Latest news with #PhiweNomlomo
IOL News
16 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
No excuses for Bulls as they fall to experienced Pumas at Loftus Versfeld
Nippy winger Riyaad Bam scored the only try for the Bulls during their Currie Cup defeat to the Pumas in Pretoria. Image: BackpagePix The Bulls were their worst enemies in that opening 10 minutes when they had the Pumas under massive pressure during their Currie Cup defeat at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon. While the first half was a tight affair between the two sides, the visitors dominated the second half for a 41-7 victory, scoring six tries, of which five came after the halftime whistle. Despite the heavy defeat, Bulls head coach Phiwe Nomlomo remains upbeat about their campaign after they started with two strong victories. Ross Braude and Tiaan de Klerk catch the Bulls napping 😤💤 📺 Stream #CurrieCup on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 9, 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 ✕ 'We tripped (in this game) a bit; we didn't fall,' he said about the loss. 'It is now up to us to get together and ensure we are better by the next time we train to know what we have to fix. We were poor, and we won't make excuses about it. We were not in the races at all. Yes, we can single out people, but collectively, including the coaches, we must be better in terms of consistency and where we like to get to 'The team won't get there if we have another bleep like this, that is for sure.' Nomlomo says the difference was the physicality and speed at which things happened on the field. The Pumas, after waking up, overpowered the Bulls, despite the Springboks in the pack of the home side. They dominated the rolling mauls, scrums and played on the front foot for the entire second half to clinch the crucial clash.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Bulls set for a true test as Pumas bring firepower to Loftus Versfeld
Scrumhalf Zak Burger will captain the Bulls against the Pumas in their Currie Cup clash at Loftus Versfeld. Image: BackpagePix The Bulls will have a clear view of how their Currie Cup campaign is going after Saturday's match against the more seasoned Pumas in Pretoria. It's expected that they will receive a sterner test from the Nelspruit side and their battle-hardened players at Loftus Versfeld (5 pm start) after two relatively easy games against Western Province and the Sharks. Head coach Phiwe Nomlomo has selected a squad that mixes experience with youth, although he has lost a few seniors who were recalled to the United Rugby Championship (URC) squad. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ Centre Stedman Gans and tighthead Francois Klopper had to be replaced after joining the senior URC side. The likes of eighth man Jeandre Rudolph, flanker Junior Pokomela, scrumhalf and captain Zak Burger, replacement loosehead prop Lizo Gqoboka and the lock pairing of Marvin Orie and Sintu Manjezi still bring vast experience to the team. James Winstanley, assistant coach, said they are expecting a fierce contest in the set piece against the Pumas. The experience up front should be worth gold for the home side as they brace for the duel. 'They are a really well-oiled team that has been proficient over several years, and they have great cohesion, continuity and a blueprint that works for them on the field,' he said. 'However, they will be disappointed with last week (losing to the Cheetahs). We will have our first opportunity against a much older, experienced SA Cup qualifier. So, we foresee a much more difficult game on Saturday. 'We played against two youthful sides, but this next block of games looks very different against SA Cup sides. There is no point in dwelling on what has happened (in the first two matches). We were suitably prepared for them. Now, we enter a totally different challenge. After this match, we will know where we stand with our season' Burger takes over the captaincy from flanker Nama Xaba, who is nursing a minor injury. Powerful winger Stravino Jacobs is also on the sidelines, but according to Winstanley, it is only minor niggles, and the duo should be back in action next weekend. The Vodacom Bulls went full throttle at Loftus! 💥 A Carling #CurrieCup try-fest for the highlights reel!#WhereChampionsRise | #PremierRugbyRealPassion — The Carling Currie Cup (@TheCurrieCup) August 7, 2025
The South African
03-08-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Rampant Bulls humble Sharks in one-sided Currie Cup clash
The Vodacom Bulls ran riot at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, scoring 10 tries to hand the Sharks a crushing 64-0 Currie Cup defeat and claim top spot on the standings. The Bulls delivered a dominant display to dismantle the Sharks in a one-sided Currie Cup clash at Loftus Versfeld. Phiwe Nomlomo's side started strong and never let up. Hooker Juann Else opened the scoring from a powerful lineout maul, before prop Dylan Smith followed with a near-identical try just minutes later. The Bulls were 14-0 up within 10 minutes. The Sharks showed some defensive fight midway through the first half, holding up Jeandre Rudolph over the line, but they couldn't stop the flood for long. Centre Chris Smit scored back-to-back tries to break the game open. Else then grabbed his second from yet another lineout drive, and fullback Boeta Chamberlain nailed his fifth straight conversion to give the Bulls a 35-0 lead at the break. There was no let-up after half-time. Rudolph finally got on the scoreboard two minutes into the second half before winger Stravino Jacobs carved through the defence with a 50-metre sprint for the Bulls' seventh try. Rudolph crossed again soon after to take the score past 50. Replacement Cornel Smit added the ninth try, and debutant JJ Theron wrapped things up late on to complete the 10-try rout. The result sent the Bulls to the top of the Currie Cup log with 10 points from two matches, edging ahead of the Lions on points difference. For the defending champion Sharks, the result was a humbling blow. They failed to fire in any area and now sit bottom of the table after two rounds. Next weekend, the Bulls will look to continue their form against the Pumas at home, while the struggling Sharks host the Cheetahs in Durban. 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
01-08-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Bulls coach Nomlomo makes bold move by shifting Chamberlain to fullback for Currie Cup clash
Bulls coach Phiwe Nomlomo has made a significant change to his team for Saturday's Currie Cup encounter with the Sharks by shifting Boeta Chamberlain from flyhalf to fullback. Chamberlain was the Player of the Match last week when the Bulls crushed Western Province, but his reward is a move to fullback, with Jaco van der Walt starting in the key position. With a handful of players nursing injuries, Nomlomo also opted for a front-row change — Juann Else comes in for Joe van Zyl at hooker. In a notable selection, former Springbok Aphiwe Dyantyi starts in the No. 14 jersey. Dyantyi has been working to relaunch his career after a two-year ban incurred when he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. The former Lions player made a comeback for the Sharks last year, but after failing to make their United Rugby Championship squad, he moved to the Bulls.
IOL News
26-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Star-studded Bulls see off brave Western Province in Currie Cup clash
Bulls Currie Cup coach Phiwe Nomlomo will be happy with their start to the season following their win over Western Province. The Bulls put in a workmanlike performance to beat a brave Western Province team 48-23 in a Currie Cup match in Cape Town on Saturday evening. Bulls coach Phiwe Nomlomo's side came into the match as heavy favourites after selecting a very strong team filled with a lot of quality and experience. While most of their United Rugby Championship players are resting or with the Springboks, they still managed to field seasoned pros such as Marvin Orie, Boeta Chamberlain and Sintu Manjezi. Province, on the other hand, fielded seven debutants in their run-on team, including a few Blitzboks, who have been roped in to bolster their squad in the absence of their Stormers and Springbok players. And it was clear from the first minute that Province were going to be under the pump, especially at set-piece time. The Bulls scored five of their six tries in the first half, dominating the collisions and getting penalties as Province tried to stop the bleeding.
