Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2023 i SA RUGBY

It's puzzling but true that Chmpions South Africa are on the home straight to the 2023 Rugby World Cup and there remain lingering questions around who should fill the crucial No 10 jersey. Hard-running Handré Pollard has been first on the depth chart since Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, but the gung-ho 29-year-old has had well-documented issues with form and fitness since before the Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2019. Veteran Elton Jantgies' career appears to have been derailed by off-field issues, Momé Steyn has retired from rugby, Johan Goosen's long injury history makes him a high-stakes gamble, Frans Steyn's hopes of playing m a fourth World Cup reportedly hinge on his recovery from a tom knee ligament and the incumbent, Damian Willemse, seems to have been…

FORWARDS 1. TONY WOODCOCK World-class prop, could do it all 2. BISMARCK DU PLESSIS Beast! Could ball-carry, offload, make big hits and jackal. 3. CARL HAYMAN Big man who moved well and owned the set piece. 4. BRODIE RETALLICK Tough, competes for everything. High-skill player with massive rugby IQ- deadly mix. 5. VICTOR MATFIELD A lineout guru, good ball-carrier and leader. 6. THIERRY DUSAUTOIR Tough, strong and a beast over the ball. R Tough, strong and a beast over the ball. 7. RICHIE McCAW The GOAT. 8. DUANE VERMEULEN His nickname is Thor' - Enough said! 'HIGH-SKILL PLAYER WITH MASSIVE RUGBY IQ' 'BEST HALFBACK OF ALL TIME' BACKS 9. FOURIE DU PREEZ My favourite player growing up. Best halfback of all time. 10. DAN CARTER The perfect 10. 11. JONAH LOMU…

"WHEN THAT FINAL WHISTLE WENT, IT WAS JUST TRYING TO HOLD THE TEARS BACK' STORMERS CAPTAIN STEVEN KITSHOFF AFTER THEIR 19-14 DEFEAT TO MUNSTER IN THE URC FINAL ‘ITS HARD FOR US NOW. ITS VERY, lEiY TOUGH' STORMERS COACH JOHN DOBSON 'DEVASTIONS IS PROBABLY THE WORD' LEINSTER COACH LEO CULLEN AFTER HIS SIDE BLEW A17-0 LEAD TO LOSE 27-26 TO LA ROCHELLE IN THE CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL IN DUBLIN 'WE BECOME A SPECIAL TEAM AFTER TODAY, BUT THEN YOU WENT TO CREATE A DYNASTY' I LA ROCHELLE COACH ROHAN O'GARA AFTER DEFENDING THEIR CHAMPIONS CUP CROWN 'YOU'RE A F**KING DISGRACE!' WHAT JOHNNY SEXTON TOLD REFEREE JACO PEYPER AND HIS ASSISTANTS AFTER THE CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL THE INJURED LEINSTER FLYHALF WATCHED THE MATCH FROM THE STANDS 'IN TERMS OF WHERE HE…

POLLARD & LIBBOK As rugby's showpiece in France draws ever closer, the South African rugby fraternity is divided over who should start in the No 10 jersey for the Springboks at the 2023 World Cup. At face value, it seems like this should be a superfluous debate. Handré Pollard was on deck when South Africa won the global title in 2019 and, now 28, he has added four years of experience to a career that has spanned 65 Tests heading into a third World Cup tournament. Surely that, combined with his excellent recent form, should be enough to see him retain his role as the Springbok kingpin? But where Pollard is the high-floor, known entity, Marne Libbok has emerged as an enigmatic, high-ceiling candidate. Pollard has been a mainstay of…

2011 WORLD CUP Having been stripped of co-hosting rights for the 2003 World Cup, Which was staged in Australia, New Zealand won the right to be the sole hosts of the 2011 tournament after seeing off bids from South Africa and Japan. The All Blacks once again entered a World Cup as Favourites and were under huge pressure to end a 24-year wait for a second title, having won the first tournament, at home, in 1987. New Zealand had, however, relinquished their Tri-Nations title to the Wallabies in 2011 abd also lost to the Wallabies in 2011 and also lost to the Springboks in Port Elizabeth. That had been the Bok's Only win of the tournment, with coach peter de Villiers onting to field a B team for his side's…

Everyone wants a piece of the next big thing. Yet few have gone to the same lengths as the photographers who crawled through the school bushes just to get a single snap of a teenage superstar named Joseph Sua'ali'i. Such was the esteemwith which the Penrith-born prodigy was held that Sua'ali'i didn't even have to be playing. His mere presence at the side of the pitch was enough to summon the press to a rugby union game at The King's School, Parramatta, amid the pandemic. 'You've got to understand these kids don't come around often,' explains Stuart Woodhouse, the director of rugby at Sua'ali'i alma mater. There's a lot of external pressure and I think the school handled it really well to give him a normal life. They were crazy…

Stade Francais' Original colours were bule, red and white, and they introduced their pink jerseys in 2005 as former president Max Guazzini wnated to shock the macho world of rugby. A cover of Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive' by the Hermes House Band became the club's offical anthem during the 1990s. Stade's home ground Is the 20 000-seater Stade Jean-Boulln, but they occasionally stage playoff games at the significantly larger 80 000-seater Stade de France. Despite Winning the domestic league 14 times - a record only bettered by Toulouse (21) - Stade Francais have only won one European title, the Challenge Cup in 2016-17. After Winning back-to-back Top 14 titles with Stade Francais, coach Nick Mallett returned to Cape Town for Family reasons in 2004. He then became Western Province's…

Manie Libbok is a class act and an indifferent United Rugby Championship final against Munster does little to detract from the consistency of a season in which he was the best No 10 in South Africa. Leicester-based Handré Pollard, the scorer of 22 points in the victorious 2019 World Cup final against England in Japan, is comfortably the first cab off the rank when it comes to who starts at No 10 in a World Cup playoff game. But there should be comfort in Libbok's presence in the Springboks’ 2023 Rugby Championship and World Cup squads. There should be calm because It is Libbok's ability to be chaotic that makes his selection so appealing. The question isn't whether South Africa can accommodate both Pollard and Libbok In the national squad.…

RG SNYMAN 'Champions' - The Munster and Bok lock celebrated winning the URC after an epic final in Cape Town. BROK HARRIS 'Incredible couple or months. Thank you for all the support!' - The Stormers player-coach with teammates Steven Kitshoff, Joseph Dweba and Frans Malherbe following the URC final. RUHAN NEL 'Special day at DHL Stadium with the Faithful out in their numbers! Onto the semis we go!' - The Stormers centre with midfield partner Dan du Plessls after their victory over the Bulls. FRANCKE HORN 'A URC campaign full of highs and a few lows. Nevertheless, It was an amazing season with amazing teammates and a lot of new memories. Cain’t wait for next season.’ - The Lions No 8 reflected on the 2022-23 season. TENDAI MTAWARIRA 'Monaco Grand…

BULLS HALL OF FAME Legendary Springbok scrunmhalf Founde du Preez is the first Bulls inductee after seeing off the challenge of Joost van der Westhuizen, Danie Rossouw, Plene Sples, Bakkles Botha and Victor Matfield. Du Preez Is a two-time SA Rugby Player of the Year who served the Bulls with aplomb from 2002 to 2011. He Is a three-time Cumle Cup champion (2003,2004 and 2009), a three-time Super Rugby winner (2007.2009 and 2010) and was named SA Rugby Player of the Year in 2006 and 2009 CHEETAHS HALL OF FAME Springbok legend and scrum maestro Os du Randt was the man most worthy of being the first Cheetahs Inductee, according to readers. Powering the Cheetahs scrum from the mid-90s until 2007. Du Ranolt was a loosehead colossus. The World Rugby…

Dillyn Leyds and Raymond Rhule were made in South Africa, but given the freedom to flourish in France. When chatting to the double Champions Cup winners for this issue of SA Rugby magazine, I expected them to say that playing their club rugby for La Rochelle, under coach Ronan O'Gara, had made them better rugby players. But both farmer Springbok wings said it was more a case of French rugby allowing them to express themselves in a less-pressurised environment, A bad performance in South Africa results in a barrage of criticism from fans and the media, but at La Rochelle, it's quickly forgotten. Win, lose or draw, fans continue to fill the Stade Marcel-Deflandre and cheer for their team. The support never wanes. WHILE WE WOULD LOVE ID KEEP ALL…

Led by the tenacious French lock Paul Gabrlllaguas, Stade Francis have witnessed a remarkable Influx of talent, both local and international. Among their standout players are Gabrillagues’ experienced compatriot Morgan Parra, and a formidable contingent of South Africans. At the heart of the forward pack stands Gabrillagues, a towering presence who commands respect on and off the field. Excelling in the lock position, he epitomises the never-say-die spirit, rallying his teammates to push beyond their limits and forge victory in the toughest battles. Complementing Gabrillagues' leadership is the seasoned Parra, who marshals the team from his perch at scrumhalf. His exceptional decision-making under pressure and pinpoint accuracy with the boot have proven Instrumental for the club. Adding an International flair to a formidable lineup are the talented South Africans. Jeremy…

Wayne Jeary Congratulations, Munster. Were the better team tonight and are worthy champions. Showed tremendous guts, courage and determination. Fully deserved. Jakes Johann Pratorius The Stormers were never In the game! They celebrated way too early two weeks ago when Munster beat Leinster. Munster did their homework, again! Cheryl Bothma Missed tackles by Willemse and kicked away possession by Libbok cost us the game. Well done, Munster. Jason Deysel Coetzer So kind of Libbok to hand Pollard the Bok No 10 jersey after that performance. Michael Hansen Well played, Munster, the better team tonight. We counted our chickens and they came (to our) home to roost. Fabrizl Benettolo Massive Impact for Munster when he came off the bench. Deserved the call-up. Garath Hlsc Top bloke, one of the best players…

How did you end up kicking for goal while Playing scrumhalf? During my school days I played fullback and used to kick for goal When I moved to scrum half at U16 level, I Just kept on doing it. It's something I practise every day and coaching from [former Griffons flyhalf] Louis Strydom helped tons. Who would be the better goal-kicker -Lionel Messl or Cristalno Ronaldo? Ronaldo, He knows exactly where he wants to kick the ball and is the greatest penalty scorer of all time! Do you hws any pre-match rituals or habits? Not really, I try to calm myself as much as possible before a game. I go fora walk on the field and try to get a reel of the wind to compose myself. Which goal-kicker did…

EXPLOSIVE RUNNING Libbok has some serious wheels. His speed and aglity make him a threat every time he touches that ball. You blink, and he's gone. He's the kind of player who can turn a match on its head with one scorching run. CREATIVITY Libbok's got that knack for finding gaps in the defence and creating scoring opportunities. He's got that special vision, that ability to see things others don't. When it comes to making something out of nothing, he's your man. He's the guy who can pull a rabbit out of the hat and leave the opposition scratching their heads. FLAIR Libbok's not your average run-of-the-mill player. He's got that X factor, that ability to bring some much-needed excitement to the Springboks' attack. He's a maverick, a risk-taker. You…

How does it feel to be back-to-back Champions Cup winners? Rhule: Ah man, it's an amazing feeling. It's still surrel. I think when we reflect on it in a couple of years'time, we'll realise just how special it is. Leyds: It hasn't really sunk in for me yet, beacuse we went straight from the Champions Cup into the French Top 14 playoffs. But, as Raymond says, it was an amazing feeling to win in again. La Rochelle beat Leinster in both finals-24-21 in Marselle last season and 27-21 in Dublln this season. Which gave you the most satisfaction? Rhule: Last year's final was the pinnacle for me, because I had a great and nothing beats that feeling of winning a tournament for the first time. Leyds: For me, it's this…