Bok squad showing ‘more excitement than usual’ in build-up to Scotlan…

A less-experienced Springbok squad is showing “a bit more excitement” than usual in their preparations for the second Nations Championship Test against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. biznow.biz

This comes after head coach Rassie Erasmus made 13 changes to his matchday 23 following their 45-21 win over England at Ellis Park.

Several players normally on the fringe of selection have been given the nod, including Embrose Papier, who last played a Test in 2018, one-cap Vincent Tshituka and Quan Horn, two-cap Cobus Wiese, as well as Johan Grobbelaar, Evan Roos, Zach Porthen, and Ben-Jason Dixon, who all have fewer than 10 Tests under their belts.

The matchday 23 features only 514 caps, and just 69 are held by bench players.

Young Springbok side not a gamble

SA Rugby mobi-unit coach Duane Vermeulen said the Springbok management were still taking Scotland seriously and wanted to win the game.

But they hoped to provide everyone in the squad with an opportunity this season, and this was a good game to reward those who haven’t had many chances lately.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a gamble,” Vermeulen said of the inexperienced group.

“The guys who get the opportunity to play, we definitely think they are good enough. You can play 150 caps but you are still a normal human being.

“We’ve got a lot of guys with a lot less caps, but there’s great energy in the group. Then you’ve got the calm heads of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jesse Kriel and Handré Pollard that can calm the nerves if there are any.

“There’s a bit more excitement in the squad this weekend than usual. If you direct that excitement into the right areas we will be in for a good game.”‘

Scotland is a ‘team on the up’

The former Springbok eighthman and double World Cup winner said they could not discount the fact that many players in the Scotland squad were part of the Glasgow Warriors team who beat the Bulls in the 2024 URC final at Loftus.

“They are well-coached, Glasgow maybe a little bit more than Edinburgh,” Vermeulen said.

“[Scotland] will probably have a good plan in how they want to play this game.

“They are a really fit side. They are skillful, and want to take the ball wide from one touchline to the other. Then they’ve got really mobile forwards.

“Everyone looks at their attack but they have a strong defence as well.”

He said Scotland’s 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba, and third-place finish in the Six Nations could also not be discounted.

“They are on the up and a team to make sure you know your roles and what you want to achieve.

“With the new mauling law you might see a different Scotland adapting to the new law style. They might maul a little bit more than you’d expect.”

Western Province edged the Sharks on the third day of the U18 Craven Week in Gqeberha, while the Leopards, Eastern Province and Free State were also among the winners at Grey High School on Wednesday.

Day three of the U18 Craven Week witnessed several tight contests, with three of the four matches decided by 12 points or fewer.

WP and Free State claimed victories to extend their winning runs in the tournament, while the hosts and Leopards registered their first victories of the week.

The coastal derby staged on the Kolisi Field lived up to the hype, with the Sharks taking a slender five-point lead into the break. The KwaZulu-Natalians troubled WP at the set pieces and breakdowns after half-time, and converted that dominance into a 15-point lead.

WP fought back to reduce the deficit in the dying stages, and the Sharks conceded two yellow cards in quick succession. With full-time approaching, a third Sharks player was sent to the sin bin, and WP fullback Achmat Behardien kicked a penalty goal to clinch a dramatic 24-22 win.

Other matches

Earlier in the day, Free State scored three late tries to claim a 38-26 win over South Western Districts. Fullback Lamla Mgedezi scored a brace for the Cheetahs, while flyhalf Samson Lackay contributed 13 points.

Boland and EP enjoyed a similarly tight battle, although the hosts took control of the contest in the second half, with scrumhalf Luke Doyle scoring a try in the 64th minute to extend his team’s lead to eight points. Boland scored a converted try at the death, but EP hung on for a 32-31 victory.

The Leopards recorded the biggest win of the day when they thumped the Limpopo Blue Bulls 57-14. Outside centre Marques Jantjies scored a hat-trick for the North West side while flyhalf Ricardo Enos slotted six conversions.

The U18 Craven Week continues at Grey High on Thursday, with the Griffons fronting the Valke at 10am, and the Golden Lions tackling Western Province XV in the big match later in the day.

U18 Craven Week results – day three (Wednesday, 8 July):

Leopards 57 (31) Limpopo Blue Bulls 14 (7)

Boland 31 (17) Eastern Province 32 (17)

Free State 38 (19) South Western Districts 26 (19)

Western Province 24 (7) Sharks 22 (12)

U18 Craven Week fixtures – day four (Thursday, 9 July):

10am: Griffons v Valke

11:45am: Border v Pumas

1:30pm: Blue Bulls v Griquas

3:30pm: Golden Lions v Western Province XV

En marge de la conférence de presse, ce mercredi, pour la présentation de l’entraîneur Thiago Scuro, le cas de Paul Pogba a été abordée.

Durant la présentation officielle, ce mercredi, du nouvel entraîneur Filipe Luis sur le banc de l’ASM, le directeur général du club Thiago Scuro a été interrogé sur plusieurs sujets, dont celui concernant Paul Pogba, champion du monde 2018. Pour le dirigeant monégasque, la présence du milieu français de 33 ans en Principauté pour cette prochaine saison, n’est pas garantie et un départ n’est pas à exclure. L’an dernier, il a participé à six matchs de Ligue 1, une titularisation contre Metz et 115 minutes de jeu.

« C’est un sujet très compliqué, on a beaucoup de respect pour lui. Pour la personne, d’abord. La saison dernière, le projet avec lui n’a pas bien fonctionné, les attentes étaient bien différentes de ce qu’il s’est passé », a reconnu Scuro dans des propos repris par Nice Matin. Questionné sur un potentiel départ, le DG répond que tout est possible. « Est-il susceptible de partir ? Oui, bien sûr. On doit être juste avec lui, regarder chaque semaine la préparation, comment il va progresser au niveau physique et technique. Après, ça dépendra de la décision du coach en fonction de ses performances. On a tout l’été pour jauger le niveau de Paul. », a poursuivi Scuro au quotidien régional. En plus de Pogba, à qui il reste encore une année de contrat à l’ASM, Eric Dier, pourrait aussi quitter le club a souligné Scuro.

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L’attaquant brésilien Emersonn quitte Toulouse après une saison et rejoint le promu de Premier League, Ipswich Town.

Le Toulouse FC a officialisé, ce mercredi, le départ et transfert d’Emersonn à Ipswich Town. Arrivé dans la Ville rose l’été dernier en provenance du club turque Goztepe, l’attaquant brésilien de 21 ans rejoint le promu de Premier League. Il reste sur un bilan de 31 matchs, 7 buts, dont 6 en Ligue 1, et 3 passes décisives

« Plus combattant que dans la tradition du Joga Bonito, Emersonn aura marqué les esprits par son énergie et sa combativité, très appréciées des supporters toulousains. Des qualités qui lui seront précieuses en Premier League et qui devraient séduire les fans d’Ipswich, promu après une deuxième place en Championship. », a salué le TFC dans son communiqué.

Dans le communiqué du club anglais, Emersonn s’est exprimé sur son arrivée. « Je suis très fier de signer pour Ipswich Town. Jouer en Premier League est un rêve que j’ai toujours eu et je sais que j’ai choisi le club idéal pour le réaliser. », a confié le nouveau joueur d’Ipswich.

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