Latest news with #RugbyChampionshipTest
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
This week on The Last Word on Rugby podcast: Springboks vs Wallabies, Rassie's bold call
Flyhalf Manie Libbok could be the attacking weapon the Springboks need to put the Wallabies to the sword on Saturday at Ellis Park in the first Rugby Championship Test. The battle is set: Springboks vs Wallabies ... and Rassie Erasmus has named his squad. But what's the real story behind the team sheet? What's brewing in the Bok camp? And how are the Aussies shaping up? This week, The Last Word on Rugby Podcast dives deep into one of the most talked-about matchups of the season with no punches pulled. Hosted by top Independent Media rugby writer Leighton Koopman, alongside a rotating panel of SA's most seasoned rugby journalists, such as Mike Greenaway and John Goliath, The Last Word on Rugby is a weekly dose of insider information on the games. This is rugby storytelling from the inside. Imagine sitting around a braai with guys who eat, sleep and write rugby for a living. Real opinions. Real insight. Zero fluff. Each episode breaks down the big moments, the tactical shifts, the off-field politics and the player performances that matter - from the Springboks to the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers and Lions. And this week, the spotlight's on: Rassie's squad: Genius selections or gamble? Can the Wallabies pull off a surprise? What the Boks need to get right before facing the All Blacks Here is a snippet from this week's podcast where Mike Greenaway who has been writing about rugby for 30 years discusses the team selection.
The Citizen
a day ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Boks make late change for Wallabies Test
The Boks are the defending champions and they're seeking a seventh win in 11 matches against the Wallabies on Saturday. The Springboks have been forced to make a late change to their matchday-23 for the Rugby Championship Test against Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday following an injury suffered in training by Jan-Hendrik Wessels. The young loosehead prop hurt himself during a training session on Wednesday. He has been replaced on the bench by rookie Boan Venter, who has played just the one Test, last month against Georgia. The rest of the Bok team remains unchanged from the side announced by coach Rassie Erasmus on Monday. At the time, the Bok boss said he might include RG Snyman for a backline player later in the week should the Australians opt to go with a 6-2 bench split of forwards against backs. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt did just that, picking a forwards-heavy replacements bench, but Erasmus has opted against changing his bench. A victory for the Springboks will see them extend their unbeaten run against the Wallabies at Ellis Park to seven matches. They have never lost a match against Australia at the iconic stadium. The Boks have won six of their last 10 matches against the Wallabies — a track record they will be determined to improve on this weekend. Their last defeat against the Wallabies was in Adelaide in 2022. The match at Ellis Park kicks off at 5.10pm. 15 Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 12 caps, 35 points (7t) 14 Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 3 caps, 25 pts (5t) 13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 80 caps, 95 points (19t) 12 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 20 caps, 0 pts 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 26 caps, 100 points (20t) 10 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 20 caps, 108 pts (1t, 35c, 11p) 9 Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 25 pts (5t) 8 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 93 caps, 60 points (12t) 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 88 caps, 60 pts (12t) 6 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 27 caps, 15 pts (3t) 5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 67 caps, 25 points (5t) 4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 133 caps, 35 points (7t) 3 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 18 caps, 0 pts 2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 78 caps, 115 pts (23t) 1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 41 caps, 0 pts Bench: 16 Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 79 caps, 70 points (14t) 17 Boan Venter (Edinburgh) – 1 cap, 5 pts (1t) 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions) – 1 cap, 0 pts 19 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 79 caps, 20 points (4t) 20 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 53 caps, 45 points (9t) 21 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 40 caps, 70 pts (14t) 22 Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 14 caps, 35 pts (7t) 23 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 41 caps, 61 points (5t, 9c, 4p, 2 dg)
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Unpredictable and powerful: Esterhuizen's hybrid threat boosts Boks against Wallabies
Springbok supporters must wait until Saturday afternoon to see if centre André Esterhuizen will reprise his role as a hybrid player against the Wallabies in the opening Rugby Championship Test. Esterhuizen was coy about giving anything away ahead of the duel as the world champions look to maintain their unbeaten run in the 2025 season against the Australians. He will partner with outside centre Jesse Kriel at Ellis Park in what should be an exciting midfield combination next to scrumhalf Grant Williams and flyhalf Manie Libbok. They will have the task to set the outside backs, wingers Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe, and fullback Aphelele Fassi in space on the attack. 'I can't disclose that,' Esterhuizen said when asked about his hybrid role. 'We will have to wait and see. However, we are looking forward to an exciting game. It has been building up for the last two weeks. Not the first Test, but if you look at how the Wallabies played against the Lions, they improved. They were physical in those games, and that is the battle we expect. 'Any time a team plays South Africa, the first thing they focus on is to meet us with physicality. But we are well-prepared for that. The last two weeks, we have grafted in camp and everyone put in the hours. The bodies felt it.' According to Esterhuizen, it has been a lot easier this week as they prepared for the Test with their legs not feeling the hard work as they did during the camp. The Boks acknowledged that they had to increase their physicality, as evident in the last three Tests against Georgia, and that is what they have worked on. As a group, the Springboks felt they were not at the desired level after those matches, and they needed to pick up their fitness and physicality. On the development of his game and getting more playing minutes, Esterhuizen said the rotation policy at the Boks allowed him to take the pressure off and focus on his game when called upon.
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Unpredictable and powerful: Esterhuizen's hybrid threat boosts Boks against Wallabies
Springbok inside centre André Esterhuizen will look to put in some more bulldozing runs on Saturday against Australia in the first Rugby Championship Test in Johannesburg. Image: Backpagepix Springbok supporters must wait until Saturday afternoon to see if centre André Esterhuizen will reprise his role as a hybrid player against the Wallabies in the opening Rugby Championship Test. Esterhuizen was coy about giving anything away ahead of the duel as the world champions look to maintain their unbeaten run in the 2025 season against the Australians. He will partner with outside centre Jesse Kriel at Ellis Park in what should be an exciting midfield combination next to scrumhalf Grant Williams and flyhalf Manie Libbok. They will have the task to set the outside backs, wingers Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe, and fullback Aphelele Fassi in space on the attack. 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 ✕ Ad loading 'I can't disclose that,' Esterhuizen said when asked about his hybrid role. 'We will have to wait and see. However, we are looking forward to an exciting game. It has been building up for the last two weeks. Not the first Test, but if you look at how the Wallabies played against the Lions, they improved. They were physical in those games, and that is the battle we expect. 'Any time a team plays South Africa, the first thing they focus on is to meet us with physicality. But we are well-prepared for that. The last two weeks, we have grafted in camp and everyone put in the hours. The bodies felt it.' The #Springboks are braced for a battle-hardened Wallabies in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship opener at Ellis Park.#ForeverGreenForeverGold — Springboks (@Springboks) August 14, 2025 According to Esterhuizen, it has been a lot easier this week as they prepared for the Test with their legs not feeling the hard work as they did during the camp. The Boks acknowledged that they had to increase their physicality, as evident in the last three Tests against Georgia, and that is what they have worked on. As a group, the Springboks felt they were not at the desired level after those matches, and they needed to pick up their fitness and physicality. On the development of his game and getting more playing minutes, Esterhuizen said the rotation policy at the Boks allowed him to take the pressure off and focus on his game when called upon.
1News
a day ago
- Sport
- 1News
Skipper Barrett returns as All Blacks go for size against Pumas
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has gone for the tried and tested for his side's first Rugby Championship Test of the year, with skipper Scott Barrett predictably returning from injury and Ardie Savea picked at No.8. It will be Savea's 98th Test and 100th match for the All Blacks. With Du'Plessis Kirifi selected at openside flanker, the only change to the loose forwards from the All Blacks' last Test - against France in Hamilton - is Tupou Vaa'i's place in the No.6 jersey. Vaa'i comes in for Samipeni Finau, who is on the bench. Robertson has gone for size on the bench against Argentina in Cordoba on Sunday morning NZT, with Finau the loose forward cover rather than Peter Lakai, who was also in the frame. Loose forward Wallace Sititi remains out with an ankle injury but may be fit for the second Test against the Pumas in Buenos Aires next weekend. Prop Tamaiti Williams also remains sidelined. ADVERTISEMENT All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett in action during the first Test against France last month. (Source: Photosport) There are few surprises elsewhere, with Fabian Holland retaining his place in the second row and Beauden Barrett named in the No.10 jersey outside halfback Cortez Ratima. Billy Proctor will wear the No.13 jersey, with Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan and Sevu Reece making up the outside backs. Finlay Christie is the halfback cover on the bench in the wake of the injuries to Cam Roigard and Noah Hotham. It will be Christie's first return to the match-day squad since the second Test of the last year's July series against England at Eden Park. There is no room for newly picked loose forward Simon Parker or utility back Leroy Carter, the latter called in as injury cover for Caleb Clarke. The All Blacks travelled to Cordoba from Buenos Aires during the week and Robertson said the squad had prepared well. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, Trump rates chances of success ahead of meeting Putin, the haul of stolen gear police want to return, and Baby Shark lawsuit thrown out. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT 'We've had a great week of training in Buenos Aires and the group is ready to go out and perform. Scott and our leaders have led from the front and there's a lot of focus and motivation in the group for the start of the campaign. 'We know the Pumas identity is a fast and physical game and we've selected a team that will embrace the occasion. It's been 30 years since the All Blacks played in Córdoba and we are looking forward to the passion and energy of the home crowd.' All Blacks team to play Argentina in Cordoba Kick-off 9.10am, Sunday NZT 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Tupou Vaa'i, 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan. Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Damian McKenzie.
