Latest news with #VincentKoch
IOL News
4 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Springboks want to bring the attitude to go with Ellis Park's altitude against the Wallabies
Springboks prop Vincent Koch says players taste blood during the warm-up while playing at altitude. Image: Backpagepix Veteran prop Vincent Koch has been around long enough in the Springboks' set-up to remember the dark times — the times when the Boks were on the receiving end of big hidings, when sponsors didn't line up to back the team, and when the public turned their back on them. But since 2018, the dark times have turned into a golden era of Springbok rugby, with back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles and the team taking their rightful place at the top of the global game. Sponsors are now rushing back to splash the cash and be associated with the country's biggest brand. Fans are heading back to stadiums around the country. Telecommunications giant Vodacom is the latest company reconnecting with the Springboks ahead of their 2025 Rugby Championship campaign. Ahead of their Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies tomorrow at Ellis Park, Koch singled out one man who has been responsible for dragging the Boks from the darkness into the light. 'The sponsors pulled out because of our performances. We weren't good on the field, and there were dark times,' said tighthead Koch, who made his Bok debut against the All Blacks in 2015. 'But our goal wasn't to stay there. When Rassie came in, he said we must be a force in world rugby, because the Springboks had always been a force. 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 'He changed everything for us, and through hard work and dedication, we managed to get out of that hole. I always say I would like the boys who had been playing during that time to be part of the current set-up, to experience this and see how great it can be. 'For us to see sponsors getting on board, it's great to see people recognising what we have done over the last few years, backing us and putting their name behind the Springboks.' The current Springboks are looking to make more history by becoming the first South African side to win back-to-back Rugby Championship titles. They will start their campaign against a battle-hardened Wallaby team, who headed to South Africa fresh off a brutal series against the British and Irish Lions. The Wallabies lost the series 2-1, but gained a lot of respect for their performances in the second and third Tests of that series. One man who has made a massive difference for the Wallabies is man-mountain Will Skelton, who played many games behind Koch in the second row at Saracens in England. A lot has been made about Skelton's battle with the Bok pack, but Koch is adamant that they are focusing on stamping their power and authority on the Wallabies instead of concentrating on a specific individual. 'It's a team sport, but the stats say he makes a big difference when he plays,' said Koch. 'He is a big human being and a former teammate of mine at Saracens. We know the threat that he poses and what he offers Australia. But we are focusing on what we can do better from our previous four games (against the Barbarians, Italy, and Georgia).
The Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Springboks want to bring the attitude to go with Ellis Park's altitude against the Wallabies
Veteran prop Vincent Koch has been around long enough in the Springboks' set-up to remember the dark times — the times when the Boks were on the receiving end of big hidings, when sponsors didn't line up to back the team, and when the public turned their back on them. But since 2018, the dark times have turned into a golden era of Springbok rugby, with back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles and the team taking their rightful place at the top of the global game. Sponsors are now rushing back to splash the cash and be associated with the country's biggest brand. Fans are heading back to stadiums around the country. Telecommunications giant Vodacom is the latest company reconnecting with the Springboks ahead of their 2025 Rugby Championship campaign. Ahead of their Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies tomorrow at Ellis Park, Koch singled out one man who has been responsible for dragging the Boks from the darkness into the light. 'The sponsors pulled out because of our performances. We weren't good on the field, and there were dark times,' said tighthead Koch, who made his Bok debut against the All Blacks in 2015. 'But our goal wasn't to stay there. When Rassie came in, he said we must be a force in world rugby, because the Springboks had always been a force. 'He changed everything for us, and through hard work and dedication, we managed to get out of that hole. I always say I would like the boys who had been playing during that time to be part of the current set-up, to experience this and see how great it can be. 'For us to see sponsors getting on board, it's great to see people recognising what we have done over the last few years, backing us and putting their name behind the Springboks.' The current Springboks are looking to make more history by becoming the first South African side to win back-to-back Rugby Championship titles. They will start their campaign against a battle-hardened Wallaby team, who headed to South Africa fresh off a brutal series against the British and Irish Lions. The Wallabies lost the series 2-1, but gained a lot of respect for their performances in the second and third Tests of that series. One man who has made a massive difference for the Wallabies is man-mountain Will Skelton, who played many games behind Koch in the second row at Saracens in England. A lot has been made about Skelton's battle with the Bok pack, but Koch is adamant that they are focusing on stamping their power and authority on the Wallabies instead of concentrating on a specific individual. 'It's a team sport, but the stats say he makes a big difference when he plays,' said Koch. 'He is a big human being and a former teammate of mine at Saracens. We know the threat that he poses and what he offers Australia. But we are focusing on what we can do better from our previous four games (against the Barbarians, Italy, and Georgia).
France 24
05-07-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Van den Berg strikes twice as South Africa beat Italy
It was a game of two halves with the Springboks using their scrum power to score four tries and build a 28-3 lead by half-time in front of a near-capacity crowd at the 52,000-capacity Loftus Versfeld. But much-improved Italy outscored the record four-time World Cup winners by three tries to two in the second half despite fielding an experimental team with numerous first choices remaining in Europe. Victory continued the 100 percent record of South Africa when hosting Italy, but it was the second smallest winning margin in eight Tests since 1999. The other Springbok try scorers were captain and centre Jesse Kriel, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, replacement prop Vincent Koch and flanker Marco van Staden. It was a special moment for tighthead Koch when he barged over as he notched his first try for South Africa while winning his 62nd cap. The outstanding try came from Arendse, who raced through the Italian defence from midfield to score after Test debutant Vincent Tshituka won a lineout. Veteran fly-half Handre Pollard slotted all six conversions, raising his total for the Springboks to 784 points in 81 Tests. Flanker Manuel Zuliani, replacement hooker Pablo Dimcheff on debut and captain and lock Niccolo Cannone scored tries for the Azzurri. Fly-half Giacomo Da Re kicked three conversions and a penalty for Italy, whose starting line-up included only five of the team beaten by Ireland in their last 2025 Six Nations Championship match. When Da Re converted the Cannone try with 11 minutes remaining, there were only 11 points between the teams, raising the possibility of a stunning victory for the visitors. But the Springboks put the outcome beyond doubt on 74 minutes when Van Staden powered his way over the line and Pollard maintained his perfect record from the kicking tee. The second Test is scheduled for Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in eastern coastal city Gqeberha next Saturday.
