Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2024 i SA RUGBY

Richie McCaw was 34 when he retired after the 2015 Rugby World Cup final. The following season, the All Blacks surrendered to Ireland for the first time in team history, in 2017 they drew a series against the touring British & Irish Lions, and then failed to beat South Africa in back-to-back visits to New Zealand, lost against Ireland in Dublin and were emphatically dumped out of the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-finals by England. McCaw’s absence alone isn’t the reason for that run of disappointing results, but it’s easy to argue that the All Blacks would have been in much better shape had the iconic flanker stuck around after hanging up his boots. The Boks are in great shape after winning back-to-back world titles, and even more so now…

Duane Vermeulen is moving back to the front of the Bok bus as he takes the first steps in his coaching career. Vermeulen has moved to the next phase of his rugby career by taking up a coach’s whistle, giving back to the game that made him a Springbok legend. There was understandable skepticism when rumours surfaced that Vermeulen was being lined up to succeed Jacques Nienaber as the Springbok defence coach. After all, Vermeulen had no coaching experience and he was only months removed from having wrapped up a 76-Test career in the 2023 World Cup final in Paris in November. Then, in February, it was confirmed that Vermeulen had been appointed as one of three coaches in Rassie Erasmus’ SA Rugby mobicoaching unit, with the Springboks instead recruiting…

SIMON BORCHARDT COLUMN ‘What for?’a visibly frustrated Anton LienertBrown gestured to the Chiefs dugout, having just been told to leave the field for a concussion test despite not taking a head knock. The All Blacks centre’s departure came at a crucial time in the Super Rugby Pacific opener for the hosts, who trailed the Crusaders by two points with five minutes remaining and were on the attack in their opponents’ 22. Fortunately for the Chiefs, the loss of a key player didn’t cost them the game, as they came away with three points from that attack and went on to win 34-30. But it so easily could have. The same thing had happened to Crusaders lock Quieten Strange and Chiefs centre Quinn Tupaea earlier in the match. Both players were…

HANDLING Use the right cues to use the right miss pass The miss pass can create linebreaks, exploit overlaps or create mismatches. Identify the key cues. When used correctly, the miss pass can be a powerful weapon to set up clean breaks, create mismatches and score tries. The key is to up-skill all players (not just your inside backs) into recognising when to execute a miss pass. WHEN TO USE A MISS PASS IN OPEN PLAY 1. The body shape of outside defenders looking in or out If an outside defender is looking in at the inside ball-carrier there is a high chance they are not looking ‘north’, directly up the pitch. Therefore, they cannot see the running line of the attacker in front of them. The inside ball-carrier and…

CLUB FOCUS Powered by a South African engine room, Edinburgh are seeking their first major piece of silverware. One of two professional Scottish teams competing in the United Rugby Championship, Edinburgh are on a mission to end their trophy drought. The club has been involved in the URC since its inception as the Celtic League in 2001-02, but has never won the tournament, finishing as runners up to Munster in 2008-09. However, after missing out on the playoffs in 2022-23, Edinburgh have rebounded under new head coach Sean Everitt, the former Sharks boss hired after a short stint as an assistant to Jake White at the Bulls. Everitt has inherited a squad with a South African flavour. Props Pierre Schoeman and WP Nel and powerful winger Duhan van der Merwe…

GAËL FICKOU Breaks and telling defensive interventions. Even a try. In a hard-fought victory over Scotland, when things just looked out of sorts, Gaël Fickou stepped up to the plate for France in round two of the Six Nations. And it is that dependability that has made him such an important figure for Les Bleus. Fickou made his Test debut against Scotland in 2013, when he was just 18 years and 355 days old. He has been around ever since and is still just out of his twenties. As a young pro his qualities were evident. After being released by his childhood club Toulon, he was snapped up by Toulouse and quickly dazzled on the top stage. Those in the know bought stock still earlier than all that. In 2012,…

The South African provincial rivalry is back, and the rugby public are finally voting with their cash. The ‘sold out’ sign went up at Loftus Versfeid when the Bulls hosted southern rivals the Stormers, in the greatest compliment to the form and quality of the two teams. It was also an emphatic statement that the United Rugby Championship has rejuvenated South Africa’s biggest provincial rivalry. The 50 000 crowd for the 2 March clash represented the first time the Bulls had sold out Loftus for a match since 2012. When the two teams met in Cape Town in December 2023,40 000 attended the match. The previous three URC matches, played in Cape Town in league and playoffs between the two teams, also sold more than 40 000. It once again…

HUW JONES ‘Another special Calcutta Cup memory to add to the collection.’ - The Scotland centre, with hat-trick hero Duhan van der Merwe, after a fourth-straight win over England. ROHAN JANSE VAN RENSBURG ‘I am extremely grateful to have played my first game for Canon Eagles. Really looking forward to the season ahead.’ - The former Sharks centre after making his league debut for the Japanese club. MATT GITEAU ‘Unreal to get back out there with San Diego Legion and play again after two years away. Been good to be back on the same team with the big USO [brother] Ma’a Nonu.’ - The Wallabies great after coming out of retirement to play in Major League Rugby. JACO COETZEE ‘Altyd lekker om tyd saam jou te spandeer my pel [always…

WHICH FIFTEENS STAR WOULD BOOST THE BLITZBOKS’ OLYMPIC CAMPAIGN? VS DEVIN HERMANUS SAYS STEDMAN GANS Gans’ return to the South African national sevens setup would be an impactful move by coach Sandile Ncgobo. Gans, having spent four years with the Blitzboks from 2017 to 2021, possesses a wealth of experience, making his reversion a breeze. Notably, his ability to swiftly adapt codes was evident in 2021 when he seamlessly switched to the Bulls. Gans’ potential inclusion in a Monaco tournament from 21-23 June, a crucial event for South Africa to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, is a no-brainer. As a fifteens star reportedly already shortlisted by SA Rugby to join Ncgobo’s charges, the 26-year-old brings explosiveness, savvy defence and tryscoring prowess. His previous success with the Blitzboks and familiarity…

Njabulo Wela That’s an exciting group of youngsters they’ve called up. The Boks have some serious young talent coming through. Julet Mangena How long must Dayimani wait for his moment of glory? Jannie Pieters Dayimani is light years ahead of Hanekom. Charl William Crowie Happy for Sanele Nohamba and Henco van Wyk. Lots of young talent in this group. Emilio Mars Francke Horn and Akker van der Merwe deserve to be there. Siyakha Mabeezy Ntlabakanye should also be there. Harold Clarke There is no KFC where the camp is to be held. Wisani Wayne Nkuna Good call. Competition is stiff here. Sibusiso Tait He was never going to make the Springbok squad anyway. Berhane Freyer He wants to be a Bok, there is no doubt about it, but he is…

If you could listen to only one song before a match or training, what would it be? I’d go with Lil Baby’s The Bigger Picture’. It’s one of my favourites that I listen to before matches. What did you study at CUT, and is it something you’ll use after rugby? I studied IT, but I don’t think it’s something I‘ll use after rugby, I’d rather stay involved with the game. You were the 2021 Varsity Cup Player that Rocks. What’s your fondest memory of that campaign? Scoring the match-winning try in CUT’S first-ever victory over Maties. Which Hollywood actor, past or present, would you like to play you in a film about your career? Chris Tucker, because I really love my comedies. If your house was on fire and you…

Tony Brown has the tools to polish South African rugby’s glittering and talented playmakers while pulling a rabbit out of his hat as the new Springbok attack coach for the reigning world champions. As South Africa chart a course to the 2027 World Cup in Australia, Brown’s insights and innovative approach merge with the tactical nous of Rassie Erasmus, the mastermind behind the Boks’ back-to-back world titles of 2019 and 2023, and who has returned to the role of head coach for the next four years. The Bok backroom staff has undergone a shakeup with the departure of Jacques Nienaber and Felix Jones. In their stead, former Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery takes command of the team’s defence, while Brown assumes the mantle of orchestrating the Boks’ attack. The management team,…

■ Sean Everitt (left) is the second South African to coach Edinburgh, after former Springbok assistant Alan Solomons, who was in charge of the team between 2013 and 2016. ■ Netherlands-born former Scotland wing Tim Visser holds Edinburgh’s tryscoring record, dotting down 60 times in 130 appearances, ■ Edinburgh became the first Scottish team to reach a major European final in 2014-15, when they were beaten by Gloucester in the Challenge Cup final in London. ■ Former Junior Springbok flank Cornell du Preez is one of three South Africans to reach 100 caps for Edinburgh, along with props Pierre Schoeman and WP Nel. ■ Edinburgh have won the 1872 Cup against rivals Glasgow Warriors seven times since its revival in 2007, most recently in the 2021-22 season.…

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