Latest news with #Smith
The Citizen
11 minutes ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Former Lions star backs Ackermann to win trophies at Bulls
Kwagga Smith said Johan Ackermann has the ability to unite players under a single purpose. Johan Ackermann (Coaching Consultant) during the South Africa Academy U20 training session at Van der Stel Fields on February 05, 2025 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images) Springbok star Kwagga Smith said he has much respect for his former Lions coach, Johan Ackermann, and believes he will win trophies now that he is at the Bulls. Ackermann joined the Pretoria union following the departure of Jake White, who had coached the Bulls for five years. White and the Bulls mutually agreed to part ways after he fell out of favour with players and coaches. During his tenure, White helped the Bulls win the Super Rugby Unlocked title, Rainbow Cup SA title, and reach three United Rugby Championship finals and one quarter-final. Ackermann, by contrast, has been named SA Coach of the Year three times (2014–2016). He guided the Lions to Super Rugby finals in 2016 and 2017 before joining Gloucester in England. He also coached in Japan and, most recently, has consulted for the Junior Boks. 'He's the right person at the right time,' said Willem Strauss, president of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union, while CEO Edgar Rathbone also gave the new coach his support. Smith: Ackermann will unite Bulls Smith, who played under Ackermann during those golden years in Joburg, echoed those thoughts. 'I think he is a really brilliant coach,' Smith said. 'I enjoyed working with him. I was a youngster and played under him for a long while. 'Unlucky we couldn't get a Super Rugby title, but he's a really good coach. I think he's a coach who has the ability to get a group together all aligned for the same goal. I think that's really important.' Smith spent his first five years of professional rugby at the Lions before leaving for Japan in the same year Ackermann departed. Still, he believes 'Coach Ackers' has the managerial prowess to secure the support of players and translate that to performances on the field. 'He'll probably make a big success of his career at the Bulls. I think the players that are there are really brilliant. I think he will be able to get them aligned and hopefully win a few trophies. I am really excited to see him there and see how he does.' Ackermann described the move to the Bulls as a dream come true. 'The moment I received the call I got goose bumps,' he said. 'It still feels too good to be true. I'm like a Grade One going to school for the first time. I'm so excited; it's a privilege and an honour.'
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Marcus Smith keeps Owen Farrell out of Lions squad for first Test in Australia
Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne have been given the nod in the ferociously competitive flanker positions and, alongside number eight Jack Conan, form the biggest and most physical back row available to head coach Andy Farrell. The team's main source of creativity will be provided by an all-Scotland midfield trio of Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones with the hard-running Bundee Aki having to settle for a replacement role. Beautiful Brisbane is open for Lions business 🦁🙌 The countdown to the 1st Test is ON ⏳#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 16, 2025 Blair Kinghorn's knee injury means Hugo Keenan is picked at full-back, with Smith providing cover at 15 and fly-half. The bench options narrowed when Mack Hansen was ruled out by a foot injury, but Smith's presence still represents a personal triumph given his Test prospects looked bleak at the start of the tour and appeared to recede further when Owen Farrell was called up as an injury replacement for Elliot Daly. Andy Farrell's son was expected to be given a supporting role at Suncorp Stadium but he misses out on the 23 entirely, as does the rising star of English rugby Pollock, who loses out to Ben Earl as back row cover. Ireland dominate the starting XV with an eight-strong contingent, while England provide four players and Scotland three. For the first time since 1899 there is no Welshman in the matchday squad. Jac Morgan is their only representative in the 44-man touring party, but he has lost out to Curry in the race for the number seven jersey. Curry has yet to find his stride Down Under but the Lions coaching team view his physicality, work rate and big game experience as too valuable to leave out. Beirne was locked in a selection duel with Ollie Chessum and he has won on this occasion, with his English rival present as a high-quality reinforcement off the bench. There are no surprises in a front row consisting of Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, while captain Maro Itoje is joined by Joe McCarthy in the engine room and wings James Lowe and Tommy Freeman are present as expected. 'We are entering the business end of the tour and it is time to put in our best performance to date,' Andy Farrell said. 'We know how motivated the Wallabies will be and we know they are a well organised and dangerous side. 'It s a great occasion and a proud moment for Maro Itoje, who will captain the Test side, but also for those players who get the opportunity to represent the group on Saturday night.' Lions team: H Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); T Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), H Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), S Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), J Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); F Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); E Genge (Bristol Bears/England), D Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), M Itoje (Saracens/England) (C), J McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland), T Curry (Sale Sharks/England), J Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland). Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), A Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), W Stuart (Bath Rugby/England), O Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), B Earl (Saracens/England), A Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), M Smith (Harlequins/England), B Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland).
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Marcus Smith keeps Owen Farrell out of Lions squad for first Test in Australia
Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne have been given the nod in the ferociously competitive flanker positions and, alongside number eight Jack Conan, form the biggest and most physical back row available to head coach Andy Farrell. The team's main source of creativity will be provided by an all-Scotland midfield trio of Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones with the hard-running Bundee Aki having to settle for a replacement role. Beautiful Brisbane is open for Lions business 🦁🙌 The countdown to the 1st Test is ON ⏳#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 16, 2025 Blair Kinghorn's knee injury means Hugo Keenan is picked at full-back, with Smith providing cover at 15 and fly-half. The bench options narrowed when Mack Hansen was ruled out by a foot injury, but Smith's presence still represents a personal triumph given his Test prospects looked bleak at the start of the tour and appeared to recede further when Owen Farrell was called up as an injury replacement for Elliot Daly. Andy Farrell's son was expected to be given a supporting role at Suncorp Stadium but he misses out on the 23 entirely, as does the rising star of English rugby Pollock, who loses out to Ben Earl as back row cover. Ireland dominate the starting XV with an eight-strong contingent, while England provide four players and Scotland three. For the first time since 1899 there is no Welshman in the matchday squad. Jac Morgan is their only representative in the 44-man touring party, but he has lost out to Curry in the race for the number seven jersey. Curry has yet to find his stride Down Under but the Lions coaching team view his physicality, work rate and big game experience as too valuable to leave out. Beirne was locked in a selection duel with Ollie Chessum and he has won on this occasion, with his English rival present as a high-quality reinforcement off the bench. There are no surprises in a front row consisting of Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, while captain Maro Itoje is joined by Joe McCarthy in the engine room and wings James Lowe and Tommy Freeman are present as expected. 'We are entering the business end of the tour and it is time to put in our best performance to date,' Andy Farrell said. 'We know how motivated the Wallabies will be and we know they are a well organised and dangerous side. 'It s a great occasion and a proud moment for Maro Itoje, who will captain the Test side, but also for those players who get the opportunity to represent the group on Saturday night.' Lions team: H Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); T Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), H Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), S Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), J Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); F Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); E Genge (Bristol Bears/England), D Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), M Itoje (Saracens/England) (C), J McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland), T Curry (Sale Sharks/England), J Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland). Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), A Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), W Stuart (Bath Rugby/England), O Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), B Earl (Saracens/England), A Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), M Smith (Harlequins/England), B Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland).
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Marcus Smith keeps Owen Farrell out of Lions squad for first Test in Australia
The team's main source of creativity will be provided by an all-Scotland midfield trio of Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones with the hard-running Bundee Aki having to settle for a replacement role. Beautiful Brisbane is open for Lions business 🦁🙌 The countdown to the 1st Test is ON ⏳#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 16, 2025 Blair Kinghorn's knee injury means Hugo Keenan is picked at full-back, with Smith providing cover at 15 and fly-half. The bench options narrowed when Mack Hansen was ruled out by a foot injury, but Smith's presence still represents a personal triumph given his Test prospects looked bleak at the start of the tour and appeared to recede further when Owen Farrell was called up as an injury replacement for Elliot Daly. Andy Farrell's son was expected to be given a supporting role at Suncorp Stadium but he misses out on the 23 entirely, as does the rising star of English rugby Pollock, who loses out to Ben Earl as back row cover. Ireland dominate the starting XV with an eight-strong contingent, while England provide four players and Scotland three. For the first time since 1899 there is no Welshman in the matchday squad. Jac Morgan is their only representative in the 44-man touring party, but he has lost out to Curry in the race for the number seven jersey. Curry has yet to find his stride Down Under but the Lions coaching team view his physicality, work rate and big game experience as too valuable to leave out. Beirne was locked in a selection duel with Ollie Chessum and he has won on this occasion, with his English rival present as a high-quality reinforcement off the bench. There are no surprises in a front row consisting of Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, while captain Maro Itoje is joined by Joe McCarthy in the engine room and wings James Lowe and Tommy Freeman are present as expected. 'We are entering the business end of the tour and it is time to put in our best performance to date,' Andy Farrell said. 'We know how motivated the Wallabies will be and we know they are a well organised and dangerous side. 'It s a great occasion and a proud moment for Maro Itoje, who will captain the Test side, but also for those players who get the opportunity to represent the group on Saturday night.' Lions team: H Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); T Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), H Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), S Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), J Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); F Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); E Genge (Bristol Bears/England), D Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), M Itoje (Saracens/England) (C), J McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland), T Curry (Sale Sharks/England), J Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland). Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), A Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), W Stuart (Bath Rugby/England), O Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), B Earl (Saracens/England), A Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), M Smith (Harlequins/England), B Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland).
NZ Herald
3 hours ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
NZ sharemarket closes up more than 1% as heavyweight stocks rally
'Even though Trump sent a letter to Mexico, it won't affect goods that are compliant with the USMCA [United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement]. So there's still a feeling that Fisher & Paykel will be compliant and exempt,' Smith said. 'I suppose after the initial concern around those letters that were sent on the weekend, the market has gained some poise and become a bit more relaxed about the situation overall.' Fisher & Paykel Healthcare rose 76c to $36.75 after 333,220 shares changed hands to the value of $12,182,093.91. Infratil also had a positive day, with its share price rising to $11.38, with $11,103,102.81 worth of shares changing hands. Elsewhere, Auckland Airport said the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) had provided an update to those who made submissions on its recent request for viewpoints on the effectiveness of the economic regulation of airport services. In its findings, MBIE advised that at this time, it is not considering legislative change. 'A bit of relief around the fact that regulatory oversight is now a non-issue, and it was now off the table,' Smith said. Auckland Airport shares subsequently rallied 4.36% to $7.78, with 1,363,985 shares changing hands to the value of $10,580,401.99. Meanwhile, a2 Milk's share price also climbed, rising 4.81% to $8.28 after $4,056,430.72 worth of shares were traded. 'The Chinese infant milk market is shrinking, but the reality is a2 has been taking market share, and I suppose there's some optimism that the result in mid-August will be a good one,' Smith said. Wall Street stocks finished higher on Wednesday local time, shrugging off a mid-session swoon after US President Donald Trump denied he was planning to fire Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell. Major indices had moved suddenly negative after reports that a dismissal could be imminent. They recovered quickly when Trump ruled out firing Powell, for now. Trump, who has bitterly attacked the Fed chairman for months, said such a move was 'highly unlikely' and that 'I'm not talking about that' when asked if he would fire Powell. The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite index advanced 0.3% to 20,730.49, a third straight closing record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.5% to 44,254.78, while the broad-based S&P 500 advanced 0.3% to 6,263.70. 'It's very clear that the market wants to go higher,' said Adam Sarhan of 50 Park Investments, who described investor reaction to Trump's mixed messaging on Powell as typical of a bullish tilt. 'Every time we get bad news thrown at it, the market shrugs it off and continues to rally, including today,' Sarhan said. – Additional reporting AFP Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business, retail and tourism.
