Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2024 i SA RUGBY

Having won the Tri-Nations in 1998, 2004 and 2009, and a truncated Rugby Championship title in 2019, the Springboks swept the Wallabies and All Blacks in September to hoist the southern hemisphere's most prized rugby trophy for the fifth time. The 2024 Rugby Championship success was driven by no less than 10 events that showcased the world champions’ raw power and refined skill set, such as Kurt-Lee's knockout performance in Brisbane, Sacha's monster penalty at Ellis Park and the crowning moment at Mbombela Stadium, where Eben shattered the Bok record for Test appearances. Next up, the Boks are checking their parachutes before they deploy against Scotland, England and Wales in a three-Test tour of duty this month. Gregor Townsend, Steve Borthwick and Warren Gatland each have unique objectives as they…

‘WE'VE WANTED TO WIN THIS TROPHY FOR A LONG TIME. BUT WE DONT WANT TO STOP THERE, WE'RE NOT SATISFIED WITH WHERE WE ARE’ CAPTAIN SIYA KOLISI AFTER THE SPRINGBOKS’ RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP TRIUMPH ‘YOU MUST BE HONEST ABOUT INJURIES. SACHA IS LUCKY WE WON BOTH OF THOSE TEST MATCHES’ RASSIE ERASMUS ON SACHA FEINBERG-MNGOMEZULU PLAYING AGAINST THE ALL BLACKS WITH A KNEE INJURY THAT LATER REQUIRED SURGERY ‘BITTERSWEET? MATE, WE GOT THE CUP’ COACH SCOTT ROBERTSON’S RESPONSE TO A JOURNALIST AFTER THE ALL BLACKS’ 31-28 VICTORY AGAINST THE WALLABIES IN SYDNEY, WHICH SAW THEM RETAIN THE BLEDISLOE CUP ‘I WOULDN'T SAY I LOST HOPE. BUT IT CERTAINLY GAVE ME GLIMPSES OF REALITY AND THE WAY I HAD TO CHANGE MY MENTALITY’ FULLBACK APHELELE FASSI, WHO MADE HIS TEST DEBUT IN 2021, ON HAVING…

HANDRÉ POLLARD ‘Made some amazing memories over the last couple of weeks. Thanks for all the support during the Rugby Championship!’ - The Springbok flyhalf with fellow veterans Damian de Allende, Frans Malherbe and Jesse Kriel. MZWANDILE STICK ‘No DNA just RSA. Danko Mzansi.’ - The Springbok assistant coach celebrated with Eben Etzebeth after their Rugby Championship triumph. KWAGGA SMITH ‘TRC 2024.’ - The Springbok loose forward with Ardie Savea and Cheslin Kolbe after the Ellis Park Test. AKANI SIMBINE Such an honour to be on the field as the flag bearer for the Springboks’ Rugby Championship win!’ - The Olympic silver medallist sprinter with Bok legend Bryan Habana at Mbombela Stadium. TENDAI MTAWARIRA ‘Hanging with a bunch of legends at the Cheslin Kolbe Foundation launch.’ - The Springbok great…

CLUB FOCUS Former Prol4 champions the Scarlets are hunting a URC playoff debut. Since capping their best-ever season by being crowned the 2016-17 Prol4 champions, the Scarlets have endured a dry spell. The following season saw the club progress to the final where they were dethroned by Leinster, who avenged their 2017 semi-final defeat. To date, the URC has not proven to be a better hunting ground for the Llanelli-based dub, with a lOth-piaced finish in the inaugural edition, followed by 14th in 2022-23 and 13th place last season. The Ospreys clinched the last of the eight playoff berths, and the Scarlets were a full 23 points behind them on the standings. In the modern era, the Scarlets have failed to reach the heights befitting their proud history. Though officially…

FACE OFF SA RUGBY MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS GO HEAD TO HEAD LINEBREAKS DYLAN JACK SAYS EMMANUEL TSHITUKA If Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is on the hunt for the next back-row enforcer, Emmanuel Tshituka deserves a shot at the green and gold jersey. Tshituka put himself on the radar with impressive performances for the Lions and, since joining older brother Vincent at the Sharks, his rise has continued in Durban. The Congo-born Tshituka brothers have until now been ineligible for a Bok call-up due to issues with their passports. However, with those problems now a thing of the past, the door has been opened for Emmanuel to burst into international rugby. With the Boks utilising more than 40 players this year, Erasmus could have widened the net even further, and Tshituka’s versatility…

Lwandile Soqashe That's obvious. Webb Ellis Cup, Rugby Championship, Freedom Cup, British & Irish Lions series, Mandela Plate all in the cabinet. Big Vic put it nicely: You have to win the games that matter. Roger Truman As an All Blacks supporter, I can’t argue with that. Agnes Jefferies Roberts Absolutely agree. They are the best rugby team in the world. In every aspect. Rory Purcell The best team in the world except when they play Ireland. Grant Cameron New Zealand need to beat Ireland in November and the Boks need to win all three game. Jonathan Lloyd World rankings mean nothing, total farce. Peter Jones Well done, team! It’s the effort and courage that makes a good team, not only the result. Elizabeth Daniels Well done Bok ladies, such…

How did you get your nickname ‘The Boogieman’? I got it from a friend in primary school. I have no idea where he got it from, he called me 'The Boogieman’ and it just stuck. What was your most memorable schoolboy rugby exeprience? Playing Paarl Gim in matric. They had a great year and I scored a late interception try. Which players outside of South Africa have had the biggest influence on your style of play? Ma’a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams. They had a very unique physical and skilful style of play. What piece of advice would you give to a young player? Forget most things from schoolboy rugby. It gives you a foundation for unions to notice your talent but you need to focus on improving in all…

SIMON BORCHARDT COLUMN Rassie Erasmus and Siya Kolisi’s Springboks have gained rugby immortality by winning back-to-back World Cups, two Rugby Championships and a British & Irish Lions series. Throw in the Freedom Cup and Mandela Challenge Plate and you have a bulging trophy cabinet that is the envy of the rugby world. However, true sporting greats are never satisfied, so it was encouraging to hear Kolisi say ‘we don’t want to stop there’ after lifting the Rugby Championship trophy in Nelspruit, because there’s still so much more for them to achieve in this most golden of Springbok eras. Winning a full Rugby Championship this year for the first time since 2009 was a significant achievement for the Boks, considering Erasmus’ selection experiments, but it would be an even bigger feat…

www.youtube.com/@RugbyCoachWeekly TACKLING Tackle and recover Complete the tackle by getting back into position to challenge for the ball, but under pressure. The tackler has to enter the tackle from behind the tackle, not from any angle. WHY USE IT The tackler has to enter the tackle contest from behind the tackle. He can easily be penalised if he goes off his feet or doesn’t release the tackled player properly. SET-UP Four cones, four ruck pads (optional), one ball. HOW TO DO IT Put a ball-carrier and tackier in the middle of the diamond. Have a ruck-pad holder on each corner of the diamond, lettered A to D. Have the ball-carrier walk forward, with the tackler coming from a slight angle to put him on the ground. After the tackler has…

MACK HANSEN Growing up, Mack Hansen had two solid reasons to strap on his headgear - keeping his mum happy and Stephen Larkham. Diana Hansen and the Wallabies legend are key figures in the journey of the Gungahlin Eagle turned Connacht and Ireland sensation. So is his dad, Craig. ‘They're definitely the main reason why I am where I am,’ says Hansen. 'We never really went on holidays or anything like that. Holidays were travelling around Australia to rugby comps, wherever I had them on. They made a lot of sacrifices in their life so that I could be here now. My biggest influences and supporters by far.’ There is a perception of Hansen, and one he has leaned into, of an easy-going lad who loves his beers and speaks…

CAREER IN PICTURES…

I love the fact that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has picked what he believes to be his best squad for the last international hurrah of 2024. The Boks play Scotland, England and Wales. Oh for a final Test against Ireland and the challenge of a Grand Slam tour. Unfortunately, it is the woeful Wallabies who get a crack at the Grand Slam but I don’t see them winning a Test. The All Blacks play England, Ireland and France in successive Tests. I don’t see them winning any of those three. ERASMUS HAS MADE IT CLEAR NOVEMBER IS NOT TIME FOR EXPERIMENTING AND NO TIME FOR DEVELOPMENT Erasmus’ Springboks should power through all three Tests and finish the year ranked No 1 in the world and the most dominant squad in…