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The Citizen
16-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
OPINION: Junior Bok talent bodes well for the future of the Springboks
The Junior Boks and Junior All Blacks are the only two unbeaten teams in the competition and will contest the World Rugby U20 Champs final in Italy on Saturday. Junior Bok utility forward Bathobele Hlekani has enjoyed a strong World Rugby U20 Championship and is one of the players to watch for the future. Picture: Emmanuele Ciancaglini/) Some serious talent is rising through the ranks of the Junior Springboks, with a number of potential future stars on show at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy, and that can only bode well for the future of the Springboks. The Junior Boks have been in scintillating form and have swept all before them on their way to their first final appearance in 11 years, where they will face fierce Southern Hemisphere rivals, the All Blacks U20s. It has been an impressive campaign for the Junior Boks, with them hammering Australia (73-17) and Scotland (73-14), while beating defending champs England (32-22) in the pool face to cruise into the semifinals. Up against fellow Southern Hemisphere rivals Argentina they showed their class by clinching a comfortable 48-24 win despite being heavily penalised and not at their best, to reach their first final since 2014 (when they were edged by England 21-20). The New Zealand U20s got off to a slow start against Italy, winning 14-5, but have since stepped it up with wins over Georgia (39-18), Ireland (69-22), and France (34-26) to reach their first final since 2017 (when they defeated England). It is thus all set up for a blockbuster final, and a repeat of the 2012 final in South Africa, the only other time they have met in the trophy match, with the Junior Boks emerging as 22-16 winners on that occasion. A number of Junior Bok players will be aiming to impress, and based on current form have bright futures ahead of them. 2012 heroes They will also be hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of their 2012 heroes, like Pieter-Steph du Toit, Handre Pollard and Steven Kitshoff, who have all gone on to become double Springbok World Cup winners. Others also found considerable success, with Jan Serfontein, Dillyn Leyds, Raymond Rhule and Travis Ismaiel all becoming Springboks, while Paul Willemse (France), Oli Kebble (Scotland) and Braam Steyn (Italy), also became internationals for other nations. A number of the Junior Bok class of 2025 have shown they have the talent to make the step up. Electrifying scrumhalf Haashim Pead has been brilliant and must be one of the contenders for player of the tournament, and currently leads the try scoring charts with six tries, while he has also made four try assists. Flyhalf Vusi Moyo is the leading points scorer with 50 points, and his unerring boot has been impressive over the tournament. Captain Riley Norton is a dual sport star, having captained the SA U19 cricket team at last year's U19 World Cup, and having chosen rugby, with him contracted to the Stormers, and he will hope to lead his side to U20 glory. Other players that have also impressed for the Junior Boks include utility forward Bhatobele Hlekani, outside backs Cheswill Jooste and Gilermo Mentoe, centre Albie Bester and loose forward Xola Nyali among others. Whether they will be able to make the step up to the big leagues remains to be seen, but they have certainly proved they have the talent, and another big effort in helping their team clinch the U20 champs title will be another step in the right direction.
The Citizen
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
OPINION: Bulls' action trumps Lions' inaction in quest for URC glory
The Bulls have removed Director of Rugby Jake White, while the Lions have yet to announce their coaching structure for the next season of the URC. The Bulls' action, in swiftly showing Director of Rugby Jake White the door at the slightest bit of discontent, is in stark contrast to the Lions' inaction in keeping things the same, despite their struggles in the United Rugby Championship (URC). It would be unkind to say former Springbok World Cup winning coach White hasn't enjoyed a relatively successful spell at the Bulls since arriving at the union in 2020. He guided them to the Super Rugby Unlocked title during Covid, as well as the Rainbow Cup SA title, which was a prelude to the URC, although they lost the overall playoff to Benetton Treviso, while they also picked up Currie Cup trophies in 2020 and 2021. But arguably his biggest achievement was the remarkable consistency he fostered for the Bulls in the URC, with them making three finals and one quarterfinals appearance in their four seasons in the competition. However, the Bulls were unable to lift the title, finishing runner-up each time, with their best chance coming when they hosted the final in 2024, but unfortunately slipped up against Glasgow Warriors. Ivan van Rooyen of the Lions. Picture: Gallo Images Final straw Funnily enough it was a loss in the final that they were least likely to win, against Irish giants Leinster this past season, that proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back, with him suffering a fallout with senior coaches and players at the union, possibly due to some of his recent utterances. Compare that with the Lions, who have in four seasons in the URC finished outside of the playoff places each time, ending 12th, ninth twice and 11th over their most recent campaign. It must be said that the Lions have been unable to lure major talent to the union over this time, while many of their best young stars which have risen through the ranks, have left to greener pastures, making things incredibly difficult for coach Ivan van Rooyen. But each team that they have had available in every URC season so far, has had the potential to at least make the top eight, but have been unable to. After missing out again this past season it seems there may now be a coaching shake up, but to what extent is still unknown, with rumours circulating that it may just be a reshuffle among the current group.
The 42
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'We got here, we're playing for our brothers, and we're playing for our friend that we have lost'
THE BULLS' URC semi-final victory over Leinster at Loftus Versfeld last season is a game best remembered for Willie le Roux's expert exploitation of Leinster's backfield, his umpteen crossfield kicks exposing one of the only chinks in the visitors' blitz defence. Springbok World Cup winner Le Roux, who turns 36 in August, is well attuned to Jacques Nienaber's ways, of course. But for all that he may rightly be described as a veteran, Saturday's potentially seismic encounter at Croke Park will be his first URC final, whereas it will make for a third bite of the cherry for many of his Bulls teammates. Consequently, when he's asked by a South African journalist about the Bulls' mental capacity to finally get over the line in their toughest-looking championship decider to date, Le Roux can afford a shrug of the shoulders — his are unburdened by recent history. 'I think it's about the moment now', says the fullback, 'and going out there with a smile on your face, enjoying it, and playing for one and other, even though all the odds are against you and everyone has written us off. 'We have been enjoying ourselves this season, playing for one and other. It has got us to the final. It's about doing the same thing that we have been doing the whole year. 'I don't think there is any need to put added pressure onto us. We got here, we are playing for our brothers, and we are playing for our friend that we have lost. Former Bull Cornal Hendricks, who died of a suspected heart attack last month, aged 37, was a dear friend of Le Roux's in particular. The duo began their professional careers together with the Boland Cavaliers, subsequently playing alongside each other Cheetahs, as Springboks, and, last season, as Bulls. Just over three weeks have passed since the charismatic former winger passed away, leaving little time for Le Roux or his teammates to fully process the loss amid their URC knockout run. There will be further scope to do just that when the curtain falls on the season at Croke Park on Saturday, a day on which the Pretorians hope to honour their former player in the most joyous way possible. Advertisement But the memory of Hendricks, who earned 12 caps for South Africa between 2014 and 2015, has played a significant role in pushing the Bulls even this far. 'That wasn't something that you woke up one morning and expected to happen,' Le Roux says of his friend's untimely passing. 'I think that what the Bulls have done when we retired his jersey this season — and [Canan] Moodie has been playing with the number 24 jersey — and the photos and stuff at the back of our numbers, it is just a reminder; reminding us that every time, before we put on the jersey, what an influence he had at the club, his positive attitude… 'He would light up a room when he walked in,' Le Roux adds. The Bulls, then, will be emotionally charged when they take to the field at GAA Headquarters, hellbent on doing right by a club icon and amending the wrongs of 2022 and 2024. And while it will be Le Roux's first URC final, his experience of even greater showpieces with the Springboks will prove an invaluable tool as Jake White and co. navigate the week in Dublin. For a youngster like the aforementioned Canan Moodie, for example, who didn't feature in the Boks' matchday 23 for the last World Cup final, Saturday's meeting with Leinster will be the most significant of his career to date. But Le Roux's advice for the Bulls' less experienced charges will be simple: 'It's the same as playing the first game of the season'. 'It's not to put this [final] on a pedestal and make this that much bigger', Le Roux adds, 'and you go into your shell where you don't want to try stuff and you don't want to run from your own half. That is not what got us here in the first place. 'You shouldn't wait. If you're a winger, you don't wait outside on the wing to get the ball: you come in and you work off your wing and you get your hands on the ball as much as you can. We got here through taking chances. We see an opportunity, we take it. That is what you must do in those big games as well: whether you make a mistake or not, it's about putting yourself out there, putting yourself in battle. You might lose a few battles but you might also win. 'That's just the little things that I tell the guys. You might lose a few battles but it's about getting back up and putting yourself into as many as you can.' When those battle lines are finally drawn at 5pm on Saturday, hosts Leinster will be heavily favoured to end their own trophy drought and lift their first title of the URC era. Le Roux is distinctly unperturbed by the Bulls' underdog status but he is equally uninspired by the Bulls' healthy record over Leinster, against whom the South Africans have played six and won four — including two semi-finals and a semi-recent, regular-season squeaker. Recent records can be torn up, says the fullback. Each side, equally desperate for silverware, will have 80 minutes to set straight the only record that actually matters. 'It's a final, it's one game away now,' Le Roux says. 'You could have had the worst season of your life or [been] the the best attacking team of this season, but that doesn't matter. This is the game. This is the only one you need to win to lift the trophy. 'Finals are fine margins whether it's at home or away. These games come down to maybe one moment, one mistake you might make, one piece of brilliance someone else does. 'They all say it's 'mission impossible', but we'll have to wait and see on Saturday. 'It's all about playing for each other, playing for your brother next to you, and and playing for Cornall.'
The Citizen
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Little motivation needed to fire Sharks up for Bulls URC semi
It is all set to be a classic blockbuster semifinal derby between two huge local rivals when the Sharks take on the Bulls in their URC semifinal at Loftus. The Sharks have needed very little motivation this week to get themselves fired up for their massive United Rugby Championship (URC) semifinal encounter against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening (kick-off 6:30pm). It is the Durban sides first time in a URC semifinal, and they had to qualify the hard way, by winning a first ever URC playoff penalty shootout against Munster last weekend. That match went to 100 minutes, after the sides were locked level at 24-all at the end of fulltime, followed by a scoreless 20 minutes of extra time, meaning a kick-off was needed to break the deadlock. Despite the toll that would have taken on the players, a derby semifinal against arguably their biggest local rivals in front of a crowd of 50000 people on the Highveld was the perfect tonic to lift them back up. 'With big games like this, it's often your easiest week as a coach. The players are all excited about the opportunity,' explained Sharks coach John Plumtree at the team announcement on Friday. 'We had to lighten the load a lot in training based on what happened last weekend, but they're feeling good.' Done the double A boost to the visitors heading into the clash is that they have already done the double over the Bulls in the pool phase this season, winning 20-17 in Durban in December, before stunning the hosts in Pretoria 29-19 earlier this year. They will thus be high on confidence, but will also be well aware that they have to win the little battles on the day, including the psychological one. A mouthwatering battle is also expected to be waged in the scrums, as a Springbok World Cup winning front row of Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch, front up against arguably the URC's best scrum this season, of Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw. 'It's not just about who gets front-foot ball but also the psychological battle, and that's what it's all about, these big contests. The Bulls are not just a scrummaging team, they're a good set-piece team, particularly at Loftus,' Plumtree said. 'These are big derby games, aren't they? The Sharks-Bulls game at Loftus, everyone in Durban will be watching this game of rugby because it's based on the contests there have been over the years, and there have been some great contests.' The winner of the Highveld semifinal will either be traveling to Dublin to face Irish powerhouse Leinster, or hosting Scottish defending champs Glasgow Warriors in the Grand Final next weekend.
The South African
02-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Bulls bolster pack with Bok lock in major recruitment drive
The Vodacom Bulls are strengthening their squad ahead of the 2025-26 season, with World Cup-winning lock Marvin Orie set to return to Pretoria. The Vodacom Bulls are set to welcome back Springbok World Cup winner Marvin Orie as part of an ambitious recruitment overhaul ahead of the 2025 Currie Cup season. According to Rapport , Orie has agreed terms to leave French club Perpignan and rejoin the Pretoria-based side. The 32-year-old lock last featured for the Springboks during the 2023 Rugby World Cup and is a seasoned campaigner with experience in both the northern and southern hemispheres. He previously played for the Bulls from 2014 to 2016 before moving on to the Lions, Stormers, and a stint in Wales with the Ospreys. Orie's return is viewed as a major coup for the Bulls, who are targeting domestic dominance and greater squad depth heading into the next URC cycle and Currie Cup campaign. The Bulls' recruitment doesn't stop with Orie. Cheetahs loose forward Jeandré Rudolph is also expected to make his way back to Loftus, having decided to part ways with the Free State side after their SA Cup run. Rudolph previously played for the Bulls and Sharks and brings versatility to the back row. In another forward boost, young lock Dylan de Leeuw is reportedly set to join the Bulls on a full-time basis. The 23-year-old, a former Junior Springbok who has represented Western Province and Italian club Zebre, has been training with the team for the past two months while recovering from injury. These moves are part of a larger recruitment wave aimed at solidifying the Bulls' status as a top-tier force in both domestic and international competition. The Pretoria outfit is also expected to unveil a blockbuster list of arrivals in July, including World Cup-winning flyhalf Handré Pollard, powerful centre Jan Serfontein, imposing lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, and dynamic scrumhalf Paul de Wet. With coach Jake White eyeing silverware on all fronts, the Bulls' new signings underline their intent to build a squad capable of sustained success. The return of experienced Springboks and the injection of young talent could prove crucial in the seasons ahead. 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.
