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IOL News
5 days ago
- 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.
News24
26-05-2025
- Sport
- News24
Stormers star, Bulls duo nominated for SA URC Player of the Season award
Stormers star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Bulls stalwarts, Cameron Hanekom and Wilco Louw, have grabbed the three nominations for South Africa's United Rugby Championship Player of the Season accolade. Voting for the nominations closed last Friday, with coaching members of the Springboks and the four SA URC teams, as well as members of the media allowed to vote. READ | 'A man of faith, courage, integrity': Cornal Hendricks laid to rest after emotional farewell In total, 17 players from the four SA franchises received votes but the above-mentioned trio were the most popular. Flyhalf Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been a shining light for the Stormers this season and currently sits joint-fifth on the most points scored in the URC. Louw has been destroyer-in-chief in a dominant Bulls scrum, with many pundits rating him as the best tighthead prop in the world at present. No 8 Hanekom has been impressive with ball in hand and on defence - he's beaten more defenders, won more turnovers and made more tackles than any of his team-mates. He is also fifth on the overall URC list for offloads. The winner will be announced on Thursday, 5 June, as part of the annual URC Awards.
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Who are the likely SA URC Player of the Season contenders?
With the URC winding down an SA URC Player of the Season will be named over the coming month. Bulls prop Wilco Louw has been in immense form this season and will likely be one of the front runners for the SA URC Player of the Season award. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images The 2024-25 United Rugby Championship (URC) season is winding to its conclusion, with the playoffs set to be battled out, and the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers all in the running for the title. A large number of players have impressed for all of South Africa's franchises over their respective campaigns, even for the struggling Lions, and an SA URC Player of the Season will be announced in the coming month. Here are our top nominees for the award, one from each union, and one honourable mention, who will likely be in the running to pick up the prestigious title. Bulls Wilco Louw The heavyweight Bulls front ranker has arguably been the most destructive scrummager in the URC this season. Louw has powered an imperious Bulls pack that has smashed all before them on their way to second on the URC log and a home playoff. He has played in 16 of the Bulls 18 pool games this season, starting 15 of them, and he will be hoping to add another three starts to that tally and lead the Bulls to the final and hopefully the title by the end of the campaign. His form should see him stay firmly in the Bok fold that he returned to last year after a few years out. Honourable mention: Cameron Hanekom It has been another barnstorming season for the young looseforward, after his breakout campaign last season, and if his form is anything to go by, he should be getting plenty of chances to add to the one Springbok cap he picked up last year. Stormers Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu The incredible impact that rising star Feinberg-Mngomezulu has had on the Stormers is shown by him arguably being their best player this season, despite the fact that he missed over half of it due to injury. He missed the start before returning in December, where he suffered three injuries in three games, before being out for another spell. Since making his return in March he has been incredible, picking up two man-of-the-match awards, scored a hattrick against Connacht, and has made the Stormers no10 jersey his own, which will especially please Bok coach Rassie Erasmus. Honourable mention: Evan Roos It has been another top season for the Stormers loooseforward, but one feels his Bok chances may be running out. Since he blew the lights out in the inaugural URC season, he has been in the national fold but unable to establish himself. He needs to take this momentum into the coming international season. Sharks Vincent Tshituka This could end up being his best professional season if utility forward Tshituka can make a sensational step up to the Springboks. He mightily impressed at the Lions before making the switch to the Sharks in 2022, where he has been a strong presence in their setup. This season has seen Tshituka go to the next level, covering lock regularly, impressing at his usual position as flank, and has taken over the captaincy reins when injuries of resting protocols have kept the regular leaders out. His call-up to the second Bok alignment camp is in recognition of that effort, and having finally received his SA ID he now has a chance to make a big step up. Honourable mention: Ethan Hooker The young gun has impressed again, as he did in a breakout campaign for the Sharks last season. His form saw him in the Springbok mix, although he didn't make his debut, but another strong campaign, backed up by him showing some good utility value this season, may be what is needed to get him in the door for his debut. Lions Morne van den Berg It has been a great season personally during a difficult campaign for his team for the Lions scrumhalf and he will hope that his efforts have not gone unnoticed. Van Den Berg has had to be a solid stable feature during a tough time for halfbacks at the union. He has had to play with four different flyhalves regularly over the campaign, after Sanele Nohamba left, he has had to play alongside Kade Wolhuter, Sam Francis and Gianni Lombard. But despite all the turmoil he has consistently impressed, and hopefully he can add to his two Bok caps later this year. Honourable mention: Edwill van der Merwe The departing Lions winger will leave a gaping hole in the team that will be incredibly hard to close. Since arriving from the Stormers in 2021 he has been arguably the Lions most consistent performer, and after another top season leaves for the Sharks on a high. He will also hope to add to his one Bok cap.
