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IOL News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Win tickets to see the Boks live in action against the Wallabies!
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, named a team for the opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against Australia at Ellis Park. scrumhalf Grant Williams Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said the team were gearing up for a testing Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign, which kicks off against the Wallabies on Saturday, 16 August in Johannesburg, and stressed the importance of their two-week training camp saying it was vital in ensuring that the coaches, players, and entire management team were aligned and prepared for the competition. The Springboks won the prestigious tournament last year for the first time since 2019 in an impressive campaign in which they suffered only one defeat – against Argentina by a single point in Santiago del Estero – and Erasmus' charges will go full-out to defend their title and retain the Freedom Cup (against New Zealand) and Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate (against Australia) this year. 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Next Stay Close ✕ The Boks will begin their campaign with back-to-back Tests against the Wallabies in Johannesburg and Cape Town, before facing the All Blacks in successive matches in Auckland and Wellington, before returning to Durban to face Argentina, and then travel to London, where they will wrap up their campaign against Los Pumas. We are always careful about the opposition in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship,' said Erasmus. 'Australia showed last weekend that they have what it takes to win a match against a team like the British & Irish Lions, and they have an opportunity to try to achieve that this weekend, so we are expecting tough battles against them, as well as New Zealand and Argentina.' Grab your tickets now! Image: Supplied With the Boks on a four-match winning run so far this season following victories against the Barbarians and a Castle Lager Incoming Series clean-sweep against Italy and Georgia, to add to their training camp weeks, Erasmus said: 'We would have eight weeks of proper preparation before we take the field in the Castle lager Rugby Championship, and we are pleased with the physicality that Italy and Georgia brought against us in the last few weeks. 'We have another three weeks to prepare for the matches against Australia, so we'll be working hard on the training field in the next few weeks.' The Bok coach added: 'We always knew that our first few matches would not be as tough as the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, even though the opposition was competitive and physical, but we are now going up against teams with solid game plans and a different intensity. 'Australia would have also come off the British & Irish Lions Series by the time we face them, so it will be a challenging tournament.' Erasmus admitted that this week's training camp was not originally part of their schedule, but he said it would benefit the team on several fronts: 'These two weeks of camp will give us time to align as coaches, as well as on the conditioning aspects for the players and to take stock from a medical perspective, so it's important in assisting us to get to where we want to be against three good countries in the series.' Responding to questions about including the three Young Guns, Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead – all of whom were members of the Junior Springbok team that won the World Rugby U20 Championship for the first time since 2012 – in the squad for the conditioning camp, Erasmus said: 'The coaches will be involved in the team until 2027, so it's important for us to continue developing our depth and ensuring that we have at least three players to pick from in each position. 'We don't see the Young Guns playing Test matches this year, but exposing them to this environment and allowing them to participate in all our boardroom and field sessions is great for them to learn. 'They've fitted in well and they appear to be enjoying it, while it's also good for the more experienced players to see the talent that is coming through the ranks.' The Springboks will wrap up the first week of their training camp on Thursday afternoon and spend the weekend with their families, before re-assembling in Johannesburg on Sunday to continue their on-field preparations. How to win tickets Stand a chance to win a set of tickets to see the team live in action, this weekend. All you have to do is tell us WHERE are the Springboks playing on Saturday, August 16? Send your answer to competitions@ by Wednesday (August 13) at 4pm. Winners will be announced on Thursday. Castle Lager Rugby Championship fixtures: 16 August: SA v Australia – Ellis Park, Johannesburg (5.10pm) 23 August: SA v Australia – DHL Stadium, Cape Town (5.10pm) 6 September: New Zealand v SA – Eden Park, Auckland (9.05am) 13 September: New Zealand v SA – Sky Stadium, Wellington (9.05am) 27 September: SA v Argentina – Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban (5.10pm) 4 October: Argentina v SA – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London (3pm) Tickets can be purchased from - IOL
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Williams keeps feet grounded ahead of Springboks' Rugby Championship opener
Grant Williams will start at scrumhalf as the Springboks face Australia in their Rugby Championship opener at Ellis Park. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Springbok scrumhalf Grant Williams is refusing to get carried away after being given the nod to start in the side's opening Rugby Championship match against Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday, with Cobus Reinach providing back-up on the bench. Morne van den Berg could consider himself unlucky to miss out, given the Lions player's standout performances in back-to-back Tests against Italy in the recent Incoming Series. The Boks also boast the talents and vast experience of Faf de Klerk and Williams' Sharks teammate, Jaden Hendrikse. Williams impressed in the second Test against Italy, combining well with flyhalf Manie Libbok, having recovered from a neck injury. They will again renew their burgeoning half-back partnership in a very attacking backline on Saturday. Damian Willemse will provide flyhalf cover. Asked whether he felt he was now in a position to make the Springbok No 9 jersey his own, Williams was diplomatic. 'We have a really good squad – Cobus, Morne, Faf, and Jaden as well. I think selection is just about how we want to play in the week. I can't really say that I want to make the No 9 jersey mine, but I would like to compete,' said Williams. Coach Rassie Erasmus reiterated that the jersey was a 'shared one'. 'I think we're really trying to build a culture where it's all three's jersey and hopefully just in the World Cup quarter-final, semi-final, and final we'll pick the best nine in form,' Williams said. 'Faf is not at all out of the picture and Jaden is not out of the picture. We know we normally carry four nines but, just for the sake of repetition and getting some one-on-one intel into players, we cut the squad a little bit. 'We know if you don't go four positions deep, maybe suddenly in one game you get two injuries in one position. So, they're competing and they don't want to just give the jersey away, but they also understand that we will rotate. He (Williams) got the nod in a very important match. The way we want to play in this game, we feel he is the best option there. But I think this squad has accepted now that we have to share jerseys and not say this guy is out-and-out the best.' Erasmus has named a strong team to face Australia, with the matchday squad featuring 18 Rugby World Cup winners. The Springboks will be hunting their fifth successive victory against the Wallabies.
Reuters
a day ago
- Sport
- Reuters
South Africa select Kolisi at No.8 for Australia clash at Ellis Park
Aug 11 (Reuters) - Manie Libbok has been named at flyhalf and captain Siya Kolisi at number eight for the first time as South Africa selected a side that is likely to play with ball in hand for their Rugby Championship opener against Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday. The world champion Springboks are seeking a fifth successive win against the Wallabies as they also seek to retain their southern hemisphere crown won last year. Scrumhalf Grant Williams is alongside Libbok, with battering ram Andre Esterhuizen at inside centre and Jesse Kriel in the number 13 jersey. The back three includes fullback Aphelele Fassi, with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe on the wing. Kolisi switches to number eight having played much of the recent United Rugby Championship season there for the Sharks, with Marco van Staden and Pieter-Steph du Toit the two flankers. Veterans Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager are the lock pairing, while hooker Malcolm Marx has props Ox Nche and Wilco Louw either side of him. "We've been experimenting with player combinations during the (July internationals) and at our conditioning camp in the last two weeks, and we believe this team will allow us to play the type of rugby we want to play against Australia," Erasmus said. "All of the starters except for Edwill have faced them before, and we are confident that he is ready for this challenge." Centre Damian De Allende is sidelined through injury and wing Cheslin Kolbe was not selected as a precaution despite returning to training last week. Erasmus, who switched his team announcement to Monday, has opted for a 5-3 split between forwards and backs, another sign the Springboks intend to run the ball. Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, wing/centre Canan Moodie and utility back Damian Willemse are the three backline options. "They (Australia) are a physical and well-coached team, and we'll certainly not underestimate how much those performances (against the British & Irish Lions), combined with their motivation to bounce back strongly against us after the last few results between the teams, and win their first match ever at Ellis Park, will inspire them," Erasmus said. South Africa team: 15–Aphelele Fassi, 14–Edwill van der Merwe, 13–Jesse Kriel, 12–Andre Esterhuizen, 11–Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10–Manie Libbok, 9–Grant Williams, 8–Siya Kolisi, 7–Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6–Marco van Staden, 5–Lood de Jager, 4–Eben Etzebeth, 3–Wilco Louw, 2–Malcolm Marx, 1–Ox Nche Replacements: 16–Bongi Mbonambi, 17–Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18–Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19–Franco Mostert, 20–Kwagga Smith, 21–Cobus Reinach, 22–Canan Moodie, 23–Damian Willemse.
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Libbok surprise flyhalf pick in strong Springbok squad to face Wallabies in Rugby Championship
Grant Williams will partner Libbok in the half-back pairing, in an exciting backline that features a back three of Aphelele Fassi and wings Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe. Jesse Kriel will combine with Andre Esterhuizen in midfield after Damian de Allende was sidelined with a knock. Manie Libbok is a surprise starter at fly-half in the strong Springbok squad named by coach Rassie Erasmus for the side's opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday, which also sees a positional switch to No 8 for skipper Siya Kolisi. What a way to start the week! Check out the #Springboks team to face Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday 🔥 #ForeverGreenForeverGold Kolisi will wear the No 8 jersey for the first time in a Test match, while Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager form the second-row pairing behind a front row of props Ox Nche and Wilco Louw, and hooker Malcolm Marx. Etzebeth will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok to 134 Test appearances. 'We've been experimenting with player combinations during the Castle Lager Incoming Series and at our conditioning camp in the last two weeks, and we believe this team will allow us to play the type of rugby we want to play against Australia,' said Erasmus. 'The Wallabies will be determined to change their win record against us in the last three seasons, so they'll come out guns blazing, and we are confident that the players we selected will be up for the challenge. All of the starters except for Edwill have faced them before, and we are confident that he is ready for this challenge.'
CNA
a day ago
- Sport
- CNA
South Africa select Kolisi at No.8 for Australia clash at Ellis Park
Manie Libbok has been named at flyhalf and captain Siya Kolisi at number eight for the first time as South Africa selected a side that is likely to play with ball in hand for their Rugby Championship opener against Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday. The world champion Springboks are seeking a fifth successive win against the Wallabies as they also seek to retain their southern hemisphere crown won last year. Scrumhalf Grant Williams is alongside Libbok, with battering ram Andre Esterhuizen at inside centre and Jesse Kriel in the number 13 jersey. The back three includes fullback Aphelele Fassi, with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe on the wing. Kolisi switches to number eight having played much of the recent United Rugby Championship season there for the Sharks, with Marco van Staden and Pieter-Steph du Toit the two flankers. Veterans Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager are the lock pairing, while hooker Malcolm Marx has props Ox Nche and Wilco Louw either side of him. "We've been experimenting with player combinations during the (July internationals) and at our conditioning camp in the last two weeks, and we believe this team will allow us to play the type of rugby we want to play against Australia," Erasmus said. "All of the starters except for Edwill have faced them before, and we are confident that he is ready for this challenge." Centre Damian De Allende is sidelined through injury and wing Cheslin Kolbe was not selected as a precaution despite returning to training last week. Erasmus, who switched his team announcement to Monday, has opted for a 5-3 split between forwards and backs, another sign the Springboks intend to run the ball. Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, wing/centre Canan Moodie and utility back Damian Willemse are the three backline options. "They (Australia) are a physical and well-coached team, and we'll certainly not underestimate how much those performances (against the British & Irish Lions), combined with their motivation to bounce back strongly against us after the last few results between the teams, and win their first match ever at Ellis Park, will inspire them," Erasmus said. South Africa team: 15–Aphelele Fassi, 14–Edwill van der Merwe, 13–Jesse Kriel, 12–Andre Esterhuizen, 11–Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10–Manie Libbok, 9–Grant Williams, 8–Siya Kolisi, 7–Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6–Marco van Staden, 5–Lood de Jager, 4–Eben Etzebeth, 3–Wilco Louw, 2–Malcolm Marx, 1–Ox Nche
