Sommaire pour March 2023 de SA RUGBY

Eben Etzebeth has been exactly as advertised for the Sharks since making his debut in October. In 2022, when quintessential Bok enforcer Bakkies Botha called out Etzebeth for ‘never playing’ while contracted to Toulon, sports scientists warned the seismic confrontation could tear a hole in the fabric of the game and suck rugby into a black hole. As is often the case these days, those warnings were based on junk science and the two agreed to settle the matter over a pint(s) in the future. But any concerns the Sharks may have had about the commitment of their multi-million rand signing have evaporated in the face of Eztebeth's piping-hot form. Taking over as the Don of Durban, Etzebeth has bossed anyone willing to challenge his control of the dark alleys…

FORWARDS 1. OS DU RANDT A big, powerful ball-carrier, and as strong as they come in the scrums. 2. KEITH WOOD As tough as nails and a strong ball-carrier. Keith showed no regard for his safety in the way he flew into contact. 3. CARL HEYMAN Dominant at scrum time and created a good platform for the New Zealand teams to launch attacks from. 4. MARK ANDREWS A very abrasive player who enjoyed hitting rucks. Mark did not shy away from the physical confrontation the game demands. 5.JOHN EALES He was a great leader for Australian rugby. Great aerial skills and could kick for posts from long range too. 6. GEORGE SMITH He changed the game from a defensive point of view, frustrating attacking teams with his ability to poach…

I was encouraged by the fact that the RFU's decision to lower the tackle height from shoulder to waist in English amateur rugby – in a further bid to reduce concussion –was met with outrage, because we will need more of it to save our sport. Many amateur club players said they would stop playing the game if the trial came into effect from 1 July as planned, while there was universal condemnation of the RFU's total lack of consultation with the clubs before making what is literally a game-changing decision. Under-fire RFU council members then claimed the word ‘waist’ had not appeared in the voting resolution at all, and was only used when the RFU announced its decision. Such was the outrage that the RFU was forced to back…

SCOTT ROBERTSON Age: 48 Team: Crusaders Matches: 101 Wins: 86 Win percentage: 85 JOE SCHMIDT (above) Age: 57 Former team: Ireland Matches: 77 Wins: 55 Win percentage: 71 JAMIE JOSEPH Age: 53 Team: Japan Matches: 49 Wins: 26 Win percentage: 53 DAVE RENNIE Age: 59 Former team: Australia Matches: 34 Wins: 13 Win percentage: 38 IAN FOSTER Age: 57 Team: New Zealand Matches: 34 Wins: 23 Win percentage: 68 Source: rugbydatabase.co.nz…

BROUGHT TO YOU BY Having stepped away from the Test scene after the 2011 World Cup, Fourie du Preez more than justified Fleyneke Meyer's decision to call him back into international rugby when he almost single-handedly steered the Springboks to the 2015 World Cup semi-finals. Du Preez was installed as captain after Jean de Villiers was ruled out of the tournament through injury, and he led the Boks out when they took on a battle-hardened Wales in the Twickenham quarter-final. As can be expected tram tnese two nations, the match was an arm-wrestle which seemed to swing in favour of Warren Gatland's team when Wales came from behind to lead 19-18 going into the final 10 minutes. However, the decisive moment came when the Boks won a scrum deep in…

JONAH LOMU With just two Test caps to his name, Jonah Lomu was the surprise inclusion in the All Blacks World Cup squad. However, seven tries in five matches made him an instant superstar and the obvious choice for Player of the Tournament. Lomu began with two tries against Ireland and also set up Josh Kronfeld's score with a spectacular 80m run. Who knows what damage he would have done had he played against Japan (a match the All Blacks won 145-17). The highlight of Lomu's World Cup campaign came in the semi-final against England at Newlands. It took the wing just two minutes to grab his first try when he handed off Rory Underwood, beat captain Will Carling for pace and trampled over Mike Catt. Lomu crossed the line…

England's most successful club side, the Leicester Tigers, are back at the summit of rugby after a long drought in the past decade. Traditionally one of England's powerhouses in rugby, Leicester won 10 Premiership titles between 1988 and 2013. This followed purple patches in the Midlands Counties Cup (12 titles) since the club was founded in 1880. However, the club went through a tough period between 2013 and 2020, winning just one Anglo-Welsh Cup (a cross-border knockout competition), and falling short of the Premiership playoffs four times in a row. The lowest point for the Tigers came in the delayed 2019-20 season, when they finished in 11th place and were saved from relegation by a points deduction handed to Saracens for breaching the Premiership's salary cap. Things changed dramatically for…

CAREER IN PHOTOS…

HYRON ANDREWS ‘Enjoying the cricket.’ – The Sharks lock, with Siya Kolisi, Ox Nché and director of rugby Neil Powell, supported Durban's Super Giants at an SA20 clash at Kingsmead. ROHAN JANSE VAN RENSBURG ‘Absolutely stoked meeting my role model growing up.’ – The Sharks centre with Lions assistant coach and former Springbok centre Jaque Fourie, after a URC match in Durban. CHRIS SMITH ‘Awesome to be able to support my younger brother in the CSA One-Day Cup final.’ – The Bulls flyhalf with Western Province wicketkeeper-batsman Daniel at the Wanderers. SINTU MANJEZI ‘What a night last night! Grateful to be a part of it.’ – The Glasgow Warriors lock with captain Kyle Steyn after the Scottish club did the double over rivals Edinburgh to win the 1872 Cup. EDWILL…

How do you feel about the planned implementation of waist-height tackling? SARugbymag.co.za readers rubbished plans by the RFU to enforce waist-height tackling in amateur rugby across England from 1 July, with almost two-thirds calling it ‘a bad joke’. Following widespread criticism of the decision and the way it was handled, the RFU apologised and said it would consult with members of the wider rugby community in a bid to reach a solution that satisfies both the amateur game and the authorities. If you were coach of your favourite SA team, what would you target? SARugbymag.co.za readers believe South African teams should target success in both the URC and European Champions/Challenge competitions. Almost half of respondents said they would go flat out to win both competitions if they were at the…

KURT-LEE ARENDSE C omparisons of Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe are inevitable. Both endured tough upbringings in underprivileged areas outside Cape Town, and both were told that they were too small for professional rugby. Kolbe drew inspiration from former Springbok wingers such as Breyton Paulse and Gio Aplon, who had blazed a trail for smaller players in the 2000s. Arendse also looked up to Aplon and eventually Kolbe, who famously beat three England defenders to score a title-clinching try in the 2019 World Cup final. Three years on at Twickenham, Arendse channelled the spirit of Kolbe when he wrong-footed England flyhalf Marcus Smith en route to the tryline. It was his seventh try in as many Tests. Arendse is fortunate several coaches judged him on his talent rather than his modest 1.80m, 79kg…

ZAIN DAVIDS Zain Davids is storming into the prime years of his professional playing career as a decorated sevens campaigner who has embraced his role as mentor to the next generation of Blitzboks. The tough-tackling 25-year-old has grown into a stalwart in the Springbok Sevens system and one of the most experienced players in the current squad and he is hoping to use his successful CV in the shorter format as a launchpad back into fifteens. Making a name for himself coming up through the Western Province age-group ranks, the Rondebosch Boys’ prodigy made the SA Schools squad in 2015 and represented his country a year later at the World Rugby U20 Championship in England, starting every match as the Junior Springboks finished fourth. His dynamic performances at flank led…

ATTACK Returning from the sideline When the ball reaches the flank and a ruck is formed, you might well need your forwards to set up another play coming back the other way. To keep the pressure on, here's how you should do it … WHY USE IT When the ball is recycled near the touchline, the defence is often spread out to defend the ball coming back infield. Exploit possible gaps and reduce the defensive line speed with this play. SET-UP Four ruck pads, a tackle tube and a ball, all on the side of a normal pitch. HOW TO DO IT Setupthreeforwardsin a prone position, a 9 and 10, and four ruck-pad holders Whenyoushoutplay’, the 9 runs to a tackle tube near the side of the pitch.…

WORLD CUP HISTORY RICHARD SHOREY/TERTIUS PICKARD/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES Having been excluded from the first two World Cup tournaments due to apartheid. South Africa were awarded the right to host the 1995 event less than three years after returning to international rugby. The Springboks were scheduled to play the world champion Wallabies in the opener at Newlands, knowing that victory would help them avoid England and the All Blacks in the early knockout stages. Australia dominated at first, but the Boks took control when Pieter Hendriks ran around David Campese for his side's first try. Another five-pointer from Joel Stransky in the second half helped seal a 27-18 victory. CHESTER WILLIAMS MADE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT, SCORING FOUR TRIES IN SOUTH AFRICA'S BRUISING 42-14 QUARTER-FINAL WIN AGAINST SAMOA The Boks then beat…

Whether Eddie Jones is as effective as the Covid vaccine when jabbed repeatedly into the Wallabies has suddenly become one of the most riveting themes of this World Cup year. Just like the vaccine, the overwhelming view from Australia is that a masterstroke has been enacted that can only aid the country's entire rugby community. There are also sceptics rolling their eyes, saying that ingesting disinfectants would be a preferable option than a second dose of Eddie, Former Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock is not one of them. ‘It's a fantastic coup for Australian rugby and I've no doubt the benefits will be pretty swift,’ said Mortlock, who was the dagger that Jones plunged into Kiwi hearts at the 2003 World Cup. ‘Eddie intrinsically knows the Australian psyche and I'd say…

Leicester hold the record for most English Premiership titles (11), the most consecutive final appearances (nine) and the most playoff appearances (14). In their early years, Leicester were also known as ‘The Death or Glory Boys’ on account of the black shirts that they wore from 1880 to 1884. The origin of Leicester's nickname, ‘Tigers’, is believed to have come from the club's links to the Leicestershire Regiment, who had received the nickname after serving in India, and from 1825 had worn a cap-badge with a ‘royal’ tiger to mark the connection. Former Springbok flyhalf Joel Stransky holdstheLeicesterTigersrecord for most individual points in a Champions Cup match, scoring 35 in a game against Glasgow in the 1997-98 season. ▫ Leicester have won the European Cup twice, in 2000-01 and 2001-02,…

Gareth Edwards’ try for the Barbarians against the All Blacks at Cardiff Arms Park in 1973 is considered rugby union's try of the century, yet it would never have been scored had that sequence of play happened in modern rugby's world of TMOs and super-slow replays. Edwards’ jersey from the Barbarians famous win against the All Blacks is to be auctioned, but it is his try from that match that is rich with romance. It is a beauty, preceded by some brilliant stepping from flyhalf Phil Bennett in the build-up to Edwards scoring. The halfback pairing were comfortably the best in the world in the early to mid-1970s, with Wales and the British & Irish Lions. They showcased their brilliance in the Barbarians match, but in this particular instance this…

SHOULD THE SPRINGBOKS REINSTALL HANDRÉ POLLARD AT FLYHALF OR BACK DAMIAN WILLEMSE? VS DYLAN JACK SAYS POLLARD MUST TAKE UP HIS MANTLE 2023 will see the return of the king when Handré Pollard resumes his position as the Springboks’ go-to No 10. The 2019 World Cup winner has endured a nightmare run since lifting the Webb Ellis trophy in Japan. Joining Montpellier in a megamoney move was an ill-fated experience as Pollard played in only 25% of the club's matches in his four-year stay due to a succession of knee injuries. It appeared that things weren't going to get better when Pollard arrived at the Leicester Tigers carrying an injury from his time with the Springboks in the Rugby Championship and lasted just 20 minutes when he made his Premiership…

Jacques Langenhoven This is getting ridiculous. Rugby won't exist by the 2027 World Cup if they bring this into pro rugby. The players know the risks when they sign up to play. That's why they get the money and travel the world. Otherwise they could've gotten a 9-5 job. If you are scared of getting concussed, don't play. Wayne Viljoen Watching a 6' 9 lock tackle a 5’ 3 scrumhalf below the waist could be interesting. Absolutely ridiculous. Going to see loads of knee injuries due to the impact directly on them. Rinaldo Lottie Eaton By playing rugby, you know the injury risks involved. Don't like the risks, don't play! Kuhle-Sipho Dom-Mbobosi These guys are ruining rugby. Garth William Peek Hips are really hard. More injuries. Erick van Reenen It's…

What's your favourite place to visit in Japan? Coming back to my hometown in Japan, Iwata, is always nice. It's an easy-going countryside town. But in winter it's probably Hakuba. It's one of the cool ski resorts and I enjoy spending some time in the snow as it's something else for us South Africans to experience. What's your favourite Japanese cuisine? I love seafood, so the prawn tempura and calamari tempura is great. What was the biggest challenge in moving from South Africa to Japan? The culture is totally different, but I must say Japan is a country where we easily fit in. The people are very generous and respectful, they help you a lot and it wasn't difficult to move here. But ja, South Africa is my home and…

In 2005, 20-year-old Willem Alberts started his professional career at the Golden Lions. In 2023, 38-year-old Alberts finds himself back home, helping the Lions compete in the United Rugby Championship and Challenge Cup. The landscape has changed completely, as one would expect over an 18-year career, but Alberts' passion has not wavered, and neither has his propensity for writing off people with his tackles. ‘The Bone Collector’ spent much of his career terrorising opponents from the blindside flank; for the Lions, Sharks, Springboks and then Stade Français, where he spent five years before returning to South Africa. Back in a red jersey, Alberts has returned to lock, where he played most of his junior rugby. From a franchise and position perspective, it really does seem like a full-circle fairytale for…

HENDRIKS GETS PAST CAMPESE (SOUTH AFRICA vs AUSTRALIA, CAPE TOWN) wallabies wing David Campese had been the star of the 1991 World Cup, but his powers had waned considerably by the time he arrived in South Africa four years later. The Springboks, playing in their first World Cup, needed to beat the world champions to take the high road to the final The Wallabies dominated the first 30 minutes and scored a try through flyhalf Michael Lynagh. Then, just before half time, the Boks seized control James Small burst into the Wallabies half and offloaded to James Dalton, who found Mark Andrews. The ball was recycled and sent wide to Small, who fed Pieter Hendriks. He beat Campese on the outside for a crucial try. It gave the Boks a…

Hanro Liebenberg made club history after being appointed captain for the 2022-23 season, the first South African – and just the second non-English skipper in more than half a century – to be given the job. He follows recent captains Ellis Genge, Tom Youngs and Ed Slater. Joining the Tigers in 2019, Liebenberg was appointed vice-captain ahead of the 2020-21 campaign, in which the 27-year-old loose forward also won the Supporters’ Player of the Year award and led the side on several occasions, and has considerable leadership experience after captaining SA U20 in 2015, leading the Junior Springboks in that year's World Rugby U20 Championship. Fellow back-row bruiser Jasper Wiese earned a first call-up to the Springboks on the back of a standout debut 2020-21 season, with his ball-carrying stats…