Latest news with #LoftusVersfeld
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Bulls 42-33 Edinburgh: Three things we learned
Edinburgh find courage to end season with prideSean Everitt talked about a fast start and a strong finish. He got both of those, but it was the bit in the middle that saw the Bulls pull out of the fight Edinburgh showed to get ahead and then set up a tense-ish finale was were able to pick themselves up off the canvas after the three-try blitz that would have left others floored. Tries from Ewan Ashman and Wes Goosen made a game of it, but they just couldn't climb the only they could show that hunger, fight and desire in every game, they wouldn't have had to face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld - one of the hardest away days in the guns offer hope for next seasonThere was a moment in the final 10 minutes that threatened to swing the game back Edinburgh's Price's up-and-under was chased by Harry Paterson, who smashed Canan Moodie back. Liam McConnell, the 20-year-old back-row just off the bench, cleaned out the ruck. Ben Muncaster followed to win the ruck young players, all with huge futures, combining to set up a potential game-swinging moment. It didn't quite work out like that - the subsequent line-out was turned over by the Bulls - but it showed there is hope for the Dave Cherry away, promising hooker Paddy Harrison will get even more game time after a breakthrough season. Freddy Douglas, Muncaster and Liam McConnell will be knocking on the door. Tom Currie, McAlpine was on the bench for this one, with fellow scrum-half Hector Patterson also highly regarded. No scrum-half replacement will be sought for the outgoing shows captain's qualities againIn the absence of co-captains Grant Gilchrist and Ben Vellacott, both missing through injury, it was once again Magnus Bradbury's turn to wear the is now a long time since he was stripped off the captaincy due to an off-field incident, aged just he delivered another stellar performance with the weight of responsibility having no burden at bungled one restart, which did prove costly, but spoke well after the game about how Edinburgh have had a tough season, but how they should be a top-four ambitions? Sure. But if he can lift his team-mates to play at his level, there's no reason why they shouldn't be aiming that high.
The Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- The Herald
Stormers bullied by physical Glasgow, says Dobson
The Stormers were bullied when they crashed to a heavy 36-18 defeat against Glasgow Warriors in a United Rugby Championship quarterfinal clash, coach John Dobson said. In the aftermath of a devastating loss at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday, a perplexed Dobson said he did not know how his team would be able to fix their inability to dominate the gain line. The victory kept Glasgow's hopes of lifting back-to-back URC titles alive after they beat the Bulls 21-16 in the 2024 final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. 'I think we were bullied physically, everything went wrong, and they put us under pressure,' Dobson said. 'To get so well beaten is very disappointing for us and I was probably our worst game of the season. 'Things like the line-outs and technical stuff we can fix and we also lost the technical battle and we can work on that. 'What worried me a little bit was the gain line and I thought Glasgow were physically very good and we got bullied there. 'I'm not sure how easy it is to fix that. Maybe we should spend more time in the gym. I don't know. 'Physically, they really got stuck into us and that is poor and I don't know how we fix that. 'We were well beaten by Glasgow. 'Things that we thought would not go wrong went wrong, like our line-outs. 'But all credit to Glasgow and the way they play. 'Their attack was really good and they ran with purpose.' The defeat left Dobson saying farewell to several players on a low note. Joseph Dweba, Herschel Jantjies and Ben Loader have now played their last game for the Stormers before leaving the franchise. 'It's actually sitting pretty tough in the throat,' he said. 'We didn't think we were not going to be playing next week. 'The guys are really, really distraught and it's not the way I want to say goodbye to these guys who, as I say, have put a lot in. 'We really, honestly, in our heart of hearts believed we'd be playing next week. 'I think after the last try, in the last half an hour, we were just playing very, very poorly and they put us under a lot of pressure. 'We weren't getting any yardage in our carry and [made] a plethora of mistakes. Massive credit to Glasgow for their defence a nd their ability with ball in hand. 'If we're going to kick as inaccurately as we kicked tonight [on Friday], with their attack they will punish us. 'We'd been going 90% line-outs for the last four games, then suddenly dropped in the 70s; dropped down to giving away 17 line breaks; dropped down to 65% tackle completion, which is a credit to Glasgow [in terms of] how they attacked. 'But we kept our worst performance probably in a couple of years for a knockout game, which is really disappointing.' Warriors head coach Franco Smith: 'We were a little bit off it at the end of the regular season but I'm glad we could bounce back in the quarterfinal. 'We speak the whole season about the quality of the competition and the quality of the sides. There was no easy game — always tough. 'Rory Darge played well; Henco Venter and Tom Jordan were also excellent against the Stormers. 'It's good to have played Friday night. 'We get to wait and see and whatever comes our way, we will make sure we recover well. 'The boys have learnt and adapted. They really work hard and they believe in what we do.' The Herald
CNA
24-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Pyramids snatch Sundowns draw in African Champions League final first leg
PRETORIA :Egypt's Pyramids equalised four minutes into stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw at Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in the first leg of the African Champions League final on Saturday. With the away goals rule still applying in African club competition, the momentum now swings the way of the Cairo club after Walid El Karti deservedly headed home at the back post after a strong finish to the game at Loftus Versfeld. Sundowns had taken the lead through Brazilian midfielder Lucas Ribeiro in the 54th minute with a curling left-footed shot after a deflected clearance fell perfectly for him. The South African club were strong favourites going into the tie against the Egyptian side, who are competing in the Champions League for only a second time. But the hosts were surprised by the strong pressing and running of the visitors, who defied the high altitude to emerge the better of the two sides. Sundowns, whose only previous Champions League success came in 2016, had a first-half chance when Iqraam Rayners' effort was saved by Ahmed El Shenawy but the Egyptians always looked lively on the counter and forced several errors from the home defence. However, they had to wait until virtually the last touch of the game as a cross from Mohamed Hamdy on the left was allowed to bounce in the box and went through for El Karti to finish. The return leg at Cairo's Air Defence Stadium is next Sunday, June 1.
News24
24-05-2025
- Sport
- News24
Champions League final, first leg: Sundowns v Pyramids FC
3h ago LESS THAN AN HOUR TO KICK-OFF Sundowns do their pitch inspection at Loftus. (Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images) 3h ago And here is your Mamelodi Sundowns starting XI! 🚨𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙍𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙓𝙄🚨 🆚 Pyramids FC ⏰ 15H00 🏟 Loftus Versfeld Stadium 📺 SS 209 & SABC 3 #Sundowns #TotalEnergiesCAFCL #RabatsenaGape — Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) May 24, 2025 4h ago In good spirits! Fans arrive at Loftus. (Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images) 4h ago All the best @Masandawana, We always play to win!💛👆 #CAFCLFinal #sundowns #downslive — Javas Nkambule (@javasnkambule) May 24, 2025 4h ago The newly minted trophy. (Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images) 4h ago Both Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids FC will be playing for recognition they might not always get in their countries, South African and Egypt, writes senior sports writer Njabulo Ngidi. 4h ago And so have Mamelodi Sundowns, who arrived to whistles and applause. 4h ago Pyramids FC have arrived at Loftus. 4h ago Former Mamelodi Sundowns forward Sibusiso Vilakazi, who is now an analyst for SuperSport, flashed a smile and the Brazilians' sign when asked who is winning today. (Njabulo Ngidi/News24)
Reuters
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Pyramids snatch Sundowns draw in African Champions League final first leg
PRETORIA, May 24 (Reuters) - Egypt's Pyramids equalised four minutes into stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw at Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in the first leg of the African Champions League final on Saturday. With the away goals rule still applying in African club competition, the momentum now swings the way of the Cairo club after Walid El Karti deservedly headed home at the back post after a strong finish to the game at Loftus Versfeld. Sundowns had taken the lead through Brazilian midfielder Lucas Ribeiro in the 54th minute with a curling left-footed shot after a deflected clearance fell perfectly for him. The South African club were strong favourites going into the tie against the Egyptian side, who are competing in the Champions League for only a second time. But the hosts were surprised by the strong pressing and running of the visitors, who defied the high altitude to emerge the better of the two sides. Sundowns, whose only previous Champions League success came in 2016, had a first-half chance when Iqraam Rayners' effort was saved by Ahmed El Shenawy but the Egyptians always looked lively on the counter and forced several errors from the home defence. However, they had to wait until virtually the last touch of the game as a cross from Mohamed Hamdy on the left was allowed to bounce in the box and went through for El Karti to finish. The return leg at Cairo's Air Defence Stadium is next Sunday, June 1.
