Latest news with #WillieleRoux
The Citizen
a day ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Jake White: Bulls showed they have learned resilience, composure
Where the Bulls failed to complete their fightback against Edinburgh last month, they rallied from 21–8 behind to win their URC quarter-final. Bulls director of rugby Jake White said his team demonstrated they have grasped how to fight back, following their victory over Edinburgh in their United Rugby Championship quarter-final at Loftus on Saturday. The Bulls came back from a 21–8 deficit against the Scottish powerhouse, who capitalised on a Sebastian de Klerk yellow card to score three tries in the first half hour. Once the Bulls took the lead for the first time early in the second half, they didn't lose it. The Bulls smartened their attack and mixed up their usual set-piece focus to win by six tries to five, with the final score 42–33. This came after the Bulls almost recovered from a 24–7 deficit against the same opposition in the Challenge Cup quarter-final in April, eventually falling just short at 34–28. At the time, White said it had taken time for the players to adjust to Edinburgh, and if they had five more minutes in the game, they would have won. Bulls were 'dead and buried' 'A 21–8 we were dead and buried,' White said after Saturday's result, which will see the Bulls host their semi-final next weekend. 'Sean [Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt] said he wanted a good start and they got a good one. I am just very thankful that with their good start, we won.' White said he did not scream and shout at his players during half-time as that would have accomplished nothing. Instead, he told them they had to hold onto the ball better and decided to trust them to finish the game with the control and composure they were capable of, despite some hard calls against them from the referee. Doing so proved they had learned resilience since their Challenge Cup exit. The Bulls also surprised their opponents by breaking out of mauls early after building much of their success this season on forward pack dominance. White said the Bulls team from three seasons ago would not have shown this versatility, and it shows another area they have grown in. Willie le Roux leads the way for the Bulls Bulls veteran Willie le Roux earned man of the match for his playmaking during the day, his kicks running the Edinburgh defence ragged and a line break from the fullback culminating in a try. 'We certainly were in trouble in the first half,' Le Roux said. 'We had to regroup, play in the right areas, get our kicking game going. That forced them to make mistakes inside their half, which we capitalised on.' Captain Ruan Nortje echoed those sentiments, saying they had to exert more pressure in the contestables after a lacklustre opening 20 minutes.
The South African
2 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
URC quarter-final: Bulls v Edinburgh
The Bulls – URC runners up in 2022 and 2024 – will secure themselves a home semi-final if they emerge victorious against Edinburgh, which will fuel their motivation immensely as they cast an eye further ahead by attempting to repeat the double by advancing to the Grand Final for the second season in a row. Kick off for their quarter-final on Saturday is at 13:30. Teams: Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian De Klerk, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Ruan Nortje (c), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Devon Williams Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Matt Currie, 12 James Lang, 11 Harry Paterson, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ali Price, 8 Magnus Bradbury (c), 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Sam Skinner, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 D'arcy Rae, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman Replacements: 16 Paddy Harrison, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Liam McConnell, 20 Ben Muncaster, 21 Conor McAlpine, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Mark Bennett The match-up between the Bulls and Edinburgh is expected to be an entertaining affair, given the close contest between the sides early in the season, where the Pretoria outfit emerged 22-16 victors at home in the second round, before the Scots turned the tables with a 34-28 win in the EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final. With seven straight URC victories to their name and the team having suffered only four defeats this season, the Bulls will enter the clash as favourites. However, they will be wary of underestimating Edinburgh, who – over-and-above from knocking them out of the EPCR Challenge Cup – have had a fair run of form of late, losing only one of their last five matches, while one ended in a draw. In fact, their only defeat in this series of events was against the Sharks in Durban by one point, but that said, they will have to enter the match strong-willed to break their disappointing away-win record, which shows six defeats in nine outings. In stark contrast, the Bulls have suffered only one home defeat in the competition this season, and adding to this, they have won six more matches than the Scots in the pool stages, and have a better record on attack and defence. This, however, will undoubtedly fire up Edinburgh. Bulls v Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 31 MayVenue: Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaSA Time: 13h30Referee: Adam Jones TV: SuperSport
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
White names Bok-laden Bulls team for URC quarterfinal
The Bulls will be looking to win through to their third semifinals appearance in four seasons. Bulls boss Jake White has picked a formidable side for the team's United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against Edinburgh at Loftus Versfeld at 1.30pm on Saturday. In all, there are nine Springboks in the starting team in what is now a very familiar looking side. In the absence of the injured Johan Goosen, Keagan Johannes will continue to wear the No 10 jersey, with Willie le Roux at fullback. Earlier this season when Goosen was also out, Le Roux deputised at flyhalf, but White has opted to keep his specialist players in their preferred positions. That said, Johannes started out as a scrumhalf. Return of Papier at scrumhalf All three men in the front row are Boks, namely Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw, while the back row is also packed with international players — Marcell Coetzee, Cameron Hanekom and captain Ruan Nortje who continues to be backed as a blindside flanker. In the backs Embrose Papier is back in place of Zak Burger, to partner Johannes, while Canan Moodie will play on the right wing. The Bulls are looking to win through to their third URC semifinal, after playing in two previous finals. Bulls: Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Sebastian de Klerk, Keagan Johannes, Embrose Papier, Cameron Hanekom, Ruan Nortje (capt), Marcell Coetzee, JF van Heerden, Cobus Wiese, Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Bench: Akker van der Merwe, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Jannes Kirsten, Marco van Staden, Zak Burger, Stedman Gans, Devon Williams
The South African
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Cornal Hendricks' best buddy: Springboks wing left fans in tears
Springboks wing Willie le Roux left fans in tears with his Instagram post wishing Cornal Hendricks rest in peace. Willie and Cornal had been close buddies on and off the pitch during their days with the Springboks. Indeed, it's been a few tough days for Willie after losing his friend on 14 May. Many Springboks' current players and legends bid farewell, but Willie took his time. Cornal Hendricks and Willie le Roux. Image via Instagram @wjjleroux Even though Willie did not have many words upon his friend's death, fans could feel his emotions. 'RIP my vriend ❤️🕊️ @cornalhendricks' Hendricks said. Some remembered their days as the best of buddies, and they couldn't help but try to console him. @R I A A N V A N W Y K 'What a great combo you guys were! 😢' @Jerid-lee Waries 'You too were so close friends, what a special guy, forever in our hearts' @Amanda 'Ai, Willie, it's so sad 😢 Treasure all those awesome memories❤️' @Lindy White 'Willie, it's so hard for those left behind. You have the best memories of a superb human being and friend. I offer my sincere condolences. 😢Cornal is at peace.' Indeed, it was not only Willie le Roux who went emotional about Cornal Hendricks's death, but Bryan Habana as well. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Willie Le Roux (@wjjleroux) Unlike the Springboks wing, Willie le Roux, Habana penned a long, heartfelt letter. 'Still struggling to find the words or come to terms with this. Heartbroken to wake up to news that still seems unreal,' he started. 'A true warrior on the field, but an even bigger inspiration off it. When he entered, his energy lit up the room, and his zest for life was infectious.' Habana continued. 'Cornal's journey reminds us all that resilience isn't just a trait, it's a way of life. From setbacks to stunning comebacks, from humble beginnings to the world's biggest stage. Every team he represented, he did so with pride, passion, purpose and an unwavering desire to contribute positively.' Bryan continued pouring his heart. He continued with his letter, consoling the Hendricks family in these difficult times. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Jake White warns Bulls: Cardiff no easybeats in Loftus URC showdown
Willie le Roux Willie le Roux will start at fullback for the Bulls against Cardiff. Photo: AFP Image: AFP The Bulls should be in confident mode for today's United Rugby Championship clash against Cardiff at Loftus Versfeld (4pm start). They emerged from arguably the toughest tour possible with three wins out of four against Bayonne, Edinburgh, Munster and Glasgow across the Challenge Cup and URC, and had a week off after that. But while the time away from the pitch was much needed, it can also disrupt the rhythm of the team. Suddenly those gritty defensive sets in holding out Munster and Glasgow are replaced by slipped tackles or gaps in the backline, just because they enjoyed a breather last week. And while those were memorable triumphs away from home, the Bulls would undo all of that good work if they were to fall short against a fifth-placed Cardiff side fighting for a playoff spot. The Bulls appeared to have turned things around at Loftus Versfeld by putting 63 points past Zebre in their last home match, having kept Leinster at bay in a 21-20 triumph a week earlier. But they have lost too regularly on their home turf this season, most notably against Northampton, the Sharks and then the Stormers, and the Welsh visitors also boast Test wing Josh Adams and former Bulls halfbacks Tinus de Beer and Johan Mulder. 'I think Cardiff mustn't be underestimated. They beat Munster, they beat Ulster. Anyone who's beaten Munster, needs to play well,' Bulls coach Jake White said during his team announcement press conference yesterday. 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 'I mean, we know that because we had to do it a couple of weeks ago. So, we won't for any second take them as an easy option. 'They are also desperate, they want to play in the top eight, they want to make sure they make the playoffs. 'We've got lots of things we want to achieve this season, and one of them is to get a home semi-final. And that means we've got to get results at home against both Cardiff and Dragons with the last two pool games. 'We've done a lot of hard yards in the last couple of weeks to put ourselves in the position we're in now. The challenge for us as a group, and it's always like that for top teams, is you take the opportunities that are in front of you.' One man who will hope to spark the Bulls attack is veteran fullback Willie le Roux, who recently recovered from a shoulder operation and featured as a replacement against Glasgow. White admitted that Devon Williams was a bit unlucky to be bench as a result, but felt that it was necessary to give Le Roux an opportunity before the playoffs. Captain Ruan Nortjé also surprisingly continues at blindside flank, but he will have two outstanding loose-trio partners alongside him in Cameron Hanekom and Marcell Coetzee. 'It was a very, when I say tough call, a very debatable call. Devon's played really well. He's adapted nicely to that backfield and he's got pace,' White said. 'And he's also left-footed, which we're not losing much with the skill-sets. But Willie needs game-time. He is the number one fullback for us. He is the incumbent Springbok. 'We just sat down and thought, Willie is going to be very important to us because he understands pressure and management and he's had real high-profile games in his career. 'So, it's one of those, give him a start now, get him some game-time. It takes a little bit of pressure off the wingers and the rest of the backline as well. 'Ruan Nortjé is a phenomenal player and he's very important to us. And the fact that we've got JF van Heerden who's playing well, and we've got Cobus Wiese, who's a four-lock, means that we have the luxury of playing Ruan as a seven flanker. 'I've done it before with players and it's basically picking a side that will then be able to control all the facets of the game without compromising any of those things. 'We're very comfortable that Ruan can do a role for us within the group that we've got playing now with him as a seven flanker. 'And I told you at the beginning of the year as well, I have no doubt that he could play seven flanker as an international player as well.' Teams For Pretoria Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux 14 Canan Moodie 13 David Kriel 12 Harold Vorster 11 Sebastian de Klerk 10 Johan Goosen 9 Zak Burger 8 Cameron Hanekom 7 Ruan Nortjé (captain) 6 Marcell Coetzee 5 JF van Heerden 4 Cobus Wiese 3 Wilco Louw 2 Johan Grobbelaar 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Bench: 16 Akker van der Merwe 17 Alulutho Tshakweni 18 Mornay Smith 19 Jannes Kirsten 20 Marco van Staden 21 Keagan Johannes 22 Devon Williams 23 Stedman Gans. Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett 14 Josh Adams 13 Harri Millard 12 Ben Thomas (captain) 11 Gabe Hamer-Webb 10 Tinus de Beer 9 Johan Mulder 8 Alun Lawrence 7 James Botham 6 Alex Mann 5 Rory Thornton 4 Josh McNally 3 Keiron Assiratti 2 Evan Lloyd 1 Corey Domachowski. Bench: 16 Liam Belcher 17 Danny Southworth 18 Rhys Litterick 19 Teddy Williams 20 Dan Thomas 21 Taulupe Faletau 22 Aled Davies 23 Rory Jennings.
