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Rassie’s Baltimore Battle Squad!

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, News, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Rassie’s Baltimore Battle Squad!
By Adnaan Mohamed

Rassie Erasmus has loaded the Springbok cannon, pointed it at Baltimore and declared war on the All Blacks’ hopes of stealing the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry crown.

With South Africa leading 2-1, the Bok boss has resisted wholesale tinkering and unleashed a battle-hardened XV for Saturday night’s winner-takes-the-trophy showdown at M&T Bank Stadium.

The message from the Bok camp is brutally simple: hold the line, finish the job, lift the cup.

Damian Willemse returns at fullback after recovering from his niggle, while Morne van den Berg is promoted from impact sub to starting scrumhalf. Cheslin Kolbe’s injury has forced the backline change, while Cobus Reinach brings his experience off the bench as the Boks prepare for another heavyweight slugfest with their oldest rivals.

Erasmus has backed the warriors who dragged South Africa into the series lead through two pulsating Tests, banking on continuity as the All Blacks sharpen their swords for one final assault, The Bok coach resisted the temptation to tear up a winning blueprint after two bruising victories, trusting the squad that has weathered the All Black storm and emerged with a 2-1 advantage.

“We feel that the team is well settled and all the players delivered in their respective roles in the last two matches, so we believe selecting the same matchday squad, and naming Damian back in his regular position, makes sense for the closing match of the series,” said Erasmus.

“These players also know exactly what to expect from a very determined All Blacks team, who will give everything to draw the series this weekend.”

Willemse returns after missing the Johannesburg Test through a niggle, bringing 54 caps and a box of attacking tricks to the No 15 jersey.

“Damian started the first two Tests and had it not been for a niggle last week, he would have also started that match, so it’s good to have him back. He is a quality player, and he knows the guys around him very well, so it will simply be a matter of him picking up where he left off before last week.”

Van den Berg gets his chance after an electric cameo last weekend.

“Morne, meanwhile, made a fantastic impact when he took the field last week, and he deserves a chance to start, so Cobus switches to the bench where he will add experience and skill in this vital match.”

The All Blacks are expected to arrive with their pride sharpened into a spear. Erasmus knows the decider could become an 80-minute street fight dressed in rugby jerseys.

“We have faced the All Blacks three weeks in a row, and just like us, they are a proud team who showed last week that they will never stop fighting until the final whistle, so we are under no illusions about the magnitude of the challenge ahead this weekend.

“That said, we are equally determined to finish the series strongly and give everything to lift the trophy, and the players are excited about the match.

“We have no doubt that it’s going to be another epic encounter that will require a full-blown 80-minute effort on attack and defence, so we will manage the players well this week to ensure that they are ready physically and mentally for Saturday.”

The starting XV carries a colossal 927 Test caps, with 600 among the forwards and 327 in the backline. The bench adds another 277.

The trophy is tantalisingly close, the Kiwi comeback machine is expected to arrive with its engine screaming, and Baltimore is about to become the latest battlefield in rugby’s most combustible rivalry.

One Bok victory crowns South Africa inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry champions. One All Black victory blows the series wide open and sends the decider into rugby folklore.

Springboks:
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok.

Stats and facts:

Springbok record against New Zealand:

Played: 113, Won: 45, Lost: 64, Drawn: 4. Points for: 1 928; Points against: 2 352; Tries scored: 188; Tries conceded: 261. Win %: 39,8%.

Miscellaneous:

  • Eben Etzebeth will extend his record as the most capped Springbok player of all time to 146 caps when he takes the field.
  • The loose trio of Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese will extend the record they set last week to overtake Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, and Duane Vermeuelen (17) as the loose trio with the most Test starts to 19 matches.
  • The Springboks have only played three Test matches in the USA in history where they defeated the USA 38-7 in 1981 and 43-10 in 2001, while they suffered a narrow 22-20 defeat against Wales in Washington DC in 2018, which was Erasmus’ first Test in charge as head coach.
  • This match will mark the first Springbok Test in history to be played in Baltimore.
  • Jasper Wiese requires only one more Test match appearance after this encounter to join the group of players who have earned 50Test caps.
  • The Springboks have won seven of the last nine matches against the All Blacks dating back to August 2023.
  • The 2031 Rugby World Cup will be hosted in the USA.
  • The total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up is 927.There are 327 caps in the backline, with 600 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 277 caps.
  • The average caps per player in the backline is 47, the forwards 75, while the players on the bench average 35.

One more punch in Baltimore!

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, News, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on One more punch in Baltimore!
By Adnaan Mohamed

Rassie Erasmus has slammed the brakes on the Springboks victory party. The Springboks may have put New Zealand on the ropes with a pulsating 29-24 knockout at a thunderous FNB Stadium on Saturday, but their wily coach knows the All Blacks are wounded animals with one more bite left.

The series is alive.

And Baltimore is where the bloody business gets finished.

South Africa now lead the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series 2-1, but Erasmus refuses to believe the trophy is safely tucked under his arm.

“I know a lot of people said that this is the series here in South Africa, but it is not – we’ve played three games here and we’re one up, but the final game is still to come,” he said.

“I know we can’t lose it anymore because there’s not points difference or tries scored (as a tie breaker). But the trophy was actually designed in two halves to be shared if it’s a draw. So, it’s game on.”

And make no mistake, this rivalry has produced rugby with more twists than a crime thriller.

The Springboks spent much of Saturday chasing shadows, trailing until the 58th minute before finally wresting control from the All Blacks.

It was less victory parade and more street fight.

“We are happy tonight. It was epic. It was intense. I think the scoreboard at the end showed how close the game was. We’re just happy we won,” said Erasmus.

His honesty was brutal.

“They were definitely on top (in the first half). All of us I think envy the way they can handle the ball and they’re certainly brilliant at that. Luckily we went in level at halftime which gives you some hope.”

Then came the admission that will delight Bok fans and give New Zealand ammunition.

“I’m not sure what my heart rate was but we were certainly nervous. And I think they were nervous.”

The travelling circus now moves to America, with the fierce rivals sharing a flight before resuming hostilities.

Erasmus even joked about sharing a beer with All Blacks coach Dave Rennie.

“Hopefully me and Dave will have a beer. His will be a little bit more bitter and mine will be a little sweeter.”

The smiles, however, will disappear once camp opens.

“We assess the injuries; we start planning and it’s number one and two again. It’s the greatest rivalry and we play to try and win the series, and they will try and to draw the series. So, no, it’s going to be flipping important.”

The Boks will be without Cheslin Kolbe after Erasmus revealed the electric wing fractured his jaw. Erasmus reveled that scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies will replace Kolbe for the trip to the USA.

Cheslin Kolbe suffered a broken jaw in the third test in Soweto Photo: SA Rugby

Carlu Sadie, Boan Venter, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Cobus Wiese and Ben-Jason Dixon will also stay behind.

Damian Willemse, Grant Williams and Canan Moodie are fit and will travel.

Erasmus knows the Boks escaped Soweto with more than skill.

“It’s massive, this is. You’re playing number one and two in the world and it switches one week to the next and it certainly lives up to that (hype), and I can tell you now, we’re not sitting here thinking we are flipping awesome. We’re thinking there was also a lot of luck that that went our way.”

So forget the coronation.

Forget the champagne.

Forget the trophy photographs.

For now.

The Boks have one punch left to throw.

So do the All Blacks.

Baltimore, buckle up.

The Greatest Rivalry is coming to town.

The quiet power of Siya Kolisi’s 55

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, Features, News, Rugby, Springboks, Totalsports Two Oceans MarathonLeave a Comment on The quiet power of Siya Kolisi’s 55

By Adnaan Mohamed at the FNB Stadium in Soweto

Siya Kolisi has never been particularly interested in making himself the story. On the night he became the most successful captain in Springboks history, that instinct was as powerful as ever.

The scoreboard at FNB Stadium said South Africa 29, New Zealand 24. The series said Springboks 2, All Blacks 1. The record books said something rather more extraordinary: 55 Test victories as captain, one more than the 54 accumulated by John Smit.

For most athletes, that would be the moment to pause, puff out the chest and allow history a little room to breathe.

Kolisi, characteristically, handed the oxygen to everyone else.

“If this were tennis it would be different, but this is a team sport. It shows the work Rassie [Erasmus] and his coaching staff put in,” the 35-year-old told Modern Athlete after the match.

“We’ve got so many leaders in this side that I really only have one job to do, which is focus on my own game.”

There is something almost disarming about the understatement.

Fifty-five victories as Springboks captain is not merely a statistic. It is a towering monument built across years of upheaval, triumph, scrutiny and expectation. It stretches beyond the rugby field into the improbable story of a boy from Zwide who became the face of a nation’s most recognisable sporting institution.

Yet Kolisi speaks about it as though he has merely completed another assignment.

That is perhaps the paradox of his leadership. His influence is enormous precisely because he rarely behaves as though it is.

The record came on a night when FNB Stadium became more than a rugby ground. Almost 88,000 people filled the Calabash for a match carrying the historical weight of Soweto and the emotional currency of a nation.

Kolisi understood the symbolism.

“It was really special. We always say we won’t just say thank you in words, but through our effort. We were tested in that first 25 minutes, they came out firing, and we had to dig deep to fight our way back into it.”

Then came the image that stayed with him: children running alongside the Springbok team bus, hoping for a glimpse of their heroes despite being unable to afford tickets.

“They can’t afford to come and watch us play, but seeing that, and understanding the history of this place, the young people who fought so that we could be sitting here today, that’s why we wanted this game here,” Kolisi said.

“That’s what we play for, not just the people who can afford it, but everyone.”

It is difficult to imagine a more revealing explanation of his captaincy.

The 55 wins belong to Kolisi. The meaning he attaches to them belongs to something larger.

Even the victory itself did not escape his scrutiny.

“I thought we played better in the first Test [at Ellis Park], we just didn’t convert our chances,” he said.

“There’s still so much more we can do. Our defence in particular can get better.”

His answer carried the familiar Kolisi mixture of humility and hunger. No grand declaration. No coronation. No invitation for the rugby gods to start carving his statue.

Only work.

“The way the coaches rotate the team and give other guys opportunities keeps everyone hungry. If you don’t get picked this week, you know your chance is coming. It also keeps us fresh so we’re not overplayed. It’s a group effort, and I’m really happy about that.”

And so, after 55 wins, the captain looks ahead rather than back.

“Playing together more consistently helps a great deal, and I’m looking forward to what we can build on next week [in Baltimore].”

History has caught up with Siya Kolisi. He appears in no hurry to stop running.

Springboks hold off All Blacks in Soweto thriller

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, Features, News, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Springboks hold off All Blacks in Soweto thriller
Adnaan Mohamed at FNB Stadium, Soweto

The Springboks survived a fierce challenge from the All Blacks to win 29-24 at FNB Stadium on Saturday night, securing an unassailable lead in the four-Test series in front of a crowd of nearly 90 000.

It was a high-quality Test played at considerable pace, with both sides scoring four tries and momentum shifting repeatedly during a compelling contest.

For Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, the victory was another significant milestone. His 55th Test win as captain moved him clear as the most successful skipper in Springbok history.

New Zealand made the stronger start.

With Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the sin bin after being shown yellow for a deliberate knock-down, All Black captain Ardie Savea finished a sustained period of pressure by crashing over in the 10th minute.

Ruben Love missed the conversion, leaving New Zealand with a 5-0 lead.

The Boks responded through their traditional strengths: physical carries, quick ball and pressure at set piece.

Cheslin Kolbe finished a well-worked attack 10 minutes later, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu converting to give South Africa a 7-5 lead. Kolbe was subsequently forced off for a head-injury assessment.

South Africa’s scrum then became an increasingly important factor.

The Boks applied sustained pressure against the New Zealand pack and were rewarded with a penalty try four minutes before half-time, extending their lead to 14-5.

New Zealand responded strongly after the break.

Savea scored his second try before Will Jordan added another, with Love converting to put the visitors 17-14 ahead.

The Boks needed a response and found it through Jesse Kriel.

The centre broke through the All Blacks’ defensive line to score, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu adding the conversion as South Africa regained the lead at 21-17.

Malcolm Marx then increased the pressure by powering over for the Boks’ fourth try.

A further penalty from Feinberg-Mngomezulu put South Africa 29-17 ahead and appeared to give the hosts sufficient breathing room.

New Zealand had other ideas.

The All Blacks continued to attack deep into the closing stages and replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho scored after the final hooter. Damian McKenzie converted to reduce the deficit to five points, although there was no time for a further attack.

The 29-24 result completed the Boks’ series victory and extended their dominance in one of Test rugby’s defining rivalries.

Ethan Hooker was named Player of the Match after an influential performance for South Africa.

There is little time for either side to reflect.

The Springboks and All Blacks will board a chartered flight to Baltimore in the United States, where they will meet again in the fourth and final Test next week.

Earlier at FNB Stadium, New Zealand’s Black Ferns produced a commanding display to beat the Springbok Women 52-20.

The visitors scored eight tries and led 24-10 at half-time in the first meeting between the teams on African soil.

The result highlighted the Black Ferns’ experience and attacking efficiency, while the Springbok Women were unable to convert their dominance in certain areas, including the scrum, into sufficient attacking points.

For South Africa’s men, however, the night belonged to the Boks, who absorbed New Zealand’s pressure, capitalised on their set-piece advantage and held their nerve when the All Blacks launched their late assault.

SPRINGBOKS – Tries: Kurt-Lee Arendse, penalty try, Jesse Kriel, Malcolm Marx. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2). Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
ALL BLACKS – Tries: Ardie Savea (2), Will Jordan, Samisoni Taukei’aho. Conversions: Ruben Love, Damian McKenzie.

Image Credit: x.com/Springboks

Springbok try machine KLA is back for Soweto clash

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, News, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Springbok try machine KLA is back for Soweto clash
By Adnaan Mohamed

Kurt-Lee Arendse is back in the Springbok starting XV, and Rassie Erasmus is hoping the try-scoring machine can provide another spark when the All Blacks roll into the roaring cauldron of FNB Stadium on Saturday.

Arendse returns on the right wing for the third Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test after missing the 33-26 Cape Town victory.

Cheslin Kolbe moves to fullback following Damian Willemse’s injury, giving the Springboks a reshuffled back three with enough pace and mischief to keep New Zealand’s defence guessing.

For Arendse, it is an opportunity to remind everyone why his name remains synonymous with finishing.

The Bulls flyer has scored 25 tries in 33 Tests, a strike rate that makes him one of the most dangerous predators in the Springbok backline.

“Kurt-Lee was unlucky not to play last week after Cheslin recovered from his niggle, so we are pleased to see him back,” Erasmus said.

“He is a quality player and his 25 tries in 33 matches so far shows the type of player he is.”

Erasmus has otherwise opted for continuity after the Springboks levelled the four-Test series in Cape Town.

“It was always our plan to have a little more continuity in player combinations for this series, and we thought that the players who did the job for us last week really showed composure and did well to stick to the plan and what we wanted to achieve last week,” he said.

“Unfortunately, Damian Willemse took a knock in the first half and was not available for selection this weekend, and neither was Handre Pollard, and by sticking to these combinations and making one switch with Cheslin at fullback, we thought it would be the best for this match.”

The front row has also been reset, with Ox Nche, Wilco Louw and Malcolm Marx returning to the starting lineup after Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit and Deon Fourie started in Cape Town.

“We decided to change our front rows last week due to the weather conditions, and Johannesburg weather is different to Cape Town, so we thought this would be the best decision for us this weekend,” Erasmus said.

He added that the players moving to the bench remain vital weapons.

“Gerhard, Thomas, and Deon have played massive games for us, and at the same time know how to deal with pressure, and that is exactly what we need against a never-say-die team like the All Blacks, who play for the full 80-minutes.”

Erasmus expects New Zealand to respond with the fury of a wounded heavyweight.

“We know how it felt after the first match in Johannesburg, and such a result really galvanises a team, so we have no doubt that they will go full-out to win this Test match before the series finale in the USA next week,” he said.

“They are one of the two best teams in the world and based on experience, they never give up, as we saw last weekend, so this will undoubtedly be another epic encounter between the sides.”

The stakes are enormous.

“This game is going to be equally, if not more intense than the last two given the fact that the team that wins this match will be two games up in the series,” Erasmus said.

“That will make the clash in the USA the decider or game that could see the series finish in a draw, so there will be a different vibe around this match.”

And then there is FNB Stadium.

“We are excited that we will be playing at the FNB stadium, where on a good day there is an 80 000-strong crowd,” Erasmus said.

“With the vuvuzelas and passionate crowd there, we can hardly hear one another on the field, so we are all thrilled about this occasion.”

The final warning was unmistakably Erasmus.

“But make no mistake, this is going to be another intense battle between the two top teams in the world who are both looking to get an edge in the series, so we know what we have to do, and composure and accuracy are going to be vital for both sides.”

For Arendse, the assignment is brutally simple.

Get the ball.

Find the gap.

Finish the job.

Cheslin Kolbe warns: All Blacks will come fighting in Soweto

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, Features, News, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Cheslin Kolbe warns: All Blacks will come fighting in Soweto
By Adnaan Mohamed

Cheslin Kolbe expects the All Blacks to come out firing when the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series moves back to Johannesburg next weekend.

South Africa levelled the four-Test series at 1-1 with a hard-fought 33-26 victory at DHL Stadium on Saturday, with Kolbe’s flawless goal-kicking proving decisive as he contributed 18 points.

The Springboks now face another examination at the FNB Stadium in Soweto against a New Zealand side smarting from its first defeat of the year.

“When you lose, the team is always going to come back with a point to prove,” Kolbe said.

The third Test at FNB Stadium on 5 September presents the Boks with an opportunity to seize control of the series, but Kolbe believes there is plenty for Rassie Erasmus’ side to address before then.

“We need to go back on Monday and see where we didn’t capitalise on opportunities,” he said.

“New Zealand are a quality team; they attack well and they cut us open a few times. We definitely need to look at where we can improve and get better as a team.”

That assessment carries weight.

The Boks built a 24-14 half-time lead in Cape Town, yet the All Blacks fought back with four tries and were within seven points late in the contest. South Africa’s ability to close out the match under pressure was significant, but the defensive cracks New Zealand exposed will give the coaching staff plenty of video to pore over.

Kolbe also offered an insight into the mood around the Bok camp following their 33-16 defeat at Ellis Park.

“We could feel the atmosphere, not negativity but less energy, throughout the week because of the loss last week,” he said.

“As they always say, when we lose, it’s ‘n Blou Maandag [a Blue Monday]. We felt that, but we just wanted to rectify it.

“It wasn’t easy at all; we needed to stay in the fight. It’s going to be like that for the next two matches.”

Kolbe’s own contribution has added another string to his already crowded bow.

The Stormers-bound back credited his season in Japan, where he took responsibility for goal-kicking, as well as Springbok assistant coach Tony Brown, for helping improve his technique and consistency.

“This season in Japan, I had the responsibility of taking over the goal-kicking and that’s contributed to my style and technique.

“I can also give credit to the coaches in Japan, and Tony in the Springbok set-up is doing a few things for me so I can get more consistency.

“That’s the same for every rugby player; you always need to bring something new to the team … it’s contributing to the team’s success,” he said.

Asked how far he could kick a goal, Kolbe offered a typically cheeky response:

“I think most of the balls tonight were just over the crossbar!”

The joke was vintage Kolbe. His kicking, meanwhile, was anything but a laughing matter.

With the series delicately poised, the Boks have momentum. The All Blacks have motivation.

Soweto should have plenty of both.

Springboks ready to turn Ellis Park into a rugby war zone

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, News, Preview, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Springboks ready to turn Ellis Park into a rugby war zone
By Adnaan Mohamed

The stage is set. The old enemies are back. And the Springboks are ready to throw everything into the opening punch of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.

When South Africa face New Zealand at 10bet Ellis Park on Saturday, it will be the first of four Tests between the heavyweight rivals in a series that promises enough drama to keep rugby fans glued to their screens.

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick knows exactly what is coming.

“Playing four games in one season against the All Blacks is always going to be a great challenge,” Stick said.

“These are moments that we live for. The closest thing to the Greatest Rivalry in terms of a series where every game counts is probably the British & Irish Lions series, or the knockout stages of the World Cup, and our mindset for these games will draw on those experiences.”

The Boks are under no illusion about the size of the challenge.

“We know it’s going to be a tough challenge. The All Blacks are in a good space and have been playing very well,” said Stick.

“But from our side, we also want to keep improving and evolving, and we will never be comfortable. It doesn’t get tougher than playing against the All Blacks four weeks in a row, and we are excited about it.”

That is fighting talk from a team preparing to enter a rugby pressure cooker.

Ellis Park brings the emotion

Captain Pieter-Steph du Toit, who will earn his 99th Test cap, is relishing the occasion.

“It’s a very different tournament,” he said. “To be involved in a series like this and have New Zealand play in South Africa, and also playing four games in a row is a massive honour and privilege.”

For Du Toit, Ellis Park carries memories bigger than rugby.

“It’s an awesome stadium for us and it’s close to my heart,” he said.

“When you stand there and sing the anthem and see the supporters behind the Springboks, it’s unbelievable. And of course, the 1995 Rugby World Cup was won there as well, so it’s a very special place for our country.”

Then comes the haka.

Du Toit says the Boks now have a deeper appreciation of what the ritual means to the All Blacks.

“I would never say we’d be relaxed, but it’s a massive honour to face the haka,” he said.

“We’ll face the haka with respect and we’ll accept the challenge.”

De Allende gets his flowers

Saturday will also belong to Damian de Allende, who becomes only the 10th Springbok to reach 100 Tests.

Stick believes the centre’s milestone deserves a standing ovation.

“For a guy like Damian de Allende, who has been with us through the ups and downs, and had to cope with a lot of people saying he wasn’t good enough to play for the Springboks, is amazing,” Stick said.

“He’s one of those guys who does the dirty work without anyone seeing it, so for him to play his 100th Test match is a great achievement for him and his family.”

Du Toit remembers watching De Allende during his Stormers days.

“I just saw this beast in the way he carried the ball and his work on defence,” he said.

“I have so much respect for him, the way he carries himself on and off the field, and how he’s grown as a person. It’s great to see people progress in life.”

Boks know where the battle will be won

Stick expects the All Blacks to bring serious heat at scrum and lineout time.

“We know New Zealand is going to bring it in terms of intensity,” he said.

“They’ll also look for gaps with their skilful players, so I’d say the key would be to stay alert and not get caught out.”

In other words, one defensive nap could become an All Blacks party.

The whistle blows at 17h10, with the match live on SuperSport. Limited tickets remain available.

Ellis Park is ready.

The rivalry is awake.

And the Boks are knocking on the door.

Teams

South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok.

New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Anton Segner, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Leroy Carter.

Date: Saturday, August 22
Venue: 10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.10 (Sunday, August 22)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Rassie Erasmus hits back at All Blacks slow-play claims

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, News, RugbyLeave a Comment on Rassie Erasmus hits back at All Blacks slow-play claims
Adnaan Mohamed

The first Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series has already produced its opening skirmish.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has dismissed suggestions that South Africa deliberately slows the game at set pieces, insisting his team will stick to its systems when the All Blacks arrive at 10bet Ellis Park on Saturday.

“There are always three truths: New Zealand’s truth, the truth people believe, and our truth,” Erasmus said.

The comments come as the pre-Test needle begins to prick. New Zealand has promoted a high-intensity, multi-phase style, with suggestions that the Springboks could seek to disrupt that rhythm.

Erasmus is having none of it.

“In our last two games against New Zealand in Auckland and Wellington, people can go and look at those games and ask were we slowing those down. They beat us in Auckland, and we got a good result in Wellington.”

For Erasmus, Test rugby is not about satisfying outside narratives but more about surviving the furnace when pressure reaches boiling point.

“We believe there’s a certain way to win big games and we think it will be a grind.”

That grind could become the defining feature of Saturday’s opening act.

“When you’re under pressure and you attack, it’s tough to maintain cohesion,” Erasmus said. “We will try to find a balance when games are really tight, but we have a system to fall back on that protects the players.”

Tony Brown’s influence has also helped shape the Boks’ attacking approach.

“Since Tony Brown, former All Black flyhalf and current Springbok assistant coach, has been with us, we feel as though we’ve been on the right track.”

SA Rugby laws advisor Jaco Peyper then entered the fray, offering a technical explanation of the much-discussed 30-second set-piece law.

“The law is very clear. From the moment the referee puts his foot down to mark the spot, not from the whistle, there is 30 seconds to form a lineout or scrum.”

Peyper said teams could manage the moments before the mark is made within the laws, while opponents who are ready to play can apply pressure.

“There’s nothing in the law that says you can’t idle before the mark is given.”

He also pointed out that teams can disrupt tempo through repeated infringements at breakdowns and mauls.

The whistle, in other words, could become a metronome for a Test where every second matters.

Peyper has full confidence in the officials appointed for the four-Test series, particularly England’s Matthew Carley, who will referee Saturday’s opener.

“You’re going to have a firm referee. Someone who deals decisively at the breakdown and is very strong on anything negative or cynical. And he does not get influenced by the home crowd.”

That could be music to the ears of both coaching boxes.

Erasmus expects the All Blacks to bring a blue-chip attacking blueprint to Johannesburg.

“You can see it on social media. They’re advocating a high intensity, running game, with multi-phase attacks. And when you analyse it, it definitely shows in the stats.”

Dave Rennie, who Erasmus previously faced during his Munster days, adds another tactical layer to the contest.

“The big battle is going to be when they have the ball, they’ll have total control of what they do with it, and when we have the ball, we’ll have total control of what we do with it.”

The biggest concern for Erasmus is the All Blacks’ breakdown work.

“What concerns us most is how physical and brutal they are at the breakdown. They take the ball through so many phases and then they put in a well-timed grubber kick. Their attacking kicks are as dangerous as when they have ball-in-hand.”

Away from the tactical chessboard, Erasmus admitted the Springboks are embracing the occasion.

“We all appreciate and respect what this series means,” he said.

“I’d love it if the people at Ellis Park create the same atmosphere as that which the people did in Cape Town. The haka was heard 100%, which makes it something special.”

The Springbok coach also knows the All Blacks remain capable of delivering a sting.

“We know how good the All Blacks are. Since 2018, when they were leading the world, we’ve always wondered when they’re going to beat us again, and they will beat us again in future, but hopefully not this weekend.”

Erasmus will name his team on Thursday, with captain Siya Kolisi and prop Ox Nche the only injury concerns.

“The only two doubtful players are Siya and Ox, who are coming along well,” he said. “I wouldn’t say either is confirmed out, but if they get through training today it could go either way. Apart from those two, everybody else is available.”

The All Blacks are also expected to unveil a few tactical surprises.

“They’ll have plans they didn’t show in the Nations Championship, little things, such as lineout variations, maybe a front peel or back peel move, and there are things that have caught us out before.”

The stage is set.

The talking has started.

Now Ellis Park gets the final word.

South Africa face New Zealand at 17h10 on Saturday, with the match live on SuperSport.

All Blacks turn up volume ahead of first RGR Springboks Test

Adnaan MohamedNews, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on All Blacks turn up volume ahead of first RGR Springboks Test
By Adnaan Mohamed

The All Blacks have turned up the volume ahead of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR), with the Bulls bearing the brunt of a 50-19 demolition at Loftus Versfeld.

New Zealand ran in eight tries in Pretoria on Saturday, producing their most complete performance of the South African tour to date and finishing their provincial warm-ups unbeaten.

It was a statement built on scrum power, breakdown brutality and attacking freedom. Josh Moorby, Leroy Carter and captain Codie Taylor all crossed twice as the All Blacks raced into a 24-0 halftime lead.

The Bulls eventually found some life, scoring three tries, yet New Zealand kept the scoreboard ticking like a taxi meter on a busy Saturday night.

For Dave Rennie, the performance offered useful clues ahead of next Saturday’s first Test against the Springboks in Johannesburg.

“50 points against a very good Bulls side is a positive,” Rennie said.

“We played a team that was prepared to play and really took it to us. I thought our set piece was strong, especially the scrum.”

The All Blacks created 11 line breaks to the Bulls’ one and showed improved discipline, giving Rennie plenty of selection headaches with his Test squad now taking shape.

“That certainly wasn’t our Test side tonight, and so there will be a number of changes,” he said.

“There were some really good performances that will put pressure on us from a selection point of view.”

Rennie also knows the Bulls were not a Test-strength opponent. The Pretoria side had not played since June and had limited preparation following their URC final appearance.

That reality explains why Rennie was quick to sound the brakes on the victory parade.

“What we know is that the intensity levels and the quality we’re going to come up against next week are three, four, or fivefolds, but we’ve played reasonably well on tour, and we know we need to up the ante.”

The All Blacks could welcome back Will Jordan and Cam Roigard, who have progressed from their respective injuries. Damian McKenzie remains a concern with an ankle problem, while Rennie hopes he can train on Tuesday.

New Zealand captain Codie Taylor delivered his own warning.

“No disrespect to the Bulls but they [the Springboks] will lift the tempo and physicality. That’s what Test match footy is all about. It’s an exciting week ahead.”

Loftus was the dress rehearsal. Ellis Park is where the curtain rises.

And the Boks have heard the warning bell.

Bulls bolster pack and unleash overseas X-factor for All Blacks clash

Adnaan MohamedNews, Preview, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Bulls bolster pack and unleash overseas X-factor for All Blacks clash
By Adnaan Mohamed

The Vodacom Bulls are loading up for an All Blacks ambush at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, combining returning Springbok muscle with a pair of overseas-tested backs capable of injecting serious X-factor.

The recipe is clear: add international steel to the pack, then let Curwin Bosch and Thaakir Abrahams bring the fizz.

Bosch starts at flyhalf after two seasons with Brive in France, where the 29-year-old says he rediscovered the freedom that made him one of South Africa’s most naturally gifted attacking players.

“It’s amazing to be back in South Africa,” Bosch said. “The two seasons I spent in France were really good for me, but there’s no place like home.”

His French adventure was a mental reset.

“It was so good for me mentally to spend a bit of time in France and just get the shackles off and get back to doing what I do best, and that’s play rugby.”

Bosch believes the experience stripped away the noise and restored his instinctive game.

“There were no sideshows and no distractions. I could just focus on playing good rugby.”

“I just felt a lot more free. The last couple of seasons I spent in South Africa, I felt boxed a little bit.”

“That time in France freed me up. It took me back to how you play rugby at school. You see the space and you play the space. That’s when I’m at my best.”

Now the stage could hardly be bigger.

“It’s probably an opportunity of a lifetime to test yourself against the second-best team in the world,” Bosch said.

On the wing, Abrahams offers another attacking spark. The former Sharks and Munster winger returns to the Bulls with speed to burn and the ability to turn half-chances into highlight-reel material.

Together, Bosch and Abrahams give the Bulls a backline with genuine unpredictability.

Up front, the Bulls have reinforced the pack with Springbok quality. Hooker Johan Grobbelaar and loose forward Elrigh Louw have been released from the Springboks after their Argentina tour and will provide fresh international experience from the bench.

Both have had a single training session with the Bulls.

“It’s great to have them with us, and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” coach Johan Ackermann said.

Jaundre Schoeman and Mpilo Gumede make way in the match-day squad.

Captain Marcell Coetzee leads a pack containing plenty of experience, while Hanro Liebenberg returns to South Africa after his stint with Leicester Tigers.

Willie le Roux adds another Springbok presence at fullback, with Embrose Papier and Jeandré Rudolph providing tempo and thrust.

The numbers make for sobering reading. New Zealand have won three of the four meetings since 1949. The Bulls’ solitary victory came in 1976, when Northern Transvaal edged the All Blacks 29-27.

Almost 50 years later, Loftus gets another crack at rugby folklore.

The Bulls have brought the Boks for ballast and the overseas returnees for fireworks.

Now they need the whole package to explode.

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni.
Bench: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Katlego Letebele, 23 Hakeem Kunene.

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 Xavier Numia
Bench: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 George Bower, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Emoni Narawa

Date: Saturday, August 15
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT; 05.00 Sunday, August 16 NZST)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)