern great, former Olympian Tiffany Williams. Cox secured state titles this season in the 200 meters with a time of 22.99 seconds and in the 400 meters, where she broke a state meet record with a time of 51.44 seconds. That time is second all-time in Florida history behind only former Olympic gold medalist and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas standout Sanya Richards-Ross' time of 50.69 seconds. Cox also helped Northwestern's 1,600-meter relay team set a new state meet record in that event with a time of 3:38.91. Cox also had the fastest time in the county at state in the 100 meters, despite finishing third, after running 11.77 seconds. But Cox ran the fastest time all season in the state in the 100 meters when she ran a time of 11.39 seconds at the Bob Hayes Invitational in March. Her performance followed a junior season in which she won all three events at state and earned Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Track and Field honors.
IOL News
2 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Wilco Louw anticipates scrum showdown with Sharks' Springbok front row
Wilco Louw Bulls tighthead prop Wilco Louw (right) is known for his scrummaging, but hopes to put in an allround performance, especially on defence, in the URC semi-finals against the Sharks on Saturday. Image: AFP While Wilco Louw didn't want to make Saturday's scrum duel with Ox Nche a two-man battle, the Bulls' hardman is eager to test himself against the front row of the Sharks in a high-stakes clash. Loftus Versfeld (6.15pm kick-off) will host the second semi-final of the United Rugby Championship (URC) and while the match is already a high-profile one, the scrum battle between the two sides could enhance the clash. Two Springbok front rows will go up against each other in all likelihood with Louw leading the Bulls' onslaught alongside young Boks hooker Johan Grobbelaar and loosehead prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels. On the side of the Sharks, it's a veteran front-row with Nche, and double World Cup winners Bongi Mbonambi (hooker) and Vincent Koch (tighthead) probably waiting on the Bulls. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ According to Louw, who on Wednesday was selected in the URC Elite XV of the season, they are putting in the work to halt the Sharks' scrum come Saturday. 'Against Munster, they had incredible scrums all the way through the entire 100 minutes. In the second half, especially, they dominated,' Louw said. 'However, it won't just be me against them. It will be the Bulls against the Sharks and importantly, we must play as a unit and scrum together as a pack. We should not try to be too individualistic. We must draw strength from the team. 'It is a massive privilege being able to measure yourself against the best in the world. Ox, Bongi and Vincent have won some World Cups. "This weekend I scrummed against Pierre Schoeman who was selected for the British and Irish Lions. It's nice to go up against them because it is never easy.' Louw aims to contribute beyond just scrummaging. He is looking forward to putting his head into the rucks to clean the Sharks' poachers at the breakdown. "He wants to contribute with the ball in hand on the attack. There is also the prospect to put some hard hits on the ball carriers of the visiting side. Wilco Louw with those rugby smarts. — Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) March 25, 2025
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Hanekom stakes Springbok claim as No 8 race heats up
The Bulls' Cameron Hanekom is making a serious case to get an extended run in the No 8 Springbok jumper this season. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The weekend's United Rugby Championship quarter-finals left the impression that the consistent Bull, Cameron Hanekom, has stretched his legs towards the Springbok No 8 jersey temporarily vacated by the injured Jasper Wiese. Another strong performance by Hanekom in Saturday's United Rugby Championship semi-final against the Sharks will surely secure him the position. In April, Wiese's season in Japan came to a halt when he picked up a neck injury, prompting a return to South Africa for surgery. The 29-year-old is on the mend, but he is not on course for a comeback in time for the Springbok season that kicks off at the end of June. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ The Boks warm up with a game against the Barbarians in Cape Town before their first meaningful engagement, the two-Test series against Italy in July. And when Wiese is fit to return, he will need time off the Springboks bench to get closer to a start, as there is no other rugby available to him. As a Japan-based player, he cannot feature in the Currie Cup or anywhere else but with the Springboks. The debate over who should be the long-term Springbok No 8 has raged since the end of the 2023 World Cup, when Duane Vermeulen retired. The abrasive Wiese has been the man in possession, but Hanekom has been a star for the Bulls throughout the URC, even with a period of injury. In the absence of Wiese, Hanekom's chief rival for the Springbok No 8 jersey has been the combative Stormer, Evan Roos. Roos was not invited to the second Springbok alignment camp of the year, held two weeks ago in Cape Town. There was outrage in some quarters, especially in the Cape, but in last week's quarter-finals, Roos failed to take his opportunity to state his case to Bok coach Rassie Erasmus. The Stormers lost disappointingly to the Warriors in Glasgow, and Roos struggled to make an impact on the game. This was the perfect stage for the 25-year-old Roos to show Erasmus that he deserved to build on the six caps he has so far enjoyed for the Springboks. Since making his debut in 2022, Roos has played two games per year for the Boks. SLow start from the home side, but Cameron Hanekom delivers with a trademark powerful run.@Vodacom #URC | #BULvEDI — vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) May 31, 2025
IOL News
4 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Sharks draw confidence from Loftus wins ahead of URC semi-final
Vincent Tshituka embraces Fez Mbatha after the Sharks beat Munster in the URC quarter-final this past weekend. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix The Sharks will have no fear when they travel to Loftus Versfeld for the United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-final on Saturday, thanks to their happy memories of winning their last two matches at the Bulls' fortress. In sport, it can be argued that what happened in the past often has little bearing on the present. However, the collective memory banks at the Sharks include a URC win in Pretoria in February and a heroic Currie Cup victory last September. The latter win was a significant psychological blow to the Bulls, who had set their sights on winning the Currie Cup. Instead, they were beaten on home turf by a Sharks side that went on to clinch the trophy a week later at Ellis Park, against the luckless Lions. This week's URC semi-final is not comparable to an international team travelling to Eden Park in Auckland, where the All Blacks have remained unbeaten for 100 games. That is a proper mental obstacle for visiting teams. In contrast, most of the Sharks team travelling to Loftus featured in that bizarre Currie Cup win late last year. It was big man Trevor Nyakane who scored a try deep into extra time to force a 40-40 draw. The Sharks progressed to the final on the technicality that they had scored six tries to the Bulls' four. Nyakane — still at the Sharks but currently recovering from a long-term injury — never scored a try in his three seasons at the Bulls, but crossed the line in that match to silence Loftus. His famous post-match dance jig added insult to injury. After securing the Currie Cup title, the Sharks went on to win the Challenge Cup. Head coach John Plumtree later admitted that the season-defining moment for his team was the Currie Cup victory at Loftus, where they were reduced to 12 players at one point.
