‘We’re treating every game like a Test match,’ says All Blacks’ Simon…

The much anticipated Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series kicks off when the All Blacks take on the Stormers in the tours opening match at the Cape Town Stadium on Friday night, and loose forward Simon Parker says they will be going in all guns blazing. sos-zagle.org.pl

It is the first old school tour between the two countries in three decades, and sees the All Blacks face all four of South Africa’s URC teams, as well as the Springboks in a four-Test series.

A 44-man All Blacks squad was named for the tour, and coach Dave Rennie said that he was eager to play everyone before the first Test against the Boks at Ellis Park on Saturday 22^nd August.

The first three tour matches, against the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls, will thus essentially be an audition for many of the All Blacks squad, to prove they deserve to be in the match 23 for the first Test.

“We’re treating ‌every game (on tour) as if it were a test ‌match. We’re training for every match as we ‌would a test match, and whoever gets to ⁠pull the jersey on has a ‌responsibility to go out there and perform,” said Parker after a training session on Monday.

“I’m excited and champing at the bit to get out there. This isn’t a charity so it’s not like everyone deserves a crack, so you just have to prepare according to your role, which I’m looking forward to.”

Great opportunity

Although it is the first match on tour, the All Blacks will likely be looking to lay down a marker, and Parker admitted that they were particularly looking forward to the physical battle that they expect to take on.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for us. It’s one we are looking to go and win. So really looking forward ⁠to getting out there. At the end of the day, it just comes down to ‌ whatever team shows up and whatever team wants it more,” said Parker.

“There’s plenty of battles and technical awareness stuff that’ll come through, but at the end of the day, it’s the team that wants it (that will win). Physicality will be important. That’s no surprise playing against South Africans. That’s what they are, that’s part of their DNA, so it’s a battle we’re looking forward to.”

Although they don’t play the SA franchises any more, Parker said that some of the players still keep an eye on the SA teams in the URC, and they have been told a few things by some of the older players who toured the country during Super Rugby.

“I wouldn’t say we don’t watch the South African teams. Plenty of the boys have an interest in the URC games, especially the last couple of years with some of the boys representing Leinster (Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane),” explained Parker.

“Speaking to the boys that did play (Super Rugby), they loved coming over (to SA) and getting a couple of weeks on tour. The Stormers have a big pack and great backs as well, so, it’ll be a great test for us ⁠first up.”

Le club chilien Colo-Colo a officialisé la signature du gardien international cap-verdien Vozinha. Libre depuis son départ du GD Chaves, le portier de 40 ans s’est engagé pour dix-huit mois avec le géant chilien, après avoir été annoncé ces derniers jours du côté de la RS Berkane.

Colo-Colo a officialisé l’arrivée du gardien cap-verdien Vozinha au sein de son effectif. Le joueur a signé son contrat lors d’une cérémonie officielle en présence du président du club, Aníbal Mosa, validant ainsi son engagement avec la formation chilienne.

Âgé de 40 ans, le portier expérimenté avait été annoncé avec insistance du côté de la RS Berkane ces derniers jours. Il a finalement choisi de poursuivre sa carrière en Amérique du Sud en rejoignant l’un des clubs les plus prestigieux du continent.

Libre de tout contrat depuis la fin de son aventure avec le GD Chaves, pensionnaire de la deuxième division portugaise, Vozinha a paraphé un contrat de dix-huit mois avec Colo-Colo, soit jusqu’à la fin de l’année 2027.

Pour annoncer son arrivée, le club chilien a publié plusieurs clichés de la signature sur ses réseaux sociaux, accompagnés du message :

« Bienvenue dans la famille Colo-Colo. »

Un mondial 2026 réussi avec le Cap-Vert

De son vrai nom Josimar José Évora Dias, Vozinha débarque au Chili fort de ses remarquables prestations avec la sélection cap-verdienne lors de la Coupe du monde 2026.

Le gardien s’était notamment illustré comme l’un des principaux artisans du parcours historique des Requins Bleus durant la compétition, confirmant son statut de cadre de la sélection nationale.

Son expérience et son leadership devraient constituer des atouts importants pour Colo-Colo, qui mise sur son vécu du haut niveau pour renforcer son secteur défensif.

ALSENY BALDÉ

The post Colo-Colo officialise l’arrivée de Vozinha jusqu’en 2027 appeared first on AFRICASPORT.ORG.

New Zealand legend Zinzan Brooke says the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series could hinge on just one moment in a match, such as his famous 1996 drop goal at Loftus Versfeld.

Brooke, who played in the All Blacks’ 1996 series victory over the Springboks in South Africa, was speaking in a wide-ranging interview with RugbyPass ahead of an epic eight matches between the world’s top two teams.

The former No 8 produced one of the great highlights of that tour, landing a long-range drop goal in the second Test in Pretoria as the Kiwis secured a 2-1 series win.

ICYMI: Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry referees revealed

“There wasn’t a prearranged call, just me shouting louder and louder ‘Marshy, Marshy, Marshy [scrumhalf Justin Marshall] and he gave me the ball,” the 58-cap Brooke said.

“[Centre] Frank Bunce got us over the advantage line and I looked at the clock with less than 10 minutes left and I thought if I get this drop goal we would be seven points ahead. I knew I could kick it, and job done.”

He believes those actions could again prove decisive when the All Blacks face the Boks across four Tests, with the tour starting against the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday before clashes with the Sharks, Vodacom Bulls and Lions.

FORMER ALL BLACK: We didn’t need a fourth Test

“It is feasible for the All Blacks to win the series but it comes back to that first Test which is absolutely critical,” the 61-year-old said.

“The Springboks have set a benchmark and it’s all about knocking them off and if you create the opportunity to kick a drop goal then you have to take it.”

Brooke also warned the All Blacks must manage the demands of an eight-match tour with a 44-man squad.

“My major concern is that with 44 players in the squad you are going to have to ensure there is friendship and camaraderie created so that there is a real bond.”

FULL STORY

Photo: Simon Baker/Getty Images

The post Zinzan on how All Blacks can beat Boks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

EG Jansen high school allege racial slurs directed at their first XV rugby players by old boys from Menlopark led to the brawl between players from their school and parents and old boys of Menlopark during a match in Pretoria on Saturday.

The match was halted just after halftime with Menlopark leading 36-5.

In videos doing the rounds on social media, players from EG Jansen’s first XV are seen punching and fighting with what appear to be spectators, many of whom are adults.

It is understood no Menlopark first XV players were involved in the brawl.

The incident has been widely condemned. Both schools, as well as the organisers of the match, the Noordvaal rugby authority, said they would investigate the incident.

Racial abuse

On Tuesday morning EG Jansen released a statement about last Saturday’s incident. In it they say some of their black players had been racially abused by old boys of Menlopark, who’d set up their gazebo behind the goal-line of EG Jansen. This eventually led to the brawl, which was captured on video.

“Allegedly the k-word was used … while there were also comments that certain players ‘belong on the farm’,” part of the statement says.

Furthermore, it is alleged a player from EG Jansen was pulled over a fence by one of the Menlopark old boys and assaulted. A physical confrontation then ensued. It is then that the parents of the EG Jansen players got involved “to protect” their children.

The statement, which was issued and signed by the chairman of the governing body of EG Jansen, Riaan van Aswegen, adds parents of scholars from EG Jansen told a teacher from Menlopark about the behaviour of the old boys, but nothing came of it.

Another incident in Cape Town

The school further states they condemn what happened and are continuing to investigate the matter. Internal disciplinary action against the perpetrators, who behaved in a manner which goes against the school’s code of conduct, is underway. They say they regret the incident.

EG Jansen are working with the Department of Basic Education to ensure the investigation is objectively handled.

Late Saturday, the chairperson of the Noordvaal Cup, Tinus Diedericks, said that “they do not condone any such behaviour. There will be an investigation … the necessary steps will be taken.”

In their own statement later on Tuesday, Menlopark said they noted with “horror” the statement released by EG Jansen.

“All evidence considered to date – including statements from the neutral match officials – indicates that the allegations of racist remarks are entirely without foundation.”

They added: “It would be extremely damaging if this proves to be a desperate fabrication intended to shift blame.

“We fully distance ourselves from the false allegations.”

Meanwhile, in another incident which has hit the headlines in recent days, a rugby match between two Cape schools, Durbanville’s Fairmont and Settlers of Bellville, was called off on Saturday following a player being called the k-word.

It is believed the referee in the match heard a racial slur and opted to end the game.

This story has been updated with Menlopark’s response to EG Jansen’s statement.