Latest news with #JohanGoosen
News24
2 days ago
- Sport
- News24
Bulls v Sharks' URC semi-final: A battle of haves who want what the other has
MIRACLE MAN: Bulls flyhalf Johan Goosen has recovered from what was thought to be a season-ending knee injury to play in the URC semifinal against the Sharks.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Goosen at fly half for URC semi-final against Sharks
Which Johan Goosen will arrive at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday? This question is probably the biggest concern for Bulls fans after Jake White announced his team to take on the Sharks in Saturday's United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-final at Loftus Versfeld. Goosen, who has struggled with injuries this season, has been included as the starting fly half for Saturday's semi-final, after injuring his knee in a match against Cardiff a month ago. Since then, the Bulls have built momentum without him on their way to the knockout rounds of the competition. However, according to White, Goosen has recovered and looked particularly sharp on the training field this past week. There is no doubt that a fit Goosen has the talent, experience and rugby IQ to be a match-winner for the Bulls on Saturday. The opposite is unfortunately also true, as Goosen is one of those enigmatic rugby players who can sometimes play brilliantly, only to lose his mojo in the next game. If Johan Goosen the rugby wizard turns up, he could be a trump card for the Bulls against a Sharks team that has arguably built even better momentum with impressive performances in the last few league matches of the tournament. The Sharks also showed their character in last week's thrilling quarter-final match against former URC champions, Munster. This is a team that has come under heavy criticism from both their own supporters and the general rugby public due to the fact that, during the past few seasons, they have dramatically underperformed despite the fact that they have so much experience and top players in their ranks. There can be no doubt that John Plumtree's men will be a team on a mission when they appear at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. Playoff games are about percentage rugby, focus under pressure and taking every possible opportunity to score points. With both teams boasting great packs of forwards teeming with Springboks, the role of the half-backs will be crucial on Saturday. White also selected Keagan Johannes, who has had very good performances for the Bulls at fly half since Goosen's injury, on the bench as an insurance policy. With two teams in good form, Saturday's semi-final promises to be a classic titanic arm wrestling match. Kick-off time is 18:15. According to the Blue Bulls Company, the match is almost sold out, with fewer than 5000 tickets still available. BULLS vs SHARKS STARTING XV: 1. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. JF van Heerden, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 7. Ruan Nortje (c), 8. Cameron Hanekom, 9. Embrose Papier, 10. Johan Goosen, 11. Sebastian de Klerk, 12. Harold Vorster, 13. David Kriel, 14. Canon Moodie, 15. Willie le Roux REPLACEMENTS: 16. Akker van der Merwe, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Mornay Smith, 19. Jannes Kirsten, 20. Marco van Staden, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Keagan Johannes, 23. Devon Williams Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Jake White: Goosen's return crucial for URC playoffs as Bulls eye victory over Sharks
Bulls flyhalf Johan Goosen is back from injury and will start as flyhalf in the URC semi-final against the Sharks in Pretoria on Saturday Image: BackpagePix Johan Goosen trained like he hasn't been away and that is one of the reasons why Jake White included him in the Bulls' starting team for the United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-final against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld. The Pretoria side will look to snap a two-match losing streak this season on Saturday evening (6.15 pm kick-off) as they aim for a consecutive finals berth in the tournament. Goosen is the only change to the starting lineup, with Keagan Johannes dropping to the bench for the do-or-die duel. White says considering how well Goosen has played next to scrumhalf Embrose Papier and inside centre Harold Vorster, he has no doubt the flyhalf will slot in with ease. 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 ✕ 'One thing about him (Johan) is that he is always in and out and in. So if anyone says he is not game-ready, that is usually how he has played in his career,' White explained the inclusion of the veteran. 'I am sure some of you guys watched a bit of training and those who have will see that it's like he hasn't been away. That is what I always say: at the end of these playoff games, you need your best players fit, available, and ready. Whatever happens during the season is just part of that building blocks. 'To have him back, we have 14 of the 15 players that played last week, so that is continuity. He is a Springbok and our number one 10. We have Keagan who's played really well for us on the bench. It is a good position to be in.' YOUR team to face the Hollywoodbets Sharks tomorrow at Loftus in our VURC Semi-Final 🔥🔥🔥 GRAB YOUR TICKETS NOW 🏆 🎟️TICKETS ➡️ 🐂Vodacom Bulls vs Hollywoodbets Sharks 🗓️7 June | ⏰ 18:15 | LOFTUS @Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA #ForeverBlue — Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) June 6, 2025 White put a question mark behind the omission of Eben Etzebeth from the Sharks' announced squad. He added that they will worry about the team when they get to Loftus on Saturday. Etzebeth was not included in the Sharks' match-day squad with Siya Kolisi taking over as captain in his absence. According to White, they are preparing as if the Durbanites will bring their best team to Pretoria. 'This is probably one of the best Sharks teams on paper. It reminds of Pieter Muller, Henry Honiball, Jeremy Thompson, Kabous van der Westhuizen, and André Joubert. They were all Springboks. 'There are not many players in that team who are not Springboks. In fact, 15 of the 54 players (in the Bok squad for the mid-year Tests) are from the Sharks. So, it is not a bad team to have. 'They have played well in big games, whether it is the Challenge Cup final or whenever they had a big game, they played well. In Springbok games too, so it won't be easy. We don't think for one moment that it will be. They've beaten us twice this year and there is a reason for that.' 🔥 This iconic derby have given us some absolute stunners 🔥 This Saturday, they're back to battle for a place in the Grand Final 🏆 Grab your spot and get ready for more magic 🎟️👉 #URC | #BULvSHA — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 6, 2025 White says they expect it to be as tough as it can be, and they will have to play as well as they can to get the desired outcome. He added that he told his players it would be like (Bok) trials for them on Saturday, but he doesn't want them to play like it is trials. White wants a team effort from his side. 'They know this is an opportunity in front of the selectors and the public for them to stake a claim. Our job is to tell them it is not about the individual. I told them in the changeroom they have been picked (for the Boks) for what they've been doing for the last 18 weeks.
The South African
3 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Goosen returns as Bulls eye URC playoff redemption
Johan Goosen has been named to start at flyhalf for the Vodacom Bulls in their URC semi-final clash against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. Goosen, who has struggled with knee injuries throughout the season, makes his return after last featuring in early May against Cardiff, when he exited the game just 11 minutes in. The 13-cap Springbok replaces Keagan Johannes in the only change to the starting lineup that defeated Edinburgh 42-33 in last week's quarter-final. Johannes, who scored 14 points and a standout try in that match, moves to the bench, offering cover at both scrumhalf and flyhalf. His inclusion sees Stedman Gans drop out of the match-day squad. The rest of Jake White's bench remains unchanged, with Akker van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Jannes Kirsten, Zak Burger, and Devon Williams all set to provide impact off the pine. The Bulls, runners-up in 2022 and 2024, are chasing a place in the final, which could take place on home soil if Glasgow defeat Leinster in Dublin. Despite losing both regular-season fixtures to the Sharks this year, the Pretoria side boasts a strong record at Loftus, winning three of the last five URC meetings there. BULLS – 15 Willie le Roux, 24 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Ruan Nortje (c), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Subs: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Keagan Johannes, 23 Devon Williams. 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.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Johan Goosen returns as flyhalf for Bulls' semi-final clash against Sharks
Bulls flyhalf Johan Goosen is back in the starting lineup for the semi-final agains the Sharks on Saturday in Pretoria Johan Goosen is back at flyhalf for the Bulls' crucial semi-final against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening (6.15 pm kick-off). Goosen is the only change to the starting side that beat Edinburgh last weekend, with the influential Keagan Johannes dropping to the bench to provide an impact when he is called upon. It is largely the same team that beat the Scottish club and director of rugby Jake White will look for a complete performance this time around from his troops. They failed to fire in the first half and had to play catch-up rugby against Edinburgh to eventually win the match.
