Latest news with #RugbyChampionships
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Wallabies improvement ‘through the roof' … and the Boks are up next
The Wallabies are much improved since they finished last in the previous two editions of the Rugby Championship. British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell has praised the improvement in the Wallabies ahead of their Rugby Championship campaign, starting with matches against the Springboks. The Wallabies narrowly lost their Lions tour 2–1, though their second defeat came after a controversial refereeing decision in the dying minutes gave the Lions the win (score 29–26). They recovered from that and won the last match comfortably, 22–12, in Sydney last weekend. In the build-up to the final match, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said his money had been on Australia to win the second game. He said he knew they would up the ante in the third Test, and bring the same fire when they take on the Springboks in their opening Rugby Championship matches in Johannesburg and Cape Town on 16 and 23 August, respectively. Wallabies much improved over last 18 months After the tour, coach Farrell said it was frustrating not to be the first unbeaten Lions side to tour since 1974. Still, he lauded the tenacity of the current Australian set-up, who, though ranked eighth in the world now, are much-improved from the 2023 side that was the first Wallabies outfit to fail to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. They have also finished last in the previous two Rugby Championships. 'The best team won the night,' Farrell said. 'I've just said to the lads, on reflection, it may take one or two beers to be unbelievably proud of what they have achieved throughout this tour. 'We all know how difficult it is to be successful on a Lions tour against a good side like Australia, and they are a good side, and they proved that over the series.' He said the Wallabies had progressed 'through the roof' over the past 18 months. He also backed them to continue bettering themselves and be a major threat come the 2027 World Cup in Australia. 'I said to Joe [Schmidt] out there on the pitch, I think that special things are going to happen for this team over the next 18 months, and when the World Cup comes around, they will be a force to be reckoned with. 'They have got some special athletes and some special players, and it's not a surprise to us how they have performed over the last couple of weeks.'
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Sedibeng hosts SAPS Rugby National Championships
VANDERBIJLPARK.- Vuvuzelas were the order of the day during the South African Police Service (SAPS) Rugby Championships finals at Isak Steyl Stadium on August 1. The five-day rugby national championships came to an end with the men's and women's finals. The atmosphere was electric. The tournament saw the nine provinces battling for the championships. The programme started with the women's finals, and was followed by the Division B men's finals and the Division A final. The most exciting final was between Gauteng and Free State in the Division B men's section. This game kept the spectators on the edge of their seats for the better part of the game. It was a fast-flowing game of rugby with Gauteng being outstanding. Gauteng was crowned the champions in Division B after they beat their opponent, Free State, 38-31. This was the best final of the day, with spectators enjoying the action. In other finals, the Eastern Cape was crowned the champions in the men's Division A. This was after they beat Western Cape 30—19. Eastern Cape also crowned the champions in the women's Division A after they beat Gauteng 3-2 in an exciting final. These nail-biting finals were attended by the who's who in SAPS and sports. Sedibeng Ster Sport was there to capture the action. The tournament was hailed a great success by the hosting province, Gauteng. The SAPS Gauteng Province representative said this would go down as one of the best championships.
Sydney Morning Herald
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Nic White wanted to run water in Sydney to retire in his boots. He's starting instead
'At the same time, Jake has done really well, but then Tate has done really well as well. There are three nines who are all in contention every week, and this week we've decided to go with Nic White.' Asked if he felt players would be motivated to send White out on a high, Schmidt said: 'I know it's part of the motivation. It is. 'He's so well respected in the group. He's been at the top of the game for a dozen years. So when you make that contribution over 12 years, as I said, it's not sentimentality, but it is a reality when someone is important to the group, the group want to support them.' After coming to a decision to retire last week, White said he had been considering asking Schmidt if he could run water at Accor Stadium so he'd finish in his boots. So he was surprised when he got the nod to start. 'Jake and Tate did an unbelievable job the first two games,' he said. 'I didn't see it coming, but really appreciate it. And yeah, I won't let the boys down.' White said he had made the decision to retire over the last two weeks, after some 'honest conversations' with Schmidt, Force coach Simon Cron 'and mostly myself'. With lingering injury issues and the 2027 Rugby World Cup a bridge too far, White called time. The decision will likely clear a path for Ryan Lonergan to finally move up the pecking order in the upcoming Rugby Championships. 'It's very rare to be able to be in a position to kind of go out on your own terms, I guess,' White said. 'But the body's just given me a lot of signs that now's the right time. And I think it's time I start listening. And I've got three young boys at home. My wife's been the absolute rock for a long time. It's time I put family first.' Schmidt said the insertion of several new faces was tactical, to lift the energy of Wallabies side who were 'incredibly deflated' early in the week. 'Tuesday was tough, actually, to get them up off the canvas, and today there was a little bit of an upswing,' he said. 'We've just got to keep that momentum. Loading 'It is a challenge, because all that emotional energy, psychological energy that was expended, the way things finished, the sense of frustration, and it's almost like a grieving process by the time they've gone through those first few days.' Schmidt said leaving Valetini out was 'precautionary' to ensure he didn't sustain a serious, long-term injury to a strained calf ahead of the Rugby Championship, and there is hope Allan Alaalatoa (shoulder) will also avoid surgery and return in the tournament. Tupou's form in the First Nations and Pasifika clash with the Lions was enough to convince Schmidt the big prop was ready to return to the Wallabies No.3.
SowetanLIVE
29-07-2025
- Sport
- SowetanLIVE
Rassie unsure if Wallabies will arrive here down under
Rassie Erasmus admits he doesn't know whether the Wallabies will be battle ready, flat or punch drunk as a result of the series against the British & Irish Lions before heading to South Africa for a two-Test series in the Rugby Championships against the Springboks. Series' against the B&I Lions are usually a battle of attrition that also take a significant emotional toll on players. Australia are 2-0 down with a Test to play in Sydney on Saturday, a series defeat that could affect their morale and confidence ahead of the southern hemisphere tournament in which the Boks are defending champions. The Wallabies might also take hope from some decent performances among the defeats. 'They might have three injuries in one position and then they might be in trouble. But that's thinking negatively,' the Bok coach said. 'There will be more energy because Joe [Schmidt, the head coach] is stepping down and Les Kiss is taking over and I think Les is touring. We know it will be a really competitive Wallabies team coming to South Africa.'
TimesLIVE
29-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Rassie unsure if Wallabies will arrive here down under
Rassie Erasmus admits he doesn't know whether the Wallabies will be battle ready, flat or punch drunk as a result of the series against the British & Irish Lions before heading to South Africa for a two-Test series in the Rugby Championships against the Springboks. Series' against the B&I Lions are usually a battle of attrition that also take a significant emotional toll on players. Australia are 2-0 down with a Test to play in Sydney on Saturday, a series defeat that could affect their morale and confidence ahead of the southern hemisphere tournament in which the Boks are defending champions. The Wallabies might also take hope from some decent performances among the defeats. 'They might have three injuries in one position and then they might be in trouble. But that's thinking negatively,' the Bok coach said. 'There will be more energy because Joe [Schmidt, the head coach] is stepping down and Les Kiss is taking over and I think Les is touring. We know it will be a really competitive Wallabies team coming to South Africa.' 🗣️ "Maybe some of them play next year, maybe some play in the World Cup year." Rassie Erasmus explains the reason behind selecting the three Junior Boks to join the Springboks for their training camp ahead of the Rugby Championship. #SSRugby | #TRC2025 — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 29, 2025 Having been written off well before the start of the series, the feisty Wallabies have given the much fancied B&I Lions a good run for their money. It hasn't really challenged the outlook of the Springbok coach in the way they should be approaching their opening Tests of the Rugby Championship against Australia in Johannesburg and Cape Town. 'Joe Schmidt is a great coach and we know the players pretty well so it wasn't a surprise for us [they were competitive against the Lions]... and we think the third Test will be close. It won't influence our team selection.' Compared to the rarefied atmosphere the Wallabies are exposed to in their current three-Test series, Erasmus believes the preparation his team got in the four matches they've played thus far should be sufficient heading into the Rugby Championship. 'If your training sessions are proper and your intent is there then you probably have eight weeks of good preparation,' he said about his team's build-up. 'The physicality Italy brought in that first Test and Georgia brought to us, that certainly would not be less to what Australia will bring here. The #Springboks are back in camp 👊 #ForeverGreenForeverGold — Springboks (@Springboks) July 28, 2025 'What Australia definitely have are more rounded players who are used to playing Super Rugby against players from New Zealand and who have played the B&I Lions now. They could lose the series 3-0 and be hard up to come here or they'll win the last one thinking they could have won the second.' Whatever the mindset, Erasmus is not taking anything for granted. He has had to trim his squad to meet short and long-term objectives. They need to beat the Wallabies, fine-tune for their crunch Test against the All Blacks in Auckland and build towards the next Rugby World Cup in 2027. Having a smaller squad provides them the opportunity to give players more personalised attention. 'When Daan [Human, the Boks' scrum coach] does the scrums, it's not like eight guys [front rowers] who have to swap in. We also get more game time into the players. 'The big positive is to get a lot of repetitions in attack, defence, the breakdown, contesting systems, aerial skills. It was a bit tough with the big squad to get all that right. 'The big thing now is to get one-on-one time with guys in specific positions. Obviously we will still swap a little in and out against Australia and see how we can get game time into most of the guys,' said Erasmus, forever the alchemist. The only injuries within the Bok camp are to back-liners Canan Moodie and Cheslin Kolbe, neither, though, serious enough to keep them out of the Ellis Park Test. 'Canan has a bit of hand issue injury that should be ready next Monday. Cheslin has a bit of a knee but he seems OK. In the squad there are no real injury concerns.' Outside the group, however, Erasmus mentioned prop Gerhard Steenekamp who will be out for six more weeks. He has in his more irascible moments delivered some withering retrospectives with regards to the way the game is officiated but Erasmus neatly sidestepped the burning issue Down Under since the climax of the second Test between the Wallabies and the B&I Lions. In the last play of the game a ruck clean polarised opinion but the match officials ruled in favour of the B&I Lions, effectively handing them victory in the Test and crucially, the series. Erasmus said it was a tough one to call, adding he would have been disappointed had he been Schmidt, as he would be satisfied had he been B&I Lions coach Andy Farrell.
