Latest news with #LabeebLevy
The South African
2 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Currie Cup: Will Frans Steyn return to Durban to haunt Sharks?
The third round of the Currie Cup Premier Division kicks off in Kimberley on Friday, when Griquas host Western Province from 15:00, with the home side determined to build on their victory over the Boland Kavaliers last weekend, while the Capetonians will be eager to notch up their first victory of the season. Saturday's action begins in Pretoria, where the Bulls welcome the Pumas at 15:00. Later that day, the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV will look to make home advantage count when they face the Cheetahs at 17:10 in Durban. The Boland Kavaliers will play their third consecutive Sunday fixture, this time against the Lions in a 15:00 kick-off in Wellington. In Friday's clash, WP will be desperate to reverse their fortunes after two early losses. However, Kimberley is known to be a tough hunting ground, and Labeeb Levy's charges will need a marked improvement to overcome the hosts. Griquas have dominated recent encounters between the two sides and are on a seven-match winning streak against WP. Their most recent victory came in September last year, when they triumphed 37-29 at home. After a narrow loss to the Pumas in the opening round, Pieter Bergh's men bounced back with a 48-39 win over a spirited Kavaliers outfit. They'll be confident heading into this clash against a youthful WP side still finding their feet in the competition. The Bulls, early pacesetters in the competition, will aim to extend their dominance over their eastern neighbours, the Pumas. Their 40-24 win in this fixture last September was a second successive win for the men from Pretoria following a heavy 63-15 loss to the team from Mpumalanga in May 2023. This season however, the Bulls have looked formidable, collecting maximum points from their opening two matches and playing a very attractive brand of rugby. Their two wins so far includes a 64-0 demolition of the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV at Loftus Versfeld, and a convincing away win over WP in the North-South derby. The Pumas, who edged Griquas in round one, fell short against a determined Cheetahs side in Bloemfontein last weekend and Saturday's clash in Pretoria will be another stern test for the 2022 champions from Mbombela. In Saturday's late afternoon fixture, the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV host the Cheetahs at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont, Durban, where Frans Steyn's charges will be eager to build on their thrilling win over the Pumas last weekend. Steyn, now 38, enjoyed two stints at the Sharks, from 2006 to 2009 and again from 2012 to 2014. Clashes between these two sides have often delivered fireworks, with the Durbanites holding a narrow 3-2 edge in their last five meetings. However, based on current form, the young KZN outfit will go into this one as underdogs. JP Pietersen's young squad will be looking to bounce back after last week's heavy defeat at Loftus, but they face a tough challenge against a Cheetahs side that showed grit in overcoming the Pumas. The last time these two met, the Sharks XV edged it 25-20. Sunday's fixture in Wellington sees the Kavaliers take on a confident, high-flying Lions side. The Bolanders, newly promoted to the Premier Division, will be pleased with their six league points so far. However, the Highvelders – last year's runners-up – present their toughest challenge yet. With just one loss in their last five matches in this competition (a narrow defeat to their Durban rivals in the 2024 final), the Lions boast a powerful yet mobile pack of forwards and a potent backline. Fans in Wellington are in an entertaining, attacking spectacle on Sunday afternoon. All matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport Rugby. Griquas vs Western Province Date: Friday, 8 AugustVenue: Suzuki Stadium, KimberleyKick-off: 15:00 Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
News24
2 days ago
- Sport
- News24
Currie Cup Round 3: Leyds starts at fullback for WP in Kimberley, Matthee at No 10
Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images 15m ago Leyds starts at fullback for WP in Kimberley, Matthee at No 10 There are five changes to the Western Province starting line-up for their Currie Cup encounter with Griquas in Kimberley on Friday afternoon. Three of the changes come in the backline and two up front. Tristan Leyds makes his first start of the campaign at fullback in a rotation with fellow Sevens star Shilton van Wyk, with Justin Geduld coming in at outside centre and Luke Burger set to make an impact in the second half in a similar move. Jurie Matthee makes his first appearance of the season at flyhalf, having recovered from a concussion he picked up in the pre-season and replaces Kyle Smith in a planned rotational switch, with Smith now sidelined with a slight niggle. In the loose trio, De Wet Marais makes his return from injury at blindside flank and in the front row Mhleli Khuzwayo makes his first start of the season. Junior Springbok props Oliver Reid and Herman Lubbe are both in line to make their senior debut from the bench, while lock Adam de Waal and loose forward Aden da Costa - who have starred for the Western Province age-group teams - are also set to make the step-up to the senior ranks. WP coach Labeeb Levy said they expected a tough encounter in Kimberley. 'There are a few rotations this week and we are looking forward to seeing what the players coming in can add. Then we have some players returning from injury and a few really talented young players set to make an impact in the second half. 'We have seen some progress each week so far and while it is always a challenge to travel to Kimberley, the challenge is now to put together an 80-minute performance and play the rugby we are known for against a good Griquas side,' Levy said. WP team: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Sako Makata, 13 Justin Geduld, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Jared Africa, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Louw Nel, 7 De Wet Marais, 6 Zain Davids (captain), 5 Gary Porter, 4 Alex Groves, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo Substitutes: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Herman Lubbe, 19 Adam de Waal, 20 Aden da Costa, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Luke Burger, 23 Shilton van Wyk 24m ago Go to top
IOL News
6 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Levy hoping 80-minute performance is just around the corner for Western Province
Western Province coach Labeeb Levy feels his players are starting to gel despite two losses on the trot in the Currie Cup Premier Division. Image: Backpagepix Western Province coach Labeeb Levy is hoping his Currie Cup charges can kick on and become an 80-minute team after they looked like they could cause an upset in the second half of Saturday's 40-19 away defeat to the Lions, before fading on the Highveld. The Joburgers led 21-12 at half-time at Ellis Park and extended their lead with another try early in the second half. Province stuck to their attacking game plan and came back at the Lions. Their third and final try of the match brought them within nine points of the home side in the 53rd minute, as they threatened to pull off a surprise result. 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 ✕ 'I was happy at that stage of the game,' Levy said. 'It was 28-19 and we were actually on the attack, but then we lost a breakdown penalty and they came back and obviously scored again. 'We just kept telling the guys: just keep going, just keep fighting. Try to get that fourth try.' The tone for the match was set early on, with WP opting to run from their own 22. 'It was part of the plan — to be adventurous, to take the game to them, to strike first — and the boys got energy from it and obviously capitalised by scoring first. Just a few of the passes didn't stick, a few of the conversions didn't stick. But I'm happy for the boys,' Levy said at the post-match media conference. 'We asked them to come out fighting and they did. We scored first. We probably should have scored immediately after that, but then they scored.' It was ultimately a match of missed opportunities for the Province mentor, who is still searching for his first point of the season after two losses. Failure to convert several 22-metre entries into points harmed their cause on Saturday afternoon. 'In the second half we weren't as clinical as we could have been in the first. But we're a new team, a new group — we've only been together for about six weeks — so I'm massively proud of the boys,' he said. 'Conversion-wise there were opportunities we did not put away, but it's just that little bit of synergy that we're working on — getting combos together in training in order to convert those. We need to work on being a bit more clinical.
IOL News
26-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Labeeb Levy takes the reins as head coach of Western Province ahead of Currie Cup
Veteran coach Labeeb Levy will take charge of Western Province in the 2025 Currie Cup competition starting next month. His first game will be a North-South derby against the Bulls. Image: BackpagePix The experienced Labeeb Levy will coach Western Province in the upcoming Currie Cup as they look to re-establish themselves amongst the top teams of South Africa's oldest domestic rugby competition. Levy, skills coach of the Stormers, brings a wealth of experience and he is poised to lead the side into a strong campaign that kicks off next month with a North-South derby against the Bulls in Cape Town. More changes see former players Brok Harris and Dewaldt Duvenage stepping in to coach the forwards and backline respectively as both make the transition from the playing field to the touchline after stellar careers with the Stormers and Western Province. Riefaat Jappie will join them as strength and conditioning coach and Brendan Venter will take on the role of technical consultant. The experienced Labeeb Levy will take charge of the DHL WP squad as Head Coach for the upcoming Carling Currie Cup and will be supported by a strong group of coaches. Full story — WP RUGBY (@WP_RUGBY) June 26, 2025 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 ✕ Director of rugby John Dobson said the WP coaching team has a great blend of seasoned experience and some fresh faces who will bring plenty of energy. 'We often talk about a balance of youth and experience on the field, and I think this coaching group has also got that,' he said. 'You have the likes of Labeeb and Brendan, both established mentors with great rugby minds, alongside Brok and Dewaldt, who are legends on the field taking their first major steps as coaches. Riefaat will provide excellent continuity in that regard. Tickets for our three Carling Currie Cup home games at DHL Stadium are on sale now. 🎟️ Get yours here #wpjoulekkerding — WP RUGBY (@WP_RUGBY) June 25, 2025
