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Bok veterans must inspire Bulls against All Blacks
The Bulls supporters must appreciate realism over romance in Saturday’s match against the All Blacks. ipl-today.in
Bulls v All Blacks
Willie le Roux and captain Marcell Coetzee will lace the boots for one final international opponent, but outside of them this is a very different Bulls match 23 that made it to last season’s United Rugby Championship final against Leinster in Dublin.
Realism beats romance on this one.
And the realism is this is not the Bulls United Rugby Championship finalists and this is not the All Blacks who whipped Ireland 40-21 in the Nations Championship in July.
The two teams meet at Loftus on Saturday in the third match of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour, but it is very much a sideshow to make up time, add to the commercial revenue and give the broadcaster another match.
The reality is Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is the three Tests in South Africa between the Springboks and All Blacks, and a fourth in succession, played in Baltimore, USA.
If one thinks of the series in South Africa, then it is the three Tests at Ellis Park, DHL Stadium in Cape Town and FNB Stadium in Soweto. All three are sell-outs.
Remarkably, 47 000 paid for the tour opener in Cape Town a week ago. The Stormers were heroic in matching the All Blacks for 65 minutes before the visitors pulled away in the final quarter.
In Durban, an inexperienced and youthful Sharks effort lasted 25 minutes before the black cloud broke and added to a dark night for the hosts. The All Blacks won 54-0.
At Loftus, it won’t be as one-sided. The Bulls have picked a match 23 considerably more competitive than Tuesday’s Sharks, and the All Blacks have selected a match 23 not as strong as the one that never needed to get out of first gear to make it two wins from two starts in South Africa.
Weather conditions are good for Saturday and the match will be easy on the eye. The Bulls like to play and they scored the most tries in last season’s URC.
But this is not the Bulls from the final against Leinster. The name is the same, the jersey will look familiar and it is the same coaching staff, but just seven of the URC final starting XV will be first out of the tunnel on Saturday.
Originally, just nine from the match 23 will play and the URC final’s eight-strong substitute’s bench is completely overhauled.
What changed in the past 24 hours is that Springboks Johan Grobbelaar (hooke) and Elrigh Louw (loose-forward) were released from the national squad to get game time against the All Blacks.
They were included as substitutes and will play the second half, possibly being introduced earlier if there is an injury.
The pity of these matches is that the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls ordinarily would have made for a contest, but not under these circumstances, as none of the current 41-man Bok squad has played against the tourists in the past fortnight.
The Stormers veteran flanker Deon Fourie was outstanding for 62 minutes against the All Blacks and his effort won him a recall to the Boks one month shy of his 40th birthday.
Fourie’s last Test match was in the 2023 World Cup final against the All Blacks in France.
The Bulls URC survivors are Willie le Roux, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs, Embrose Papier, captain Marcell Coetzee, Ruan Vermaak and Francois Klopper. And belatedly Grobbelaar and Louw.
Stedman Gans and Jeandré Rudolph have been promoted from the Dublin bench, which means nine of Saturday’s starting XV were involved in the final match 23.
Think who the Bulls are without from the URC final: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Handré Pollard, Cameron Hanekom, Ruan Nortjé, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese, Zak Burger and Nizaam Carr. Only Burger is not a Springbok.
Klopper survives from the starting front row in Dublin, Vermaak remains from the starting second row and Coetzee is the only retained member of the starting loose trio.
The All Blacks’ selections across the three franchise matches provide equally important context.
The All Blacks selected 41 players across the three tour matches.
Only two have been included in all three match 23s. Scrumhalves Cortez Ratima and Kyle Preston are asked to back each other up in the absence, due to injury, of the first-choice scrumhalf Cam Roigard.
The match 23s have differed big time in all three matches, with 16 changes the norm.
Loftus on Saturday is not a Test series dress rehearsal, but a necessary evil to make the tour happen.
The Bulls famously beat the All Blacks 29-27 the last time they met at Loftus in 1976.
If the Bulls had fielded a match 23 inclusive of their current Springboks, we’d be in for a treat and Loftus would have been sold out.
Loftus is not sold out and the Bulls don’t have any of their current Test Boks, so the treat will be of a different kind.
If you love rugby and are in the city, get there, but don’t go there with an expectation based on ignorance when it comes to the match-day make-up of the two teams.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry starts in Johannesburg in a week; not in Pretoria on Saturday.
Janicka Gaming on bridging PUBG MOBILE’s community and its esports scene
Recently, PUBG MOBILE‘s attempts to grow its competitive footprint in Western Europe saw it sign a partnership with G2 Esports and launch an ambassador program, revealing German content creator Janicka Gaming as the first ‘dedicated ambassador’ for Western Europe.
Janička is no stranger to PUBG MOBILE’s European community, having been in the partner program before becoming an ambassador for the esports initiative. She’s built a strong community around gameplay, humor and continues to host regular competitive rooms on PUBG MOBILE’s German TikTok channels.
From an esports perspective, Janička streamed the PMSE Finals in 2024, and has also produced content around the European Series in the past. This official partnership effectively formalizes the relationship, with G2 and PUBG MOBILE Esports providing additional resources and support for tournament-specific coverage, watch parties, and explainers to help the complex competitive circuit feel less alien to ordinary gamers.
Earlier this week, we spoke to Alban Dechelotte, the CEO of G2 Esports, and discussed the role of creators in advancing the mobile esports ecosystem in Europe, which is considerably underdeveloped when compared to Asia. Janička, and a wider rollout of an ambassador program will play a pivotal part should it succeed.
Esports Insider had the chance to speak to Janička about what being named an ambassador means for her content; why capable PUBG mobile players still hesitate to test themselves competitively; the role creators can play in helping develop the grassroots scene, and whether being tied so closely to an organization and a publisher could also have some drawbacks.
Editor’s note: this interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
From PUBG MOBILE partner to first ambassador for Western Europe
ESI: Firstly – congratulations! The accolade of “First dedicated ambassador for Western Europe” is impressive. What does it actually mean for you? What are you responsible for that you weren’t already doing as a creator covering PUBG MOBILE as part of the partner program?
Janicka Gaming: Thank you very much, and thank you for interviewing me. It’s an honor for me to represent PUBG MOBILE Western Europe as an official PUBG MOBILE Esports ambassador.
As an ambassador, I connect the PUBG MOBILE community with its esports scene. Previously, my content focused mainly on relatable gaming memes, funny in-game moments, and gameplay. Now, I’m excited to focus more on esports content, such as short explanation videos, watch parties for official tournaments, and esports-related livestreams. My goal is to show the community what is possible to achieve in the esports scene,how entertaining competitive gaming can be, and help more players discover the esports side of PUBG MOBILE in Western Europe.
ESI: What can you now do in-game, competitively, or from a storytelling/editorial point of view that you couldn’t before this partnership?
Janička: With this partnership, I can better support my community than before. G2 and PUBG MOBILE support me however they can with my content, and I’m really grateful for the opportunities that help has created.
They provide in-game currency (“UC”) and goodies for my community, and most importantly, they help me with professional analytics for my videos and livestreams. The teams at PUBG MOBILE and G2 also support me with esports content ideas and help me develop a sustainable strategy to improve the performance of my videos and livestreams, giving me more time to focus on content production and improve the overall quality of my editing.
Thanks to this support, along with the ambassador position, I now get a chance to directly impact and create unique stories with PUBG MOBILE. My passion for my content comes from my community, and being an official ambassador opens doors to further interact with the wider PUBG MOBILE esports community so we can enjoy the fun of competitive esports together.
Helping young players enter competition
ESI: Did you come up through anything resembling a grassroots scene yourself, or did your path into PUBG MOBILE content look completely different from what PMCO is trying to build? What does the current gap between expectation and reality tell you about what young players actually need?
Janička: Before becoming PUBG MOBILE Western Europe’s esports ambassador, I hosted (and still do) small competitive rooms every week on the official PUBG MOBILE Germany and Western Europe TikTok account.
I also streamed the PMSE Finals in 2024 and hosted preparation streams for the PUBG MOBILE European Series in 2023. Over time, I’ve naturally built up experience within the Western European esports scene, but this partnership will take my knowledge and my content to the next level.
For PUBG MOBILE to continue growing in Western Europe, young players need more comprehensive information about the esports scene and tournaments like PMCO, and that’s what I hope to help provide.
From what I’ve seen, many players aren’t as well versed in how to register or how to get involved in well-known tournaments. There is still the misconception that esports is only for the very best players, which isn’t true. During the first weeks of this partnership, we already did a great job helping the community understand how to register and showing them that PMCO is made exactly for players like them.
ESI: What’s the most common reason you see promising amateur PUBG MOBILE players give up and choose not to pursue a path to pro?
Janička: The biggest reason is a lack of self-confidence and a lack of knowledge about the PUBG MOBILE esports scene. I personally know many players who can easily clutch a 1v4, but they still believe they’re not good enough. PMCO is the perfect tournament to prove those negative assumptions wrong and build confidence. As awareness of tournaments like the PMCO grows in Western Europe, my hope is that more players will be inspired to sign up and give it a go. I reckon we have a few champions that haven’t been discovered yet.
Why it’s worth investing in creators
ESI: Publishers investing directly in creators rather than solely funding teams or leagues is a different approach given the amount of franchising (etc) we’ve seen in esports. From your perspective, what does PUBG MOBILE get from you that a traditional org-sponsorship might lack?
Janička: I think investing directly in creators instead of only funding teams or leagues is a much more sustainable way to grow the esports scene. Professional teams are incredibly important for growing esports, but creators can reach audiences who may not yet be following the competitive scene.
As a content creator who’s built up their audience over time, I am directly connected to the community. I know what they are interested in and what they expect. With the support of G2 and PUBG MOBILE, I want to make the esports scene easier to understand and more entertaining for both young and experienced players. This will help lower the barrier to entering esports and hopefully encourage more players to register for tournaments.
ESI: Is there a tension between being a content creator, whose job is entertainment and personality and being an “ambassador,” whose job is arguably closer to representing the brand’s interests? Where do you feel friction? Do you feel any authenticity is removed from your brand by becoming an ambassador and being closely aligned with the company behind the game which you bring to your audience?
Janička: At first, I was worried that there might be some friction between my content and my new role as an official ambassador, but reality proved me wrong. Neither G2 nor PUBG MOBILE want to change me or my content. It’s a partnership focused on helping me create more esports-related content, which I really appreciate.
Now I can reach a new audience and gain more visibility. On top of that, working closely with the professional G2 managers helps me improve the quality of my content and my overall performance. That doesn’t mean I’ll change my style or personality. People will still see the same authentic and entertaining content they know me for.
ESI: What does your Western European audience actually want from PUBG MOBILE esports coverage that you think isn’t being delivered yet?
Janička: I don’t think the problem is that there isn’t enough esports news. The real reason is that many players have different interests. Many people don’t yet know how entertaining, exciting, and engaging esports can be. That’s why I think we need to focus more on education and clear communication about the esports scene. Once people understand the storylines, rivalries and pathways into competition, they’re much more likely to stay engaged. My hope is that we can help more players across Western Europe discover that side of PUBG MOBILE and feel like it’s something they can be part of too.
Growth and not compromise: what changes for Janička?
ESI: Does this commitment change anything for you as a creator? What’s the one part of your current content mix you expect to suffer or shrink because of this ambassadorial commitment? Or do you think that it’ll only be growth?
Janička: I don’t actually expect any part of my content to shrink, I think the balance will naturally shift, with more esports-focused content alongside the funny gameplay moments my viewers already enjoy. For me, this is the best collaboration I’ve ever had, and I’m really happy to work with G2 – my experience so far has been that I’ll continue to develop more interesting and engaging content with the support I feel lucky to have. I also believe that long-term growth comes through authenticity. If we notice that our current content strategy isn’t working, I’m confident both PUBG MOBILE and G2 will support me, and together we’ll find a better way for my content to evolve and reach a bigger audience. I know many creators would love to have this opportunity, and I’m truly grateful for it.
ESI: Does this potentially pigeonhole you as a creator? Are the terms strict on what you can and cannot stream? Do you think there’s a risk, if people disagree with a move from the developer, that you also get dragged into that and your pipeline suffers as a result?
Janička: Personally, I think it’s much more important that I don’t put myself in a box when it comes to my content than to worry about whether people try to pigeonhole me. I want to stay creative, open-minded, and always push my own limits.
Of course, there are the usual restrictions that come with every partnership, but nothing out of the ordinary, and nothing that stops me from making the content I want to make.
I also don’t think my content will suffer because people have different opinions about the game. From the discussions in my comment section, I know my viewers are mature enough to understand that people can have different opinions about game modes, skins, or maps. It’s impossible to satisfy everyone in the community with every decision the developers make, and that’s completely normal.
The post Janicka Gaming on bridging PUBG MOBILE’s community and its esports scene appeared first on Esports Insider.
Mercato : Boulbina ciblé en Europe !
Après une saison convaincante au Qatar, l'attaquant algérien Adil Boulbina aurait pour plan de déposer prochainement ses valises sur le Vieux Contineent. Plusieurs clubs européens surveilleraient déjà sa situation, notamment en Belgique et en Allemagne, mais Al-Duhail ne compte pas faciliter son départ.
The post Mercato : Boulbina ciblé en Europe ! appeared first on Football Algérien - DZFOOT.COM.
XUp Betting Explained: How 1UP, 2UP and 3UP Early Payouts Work
Quick answer: XUp is SportPesa’s family of early-payout football markets — 1UP, 2UP and 3UP. Back a team on an XUp market and if they go ahead by that number of goals at any point in the match, your bet is paid as a winner straight away — even if the game is later drawn or lost.
No more watching your team race into the lead only to throw it away at the death. With XUp, the lead itself is enough. This guide explains what 1UP, 2UP and 3UP mean, how the early payout works, and how to place your first XUp bet on SportPesa.
What is XUp betting?
XUp is the name for three linked early-payout markets on the standard match-result (1X2) bet:
- 1UP — pays out when your team leads by one goal
- 2UP — pays out when your team leads by two goals
- 3UP — pays out when your team leads by three goals
On each one you pick Home, Draw or Away, just like a normal result bet. The difference is how you win. On a standard bet you only collect if your team wins the match. On XUp there are two ways to win: your team reaches the goal margin at any point in the 90 minutes, or they win the match. Whichever happens first settles your bet as a winner.
What is 1UP betting?
1UP is the most popular of the three, and the easiest to land. Your bet is settled as a winner the moment your team goes one goal ahead — 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, it doesn’t matter how. Because a lead happens in the large majority of football matches, 1UP triggers far more often than a standard win bet ever settles.
Here’s the part that changes everything: once your team is a goal up and the bet is paid, it stays paid. If they get pegged back to a draw, or even lose, your winnings are yours to keep.
1UP example
Say you back Arsenal (Home Win 1UP) against Coventry.
- Arsenal go 1-0 up after 20 minutes → your bet is settled as a winner immediately.
- Coventry fight back to draw 2-2 → it makes no difference. You’ve already won.
On a standard Home Win bet, that 2-2 finish would have lost. On 1UP, the early lead had already secured your payout.
What is 2UP and 3UP betting?
2UP and 3UP work exactly the same way, but the goal cushion is bigger:
- 2UP settles as a winner when your team leads by two — 2-0, 3-1, 4-2 and so on.
- 3UP settles when your team leads by three.
The bigger the margin, the less often it happens — so 2UP and 3UP land less frequently than 1UP, but they carry higher odds to match. They suit the games where you expect a one-sided, high-scoring afternoon.
The odds trade-off — worth understanding
XUp isn’t free value, and it’s worth being straight about that. Because an XUp bet is easier to win than a standard result bet — leading is a lower bar than winning — the odds are a little shorter than the normal 1X2 price. What you’re paying for is the early payout and the safety of banking the win the moment your team is in front. That security is the whole point; just go in knowing the price reflects it.
1UP vs 2UP vs 3UP — which should you pick?
| Market | Pays out when your team… | How often it lands | Best for |
| 1UP | Leads by 1 goal | Most matches | Any fixture; the everyday early-payout pick |
| 2UP | Leads by 2 goals | Around half of matches | Strong favourites, higher-scoring games |
| 3UP | Leads by 3 goals | The one-sided games | Big mismatches, for the bigger odds |
A simple rule of thumb: 1UP for reliability, 2UP and 3UP when you fancy a favourite to run riot.
READ ALSO : Sportpesa jackpot week 2
XUp on Single Bets vs MultiBets
XUp works on both single bets and multi-bets, but it feels most powerful on a Single Bet. On a single, the early payout is your result — the moment your team leads, the bet is won and settled. On a MultiBet, an XUp leg is marked as won as soon as your team goes ahead, but the slip itself can’t settle until every other leg lands. If you want the full instant-payout effect, back XUp as a single.
How to place an XUp bet on SportPesa
- Log in to your SportPesa account and open the football event you want.
- On the match, look for the 1X2 – 1UP market (and 2UP / 3UP where available).
- Choose Home, Draw or Away, just like a normal result bet.
- Add it to your betslip, enter your stake, and place the bet.
- If your team reaches the lead, your bet is settled as a winner and the winnings land in your account — no need to wait for full time.
Look for the XUp label on eligible competitions such as the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga. Availability varies by match, so check the event page.
Why bet XUp?
- Paid the moment you’re ahead. Bank the win as soon as your team leads — no sweating the final whistle.
- The lead is enough. A late equaliser or a smash-and-grab defeat can’t take a settled XUp win away from you.
- You choose the risk. 1UP for the steady option, 2UP and 3UP for bigger odds on the games you expect to be one-sided.
- Watch the rest for fun. Once you’re paid, the last hour is pure entertainment.
Frequently asked questions
What does 1UP mean in betting?
1UP means your bet is settled as a winner the moment your selected team goes one goal ahead, at any point in the match — regardless of the final score.
What’s the difference between 1UP and 2UP?
1UP pays out when your team leads by one goal; 2UP needs a two-goal lead. 1UP lands more often, 2UP carries higher odds.
Does my team have to win the match?
No. As long as they reach the XUp goal margin at any point, your bet is a winner — even if they later draw or lose.
What happens if my team leads and then loses?
Nothing changes. Once your XUp bet is settled as a winner, the payout is yours to keep.
Why are XUp odds lower than a normal bet?
Because leading is easier than winning the match. The shorter price reflects the added security of the early payout.
Can I use XUp on a MultiBet?
Yes. An XUp leg is marked as won when your team goes ahead, with the rest of the slip left to run. The instant payout is most noticeable on singles.
Which matches is XUp available on?
Selected competitions, including major leagues like the EPL, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga. Look for the 1X2 – 1UP market on the event page.
Is XUp betting available in South Africa?
Yes — 1UP, 2UP and 3UP are available to SportPesa customers in South Africa on eligible football matches.
READ ALSO: How to place a multibet on sportpesa South Africa
