Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2025 i SA RUGBY

Handré Pollard has built a career on composure. When the Boks have needed clarity, the steely flyhalf has supplied it with an assured boot, a steady hand on the tiller and a temperament that thrives when the pressure gauge is in the red. Pollard’s record speaks volumes - two World Cup titles, 34 points across successive finals, and the almost mechanical ability to turn tense contests into Bok triumphs. In Cape Town against Australia, he was at it again, kicking all six of his shots at goal for 15 points, guiding the Boks to a vital 30-22 win just a week after the shock of Ellis Park. In doing so, he edged closer to Percy Montgomery’s all-time Springbok points record. Montgomery is hoping he’s there when Pollard breaks his record…

OS’ LAST LAP Injuries had forced 1995 World Cup-winning loosehead prop Os du Randt to retire in 2000, but he returned to the game in 2003 and was recalled to the Springbok squad by coach Jake White the following year. Du Randt told SA Rugby magazine he’d had ‘moments of terrible self-doubt’ after coming out of retirement. That was before a Bok team mental session, in the week leading up to the first Test against Ireland in Bloemfontein in 2004, helped to boost his confidence. ‘[Team psychologist] Henning [Gericke] gave me the Bok jersey,’ Du Randt recalled. ‘The rule in this session is that if you’ve got the jersey, the other guys have to say something about you - positive, negative, it doesn’t matter. Guys like Bakkies [Botha] said they…

Shoian Eckhardt And that is why Pollard is so important - kicks win you games. Edwinah Pick Fredericks This was in no way redemption for last week’s performance. We’re lacking creativity, urgency and spark. Our game plan has become predictable. Lungelo Kepe Very Lucky. Australia losing Nic White and Tom Wright very early… things could’ve been very different here and very sour again. Ivan Hendricks We’ll take the win, but it’s not looking good for the Springboks. Elton le Roux I am afraid there was nothing much to celebrate in that match for the Springboks! Dave Casepac The Boks were k*k. I thought Australia made bad decisions not to kick for goal. On top of which they missed two shots at goal. Springboks lucky tonight. PURE GOLD COMMENT! Wins a…

The All Blacks forwards have made clear and steady progress under Jason Ryan in the past three years. They have built depth, especially at lock, and Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson has mostly made good on his Project 4-4-4 plan of having at least four Test quality players in each position two years out from the World Cup. The loose forwards are a fascinating mix. Good loosies have always been a dime a dozen in New Zealand and yet this is a regime in which the uber-skilled Hoskins Sotutu is deemed surplus to requirements and tough, hard-nosed footballers such as Luke Jacobson, Ethan Blackadder and Dalton Papali’i are marqinalised. Ardie Savea should always be the first name inked onto a match-23 list, but in which jersey? If he goes to the openside,…

www.youtube.com/@RugbyCoachWeekly TRAINING Freshen up your training Nearing the end of a long hard season, your players will be tired in all sorts of ways, physically and mentally. It’s not a good time to take on new ideas so small adjustments can make a big difference. Along season can mean players start to become stale. Create motivation and enthusiasm through small changes in the way you approach training, not with new ideas. There are a number of activities that can help you create this and freshen up the players’ energy levels. WHAT DO THEY ENJOY? Players at your club or school will have a number of activities they really enjoy and you should use these as part of your warmups or core session activities. Groups really enjoy a small-sided 4 vs…

HISTORY Pearl Boys’ High School (Hoër Jongenskool Paarl), founded in 1868, is one of the oldest and most respected rugby schools in South Africa. Rugby was introduced at the school in the early 1900s, and has since grown into a proud tradition deeply rooted in the school’s culture. The school is renowned for producing some of the country’s top rugby players, many of whom have gone on to represent Western Province, the Stormers and the Springboks. Famous old boys include Mannetjies Roux, Carel du Plessis (the ‘Prince of Wings’), Corné Krige (former Springbok captain), Salmaan Moerat (Springbok captain), Frans Malherbe and others. Paarl Boys’ High has long been regarded as a rugby powerhouse. The school has consistently ranked among the best in South Africa, with its 1st XV regularly competing…

Zelim Nel, on the Keo & Zels rugby podcast, stated that the Springboks would not win the 2027 Rugby World Cup unless Jacques Nienaber was reunited with Rassie Erasmus in the next 24 months. Zels was emphatic that the duo were the masterminds of World Cup title wins, but individually they are vulnerable. I agreed with him, but I could not quite articulate what it is that Rassie wants, needs or gets from Jacques and vice versa, so I asked my assistant on ChatGPT, one ACE, the following question. Where you read Batman, read Rassie. Where you read Robin, read Jacques. Keo: Why does Batman need Robin and why does Batman not always appreciate that he needs Robin? ACE: Great question. The short answer: Robin keeps Batman from becoming the…

ABOUT SARLA Slogan is ‘Passing on the Passion’. Biggest rugby development platform in the southern hemisphere. With the support of key sponsors, Sarla runs the Vuka rugby programme countrywide and stages the national Hollywood Foundation iQhawe Week for U15 development teams. The Cell C SA Rugby Legends team gives former players a chance to play classic matches in SA and around the world. Organises charity events, golf days, auctions and national food drops. - Visit sarugbylegends.com SHOES’ NEWS SARLA CEO MARIUS SCHOEMAN August was a special month for us at the SA Rugby Legends Association. We celebrated the launch of Scrumming Against All Odds, a book that honours 15 Saru legends who were denied the chance to represent South Africa during the apartheid era. It was wonderful to see these…

‘WE WERE REALLY DOG S**T ON THE DAY’ RASSIE ERASMUS AFTER THE SPRINGBOKS’ 38-22 DEFEAT TO THE WALLABIES AT ELLIS PARK ‘I’D RATHER GRIND OUT A WIN THAN LOSE PLAYING PRETTY’ RUGBY’ ERASMUS A WEEK LATER, AFTER A 30-22 VICTORY IN CAPE TOWN ‘MY PERSONAL VIEW IS WE NEED TO EMBRACE WHAT RASSIE BRINGS TO RUGBY. THE GUY IS A BRILLIANT INNOVATOR. YOU WANT INNOVATORS, DONT YOU?’ WORLD RUGBY CEO ALAN GILPIN ‘I JUST FELT THAT I WAS WASTING MY TALENT OUT THERE’ WALES WING LOUIS REES-ZAMMIT AFTER GIVING UP ON HIS NFL DREAM AND SIGNING FOR THE BRISTOL BEARS ‘MY PARTNER WENT TO THE GYM AND LEFT MY DOG HOME ALONE AND IT’S GONE DOWN THE HALLWAY, JUMPED ON THE BED AND JUST CHEWED UP THE PASSPORT AND MY…

BULLS COACH: JOHAN ACKERMANN CAPTAIN: RUAN NORTJÉ 2024-25 LOG FINISH: 2ND (FINALISTS) IN A NUTSHELL Having reached three URC finals in four seasons under former coach Jake White, the Bulls have backed Johan Ackermann to get them over the line, writes Simon Borchardt. Ackermann took the Lions to back-to-back Super Rugby finals before heading overseas in 2017, but European club rugby is a different beast, with coaches having to juggle the URC alongside Champions Cup or Challenge Cup commitments. White always prioritised the URC, but Ackermann has already said he wants to field strong teams in the Champions Cup, so smart player rotation will again be key in a marathon season when Springboks are also required to take breaks. One of White’s constant gripes was that more Springboks playing abroad…

SACHA FEINBERG-MNGOMEZULU ‘Home soil!’ - The Springbok flyhalf exchanged jerseys with Wallabies veteran James O’Connor after the Rugby Championship match in Cape Town. RG SNYMAN The Wall.’ - The Springbok lock with fellow second rowers Ruan Nortjé, Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager at Cape Town Stadium. JULIÁN MONTOYA ‘History written at home. Proud of this team and to have shared it with our people. Thank you for always believing!’ - The Los Pumas captain with Pablo Matera and Guido Petti after Argentina’s first-ever home victory over the All Blacks. WILL JORDAN ‘Another brutal Test match. Week 1 in Argentina in the books.’ - The All Blacks fullback exchanged jerseys with Jordie Barrett after a Rugby Championship victory in Córdoba. ANDRÉ ESTERHUIZEN ‘Off day.’ - The Springbok centre enjoyed a…

What was your biggest takeaway from the Junior Springboks’ World Rugby U20 Championship campaign in Italy? Enjoy your time and appreciate what you have. It’s such a special experience to be part of the Junior Boks, but the reality is it only lasts five or six months. Make the most of the opportunity and grab it with both hands. What would you like to achieve during the 2025-26 season? To make my URC debut for the Lions. What’s your favourite activity outside of rugby? I love going to the beach and swimming. Which rugby player has been your biggest role model or inspiration? Definitely [former All Blacks scrumhalf] Aaron Smith. If you had to choose another career path outside of rugby, what would it be? Probably something in the finance…

‘He is the right man at the right time,’ Bulls president Willem Strauss said when Johan Ackermann was appointed head coach. The former Springbok lock was the obvious candidate once it became clear that Jake White’s position had become untenable and others earmarked for the job were locked into contracts with current clubs. Ackermann made his name as a coach by taking the Lions from Super Rugby relegation in 2012 to back-to-back finals in 2016 and 2017. He then coached in England and Japan, before returning to South Africa last year as a Junior Springbok consultant. The 55-year-old, who started his playing career at the Bulls in the mid1990s, said he got ‘goosebumps’when offered the job and didn’t hesitate to accept. Three days after his appointment, he helped the Junior…

BEST DECISION Garry Ringrose. Self-reporting concussion symptoms after being named in the second Test side was beyond admirable. MOST ENTERTAINING Pierre Schoeman (above) was by far the star interviewee. He talked about viking ships and bisons. CULT HERO After Tomos Williams’ injury, Jac Morgan was a one-man band for Wales. Even fans from the other nations fell in love with the former engineer. BEST PLAYER Tadhg Beirne played the most minutes out of anyone but before the Test series it looked like Andy Farrell was flogging a dead horse. Class is permanent, however, and buoyed by his coach’s show of faith, Beirne won the Player of the Series award. BEST COMEBACK Hugo Keenan arrived injured and then couldn’t get off the toilet, losing 6kg to a sickness bug. In a…

Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks arrived in Wellington under pressure after 2018 Rugby Championship defeats to Argentina in Mendoza and Australia in Brisbane. The hosts were heavy favourites, having humiliated the Boks 57-0 in Albany the year before. The All Blacks, in ominous form with three wins from three matches, exploded out of the blocks. Fullback Jordie Barrett and scrumhalf Aaron Smith crossed for early tries to make it 12-0 inside the opening quarter. Then came the spark. Winger Aphiwe Dyantyi finished off a sweeping move sparked by hooker Malcolm Marx and fullback Willie le Roux to get the Boks on the board. Moments later, Le Roux pounced on a loose Beauden Barrett quick throw-in to score under the posts. Suddenly, the visitors led. Marx powered over from a rolling maul to…

The laws of the game allow us to mix up the numbers in the lineout. You can use all seven forwards in a full lineout so that your backs have more space to attack, or you can have fewer forwards in a short lineout and position the others among the backs to assist in your attack. With the multitude of options available, this set piece allows for a lot of creative thinking and planning. Here, we cover various elements of attacking from lineouts, and offer a variety of options for tactical plays, which you can adapt to the strengths and weaknesses of your team. As with attacking from the scrum, your goal should be to score a try as quickly as possible. KEEPING IT SIMPLE Ignore trends or methods that…