Category: Rugby

Blue Bulls head coach Pote Human named an experienced team for Friday night’s Currie Cup opener against the Free State in Bloemfontein.

Number eight Hanro Liebenberg leads the side that will include one Currie Cup debutant – lock Ruan Nortje – in the run-on side.

Flanker Thembelani Bholi will make his Blue Bulls debut in the competition, and so will Theo Maree and Earll Dowrie if they take to the field off the replacements bench.

Human feels there will be little room for error because there is only one round of fixtures.

“It is going to be tough to come back if you have a slow start in the competition, so every win will be crucial if you have ambitions to win the Currie Cup this year,” he said.

“It is going to be a very interesting and tense competition this season and we are looking forward to the challenge. Our preparations have gone well and I think this squad will be very competitive.”

Human believes that the experience gained by the players in the Vodacom Super Rugby tournament this year will help in the Currie Cup.

“Most of the players have been involved at that level, so should be able to cope with the pressures they will experience in Bloemfontein on Friday,” he said.

“Toyota Park can become a very lonely place for a visiting team if you don’t front up to a Free State side that will be very motivated to do well at home.”

Liebenberg said the squad are keen to start on a winning note.

“We have the ability, no doubt, so the challenge will be to make sure we play according to that. There are some really good players in both teams and I think we are in for a great game.

“That is exactly what we want as a group, to be tested against the best out there.”

Bulls: 15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 JT Jackson, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (c), 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Conrad van Vuuren, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Matthys Basson
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 Hendre Stassen, 19 Jano Venter, 20 Theo Maree, 21 Tony Jantjies, 22 Earll Douwrie

Date: Friday, August 17
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19:00 (18:00 BST, 17:00 GMT)
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Ben Crouse, Jaco Kotze
TMO: Lourens van der Merwe

---

Vaea Fifita has expressed his confusion after being omitted in favour of Jackson Hemopo for the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad.

Despite being something of a revelation in last year’s tournament, numerous injuries have hampered Fifita’s progress this year, with the utility forward having fallen down the pecking order behind lock combination Michael Fatialofa and Sam Lousi at the Hurricanes.

This has meant the 26-year-old has had to be content with brief cameo appearances off the bench, which has left him short of match fitness.

“This has probably been the hardest year for me playing Super, because I had a few injuries and then I come back and only play for like 30 minutes off the bench or 25,” he told Stuff. “You’re still unfit because you’re coming back from injury and you need to play 80 minutes every week to get fit and get up to the speed of the game.”

The final disappointment for Fifita in an altogether frustrating season came when he was a casualty of the trimming down of the training squad to the final 33-man group for the tournament.

According to the forward, he was told by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen that he was not selected because he had been used primarily as a lock by the Hurricanes this season and therefore he would not use Fifita as a blindside flank for the All Blacks.

Fifita was satisfied with this explanation at the time, but was left puzzled when in a later interview, Hansen said he had picked Hemopo as a back-up six and not a lock, despite Hemopo having played all season at lock for the Highlanders.

“He told me that, but when I saw he got interviewed and he said Hemopo was to cover six, not lock, I kind of feel he’s not telling me the truth,” he said.

“But that’s life.”

Fifita says he prefers the number six jersey, but the reason he was used at lock with the Hurricanes was because they were short on second-rows at the time.

“They asked me and I told them I don’t enjoy playing lock,” he added. “I prefer six, but I know I can’t play six, because [Brad Shields] is there.

“At the same time, I didn’t mind, because I just wanted to play.

“I like six, because I can use my athleticism to do what I can do on the outside, rather just stay tight and do the hard work, like running into a brick wall and getting your body tired.”

---

Saracens prop Juan Figallo has been called up by Argentina coach Mario Ledesma for Los Pumas’ opening two fixtures of the 2018 Rugby Championship.

Tighthead Figallo will be in contention for their matches against South Africa on 18th and 25th August before returning to Saracens for the beginning of the Premiership season.

Ledesma brought an end to Argentina’s blockade on selecting European-based players by adding Figallo to his squad.

The 30-year-old, who has 24 caps for his country, last represented Argentina at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

---

Kyle Steyn will captain the Griquas when they face the Pumas at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday in the opening round of Currie Cup action.

AJ Coertzen, Ederies Arendse and Godfrey Ramaboea make up the back three, with captain Kyle Steyn and Christopher Bosch forming the midfield pairing. George Whitehead starts at fly-half, while Christiaan Meyer slots in beside him at scrum-half.

Conway Pretorius is eighth man and Sias Koean and Wendal Wehr complete the loose trio. FP Pelser and Sintu Manjezi lock down in the second row as Nicolaas Oosthuizen, Khwezi Mkhafu and Devon Martinus combine in the front row.

Griquas: 15 AJ Coertzen, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Kyle Steyn (captain), 12 Christopher Bosch, 11, Godfrey Ramaboea, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Christiaan Meyer, 8 Conway Pretorius, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Wendal Wehr, 5 FP Pelser, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Nicolaas Oosthuizen, 2 Khwezi Mkhafu, 1 Devon Martinus
Replacements: 16 AJ Le Roux, 17 Liam Hendricks, 18 Ruan Kramer, 19 Pieter Van Vuren, 20 Izak Burger, 21 Jonathan Janse van Rensburg, 22 Andre Swarts

Date: Friday, September 17
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: 17:00 local (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Ricus van der Hoven, Des van Wyk
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

---

Marnus Schoeman will start at blindside flank for the Pumas when they take on Griquas at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday.

Gerrit Smith is at full-back while JP Lewis and Neil Maritz line up on the wings. Ryan Nell and Henrie Skorbinski form the midfield combination with Christopher Smith and Stefan Ungerer combining as the half-back pairing.

Willie Engelbrecht will front up at the back of the scrum, as Schoeman and Stefan Willemse complete the loose trio. Cameron Lindsay and Le Roux Roets lock down in the second row, while Marne Coetzee, Simon Westraadt and Kwezi Mona make up the front row.

Pumas: 15 Gerrit Smith, 14 JP Lewis, 13 Ryan Nell, 12 Hennie Skorbinski (captain), 11 Neil Maritz, 10 Christopher Smith, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Marné Coetzee, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Kwezi Mona
Replacements: 16 Frankie Herne, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Jeandré Rudolph, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Trompie Pretorius

Date: Friday, September 17
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: 17:00 local (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Ricus van der Hoven, Des van Wyk
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

---

Ahead of the 2018 Rugby Championship, we preview each of the four teams who are battling for the much-coveted silverware.

Argentina

Australia

South Africa

New Zealand

---

Your one-stop spot for all the Currie Cup starting line-ups as they come out.

Friday

Pumas v Griquas

Pumas: 15 Gerrit Smith, 14 JP Lewis, 13 Ryan Nell, 12 Hennie Skorbinski (captain), 11 Neil Maritz, 10 Christopher Smith, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Marné Coetzee, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Kwezi Mona
Replacements: 16 Frankie Herne, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Jeandré Rudolph, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Trompie Pretorius

Griquas: 15 AJ Coertzen, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Kyle Steyn (captain), 12 Christopher Bosch, 11, Godfrey Ramaboea, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Christiaan Meyer, 8 Conway Pretorius, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Wendal Wehr, 5 FP Pelser, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Nicolaas Oosthuizen, 2 Khwezi Mkhafu, 1 Devon Martinus
Replacements: 16 AJ Le Roux, 17 Liam Hendricks, 18 Ruan Kramer, 19 Pieter Van Vuren, 20 Izak Burger, 21 Jonathan Janse van Rensburg, 22 Andre Swarts

Free State Cheetahs v Blue Bulls

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Malcom Jaer, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Nico Lee, 11 William Small-Smith, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Oupa Mohoje (c), 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Erich de Jager, 18 Gunther Janse van Vuuren, 19 Dennis Visser, 20 Gerhard Olivier, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Louis Fouche

Bulls: 15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 JT Jackson, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (c), 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Conrad van Vuuren, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Matthys Basson
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 Hendre Stassen, 19 Jano Venter, 20 Theo Maree, 21 Tony Jantjies, 22 Earll Douwrie

---

Scrum-half Rudy Paige and fly-half Tian Schoeman will run out against their old side when they start for the Cheetahs against the Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein on Friday.

Oupa Mohoje will lead a side that includes a number of players making their Cheetahs bows, while Jacques du Toit will be making his 50th appearance for the club if he comes on to the field as replacement hooker.

Dan Human will oversee Free State’s Currie Cup team, while director of rugby Franco Smith will coach the PRO14 team.

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Malcom Jaer, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Nico Lee, 11 William Small-Smith, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Oupa Mohoje (c), 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Erich de Jager, 18 Gunther Janse van Vuuren, 19 Dennis Visser, 20 Gerhard Olivier, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Louis Fouche

Date: Friday, August 17
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19:00 (18:00 BST, 17:00 GMT)
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Ben Crouse, Jaco Kotze
TMO: Lourens van der Merwe

---

Justin Tipuric will lead the Ospreys this season after he was confirmed as the region’s new skipper to take over from Alun Wyn Jones after eight years.

Jones had held the post since August 2010, making a record 115 appearances as captain – more than double the number of any other Ospreys captain.

Since making his Ospreys debut in November 2009 as a second half replacement in a Liberty Stadium Anglo-Welsh tie against Northampton Saints, Tipuric has gone on to make 155 regional appearances, his tally of 25 tries the highest by an Ospreys forward.

Capped 57 times by Wales and a double Six Nations champion, including two appearances in the 2012 Grand Slam success, the openside from Trebanos has also been on the last two British & Irish Lions tours, making one Test appearance.

Although only confirmed as skipper today, Tipuric has a wealth of leadership experience having already led the side 27 times across the last seven years, since he became the second youngest ever Ospreys captain in January 2011, aged 21, when the Ospreys faced Leinster in Dublin in the Magners League.

Speaking about the appointment, Ospreys Head Coach, Allen Clarke, said:

“Alun Wyn is a proud Osprey who has led the team with great honour from the front since 2010 both as a player and as an ambassador. In Justin we have another world-class player who leads by example on and off the field.

“It’s important to remember that Al is still a major player and significant leader within our environment, but having discussed the position with him it was clear he believed the time was right for the Ospreys to have a fresh voice as a captain. An Osprey through and through, Justin is the right man for the job.

“A deep student of the game Tips has a wonderful understanding of rugby, with a steely determination and skill set to match. He epitomises the past and what we aspire to be again. I’ve no doubt he will receive the full backing of players, staff and supporters alike.

“We are fortunate to have a number of players in the environment who are leaders and captains. As well as Alun Wyn, who remains Wales captain, Dan Lydiate, Bradley Davies and Scott Williams have all captained their country, and Giorgi Nemsadze is the captain of Georgia, so Justin has plenty of experience to support him throughout this season and beyond.”

---

Click:national clothing asian costume

England and Gloucester fly-half Danny Cipriani has been fined £2000 after pleading guilty to common assault and resisting arrest.

The pivot was arrested after a nightclub incident in Jersey in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

He appeared at Jersey Magistrates Court on Thursday and was fined £2000 and ordered to pay £250 in compensation to the police officer he bruised.

Cipriani had two other charges – larceny and acting disorderly on licensed premises – dropped.

Following the verdict, the fly-half tweeted to apologise and give an account of what happened on Wednesday.

pic.twitter.com/hJ9G87PHY5

— Danny Cipriani (@DannyCipriani87) August 16, 2018

Gloucester CEO Stephen Vaughan added: “We are very proud of the culture we have within the group and the stated values which we strive to deliver against. Incidents of this nature are very disappointing to be associated with, and we will deal with it in a robust but balanced way but based purely on the facts.

“As a high profile sportsperson there is often a large degree of public and media scrutiny involved, which Danny is well aware of.

“The incident in question was over in a matter of seconds and was a reaction to the conduct of other parties involved.

“He knows his responsibilities and is aware of the impact of this type of incident on the club. However, Danny is a Gloucester Rugby player and will receive our full support as we focus on the exciting season ahead.”

---