Clara Johnson

Ospreys coach Toby Booth says the Stormers will unleash “a world of pain” if allowed to control the breakdown and kicking battle in Saturday’s showdown at Cape Town Stadium, reports DEVIN HERMANUS . The Ospreys are the best-ranked Welsh side in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, but they’re coming off a crushing 45-15 loss to the Lions at Ellis Park. The Stormers, though, are looking to build on a thrilling 23-20 win over Ulster in Cape Town, which kept them top of the South African log and sixth overall in the URC. John Dobson’s men have bamboozled opponents with their lethal counter-attacking and finishing skills, but Booth wants Ospreys to flip the script on their hosts by starving them of possession.  Stormers fear being ‘boxed in’ by Ospreys Speaking ahead of Saturday’s clash in Cape Town, Booth said: “Without a doubt, this game looks like it’s about who’s going to deal with the kicking game the best. If you kick loosely at their counter-attack, there’s a world of pain c

The Sharks and Stormers are each tipped to bank a Vodacom United Rugby Championship win this weekend, but there was dissent among the SA Rugby magazine team in backing the Lions and Bulls. United Rugby Championship Sharks vs Dragons (Friday, Durban, 7.30pm) Zelím Nel: Sharks by 15 Dylan Jack: Sharks by 9 Juandre Joubert: Sharks by 9 Devin Hermanus: Sharks by 12 Glasgow vs Zebre (Friday, Glasgow, 8.35pm) Zelím Nel: Glasgow by 20 Dylan Jack: Glasgow by 19 Juandre Joubert: Glasgow by 10 Devin Hermanus: Glasgow by 7 Benetton vs Connacht (Saturday, Treviso, 1pm) Zelím Nel: Benetton by 3 Dylan Jack: Connacht by 10 Juandre Joubert: Connacht by 3 Devin Hermanus: Benetton by 5 Vodacom Bulls vs Ulster (Saturday, Pretoria, 2pm) Zelím Nel: Bulls by 3 Dylan Jack: Ulster by 5 Juandre Joubert: Bulls by 4 Devin Hermanus: Bulls by 11 Lions vs Edinburgh (Saturday, Johannesburg, 4.05pm) Zelím Nel: Edinburgh by 5 Dylan Jack: Edinburgh by 4 Juandre Joubert: Edinburgh by 1 Devin

Ospreys coach Toby Booth says the Stormers will unleash “a world of pain” if allowed to control the breakdown and kicking battle in Saturday’s showdown at Cape Town Stadium, reports DEVIN HERMANUS . The Ospreys are the best-ranked Welsh side in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, but they’re coming off a crushing 45-15 loss to the Lions at Ellis Park. The Stormers, though, are looking to build on a thrilling 23-20 win over Ulster in Cape Town, which kept them top of the South African log and sixth overall in the URC. John Dobson’s men have bamboozled opponents with their lethal counter-attacking and finishing skills, but Booth wants Ospreys to flip the script on their hosts by starving them of possession.  Stormers fear being ‘boxed in’ by Ospreys Speaking ahead of Saturday’s clash in Cape Town, Booth said: “Without a doubt, this game looks like it’s about who’s going to deal with the kicking game the best. If you kick loosely at their counter-attack, there’s a world of pain c

Former Wales and British & Irish Lions centre Scott Gibbs says there’s plenty of talent coming through to freshen up the Springboks with speed, skill and power in the three-Test series against Wales in July. The post Pick the kids for Boks, says Lions legend appeared first on SA Rugby magazine . The post Pick the kids for Boks, says Lions legend appeared first on Rugby Daily News . source https://rugbystream.us/pick-the-kids-for-boks-says-lions-legend/

Former SA U20, Stormers and Sharks utility back Kobus van Wyk has parted ways with Leicester Tigers with immediate effect, the English Premiership club said. Van Wyk, who made 18 appearances for the Tigers since his debut in October 2020, has agreed terms for an early release from his contract and is believed to have already returned to South Africa. Prior to joining Tigers, the 30-year-old played in New Zealand for the Hurricanes, as well as in a short stint with French club Bordeaux-Bègles. In an official club statement, Leicester Tigers coach Steve Borthwick said: “I want to thank Kobus for his contribution to our club during his time in Leicester. “He joined us at the start of this journey we are on and has played a part in building the foundations for what is to come at Tigers. “I wish him and his family all the best for the next chapter.” The club has agreed terms with Kobus van Wyk, allowing the outside-back an early release from his contract. — Leicester Tigers (@Leices

We spoke to Elite Player Development Officer Andi Kyriacou for the latest update on our young Greencore Munster Rugby Academy players. As always, it was a busy month for the Academy with six young players in South Africa for the two-game URC tour. On the international front, Tony Butler, Patrick Campbell and Ethan Coughlan helped […] The post Academy Update | March 2022 appeared first on Munster Rugby . The post Academy Update | March 2022 appeared first on Rugby Daily News . source https://rugbystream.us/academy-update-march-2022/

Nathan Hughes has revealed that coach Eddie Jones showed the England team a video of Bakkies Botha hyping himself up before the 2007 World Cup final as a motivational tool for Tests against the Springboks.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by RugbyPass (@rugbypass) The post Watch: Jones used Bakkies video to motivate England appeared first on SA Rugby magazine . The post Watch: Jones used Bakkies video to motivate England appeared first on Rugby Daily News . source https://rugbystream.us/watch-jones-used-bakkies-video-to-motivate-england/

Stormers captain Steven Kitshoff could face a blast from the past in Saturday’s match against the Ospreys at Cape Town Stadium. DYLAN JACK  reports. Bellville-born Ospreys tighthead prop Tom Botha has made 22 appearances since joining the Welsh club from the Cheetahs in 2018. The 31-year-old started in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against the Lions at Ellis Park and is expected to retain his place for a homecoming against the Stormers in Cape Town. Botha started his career at Western Province, representing the union at U19, U21 and Vodacom Cup levels, before he moved to the Eastern Province Kings and then the Cheetahs. In fact, Botha and Kitshoff both attended Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch and, as the Springbok loosehead revealed, were good friends at high school. “Yeah, Tom is an old schoolmate of mine. We were just a year apart at Paul Roos,” Kitshoff explained. “It’s going to be fun playing against him. I actually somewhat followed his career over the yea

Stormers captain Steven Kitshoff could face a blast from the past in Saturday’s match against the Ospreys at Cape Town Stadium. DYLAN JACK  reports. Bellville-born Ospreys tighthead prop Tom Botha has made 22 appearances since joining the Welsh club from the Cheetahs in 2018. The 31-year-old started in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against the Lions at Ellis Park and is expected to retain his place for a homecoming against the Stormers in Cape Town. Botha started his career at Western Province, representing the union at U19, U21 and Vodacom Cup levels, before he moved to the Eastern Province Kings and then the Cheetahs. In fact, Botha and Kitshoff both attended Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch and, as the Springbok loosehead revealed, were good friends at high school. “Yeah, Tom is an old schoolmate of mine. We were just a year apart at Paul Roos,” Kitshoff explained. “It’s going to be fun playing against him. I actually somewhat followed his career over the yea

Coach John Dobson insists the Stormers won’t overlook the threat posed by an upgraded Ospreys outfit when the teams clash in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon. DYLAN JACK  reports. The Stormers go into Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship match looking to build on a thrilling win over Ulster at Cape Town Stadium, which kept them on top of the South African shield and in sixth place on the table. Ospreys are the best-ranked Welsh side in the tournament but they’re coming off a 45-15 loss to the Lions at Ellis Park. Although nothing has been officially confirmed, the Ospreys are rumoured to be expecting a couple of big names back for the clash, including Welsh Test flyhalf Gareth Anscombe. Sitting in ninth place, six points behind the Sharks, Ospreys will also know that getting a win on Saturday is vital to keeping their fading playoff hopes alive. Speaking on Wednesday, Dobson said that Ospreys are a better side than the margin of defeat by the Lions suggests and that the Sto

These players aren’t satisfied just being good at rugby – they have to show off their football, basketball and gridiron skills, too! @ballcarrier Which one was your favourite? #rugby #BallCarrier #ballskills #skills #rugbyunion ♬ original sound – tatamsounds State of the URC: Three out of four for SA teams The post Watch: Too good for the game appeared first on SA Rugby magazine . The post Watch: Too good for the game appeared first on Rugby Daily News . source https://rugbystream.us/watch-too-good-for-the-game/

Damian de Allende says he hopes the Springboks don’t move away from the unique challenge of playing in the Rugby Championship anytime soon amid links of a switch to the Six Nations. Speculation has been rife over the past few months that the Springboks could ditch the Sanzaar partnership to join Europe’s elite. Despite committing to Sanzaar and the Rugby Championship until at least the end of 2024, suggestions are that the door is still open for the Springboks to join the Six Nations in 2025. The Springboks have been involved in the southern-hemisphere tournament since it was first formed as the Tri-Nations in 1996, claiming their first title in 1998. Their rivalry with the All Blacks is a highlight of the Test calendar, as the two teams have a history going back to 1921. Speaking during a Munster press conference this week, De Allende was asked for his opinion about a potential move away from the Rugby Championship. “I really enjoy playing against New Zealand, Australia and Arge

Leolin Zas says he has left a “dark place” behind him and fully embraced the Stormers’ stylish brand of rugby in 2022, writes DEVIN HERMANUS . Zas has notched the second-most tries (seven) in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this season, forming a dangerous back three for the Capetonians with Warrick Gelant and Seabelo Senatla. John Dobson’s men are eighth in the URC, with the breathtaking finishing of the likes of Zas proving pivotal to their three successive wins over European opponents , yet it’s hard to believe that the wing almost called it a day after enduring several difficult seasons. The 26-year-old broke his leg in a warm-up win over the Lions in 2017, before returning to Western Province and the Stormers in 2019 after a troubled two seasons at the Sharks. Ahead of Saturday’s showdown with the Ospreys at Cape Town Stadium, Zas said: “It was a tough journey but I’m more mature now, I’m a better player. Coming back three years ago, I was in a bit of a dark place and a

Edinburgh are hoping to nullify the Lions’ expansive gameplan at Ellis Park on Saturday in a bid to add another notch to their belts in South Africa, writes DEVIN HERMANUS . Flyhalf Blair Kinghorn crossed for two tries as the Scottish side punished a sloppy Sharks performance 21-5 in torrential rain at Kings Park on Saturday. The Lions, though, ran seven tries past the Ospreys in Friday’s 45-15 win in Johannesburg, courtesy of a cavalier attack underwritten by a pack working tirelessly off the ball, and lethal finishing from their outside backs. Ivan van Rooyen’s men are ninth in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship for attacking play, and speaking ahead of Saturday’s URC clash, Edinburgh coach Mike Blair said: “We’re wary of the Lions’ transition attack, so we can’t give away loose balls, or be giving too much space to the outside backs. “Also, we’ll be watching for the danger in and around the set pieces; I thought we handled the Sharks scrum last week, so we’re confident we c

Leolin Zas says he has left a “dark place” behind him and fully embraced the Stormers’ stylish brand of rugby in 2022, writes DEVIN HERMANUS . Zas has notched the second-most tries (seven) in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this season, forming a dangerous back three for the Capetonians with Warrick Gelant and Seabelo Senatla. John Dobson’s men are eighth in the URC, with the breathtaking finishing of the likes of Zas proving pivotal to their three successive wins over European opponents , yet it’s hard to believe that the wing almost called it a day after enduring several difficult seasons. The 26-year-old broke his leg in a warm-up win over the Lions in 2017, before returning to Western Province and the Stormers in 2019 after a troubled two seasons at the Sharks. Ahead of Saturday’s showdown with the Ospreys at Cape Town Stadium, Zas said: “It was a tough journey but I’m more mature now, I’m a better player. Coming back three years ago, I was in a bit of a dark place and a

Edinburgh are hoping to nullify the Lions’ expansive gameplan at Ellis Park on Saturday in a bid to add another notch to their belts in South Africa, writes DEVIN HERMANUS . Flyhalf Blair Kinghorn crossed for two tries as the Scottish side punished a sloppy Sharks performance 21-5 in torrential rain at Kings Park on Saturday. The Lions, though, ran seven tries past the Ospreys in Friday’s 45-15 win in Johannesburg, courtesy of a cavalier attack underwritten by a pack working tirelessly off the ball, and lethal finishing from their outside backs. Ivan van Rooyen’s men are ninth in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship for attacking play, and speaking ahead of Saturday’s URC clash, Edinburgh coach Mike Blair said: “We’re wary of the Lions’ transition attack, so we can’t give away loose balls, or be giving too much space to the outside backs. “Also, we’ll be watching for the danger in and around the set pieces; I thought we handled the Sharks scrum last week, so we’re confident we c

Seabelo Senatla showed a steely element to his game as the Stormers held out against an Ulster onslaught. It’s an area that will be vital for him to keep developing if he is to fulfil his dream of playing for the Springboks, writes DYLAN JACK . Senatla’s decision to forgo becoming a Blitzbok great to chase Springbok stardom has long been derided by couch critics. Despite achieving unprecedented success on the sevens circuit, Senatla committed himself fully to fifteens by signing a contract extension with Western Province Rugby last April. He first started playing for the Stormers in 2014 under Allister Coetzee, but struggled to make the transition due to the limited space and opportunities to run with the ball. He was also severely tested defensively and under the high ball. However, having managed to get a sustained run in the Stormers team under John Dobson this year, Senatla is starting to look like the real deal. Not only has there been the flashy play that we have all come to

Seabelo Senatla showed a steely element to his game as the Stormers held out against an Ulster onslaught. It’s an area that will be vital for him to keep developing if he is to fulfil his dream of playing for the Springboks, writes DYLAN JACK . Senatla’s decision to forgo becoming a Blitzbok great to chase Springbok stardom has long been derided by couch critics. Despite achieving unprecedented success on the sevens circuit, Senatla committed himself fully to fifteens by signing a contract extension with Western Province Rugby last April. He first started playing for the Stormers in 2014 under Allister Coetzee, but struggled to make the transition due to the limited space and opportunities to run with the ball. He was also severely tested defensively and under the high ball. However, having managed to get a sustained run in the Stormers team under John Dobson this year, Senatla is starting to look like the real deal. Not only has there been the flashy play that we have all come to

Round seven of the Varsity Cup featured plenty of thrilling action, including wins for UP-Tuks, NWU Eagles, UWC, Shimlas and UCT in the tournament’s 500th match on Monday. In the first match of the day, UWC scored a 44-38 bonus-point win in Cape Town but allowed the CUT Ixias to claim two valuable log points from the fixture. ALSO READ: UCT snatch historic Varsity Cup derby against Maties UWC came into this match needing a victory to avoid certain relegation to the Varsity Shield. From the outset, they adopted a more pragmatic approach, relying on their powerful pack and the accurate kicking of captain Lyle Hendricks to create pressure and opportunities. The Ixias battled to cope at the set pieces and collisions. Lock Ulrich Stander was shown a yellow card in the 30th minute after his team committed one transgression too many. Prop Haniel du Toit then crashed over for his second try – and UWC’s fourth. At that stage, the hosts looked to be on course for a comfortable win. The Ixia

World Rugby has opened a probe into a “potential breach” by Spain of eligibility rules during their successful qualification for next year’s World Cup, with the player being investigated originally from South Africa. According to Spanish media, the player under investigation is South African-born prop Gavin van den Berg, who has been playing in Spain since 2018. He played twice against the Netherlands (2020, 2021) in qualifiers, but he may not seemingly have served the three years of residency needed to become eligible under World Rugby rules. Spain beat Portugal 33-28 in Madrid earlier this month to become the 16th team to qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. The victory meant they were assured of second place in the group. Georgia, who had already booked their place in France, top the pool. That place, however, could be under threat for Spain as World Rugby said it would “convene an independent judicial committee to examine a potential breach … by the Spanish Rugby Un

A World Cup draw should not be conducted three years before the tournament, writes SIMON BORCHARDT . The draw for the 2023 Rugby World Cup was made on 14 December 2020 in Paris, exactly 1,000 days before the opening match of the tournament between hosts France and the All Blacks on 8 September 2023. The 12 automatic qualifiers were seeded based on their World Rugby ranking from 1 January 2020, which grouped the Springboks, All Blacks, England and Wales in band one; Ireland, Australia, France and Japan in band two; and Scotland, Argentina, Fiji and Italy in band three. The folly of having the draw almost three years before the tournament – based on rankings from 11 months earlier – was glaringly exposed after the draw and the 2022 Six Nations. On 1 January 2020, the top-four ranked teams were the Springboks, All Blacks, England and Wales (the 2019 World Cup semi-finalists). By 14 December 2020, Wales had plummeted from fourth to ninth with France climbing from seventh to fourth. B

A World Cup draw should not be conducted three years before the tournament, writes SIMON BORCHARDT . The draw for the 2023 Rugby World Cup was made on 14 December 2020 in Paris, exactly 1,000 days before the opening match of the tournament between hosts France and the All Blacks on 8 September 2023. The 12 automatic qualifiers were seeded based on their World Rugby ranking from 1 January 2020, which grouped the Springboks, All Blacks, England and Wales in band one; Ireland, Australia, France and Japan in band two; and Scotland, Argentina, Fiji and Italy in band three. The folly of having the draw almost three years before the tournament – based on rankings from 11 months earlier – was glaringly exposed after the draw and the 2022 Six Nations. On 1 January 2020, the top-four ranked teams were the Springboks, All Blacks, England and Wales (the 2019 World Cup semi-finalists). By 14 December 2020, Wales had plummeted from fourth to ninth with France climbing from seventh to fourth. B

England captain Owen Farrell has once again come under heavy criticism for a no-arms tackle during his return from a long-term injury for Saracens against Bristol Bears this weekend. Farrell made his return from a four-month injury which forced him to miss the entire Six Nations in Saracens’ narrow win over Bristol in the English Premiership on Saturday. The 30-year-old has tended to push the boundary of the law when it comes to his tackling technique and was at it again at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Four months out. First game back. It’s now beyond a joke. pic.twitter.com/EAjmv3mFgt — Ruck ’n’ Roll (@RnRRugby) March 27, 2022 During the second half of the match, Farrell appeared to drive into Bristol centre Piers O’Conor using only his shoulder, without the use of his arms. The tackle was reviewed by the TMO, but referee Christophe Ridley said that there was only shoulder-to-shoulder contact and that the tackle was passive, only awarding Bristol a penalty and deciding not

England captain Owen Farrell has once again come under heavy criticism for a no-arms tackle during his return from a long-term injury for Saracens against Bristol Bears this weekend. Farrell made his return from a four-month injury which forced him to miss the entire Six Nations in Saracens’ narrow win over Bristol in the English Premiership on Saturday. The 30-year-old has tended to push the boundary of the law when it comes to his tackling technique and was at it again at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Four months out. First game back. It’s now beyond a joke. pic.twitter.com/EAjmv3mFgt — Ruck ’n’ Roll (@RnRRugby) March 27, 2022 During the second half of the match, Farrell appeared to drive into Bristol centre Piers O’Conor using only his shoulder, without the use of his arms. The tackle was reviewed by the TMO, but referee Christophe Ridley said that there was only shoulder-to-shoulder contact and that the tackle was passive, only awarding Bristol a penalty and deciding not

With a diving catch that would make any Proteas outfielder proud, Rhyno Smith scored yet another brilliant try for Benetton in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against Munster. This follows the former Sharks and Cheetahs fullback making a bid for one of the standout tries of the season with an incredible effort after just 35 seconds against Glasgow in November. . @RHYNOSMITH15 TOOK OFF! @Vodacom #URC | @BenettonRugby | #MUNvBEN pic.twitter.com/2QFSpoAlO2 — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) March 25, 2022 The post Watch: Rhyno Smith or Jonty Rhodes? appeared first on SA Rugby magazine . The post Watch: Rhyno Smith or Jonty Rhodes? appeared first on Rugby Daily News . source https://rugbystream.us/watch-rhyno-smith-or-jonty-rhodes/

With a diving catch that would make any Proteas outfielder proud, Rhyno Smith scored yet another brilliant try for Benetton in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against Munster. This follows the former Sharks and Cheetahs fullback making a bid for one of the standout tries of the season with an incredible effort after just 35 seconds against Glasgow in November. . @RHYNOSMITH15 TOOK OFF! @Vodacom #URC | @BenettonRugby | #MUNvBEN pic.twitter.com/2QFSpoAlO2 — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) March 25, 2022 The post Watch: Rhyno Smith or Jonty Rhodes? appeared first on SA Rugby magazine . The post Watch: Rhyno Smith or Jonty Rhodes? appeared first on Rugby Daily News . source https://rugbystream.us/watch-rhyno-smith-or-jonty-rhodes/

Clontarf clinched a home semi-final with a 24-12 win over defending Division 1A champions Cork Constitution, with Dublin University, who were victorious in Ballynahinch, closing the gap in the race to finish in the top four. ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE: MEN’S DIVISIONS RESULTS: Saturday, March 26 DIVISION 1A: BALLYNAHINCH 19 DUBLIN UNIVERSITY 30, Ballymacarn Park Scorers: Ballynahinch: Tries: Ronan Patterson, Conor Rankin, Conor McAuley; Cons: Conor Rankin, Greg Hutley Dublin University: Tries: Mark Nicholson, Alan Francis 2, Giuseppe Coyne; Cons: Mick O’Kennedy 2; Pens: Mick O’Kennedy 2 HT: Ballynahinch 7 Dublin University 10 BALLYNAHINCH: Conor Rankin; Ronan Patterson, George Pringle, Rory Butler, Aaron Cairns; Ryan Wilson, Chris Gibson; Ben Cullen, Conor Piper, John Dickson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Kyle Gill, Thomas Donnan, Bradley Luney, Callum Irvine. Replacements: Ben Pentland, Harry McCormick, Tom Martin, Yasser Omar, Greg Hutley, Conor McAuley. DUBLIN UNIVERSITY:  Rob Rus

Coach John Dobson and captain Steven Kitshoff have hailed the Stormers’ composure to weather Ulster’s kicking game and hold on for a tense victory on Saturday. The Stormers successfully defended a three-point lead in the final 20 minutes to claim a vital win over second-placed Ulster in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship match at Cape Town Stadium. Dobson’s side were under pressure for almost the entirety of the second half as they were pinned back by Ulster’s excellent tactical kicking game. Following the win, Dobson spoke highly of the Stormers’ ability to win ugly, after showing the flashier side of their gameplan in the preceding matches against Cardiff and Zebre. “It was courageous,” Dobson said post-match. “There were elements of our game which are important for our growth that came out, like the scrum plan. We started with Kitsie [Steven Kitshoff] and Frans [Malherbe] and the replacements probably bailed us out. “But that was the plan. We had Frans for 40 minutes and Ki