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The South African
a day ago
- Sport
- The South African
Three things Springboks must achieve in Rugby Championship
The Springboks will soon kick off their Rugby Championship campaign when they meet the Wallabies in Johannesburg on Saturday 16 August, and again a week later in Cape Town on 23 August. From there they will face their arch-rivals at Eden Park in Auckland on 6 September, and the Sky Stadium in Wellington on 13 September respectively, before wrapping up their campaign against Argentina in Durban on Saturday 27 September, and in London on 4 October. There are a host of things that the Springboks will want to achieve in the tournament, but we believe these are three top priorities. Refine attacking evolution Since winning the 2023 World Cup, one of the clearest focal points for the Springboks has been their desire to improve their attacking game since adding former All Blacks playmaker Tony Brown to their coaching staff. There has been a big shift in the way the Springboks are attacking with numerous set plays, and nuances to player decoys and running lines, but at times it hasn't all come together perfectly. It simply remains a work-in-progress, but the Springboks will really want to ensure they take some more significant steps forward in this area of their game evolution. Balance winning and game evolution with the world rankings in mind The Springboks' lead at the top of the world rankings has shrunk to just 0.72 points after the All Blacks claimed a 3-0 win over the All Blacks in their July Tests. Normally, only passing attention is paid to the rankings by coaches and players, but there is some serious incentive this year to ensure the Springboks remain in prime position. The reason for this is that the draw for the expanded 24-team 2027 World Cup is set to take place in December, and so the rankings then will be used to determine the top seeds for the various. To try and avoid any potential 'group of death', and to hopefully secure the most favourable draw, the Springboks will be determined to remain at the top of the pile. Gain clarity on halfbacks There is no doubt that the Springboks boast some remarkable player depth, but particularly when it comes to the 9-10 combination there has so much chopping and changing with selection that it's still hard to know who is the unequivocal first choice. As it stands, Handre Pollard and Grant Williams are probably at the top of the pecking order at flyhalf and scrumhalf respectively, but the Springboks will need to settle on exactly where the likes of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok, Cobus Reinach and Morne van den Berg stand. Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers). 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 South African
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
WATCH: Springboks sing, celebrate success of juniors
In another special moment for South Africa on Saturday, the Junior Springboks beat New Zealand 23-15 in the final in Italy to win the World Rugby U20 Championship for the first time in 13 years. It was the first meeting of the two nations in a final since the Junior Springboks' class of 2012, featuring the likes of future Rugby World Cup winners Handre Pollard, Steven Kitshoff and Pieter-Steph du Toit, ran out 22-16 winners in Cape Town. In a special twist of fate, the likes of Pollard and Du Toit were in the Springbok change room on Saturday night as they sat down to watch the Junior Springboks in the U20 final after claiming a good win over Georgia at the Mbombela Stadium. Clips have emerged of the Springbok team singing team songs, cheering and celebrating as they watched the juniors achieve success in the U20 final. Scorers: Junior Springboks 23 (13) – Tries: Xola Nyali, Gilermo Mentoe. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (2). Penalty goals: Moyo (3). New Zealand 15 (5) – Tries: Jayden Sa, Maloni Kunawave. Conversion: Will Cole. Penalty goal: Rico Simpson. 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.
RNZ News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Scrappy Springboks overwhelm Georgia in Mbombela
South Africa's hooker Marnus van der Merwe prepares to dive across the line to score a try during the rugby international against Georgia at Mbombela Stadium on July 19, 2025. Photo: WIKUS DE WET Debutant hooker Marnus van der Merwe scored two tries as South Africa eased to a 55-10 victory over Georgia in Nelspruit on Saturday, but the scoreline masked an error-strewn performance. Prop Boan Venter, centre Canan Moodie, wings Edwill van der Merwe (two) and Kurt-Lee Arendse, fullback Damian Willemse and flyhalf Handre Pollard also crossed for tries. But the Springboks served up double-digit handling errors, were poor at the lineout in the second half and could not get the upper hand at the breakdown. It was minutes in the tank at the start of the international season for several players, including captain Siya Kolisi on his return from injury. "Credit to the Georgians, physically they matched us most of the time. We struggled and at the breakdown, where they were quite dominant," Kolisi said. "We did not do enough positives one after the other. We would do something good and then make a mistake, which slowed us down. Hopefully, we can fix that." The hosts had three debutants in Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouche as Erasmus stretched the number of players he has used in three games this year to 46. Georgia made a fast start and scored the opening try from a driving maul following a lineout, with hooker Vano Karkadze powering his way over. The Springboks hit back as Venter dived over a ruck to score, before an attacking lineout lead to a driving maul that sliced through the Georgian defence for Van der Merwe to cross. A sweeping Springboks move from their own half following a break by scrumhalf Grant Williams led to a try for Moodie and hooker Van der Merwe got his second from another driving maul as the hosts led 22-10 at halftime. They added a simple try for Edwill van der Merwe after his forwards created the space and sucked in Georgia defenders, and Willemse went over in the opposite corner. When Edwill van der Merwe crossed for the final score, he took his tally of international tries to five in three games, before Arendse and Pollard dotted down late on. "This was a great match for us to grow," Georgia flanker Luka Ivanishvili said. "It was my first time playing in this kind of atmosphere and these types of game are helping us to grow to the next World Cup (in 2027)." -Reuters
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Memorable Moodie try highlights big win by Springboks
Centre Canan Moodie scored a memorable try as world champions South African beat Georgia 55-10 in Mbombela on Saturday to complete their Rugby Championship build-up. When Moodie struck after 19 minutes before a 36,842 crowd in the northeast city it demonstrated the changing DNA of Springbok rugby. Gone is the obsession with a kick-and-chase approach, and in its place has come more ball-in-hand rugby, which helped deliver nine tries against the brave but ultimately outclassed Georgians. The result was never in doubt, given the one-off Test pitted the top-ranked South Africans against opponents 10 places lower, and it was far from a perfect performance from the winners. But some of the moves from the record four-time Rugby World Cup winners thrilled the vibrant crowd, and nothing pleased them more than Moodie scoring his seventh try for the Springboks. Dynamic scrum-half Grant Williams broke to start a passing movement than involved backs and forwards before Moodie held off two Georgians to dot down in the corner to wild cheering from the crowd. It was also a Test to remember for two of the three uncapped front-rowers with hooker Marnus van der Merwe twice and loosehead prop Boan Venter once using their strength to power over for tries. The other South African try scorers were winger Edwill van der Merwe (two), replacement full-back Damian Willemse, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse and another substitute, fly-half Handre Pollard. When Arendse scored the penultimate try on 79 minutes it brought his Test tally to 20 in 26 appearances for South Africa. While fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was a lively runner, he was let down by his goal-kicking, succeeding with only one of five conversion attempts. When double World Cup winner Pollard came on he placed all four conversion kicks between the posts and finished with a 13-point personal tally. As the match wore on, the South African dominance increased, but it was perennial European second-tier champions Georgia who struck first. Springboks captain Siya Kolisi had left the field for a successful head injury assessment test when the Lelos took a surprise third-minute lead through a try from hooker Vano Karkadze. Fly-half Luka Matkava converted and later slotted a penalty while the Springboks scored four tries in the opening half to build a 22-10 half-time lead. South Africa begin their defence of the Rugby Championship against Australia in Johannesburg on August 16. dl/ea
CNA
19-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Scrappy Springboks overwhelm Georgia 55-10 in Nelspruit
Debutant hooker Marnus van der Merwe scored two tries as South Africa eased to a 55-10 victory over Georgia in Nelspruit on Saturday, but the scoreline masked an error-strewn performance. Prop Boan Venter, centre Canan Moodie, wings Edwill van der Merwe (two) and Kurt-Lee Arendse, fullback Damian Willemse and flyhalf Handre Pollard also crossed for tries. But the Springboks served up double-digit handling errors, were poor at the lineout in the second half and could not get the upper hand at the breakdown. It was minutes in the tank at the start of the international season for several players, including captain Siya Kolisi on his return from injury. "Credit to the Georgians, physically they matched us most of the time. We struggled and at the breakdown, where they were quite dominant," Kolisi said. "We did not do enough positives one after the other. We would do something good and then make a mistake, which slowed us down. Hopefully, we can fix that." The hosts had three debutants in Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouche as Erasmus stretched the number of players he has used in three games this year to 46. Georgia made a fast start and scored the opening try from a driving maul following a line-out, with hooker Vano Karkadze powering his way over. The Springboks hit back as Venter dived over a ruck to score, before an attacking lineout lead to a driving maul that sliced through the Georgian defence for Van der Merwe to cross. A sweeping Springboks move from their own half following a break by scrumhalf Grant Williams led to a try for Moodie and hooker Van der Merwe got his second from another driving maul as the hosts led 22-10 at halftime. They added a simple try for Edwill van der Merwe after his forwards created the space and sucked in Georgia defenders, and Willemse went over in the opposite corner. When Edwill van der Merwe crossed for the final score, he took his tally of international tries to five in three games, before Arendse and Pollard dotted down late on. "This was a great match for us to grow," Georgia flanker Luka Ivanishvili said. "It was my first time playing in this kind of atmosphere and these types of game are helping us to grow to the next World Cup (in 2027)."
