Latest news with #JohanGrobbelaar
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Grobbelaar eyes domestic success as route into Bok line-up after camp exclusion
Johan Grobbelaar missed the latest Springbok alignment camp along with other top hookers Joseph Dweba and André-Hugo Venter, who all featured in March. Johan Grobbelaar in action for the Springboks against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 23 November 2024. Picture:As the search for a third-choice Springbok hooker widened with the inclusion of Wales-based Marnus van der Merwe in this month's Springbok alignment camp, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels' explosive form, Johan Grobbelaar has kept his mind on club rugby. He sees it as his avenue back into the Springbok line-up while ignoring what could be interpreted as a snub at the camp. The 27-year-old specialist hooker was once seen as the likely understudy to the increasingly injury-hit Malcolm Marx, 30, and the ageing Bongi Mbonambi, 33, particularly with an eye on the 2027 Rugby World Cup. He only has three Test caps, though they came last season (against Australia, Portugal and Wales), and was among the 56 domestic players featuring in 2025's first Bok camp in March. Joseph Dweba and André-Hugo Venter are also in the running for the hooker position and likewise missed the May camp after featuring two months earlier. Grobbelaar focuses on his game While some have seen the omission of certain players as a rejection, Bok boss Rassie Erasmus has always said exclusion does not mean players have fallen out of favour. Instead, their chances of selection for the Springboks are as strong as they were before. When asked about it all on the eve of the alignment camp's player announcement, Grobbelaar turned attention to the domestic season, saying he was happy with his form. The hooker has secured five tries and contributed to the Bulls' forward pack dominance this season. 'All focus is with the Bulls and I want to play my best rugby for the club,' he said. 'We get through the play-offs and then the final – we tick those boxes then selectors will see you. It's important to give yourself the best chance of being selected for that squad as well.' Bulls set to go all the way in the URC The Bulls have been the most consistent South African team in the United Rugby Championship, twice reaching the final and once the quarter-final. They have made mention of their desire to go all the way this time, first needing to beat Edinburgh in the quarter-final at Loftus next weekend. Victory there gives them a home semi-final against the winner between the Sharks and Munster on 7 June. The final will either be played at Loftus or if it's against Leinster, away at Aviva Stadium. The Bulls are on a four-game winning streak and finished the league phase of the URC with their most number of points (68) and most wins (14).
The Citizen
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Bulls hope to whitewash Dragons this weekend
The Bulls are aiming to keep last-placed Dragons off the scoreboard when the teams clash in their final URC league phase game. Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar says they wanted to keep Cardiff point-less last weekend and hope to do so to Dragons this weekend. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi/The Bulls are aiming for a whitewash victory against Dragons when the teams play in their last United Rugby Championship league phase match at Loftus on Saturday (kick-off 3pm). The Bulls also hoped to keep Cardiff off the scoreboard in their match last weekend. Though the Bulls won the game at Loftus with a bonus point, it wasn't the perfect win they hoped for when they fell asleep in defence at certain points and let the Welsh side score three tries (final score 45–21). But the Pretoria outfit will not go easy on bottom-placed Dragons, even though the Bulls only need a losing bonus point to guarantee a second-place finish on the URC log should Glasgow Warriors beat Leinster with a bonus point. Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar told media they will be striving for a perfect game and play without the fear of injury. Bulls have 'no room for errors' 'We wanted to give them (Cardiff) zero points on the board, same as this weekend [against Dragons],' Grobbelaar said. 'We were on track and then they got those three tries that didn't make any difference to the result or the log. But it is something we want to fix going into the playoffs. 'When we play those big matches, there won't be room for errors.' The Dragons have only won one match so far this season, beating Ospreys eight months ago in September. Still, Grobbelaar said there would be no complacency among Bulls players before and during the game. 'There's a lot of motivation. At this stage of the competition, you want to keep building. You want to be at your best. This week won't change much about the log, but it is good for building form and confidence. 'You don't want to wonder what is going on and what went wrong last weekend when you go into a quarter-final. We're going to have to be on top of our game against Dragons.' Touching on star flyhalf Johan Goosen picking up another knee injury last weekend, Grobbelaar said injuries were a reality but no one would be holding back for fear of picking one up.
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
‘No room for losses anymore': Bulls look to reinstate Loftus fortress
The Bulls are unhappy with their 70% win record at home this season. The Bulls cannot afford to lose any more games in front of their supporters at Loftus. Picture: Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images. The Bulls have spoken of their desire to improve on their 70% home win record this season, feeling that it's below par for one of South Africa's most successful unions. They will aim to start that improvement against the last-placed Dragons on Saturday (kick-off 3pm), with the Welsh side having secured just one win in this United Rugby Championship campaign. Of the Bulls' four URC defeats so far, two have come at Loftus – against the Stormers and Sharks. They also lost to Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup in Pretoria. Their home form has otherwise been decent, if not stellar: six wins from eight in the URC and one from two in the EPCR, yielding a 70% win rate at Loftus. Interestingly, they have built much of their momentum on the road, where they've claimed eight wins from 13 matches across all competitions – a 61.5% away win rate. While lower than their home return, that's an impressive figure considering it came against some of the best sides in Europe. 'Makes a massive difference' Despite earlier inconsistencies, they've now won all three of their most recent home games. But if the Bulls hold onto their second place on the URC table, which they will if they just secure a losing bonus point against Dragons should Glasgow do the unexpected and win away against Leinster with a bonus point, then they will play at least their quarter-final and semi-final at home. 'It makes a massive difference playing play-offs at home,' Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar told media during the week. He said their best games have been overseas this season, and although their losses at home were against good teams, this was not good enough anymore. 'There is no room for losses anymore. If we want to make it to the end we have to win especially at Loftus.' Bulls say this is the year they win the URC The Bulls lost to the Glasgow Warriors in last year's URC final at Loftus (final score 21–16). They also lost the 2021/22 final against the Stormers at Loftus (final score 18–13). They only got as far as the quarter-finals in 2022/23, crashing out to eventual runners-up, the Stormers. Grobbelaar believes this is the season they will go all the way. 'We are definitely growing and learning and we will take the learnings from the previous three seasons into this season. And we will make sure we will finish strong and pull through in the final. 'We have to learn from our previous mistakes and be the best we can be.'
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Bulls to breathe fire against Dragons and won't hold back for fear of injuries, says Johan Grobbelaar
Johan Grobbelaar Johan Grobbelaar believes that the Bulls can go all the way in the United Rugby Championship this season. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix There will be no complacency from the Bulls as they head into the final round-robin match of the United Rugby Championship (URC) against the Dragons on Saturday in Pretoria. That was the vow of hooker Johan Grobbelaar, who has been a pillar for the second-placed Pretoria side this season. The clash at Loftus Versfeld (3pm start) will give the Bulls the opportunity to finish second on the official URC log, and they only need a single point from the duel to secure the spot. It will put them in a position to play a home semi-final should they make it past the quarters, but they'll only know at the end of the final round who they'll be facing in the first knockout clash. According to Grobbelaar, there will be no resting on their laurels, even if they are facing bottom-feeders the Dragons. The Bulls will be looking to consolidate their second place this Saturday with an emphatic victory as they continue to build momentum for the playoffs. 'There will be no complacency as we move towards the business end of the competition,' the Bok hooker said. 'Maybe this weekend's game won't change much about the (URC) log, but it's very important, looking at our form and going into the playoffs. 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 ✕ 'So, there is no more room for losses going forward. There is a lot of motivation going forward (into this game). 'Not necessarily because who we are playing, but at this stage, you want to keep building and be at your best. 'You don't want to wonder what's going on, especially when heading into the quarter-finals. 'We want to be on top of our game against the Dragons.' According to Grobbelaar, there won't be a lack of motivation from them when facing the Dragons, even if they've secured a home quarter-final already. He feels they are all working towards their end goal, to win the final, and everyone is motivated and looking forward to the rest of the competition. They will rely on their leadership group to pull them through, while sport psychologist Dr Henning Gericke has also been prepping them throughout the season for what awaits in the playoffs. 'Doc Henning keeps us calm and motivated. He sees us every day, and he is doing an awesome job in that department,' Grobbelaar said. 'I don't think any of the guys will be holding back (even after the injury to flyhalf Johan Goosen). Injuries are a reality. But I don't think any of the guys will hold back. 'We've made the finals twice and played three times in the playoffs. There's no trophy to show yet. 'But there have been learnings, and we will take that. We want to ensure we finish strong, even in the final, to make sure we pull it through.'
