Why Rassie’s keeping All Blacks waiting

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has explained the decision to push back team announcements to Thursday for the blockbuster series against the All Blacks, writes CLINTON VAN DER BERG.

At a media conference in Johannesburg on Monday, Erasmus insisted it is a mark of respect rather than gamesmanship.

“I think the announcement only on Thursday is the respect for New Zealand and knowing how tough this one is going to be,” Erasmus said. “The less time they have to prepare for our team, the better. It’s not an arrogant thing. It’s a respect thing.” esporist.com

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Erasmus also addressed the growing narrative around the Springboks allegedly slowing the game down, pushing back firmly on the suggestion.

“Over time, five games that we’ve played, we’ve not had one feedback that we slowed down the game,” he said. “Maybe [the All Blacks] have played against teams in pre-season mode. It’s like playing those Super Rugby warm-ups in January.”

Looking at the shape of the four-Test series itself, Erasmus likened the stakes to a World Cup knockout campaign, and suggested the challenge could be even sterner.

“I’ve never played a World Cup or been part of a World Cup where there was a round of 16,” he said. “I think four games against New Zealand is tougher than four playoff games.”

ALSO: Siya, Ox on the bubble for Boks

He singled out the breakdown as the defining battleground of the series opener.

“The tough thing for us, which we think is very, very, very focused, [will be] brutal at the breakdown,” Erasmus said of New Zealand’s approach. “How they sort you out at the breakdown, it’s something that we really have been seeing and players have experienced at the franchises.”

And on South African fans who back the All Blacks, Erasmus was relaxed, drawing on his own childhood love of the game, where he admired players like Zinzan Brooke and Murray Mexted.

“There’s no problem with people supporting the All Blacks. Who are we to tell them they can’t? So we’re all good.”

ALSO: Pick your Bok team to face All Blacks

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

The post Why Rassie’s keeping All Blacks waiting appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

La Juventus poursuit son recrutement défensif avec l’arrivée de Jhon Lucumí. Le défenseur central colombien quitte Bologne et s’engage avec le club turinois jusqu’au 30 juin 2030.

Âgé de 28 ans, Lucumí connaît parfaitement la Serie A après quatre saisons sous les couleurs de Bologne. Il a participé à 152 rencontres avec le club italien, toutes compétitions confondues, et a également eu l’occasion de découvrir la Ligue des champions.

Passé par le Deportivo Cali puis Genk en Belgique, l’international colombien apporte à la Juventus son expérience, sa solidité et sa connaissance du championnat italien. Un renfort important pour la défense turinoise à l’approche de la nouvelle saison.

La Juventus a officialisé l’opération dans un communiqué, confirmant ainsi l’arrivée de Lucumí et son engagement avec le club jusqu’en 2030.

The post Jhon Lucumi, nouveau renfort défensif de la Juventus appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Steven Kitshoff has revealed the brutal preparation that has gone into getting the Springbok squad ready for the first Test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday (5.10pm).

With much of the squad travelling to Argentina two weeks ago, a group of players remained in South Africa to prepare for the series opener. According to Kitshoff, they were not left twiddling their thumbs.

Instead, they were put through intense live rugby sessions designed to ensure they would be match-ready when the All Blacks arrived.

“For the 15, 16 players staying behind, they would run live drills, live scrummaging, tackling drills, live scenario drills for 40 to 45 minutes – maybe once or twice a week,” the former Bok prop said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

“So they actually get that conditioning side built into the session without just running broncos the whole time. They actually do the rugby work, so the guys are quite geared.”

The intensity of that preparation was underlined by Malcolm Marx, according to the 83-Test Bok veteran.

Kitshoff said he had spoken briefly to the experienced hooker, with Marx revealing just how hard the players left behind had been pushed.

“I had a quick conversation with Malcolm when I arrived in Joburg and he said this week has probably been the week from hell,” Kitshoff said.

“Having most of the guys in Argentina, the guys who were left behind basically just got flogged for five days in a row. So the guys were working hard. They did a lot of live stuff to make sure they’re game ready when the Test matches start.”

This story first appeared on sarugbymag.co.za. It is republished here with permission.

BUNGOMA, Kenya, Aug 17 – Vihiga Cranes from and Lugari Progressive (Archbishop Njenga Girls) from Kakamega County are the new champions of the fifth edition of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Western Region.

Vihiga Cranes claimed the regional title after beating Busia’s Musokoto Secondary School 1-0 in a tightly contested boys final played at Masinde Muliro Stadium in Kanduyi, Bungoma County.

The winning goal came in the 61st minute when Tonny Omondi connected with a header from Luke Ramsey’s superbly delivered corner, finding the back of the net and securing the regional title for the Cranes.

“First, I want to thank God for this victory and also Safaricom for putting together such an amazing tournament. We are delighted to win the Western Region title. Last season, I won the regional title with Ebwali Boys, and today winning with Vihiga Cranes is something I don’t take for granted,” Vihiga Cranes head coach Francis Muhambe, said.

He added, “It was a tough and closely fought match, and credit to Musokoto Secondary, who played very well. We, however, managed to capitalise on the opportunity that came our way. But the job is not done yet; our focus now shifts to the national finals, where we hope to go all the way.”

-Girls Final-

In the girls’ final, Lugari Progressive clinched the regional crown after defeating Busia’s Chakol Girls 5-4 on penalties following a goalless draw in regular time.

“It wasn’t an easy game, but I want to congratulate my girls for working hard, staying focused and fighting until the end to win the trophy. After missing out on the national school games in Tanzania, I decided to shift my focus to Safaricom Chapa Dimba, and I am delighted that it has paid off,” Lugari Progressive head coach Fred Serenge, said.

Both Vihiga Cranes and Lugari Progressive pocketed Sh 250,000 each, alongside other prizes, including smartphones and airtime. The two champions will represent the Western Region at the national finals later next year.

The runners-up, Musokoto Secondary School and Chakol Girls, took home Sh150,000 each, together with smartphones and airtime, for finishing second in the regional finals.

The Best Goalkeeper and Top Scorer awards in both the boys’ and girls’ categories came with a cash prize of Sh30,000 each. The Most Valuable Player (Golden Ball) also received Sh30,000, in addition to a fully funded tertiary education scholarship under the Safaricom Citizens of the Future Programme.

In the girls’ category, the Top Scorer award was shared by Hanisa Mashasha of Chakol Girls and Lugari Progressive’s Lydia Laura, Zipporah Wanyonyi, Delphine Mutirira and Viola Chepkorir.

In the boys’ category, the Top Scorer award was shared by Mellon Omondi and Tonny Omondi of Vihiga Cranes, alongside Rom Okitwi, Frankline Pual and Calvin Masai of Musokoto Secondary.

The MVP awards went to Elvis Ogiro of Musokoto Secondary in the boys’ category and Hanifa Mashasha of Chakol Girls in the girls’ category.

The Best Goalkeeper awards went to Nabo Ochieng of Musokoto Secondary and Shamsy Pachanga of Lugari Progressive.

With the Western Region now done and dusted, Safaricom Chapa Dimba heads to the Central Region for the next round of regional finals, set for Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30 at Wang’uru Stadium in Kirinyaga County.