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The Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Venter buzzing for more Bok Test action
Burly prop Boan Venter is buzzing for more outings in the green and gold jersey when the Springboks kick off their Rugby Championship campaign with back-to-back Tests against the Wallabies in August. Venter made a dream start to his Test career when he dived over for a try after eight minutes during the Boks' crushing 55-10 win against Georgia in Mbombela last week. Starting alongside fellow debutants Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouché, Venter played an important role in the emphatic victory. He was rewarded for his efforts by being named in a 37-man Springbok squad to face Australia in Johannesburg (August 16) and Cape Town (August 23). 'On the performance side, it was buzzing to have made my debut and get a try in there as well,' he said. 'We'll reflect on the performance in the review — there's always stuff you can improve on. But overall, just really happy to get on the pitch.' Venter, who joined Edinburgh from the Cheetahs in 2021, looked set to be called up to the Scottish squad after qualifying on residency rules for the 2026 Six Nations. 'From being a young boy playing rugby from about five or seven years old, it's every South African's dream to play for the Springboks, so when I got that call, that was it for me,' he said. 'At the end of the day, what counts is that I am here and it was so great to slot into this group. 'Everyone was so welcoming and helped us hit the ground running. 'Since the team was announced, we felt the support of the whole group. 'We jokingly call the Bok back five the V8, and you can feel the power coming through. 'As a group, we are tight and try to pick each other up and be supportive, and it played a massive role in giving us confidence leading up to the game. 'It's a level up from club rugby. 'Not much in terms of due process but it's definitely a level up. 'I wouldn't say it surprised me; it was just nice to see again how big rugby is in SA. 'It's inspirational to see a whole nation get behind a team and they know how much that support means to the team.' Bok coach Rassie Erasmus said Venter had not been chosen to block him from playing for Scotland. 'That didn't have an influence,' he said. 'It is nicer for us to see guys such as Duhan van der Merwe play for Scotland because he probably would not have got a chance from us. 'So, why would you choose a guy to block him?' 'We really went and looked at who was the next loose head in line, and he was on our radar.' Scotland coach Gregor Townsend would not be drawn on whether Venter would have been part of his plans if he had not played for the Boks. 'I think he's been one of the best players in the URC the last two or three years,' he said. 'This year was probably his best season. 'Whether it's the set-piece or his ball-carrying, he's really impressed. 'We wish him all the best. 'He's now embarking on an international career and it shows the quality of the player he is.' Asked whether he had any regrets relating to Venter's decision to play for SA, Townsend said: 'It's really hypothetical. 'He wasn't going to be available for a few months and it's hypothetical until it happens. 'It's not going to happen now.' The Herald
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
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)."
Associated Press
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
South Africa 55, Georgia 10
Mbombela, South Africa Mbombela Stadium Saturday South Africa 55 (Marnus van der Merwe 2, Edwill van der Merwe 2, Boan Venter, Canan Moodie, Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse. Handre Pollard tries; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu conversion, Pollard 4 conversions), Georgia 10 (Vano Karkadze try; Luka Matkava conversion, penalty). HT: 22-10
The Herald
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Springboks not taking Georgia for granted
Kolisi however has no such concerns. Equally he does not fret for the rookie front row of Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouche who are all on debut. In fact, the captain is bracing himself for another festival occasion inside the Mbombela Stadium. 'It is always good to come here. The vibe is next level in the stadium. Last week it was one of the best atmospheres I've experienced,' he said about the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. 'It showed the hunger of the people of the Eastern Cape. People came to me to thank me for the team coming to the Eastern Cape. People think they are forgotten in the Eastern Cape. People were excited. 'Here it is the same vibe. They started the brandy and Coke on Thursday already. By the time they get to the game ... ' Teams South Africa — Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Grant Williams; Cobus Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain); Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth, Neethling Fouche, Marnus van der Merwe, Boan Venter Substitutes: Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith; Faf de Klerk, Handré Pollard, Damian Willemse. Georgia — Davit Niniashvili; Akaki Tabutsadze, Demur Tapladze, Giorig Kveseladze, Alexander Todua; Luka Matkava, Vasil Lobzhandidze; Ilia Spanderashvili, Beka Saginadze, Luka Ivanishvili; Vladimer Chachanidze, Mikheil Babunashvili; Irakli Aptsiauri, Vano Karkadze, Giorgi Akhaladze Substitutes: Irakli Kvatadze, Giorgi Tetrashvili, Beka Gigashvili, Demur Epremeidze, Sando Mamamtavrishvili; Tornike Jalagonia, Tedo Abzhandadze, Tornike Kakhoidze Kickoff: 5.10pm Referee: Matthew Carley (England) Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Adam Leal (England) TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
