Latest news with #DamiandeAllende
IOL News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Boks set sights on Sua'ali'i as De Allende plots midfield lockdown
Springbok centre Damian de Allende is ready to lock down the midfield alongside partner Jesse Kriel. Image: BackpagePix The Springboks will keep a keen eye on Wallaby centre Joseph Sua'ali'i on Saturday in an effort to limit the space he has to operate in. After impressing in his first Test against the world champions, scoring a sensational intercept try, the 22-year-old will be looking to deliver another strong performance. However, veteran Bok centre Damian de Allende has highlighted the attacking threat Sua'ali'i poses, and the Boks will aim to shut him down before he can get his side on the front foot. Sua'ali'i scored the game-changing try at Ellis Park and will be eager to stamp his authority at the DHL Stadium (5.10 m start) when the two sides meet in the second Rugby Championship clash. 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 ✕ 'He is very agile and explosive and gets up in the air well,' De Allende said of the youngster. 'We handled him quite well last week. I've watched him in Rugby League, in Japan, and when he was at the (Sydney) Roosters. He was enjoyable to watch, and like he did on the weekend, he does well to keep the ball alive, especially in contact. 'This weekend, we must make sure we take his space away. But it's about doing it together, not individually. He has long arms and can get the ball away quite easily. He almost reminds me of Israel Folau, bringing that different dynamic to the Aussies.'
San Francisco Chronicle
13 hours ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Erasmus makes 10 changes to Springboks lineup after shocking Rugby Championship loss to Australia
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus made 10 changes to his starting XV for Saturday's second test against Australia as the Rugby World Cup champions bid to avenge a shocking 38-22 home loss to the Wallabies last weekend. The overhaul reflects strategic changes and the absence of injured skipper Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and both wingers from the Ellis Park defeat. Veteran center Jessie Kriel will stand in as captain for Kolisi and prop Ox Nche will be vice-captain, while Cheslin Koble, Damian de Allende and Willie le Roux return so the starting XV for the second round of the Rugby Championship. Kriel, Nche, Malcom Marx, Marco van Staden and Grant Williams are the only players retained for the starting lineup. Kriel and de Allende will combine in the Springboks midfield for the 38th time, and Handre Pollard returns at No. 10 to partner Williams in the halves. On top of the injuries, Erasmus said, "We also know where we went wrong against Australia last week, so we made a few changes that we believe will offer us what we need for this game. 'We are determined to get things right ... (and) it will be good for a few other guys to experience playing against one the top teams in the world, especially as we continue to build our squad depth." Erasmus said his full squad was 'all aligned' on where they need to lift after losing to the Wallabies at home for the first time since 2011. 'We are still hurting from that result, and the coaches and players are extremely disappointed with the way we played last week," he said. 'We let ourselves and the country down, so we have all the motivation we need to make things right.' The Wallabies sustained injuries in key positions and are expected to announce a match 23 on Thursday. ___ South Africa: Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Jesse Kriel (captain), Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Handre Pollard, Grant Williams; Jean-Luc du Preez, Franco Mostert, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, R.G. Snyman, Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche. Reserves: Marnus van der Merwe, Boan Venter, Wilco Louw, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. ___
Winnipeg Free Press
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Erasmus makes 10 changes to Springboks lineup after shocking Rugby Championship loss to Australia
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus made 10 changes to his starting XV for Saturday's second test against Australia as the Rugby World Cup champions bid to avenge a shocking 38-22 home loss to the Wallabies last weekend. The overhaul reflects strategic changes and the absence of injured skipper Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and both wingers from the Ellis Park defeat. Veteran center Jessie Kriel will stand in as captain for Kolisi and prop Ox Nche will be vice-captain, while Cheslin Koble, Damian de Allende and Willie le Roux return so the starting XV for the second round of the Rugby Championship. Kriel, Nche, Malcom Marx, Marco van Staden and Grant Williams are the only players retained for the starting lineup. Kriel and de Allende will combine in the Springboks midfield for the 38th time, and Handre Pollard returns at No. 10 to partner Williams in the halves. On top of the injuries, Erasmus said, 'We also know where we went wrong against Australia last week, so we made a few changes that we believe will offer us what we need for this game. 'We are determined to get things right … (and) it will be good for a few other guys to experience playing against one the top teams in the world, especially as we continue to build our squad depth.' Erasmus said his full squad was 'all aligned' on where they need to lift after losing to the Wallabies at home for the first time since 2011. 'We are still hurting from that result, and the coaches and players are extremely disappointed with the way we played last week,' he said. 'We let ourselves and the country down, so we have all the motivation we need to make things right.' The Wallabies sustained injuries in key positions and are expected to announce a match 23 on Thursday. ___ South Africa: Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Jesse Kriel (captain), Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Handre Pollard, Grant Williams; Jean-Luc du Preez, Franco Mostert, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, R.G. Snyman, Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche. Reserves: Marnus van der Merwe, Boan Venter, Wilco Louw, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. ___ AP rugby:
The South African
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Springboks: One more injury worry!
The Springboks picked up an expected win over Italy at Loftus, but Rassie Erasmus has already said he will reconsider his selections for the second Test because of the unconvincing performance, and to handle the challenge posed by a young and hungry Azzurri. 'Internally we've announced that 13, 14 players that will definitely get a run next week, and that we'd build the bench or starting line-up around those guys,' he said. 'We won't discard those guys but some of them might move to the bench, some of the real standout players who played today might start again.' As Erasmus reconsiders his selections, there is also an injury to Damian de Allende that will need to be factored in after he strained his hamstring, with the full severity of the injury still to be determined. 'We have to pick nine guys to go with the others and we have to decide whether they start or come off the bench. Damian De Allende has a bit of a hamstring but luckily, we don't have any (major) injuries, just a few bruised egos.' Damian de Allende (hamstring): The latest player to be added to the Springboks' injury list, it remains to be seen what scans may reveal about the severity of this. Pieter-Steph du Toit (shoulder): Du Toit has made a good recovery and should be ready for the second Test against Italy, or the one-off clash against Georgia. Cameron Hanekom (hamstring): The talented loose forward has undergone surgery, and is only likely to be available at the back-end of the Rugby Championship, or for the end-of-year tour. Juarno Augustus (back): The powerful loose forward, who is set to join Ulster next season, has been unable to join up with the Springboks as expected due to an unfortunate injury issue that will also see him miss the July Tests. Gerhard Steenekamp (knee): The 28-year-old hasn't featured since early March when he suffered a knee injury that led to some unfortunate complications following a minor procedure. It's hoped that he will be ready for the Rugby Championship. Ntuthuko Mchunu (knee): Another prop who will be out for some time, with the Springboks only expected to be able to consider calling on his services at some point during the Rugby Championship. Frans Malherbe (back): He is set to be rested for the July internationals, but the big prop should hopefully be available at some point in the Rugby Championship. Lukhanyo Am (knee): There will be some concern over the fact that the outside centre has been released as a result of a troublesome knee injury, and although his recovery timeline has not been specified, it's expected that he will only come back into contention for the Rugby Championship. Elrigh Louw (leg): He has unfortunately been ruled out for the entire 2025 season. Ben-Jason Dixon (wrist): The loose forward will miss the July internationals, but could be back in contention during the Rugby Championship. Deon Fourie (ankle): The veteran utility forward should be back in training before the Rugby Championship. Trevor Nyakane (ruptured Achilles tendon): The Springbok stalwart is only likely to be back towards the end of 2025. HOW MANY GAMES DO YOU THINK THE TEAM WILL WIN THIS YEAR? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Springboks open Test season against Italy: Stats, facts and figures
The current world champions have enjoyed a dominant time against the Italians since their first meeting in 1995. The Springbok players chat during their captain's run at Artemio Franchi on November 18, 2016 in Florence, Italy, prior to their Test match against Italy the following day. Picture:The Springboks get their Test year under way with the first of two Tests against Italy at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, with kick-off at 5.10pm. Rassie Erasmus' team are the big favourites to win the match, having dominated against the Italians over the years. Here are some of the key statistics, facts and figures you might not know about the teams and clashes between them. History The Boks and Italy have met 16 times, with the South Africans enjoying a 15-1 record against the Italians. The first meeting between the teams took place on 12 November 1995 in Rome, when the Boks, then also newly crowned world champions, won 40-21. The Boks have scored 764 points in total in these 16 meetings, while Italy have scored 195. The Boks have scored 102 tries to Italy's 16. The biggest winning score is 101-0 to the Boks, recorded in Durban in June 1999. Italy's only triumph The Italians have beaten the current world champions only once, in Florence on 19 November 2016. On that day Italy won 20-18 to shock the rugby world. The Boks' tries were scored by Bryan Habana, in his 124th Test, and Damian de Allende, with Pat Lambie kicking a conversion and a penalty, while Elton Jantjies also slotted a penalty. Coach Allister Coetzee's Bok team on the day included Willie le Roux at fullback, Damian de Allende at inside centre, Rudy Paige at scrumhalf, Warren Whiteley at eighthman, Lood de Jager at No 5 lock, Pieter-Steph du Toit at number 4 lock, Vincent Koch at tighthead and Adriaan Strauss at hooker, and the captain. Matches in South Africa The Boks have played Italy seven times in South Africa, but this will be the first Test between the sides at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, where the hosts have a 78% win record overall (32 wins from 41 Tests). In those seven matches the Boks have registered a number of big wins. Besides the 101-0 in Durban in 1999, the Boks won 74-3 in Port Elizabeth, the week before the Durban massacre in 1999, 60-14 in Port Elizabeth in 2001, 26-0 in Cape Town in 2008, 29-13 in Witbank in 2010, 55-11 in East London in 2010, and 44-10 in Durban in 2013. Milestones The Boks will have 732 Test caps in total in the starting team on Saturday, with a further 466 on the bench. Vincent Tshituka, of the Sharks and formerly the Lions, will make his debut in the No 7 jersey. Fullback Damian Willemse will play his first Test since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final in Paris, after sitting out all of last season with an injury. His back-up on the bench, Willie le Roux, should he enter the action, will earn his 99th Test cap. Jesse Kriel will become the Boks' 67th Test captain, while Eben Etzebeth will extend his record number of Test caps to 132 on Saturday..
