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Bulls claim bragging rights in Paarl
The Bulls got the better of the Stormers in a pre-season north-south derby at Faure Street Stadium in Paarl on Friday afternoon. esporist.com
Johan Ackermann’s Bulls, who included Springboks Willie le Roux and Nizaam Carr and new recruit Hanro Liebenberg, tested combinations ahead of the new season while securing a 38-26 win.
Stormers boss John Dobson blended youth and experience in a match-day 31 that included six URC winners and was captained by Hacjivah Dayimani.
The hosts struck first through fullback Dylan Miller, who cut inside onto Jurie Matthee’s pass, but the flyhalf missed the conversion.
No 8 Jeandré Rudolph replied for the visitors from a driving maul, before speedster Lleyton Davids raced down the right flank for the Stormers’ second try. Matthee converted to restore their lead.
Liebenberg then powered over from close range, with No 10 Ruben Groenewald converting to level the scores.
The Bulls moved ahead when winger Thaakir Abrahams gathered Le Roux’s chip over the defence to score in the left corner. Groenewald missed the conversion as the visitors led 17-12 at half-time.
MORE: Dobbo upbeat despite Kolbe blow
The Stormers regained the lead early in the second half when Miller finished in the left corner, with Matthee converting.
The Herd responded against the run of play as replacement flyhalf Viaan Mentoor broke away to score and converted his own try.
A penalty try from a powerful Stormers driving maul put Dobson’s men back in front, but the Bulls finished strongly. Loose forward JJ Theron crashed over for their fifth try before winger Sebastian de Klerk, returning from a long-term injury, crossed for the sixth.
Mentoor converted both as the Bulls secured a comfortable win.
ALSO: Sharks edge Lions at Ellis Park
The Stormers open their URC campaign against Connacht in Galway on Friday, 25 September, while the Bulls begin theirs away to Italian club Zebre Parma on Saturday, 26 September.
STORMERS – Tries: Dylan Miller (2), Lleyton Davids, penalty try. Conversions: Jurie Matthee (2).
BULLS – Tries: Jeandré Rudolph, Hanro Liebenberg, Thaakir Abrahams, Viaan Mentoor, JJ Theron, Sebastian de Klerk. Conversions: Ruben Groenewald, Mentoor (3).
Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
The post Bulls claim bragging rights in Paarl appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is bigger than the Lions
The British & Irish Lions remain rugby’s most romantic tourists, but Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry has become the bigger series.
Zels and I agreed on the latest episode of Keo & Zels that a Springboks-All Blacks tour is now the ultimate contest outside of a World Cup.
It is the best against the best.
The Lions are selected from four countries and asked to become a Test team in a matter of weeks. That was unique and cutting-edge in the amateur era, but professionalism has changed the contest.
The analysis is more detailed, the science is more advanced and combinations are built over years. A composite Lions team cannot replicate the cohesion of a Springbok or All Blacks side that has evolved through an entire World Cup cycle.
There is also no manufactured rivalry when the Boks and All Blacks meet.
It is 105 years of history.
It is South Africa against New Zealand. It is the two most successful nations in World Cup history and the two biggest international brands in the sport.
The Lions visit South Africa once every 12 years, but the All Blacks will not return for another four-Test series until 2034. The Springboks go to New Zealand in 2030.
That 2030 tour will be monstrous.
Winning a World Cup remains rugby’s greatest prize, but there may be no more demanding assignment than winning a Test series against the All Blacks in New Zealand. There is no neutral venue and nowhere to hide. The Boks will have to beat New Zealand in New Zealand, repeatedly.
Win that series and the players write their names into rugby history forever.
This first edition of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry has already shown why the concept works.
The All Blacks arrived in South Africa with a new coach and a team attempting to recover from one of the darkest periods in their history. They were widely expected to lose the series heavily.
Instead, they won the opening Test 33-16 at Ellis Park and remained competitive in Cape Town and Soweto, despite the Springboks increasingly taking control physically.
South Africa responded like double world champions. They won the next two Tests, secured the South African leg 2-1 and produced a dominant second half at the FNB Stadium when the series demanded their best.
The fourth Test in Baltimore is different. It is being played on neutral ground, before a potential crowd of 71,000, and offers a taste of the conditions both teams will encounter at the 2027 World Cup.
The Boks and All Blacks have met eight times at neutral venues. They have won four each, with South Africa scoring 157 points and New Zealand 156.
It does not get closer.
Rassie Erasmus has selected 22 of the 23 players involved in Soweto. That tells us Baltimore is no exhibition for the Springboks. They want to win the series 3-1, land another psychological blow and show they can deliver a complete 80-minute performance away from home.
The All Blacks have made eight changes to their starting XV, but Richie Mo’unga returns at flyhalf, with Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane offering more than 200 Test caps from the bench.
Their backs remain electric. Their problem is up front.
New Zealand scored 13 tries to South Africa’s eight in the first three Tests, but their set piece could not consistently withstand the Springbok pack. Until the All Blacks find the heavies to match South Africa at scrum and maul, their attacking ambition will always be compromised.
Baltimore brings this chapter to a close, but the series has already delivered its verdict.
The Lions still have their history and romance.
The Boks against the All Blacks have history, relevance and the two best Test teams in the world.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is bigger. This series proved it.
Watch the full episode of Keo & Zels previewing the Baltimore Test between the Springboks and All Blacks.
Chelsea : Pedro Neto prolonge jusqu’en 2032
Chelsea a officialisé ce vendredi 11 septembre 2026 la prolongation de contrat de Pedro Neto. Arrivé à Londres en 2024, l’attaquant portugais est désormais lié aux Blues jusqu’en 2032.
Pedro Neto s’inscrit dans la durée
L’aventure se poursuit pour Pedro Neto à Chelsea. Recruté en août 2024, l’international portugais s’est progressivement imposé dans le groupe londonien et vient de prolonger son engagement avec le club.
Depuis son arrivée, l’attaquant a disputé 108 rencontres sous le maillot des Blues, pour 21 buts et 19 passes décisives. Cette saison, il a déjà trouvé le chemin des filets à deux reprises, contre Brighton en Premier League le 30 août, puis face à Leeds en EFL Cup.
Avant de rejoindre Chelsea, Pedro Neto avait évolué plusieurs saisons à Wolverhampton. Sous les couleurs des Wolves, il avait disputé 135 matches, inscrit 14 buts et délivré 27 passes décisives.
« Je veux vivre encore plus de ces moments »
Après l’annonce de sa prolongation, Pedro Neto a affiché sa satisfaction et souligné l’importance de Chelsea dans son parcours depuis son arrivée.
« C’est un moment incroyable. Depuis mon arrivée, j’ai toujours eu le sentiment que les gens ici m’ont beaucoup aidé. Je me sens comme chez moi et j’ai envie de réaliser encore plus de choses ici. J’ai vécu de très bons moments, aussi bien collectivement qu’individuellement, et maintenant je veux en vivre encore davantage. Je suis vraiment enthousiaste, car je pense que nous pouvons accomplir beaucoup de choses ensemble », a déclaré le Portugais.
Désormais engagé jusqu’en 2032, Pedro Neto dispose d’un horizon à long terme pour poursuivre son développement et participer aux ambitions de Chelsea.
The post Chelsea : Pedro Neto prolonge jusqu’en 2032 appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.