Latest news with #SouthAfricanUnitedRugbyChampionship
IOL News
30-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
URC quarter-finals: South African teams aim for glory in thrilling showdown
Tighthead Wilco Louw and the Bulls pack will look to stamp their authority in the scrums early on against Edinburgh in their URC quarter-final on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld. Image: BackpagePix A lot is at stake for the three South African United Rugby Championship (URC) sides in this weekend's quarter-finals. After taking a backseat during the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup to focus on the URC, they must now deliver in the first round of knockouts to justify their decision to put their resources into winning this tournament. 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 ✕ For the Stormers, it's a repeat of last year's quarters at the Scotstoun Stadium (8.35 pm start) where they'll face defending champions, the Glasgow Warriors, for a place in the semi-final. They've been in Scotland for a full week of training and apart from the suspended Damian Willemse, the Stormers will have a full-strength side to compete. It will be important for the Cape side not to go into their shells, but continue playing their brand of rugby even if they are not at home. They've been training in some cold weather, but fair weather is expected by kick-off. Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will be a key player, but how the backline goes depends on what the forwards do on the day. The Bulls and Sharks' home playoffs will enhance their chances of booking their spots in the final four when they take on Edinburgh at Loftus Versfeld and Munster at Kings Park, respectively. It's an early start in Pretoria (1.30 pm kick-off) and could benefit the hosts against their less-fancied Scottish visitors. Their scrum, with Wilco Louw at the forefront, should be too much for Edinburgh, but if the Bulls get into a running game against their opponents, the Scotsmen will fancy their chances.
IOL News
26-04-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Stormers' John Dobson hits back at Stephen Donald URC criticism
WAR OF WORDS South African United Rugby Championship coaches, led by John Dobson, have hit back at Stephen Donald's criticism, emphasising the competitiveness of URC as akin to Test match rugby compared to Super Rugby. Picture: BackpagePix Led by John Dobson, South African United Rugby Championship coaches have slammed the comments of former All Black Stephen Donald's assertion that the URC is less competitive than Super Rugby. Donald said: 'The URC competition is probably a low, a very, very low level compared to Super Rugby, the Champions Cup stuff certainly would be [of the same level] when discussing Jordie Barrett's to the All Blacks after playing for Leinster.' Donald was speaking alongside fellow former All Black Jeff Wilson on The Breakdown TV show. The comments of Jordan have sparked the age-old north-south debate in world rugby, and Stormers coach Dobson was having none of it.
