Latest news with #AshfakMohamed
The Star
29-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Springboks wanted to be brave and bold with ball in hand against Barbarians, says captain Jesse Kriel
Ashfak Mohamed | Published 2 hours ago It rained almost non-stop in Cape Town this week, and when more grey skies greeted the Mother City on Saturday, you were expecting the worst as a rugby fan. Despite the Barbarians being in town for what is usually a festival-type running-rugby game, the slippery conditions would've been expected to affect both teams' approach at Cape Town Stadium. But the Boks actually didn't hold back in that regard in their 54-7 victory over the invitation side to entertain the 45,000-strong crowd. As early as the fourth minute, there were an array of impressive passes from the home side that would've been expected from the visitors. The South Africans put together a series of phases, with Lood de Jager running hard a few times, debutant prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye showcasing his deft handling skills, and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu slinging out a long pass to Kurt-Lee Arendse out wide. Lively scrumhalf Morné van den Berg also kept the tempo going with some slick clearances from the base, and the one audacious dummy from Feinberg-Mngomezulu had his Cape fans dancing in the stands. Fullback Aphelele Fassi also entered the attack chat, and delivered two delicious grubbers that set up the first two tries by Malcolm Marx and Cheslin Kolbe. Arendse and Kolbe were energetic throughout the eight-try rout, and that attack-minded theme continued into the second half, with captain Jesse Kriel breaking the line, and centre partner Damian de Allende pushing through a deft grubber for Arendse's touchdown. The Tony Brown playbook was on full show, and the growth in the Bok game in such dreary conditions speaks volumes about how they are pushing the envelope ahead of the blockbuster two Tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand in September. 'I'm obviously very happy with all of that. I think it actually started in the week. On Wednesday, we spoke about our mindset and mentality going into training – whether we are going to let the weather affect us or not. I think it was nothing different today,' Kriel said in the post-match press conference. 'We came in here positive. We wanted to be brave and bold with the ball in hand, and I think we looked dangerous with turnover ball. 'It's always great if you get the ball into guys like Fassi, Cheslin and Kurt-Lee's hands. 'They are special rugby players, and they can make something out of nothing. Ja, I think we saw a lot of that today.' Bok coach Rassie Erasmus said afterwards that he was 'satisfied' with the performance, but felt that they had gone a bit too far on attack at times in the wet weather. But the South Africans are on the right trajectory heading into next Saturday's first Test against Italy at Loftus Versfeld. 'We won't get carried away with a game like this. We know it's a festival game and we are playing at home against a team that only practiced a few times together,' Erasmus said. 'But certain things came through. We want to get better in the next matches that we will play, where we are trying to focus a lot on us. 'When we hit the Rugby Championship – and Georgia will also be a grind… 'If the weather was drier, I think some of the line-breaks and half-gaps that we got, we were a bit ambitious in trying to offload and just force the last pass. In dry weather, I think that could've stuck. 'But after halftime, when the guys spoke about that, they toned it down a little bit, and we played a little bit more conservatively and got more points. 'So, I guess we'll get used to this weather if we get that again, but we can't wait to play on a dry pitch and still improve on our attack.' Points-Scorers Springboks 54 – Tries: Malcolm Marx, Cheslin Kolbe, Vincent Tshituka (2), Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Lood de Jager, Damian de Allende. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Manie Libbok (5). Barbarians 7 – Try: Melvyn Jaminet. Conversion: Jaminet (1).
The Star
15-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
It's like everything was in fast-forward, says Jake White after Bulls bashed by Leinster in URC final
Ashfak Mohamed | Published 45 minutes ago Jake White refused to blame referee Andrea Piardi, Willie le Roux or anyone else for the Bulls' shortcomings in their deflating 32-7 United Rugby Championship final defeat to Leinster in Dublin on Saturday. Rather, the veteran coach – having had to explain what went wrong in a third title decider in four years – agreed that his team hardly got into the game due to the home side's relentless approach that saw them score three tries in 23 minutes to effectively end the game as a contest. ' It's the third final we've played in, and standing on the field and watching another team lift the trophy does... I suppose those are motivational moments that sportspeople take going forward,' White said. 'But I think you've got to understand: this is not a normal rugby team. I made a note in my book that they were 19-0 up, and they bring on RG Snyman... 'It's just a different league altogether. I said in the interview, that's why Leinster (fans) are so disappointed, because they've been waiting for that 40 minutes the whole year. 'We just happened to get what the supporters have been waiting for the whole season. We couldn't get our hands on the ball, and they defended us. They started well... 'Everyone talks about not letting them get a runaway start, and then they are 19-0 up after 23 minutes. I can just say to the Irish, I don't think the Leinster team sometimes get the credit that (they deserve). 'They are well-coached, and I must say they're fantastic guys as well. I saw Josh van der Flier today... I mean, world-class – world-class as a person. So, yeah, I mean, it's all credit to them. 'I can't praise them enough. I've said it to you many times since I started here at this level with URC, they are the benchmark, and tonight, they showed it again. 'We were never going to win that game when they got that 14-point start. 'Once they get that start, I can't remember any team that's come back from 19-0 down and beaten them.' The ruthless efficiency that is the hallmark of the Leinster game was on show in the opening 40 minutes, and White said coach Leo Cullen and the 46,127 spectators in attendance would have been delighted to see their team fire at full throttle after missing out on the Champions Cup crown. Captain and No 8 Jack Conan opened the scoring in the sixth minute already, and then All Black star Jordie Barrett hacked the ball ahead and dotted down eight minutes later. Irish openside flank Van der Flier burst through the middle of a lineout drive in the 23rd minute to register a 19-0 lead, and it was a steep task ahead for the Bulls to mount any sort of challenge. They made life difficult for themselves with a lack of intensity with ball-in-hand, opting for one-off runners on attack instead of stretching the Leinster defence. White praised his fellow former Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber for his renowned rush defence system that swallowed up the pedestrian Bulls attack, while many of Johan Goosen's tactical kicks went too far, and Willie le Roux's little chips didn't work either. The Pretoria side didn't get the necessary rewards in the scrum either, despite Wilco Louw getting the better of Andrew Porter. ' Just a credit to Jacques and the defence. They didn't allow us to... Probably we were a little bit one-off instead of running in numbers,' White said. 'We didn't have people around the ball to create pressure. And that's what happens when you're under the pump against a good team. 'So, of course, I'm sitting here saying to you, it's not ideal, but you've got to give credit to you. 'I'll make no bones about that. That was another level up. That was Test rugby. 'We turned the ball over or they turned the ball over, and I look up and I think there's space. And when I look, there's three of their players running back. I mean, it's like everything's in fast-forward. 'So that was, even for the players, they saw a different intensity and tempo and organised picture than they haven't seen all season. 'We don't ever tell Willie what to do. It either works or it doesn't work. You know that! 'But I think he's got 98 Tests. I think he's probably got one 20th of what those Irish players have in terms of the numbers. 'So sometimes players, you know, that's what happens when the pressure just comes from the front all the way to the back. They can't look at Willie and go, you know, what happened there? 'It was very simple. Scrums. We gave penalties away. Lineouts, we've got poor ball. 'Defensively, we couldn't carry through them. You know, so I'm repeating it. It was quality. That's a quality Irish provincial team. That's a really quality provincial team. 'I've been reading lots and listening to all these podcasts and shows, and the reason they disappointed, they wanted to see that 40 minutes replicated every single Saturday against everybody. 'Because then, we were trying. It wasn't like we weren't trying. 'So, I don't blame it on any senior players. 'We were outplayed tonight and we were beaten by a side that I know that when they find their mojo, which they did tonight in that first 40 minutes, they're good enough to beat anybody. 'That side, as I said, that's the kind of side that would run out and play against all the big European clubs and beat them.' Points-Scorers Leinster 32 – Tries: Jack Conan, Jordie Barrett, Josh van der Flier, Fintan Gunne. Conversions: Sam Prendergast (2), Ross Byrne (1). Penalties: Prendergast (2). Bulls 7 – Try: Akker van der Merwe. Conversion: Johan Goosen (1).
The Star
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
URC final preview: Bulls have the firepower to conquer Leinster ‘mission impossible'
Ashfak Mohamed | Published 7 hours ago The Bulls haven't lost in the United Rugby Championship in eight matches. They also have an excellent away record this season, having won five out of seven encounters, with the only defeats coming against the Scarlets and Sharks. The most significant of those victories were against the Stormers in Cape Town, Munster in Limerick and Glasgow in Scotland. That is why today's URC final against Leinster at Croke Park in Dublin (6pm SA time kick-off) is not a 'mission impossible' for Jake White's team. They will take heart from the fact that they have beaten Leinster in Ireland before, in the 2022 semi-finals in what was an epic 27-26 triumph, and enjoy a four-out-of-six win record against the Irish giants. Sure, it wasn't always a full-strength Leinster, but those results are in the history books, and it should provide the visitors with the necessary belief that they finally end their URC title bogey after losing two previous finals. ' I must say we've actually toured quite well this year, and our win record is better than most. I don't know why it is, we happen to have played really well away from home,' White said after naming his match-23 this week. 'It's a little bit reminiscent to when I was at the Brumbies. We went through 11 games unbeaten away from home. 'Sometimes when you've got that recipe going for you, it counts in your favour because you enjoy being together, enjoy the players spending time together. 'And when you win, obviously those sorts of memories and those sorts of feelings that you have when you get back as a group is something that's special as well. 'But also, there's no doubt guys, it doesn't matter when we play Leinster. 'Quality team... I've said it to you many times: they're the benchmark of not just the URC, of club rugby, I think all over the world. 'The Toulouses and the Leinsters are the two teams that everyone wants to try and emulate. So, it didn't matter where we played. 'Let's be fair, whether it's at Croke Park – whether it's Aviva, whether it was at RDS, whether it was in South Africa – I think the challenge is exactly the same.' And that challenge is dealing with the relentless nature of the Leinster approach. They play an up-tempo game, with wave after wave on attack – usually out wide to James Lowe and Jimmy O'Brien, but also up the guts via Joe McCarthy, Dan Sheehan and Jack Conan. The Bulls, though, can fight fire with fire. The front row of Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw don't have to stand back for any opposition in the tournament in the scrums and tight-loose, while lock Cobus Wiese has played himself into Springbok contention. Playmakers Embrose Papier, Johan Goosen and Willie le Roux have the magic in their hands and feet to put on a dazzling show, and strike-runners abound in Canan Moodie, Sebastian de Klerk, David Kriel and Harold Vorster. Perhaps the greatest test for the Pretoria outfit will come in the loose trio, where the injury-enforced absences of Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw will be most felt. Conan, Josh van der Flier and Ryan Baird are an outstanding Leinster combination – even though Ireland stalwart Caelan Doris is injured. So, captain Ruan Nortjé will have to produce arguably his finest performance in a No 7 jersey to put the Bulls on the front foot in the collisions to complement Marcell Coetzee and Marco van Staden. ' I was lucky enough to coach Pieter-Steph (du Toit) when he was a youngster, and I moved Pieter-Steph from lock to flank – and Ruan's got the same attributes,' White said. 'He can run for 80 minutes, he can, as I said, he has all those attributes of being a loose forward. 'I'm glad he says he enjoys it. I would have hated it if he had sat here and said, no, I don't like playing flank. 'He's got a work-rate, he's unbelievable. He's covered defence and understanding rugby, and then running a lineout as a loose forward as well is a massive attribute, which gives us, as I said, gives us another, that string to our bow.' The skipper himself is not concerned about moving away from his primary role as a No 5 lock and lineout-caller either. 'I must say, I really enjoy it a lot. It's a bit more loose, a bit more on the edge,' Nortjé said. 'It just makes you a bit more versatile. I just enjoy being at the side of the scrum in a different position.' There is no doubt that Leinster have the edge among the replacements, boasting Bok star RG Snyman, veteran French prop Rabah Slimani and the exciting outside back Jamie Osborne. But the Bulls have been highly effective as a squad, and the likes of Akker van der Merwe, Nizaam Carr and Keagan Johannes can make vital contributions in the second half too. 'What all teams want to do is make sure that when the last three weeks come about, that you can put your best players fit and available on the field, and play your best rugby,' White said. 'It's simple: we play our best rugby on the weekend, and we win.' Teams For Dublin Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux 14 Canan Moodie 13 David Kriel 12 Harold Vorster 11 Sebastian de Klerk 10 Johan Goosen 9 Embrose Papier 8 Marcell Coetzee 7 Ruan Nortjé (captain) 6 Marco van Staden 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 Nizaam Carr 21 Zak Burger 22 Keagan Johannes 23 Devon Williams. Leinster: 15 Jimmy O'Brien 14 Tommy O'Brien 13 Garry Ringrose 12 Jordie Barrett 11 James Lowe 10 Sam Prendergast 9 Jamison Gibson-Park 8 Jack Conan (captain) 7 Josh van der Flier 6 Ryan Baird 5 James Ryan 4 Joe McCarthy 3 Thomas Clarkson 2 Dan Sheehan 1 Andrew Porter. Bench: 16 Ronan Kelleher 17 Jack Boyle 18 Rabah Slimani 19 RG Snyman 20 Max Deegan 21 Luke McGrath 22 Ross Byrne 23 Jamie Osborne.
The Star
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
High work-rate vital for Bulls to stop up-tempo Leinster in their tracks in URC final, says Marcell Coetzee
Ashfak Mohamed | Published 2 hours ago The Bulls opened the scoring in both their previous United Rugby Championship finals and lost. So, perhaps the Pretoria side should let Leinster grab the early lead in Saturday's title decider at Croke Park in Dublin (6pm SA time kick-off) if they want to enjoy a case of third time lucky. But having endured the heartache of two defeats, such experiences would have given them the necessary knowledge to handle a similar situation against Leinster this weekend. Perhaps being written off by everyone outside Pretoria may also spur on Jake White's team. But while emotion – Cornal Hendricks' passing will also inspire the Bulls – has a place in a final, it is also about ensuring that you heed the lessons from the past. So, the visitors cannot afford to let an early lead slip this time, or concede yellow cards, like they did in the semi-final win over the Sharks last week. 'I think if I take that first final (18-13 defeat against the Stormers), think we scored off the bat probably like three, four minutes in the game,' loose forward Marcell Coetzee said from Dublin on Wednesday. 'So, we had a good start in the game and we were going well at first, but it just showed you (that) you can't rely on those moments. 'I thought we just might have missed the kicking game in that second half particularly. And that's how we let the Stormers in that day. They used the opportunities. We had a man down in the bin as well. 'And then the second game (last year's 21-16 loss to Glasgow), again great start, and we built on that. But you can't let the opposition in. That's what I meant by soft moments. 'You can't let them really in, and then let them get the ascendancy and momentum. 'It's going to come down to moments, and how we manage it and how calm and collected in control we are. It's all about managing that. 'That comes with experience, and I think over the course of the seasons, that's really been very beneficial for our team.' Coetzee may be asked to pack down at No 8 in the absence of the injured Cameron Hanekom on Saturday, and it shouldn't be an issue for the 34-year-old to fulfil. His energetic ball-carries and high work-rate on defence will be vital if the Bulls hope to stop the relentless Leinster attack. The Irish giants love to stretch the opposition defence early on, and the South Africans will have to be wide awake to prevent conceding points in the opening quarter. At the same time, they need to impose themselves on proceedings as well and force Leinster to make a lot of tackles too. That's where Coetzee, Cobus Wiese and Jan-Hendrik Wessels need to front up with ball-in-hand to create holes for dangerous backs such as David Kriel and Canan Moodie. 'That's the uniqueness about the Leinster team. When they get it right on the day, they can really light it up. That's part of our job,' Coetzee said. 'We need to nullify it as best as possible by certain things we identified. Look, I think there's a time and a place for everything. 'It's all about playing in the right areas. 'There will be times where we want to make the game quick and controlled and tempo, but there's also times to settle it and see where we can go from here, being composed and having good management on the day. 'Playing against a quality side like Leinster, you can't afford to have one guy or two guys in the bin. 'You need all the feet on the pitch, and it's going to take a work-rate to stop their onslaught. 'You don't want to let the guy next to you down by being reckless and stuff. 'That and soft moments we need to cut out in our game, and just building on our DNA that's been working for us this whole season.'
The Star
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Can young bucks spark Rassie Erasmus' Springbok ‘Dad's Army' for 2027 World Cup?
Ashfak Mohamed | Published 2 hours ago Ruck&Maul Column Some of the Sharks' Springbok stars were heavily criticised on social media following the United Rugby Championship semi-final defeat to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld last weekend. Centre Lukhanyo Am bore the brunt of the fall-out after he had a nightmare in Pretoria, with a number of uncharacteristic handling errors in particular blighting his performance. But does that mean that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus must now 'throw the baby out with the bathwater' when it comes to Test selection in 2025? In fact, Erasmus has a lot to ponder on during this week's camp in Johannesburg, as there are still three international seasons to complete before he picks his final squad for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. There is a definite possibility of a Bok 'Dad's Army' rocking up Down Under, and it is something that Erasmus needs to be mindful of over the next few years. It is not necessarily a bad thing having several experienced campaigners who have won two consecutive World Cups – like England in their 2003-winning campaign in Australia, and who also made the 2007 final in France – and being loyal to warriors who have produced decisive contributions in the toughest moments over the last six years. But it is about getting the mix just right between the old dogs and the new young bucks for Australia 2027. That is perhaps something the Sharks haven't done over the last few years, as they may have contracted too many top-tier Boks such as Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi and Ox Nche all at once. They can't be expected to be at their best for virtually 12 months of the year, considering the fact that the Boks start their Test season after the URC, and then go straight into the Rugby Championship – a period that should be their off-season, as the northern-hemisphere players enjoy every year. But the age of some stalwart Boks can't be ignored when looking to 2027. Willie le Roux is turning 36 in August and is probably just going to earn a deserved 100th cap before leaving the Test arena. Makazole Mapimpi will be 35 in July, and even though he's playing great rugby at the moment, he will be 37 in 2027. Kolisi will celebrate his 34th birthday next Monday (Youth Day), Etzebeth will be 34 in October – and has sustained a few concussions and other injuries – Mbonambi turned 34 in January, Am will be 32 in November, Handré Pollard turned 31 in March, Jesse Kriel was 31 in February, Damian de Allende will be 34 in November, Pieter-Steph du Toit will be 33 in August... and so we can go on. So, with the 54-man squad announced by Erasmus last week for the upcoming matches against the Barbarians, Italy and Georgia, it is clear that he is looking to the future as well. Many of the new faces have already proved that they can become Test stars, such as flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and fullback Aphelele Fassi. And Erasmus has stated that some of the fresh blood – like UCT wing Ntokozo Makhaza – won't necessarily play this year, but just get used to the Bok environment. Erasmus' hand may be forced in certain positions, though – and that is also down to the 'new' players having to take their opportunities this year. Wilco Louw has been outstanding since rejoining the Bulls, and has surely become the first-choice Bok tighthead – even if Frans Malherbe had to be fit. Hooker is not a clear-cut selection either. Malcolm Marx may edge out Mbonambi for a starting berth, but where does Jan-Hendrik Wessels fit into the front row, having been a destructive force at loosehead prop as well for the Bulls? With Etzebeth's injury concerns and Salmaan Moerat sustaining another concussion in the URC quarter-final, who are the No 4 lock alternate options? Cameron Hanekom's injury in the URC semi-final has reopened the door for Evan Roos, but will the Stormers man get a proper chance to establish himself? Will Feinberg-Mngomezulu be backed as the No 1 flyhalf, or will Pollard start against the All Blacks in September? At least Erasmus has the July Tests and the two Australian Rugby Championship encounters to find answers to these questions...
