Griquas run riot to book final berth

Defending champions Griquas stormed into the Currie Cup showpiece after a dominant semi-final victory over the Lions in Kimberley on Sunday.

The title-holders scored seven tries in a 52-12 thrashing of the Pride at Griqua Stadium, and now await the winner between the Cheetahs and Pumas in Bloemfontein.

Pieter Bergh’s men arrived in the knockout phase in superb form, having won six straight matches after an opening-round defeat to the Stormers XXIII and finishing the league phase top of the table. sportbet.rodeo

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Converted tries from loose forwards Lourens Oosthuizen and Marco de Witt put Griquas 14-0 up within 12 minutes.

The Lions had looked to establish a foothold, but two crucial errors allowed centre Mnombo Zwelendaba to spark the attack, with De Witt rounding it off.

The visitors got on the scoreboard in the 18th minute through hooker Armand Combrinck, but Griquas quickly restored their momentum, with Zwelendaba going over in the 29th minute.

Flyhalf George Whitehead was on song from the kicking tee, kicking all three conversions.

Three minutes later, the hosts extended their lead. Whitehead stabbed a kick through for fullback Stefan Coetzee, who powered over the tryline.

There was still time for Griquas to add one more before the interval, with hooker Tiaan Lange continuing his prolific try-scoring form to make it a commanding 35-5 lead.

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It remained one-way traffic in the third quarter as Oosthuizen grabbed a second try. Whitehead was given a rest after his perfect performance, with Liam Koen replacing him and slotting a conversion.

The smattering of Lions fans had something to cheer, as Junior Springbok star Ethan Adams powered over for his second try of the 2026 Currie Cup. The extra two points were added by No 10 Matt Coetzee.

With less than 10 minutes to go, Griquas reserve scrumhalf Jack Hart snuck his way over the line for his first try in peacock blue. Koen split the uprights, and then took the home team beyond 50 with a penalty kick at the death.

GRIQUAS – Tries: Lourens Oosthuizen (2), Marco de Witt, Mnombo Zwelendaba, Stefan Coetzee, Tiaan Lange, Jack Hart. Conversions: George Whitehead (5), Liam Koen (2). Penalty: Koen.
LIONS – Tries: Armand Combrinck, Ethan Adams. Conversion: Matt Coetzee.

Photo: Danie van der Lith/Gallo Images

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Mamelodi Sundowns moved to the top of the Betway Premiership standings following a hard-fought 2-1 win over Golden Arrows at King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Siyanda Ndlovu’s opening goal for Sundowns in the first half was cancelled out by Junior Dion late in the second half. Teboho Mokoena then produced one of his trademark long-range efforts to snatch victory for the Brazilians in the 88th minute.

The Tshwane giants moved to 16 points, three ahead of Orlando Pirates at the top of the table after six matches. The Buccaneers, who now have a game in hand over Sundowns, were on CAF Champions League duty away to Mauritius side La Cure Waves.

The game was played at a frantic pace in rainy and overcast conditions in KwaZulu-Natal. Ndlovu opened the scoring in the 14th minute after Matthews’ cross evaded everyone in the box, but the winger was alert and slotted the ball into an empty net.

It was his first goal for Sundowns. Ironically, it came against his former team. Understandably, the youngster’s celebrations were muted against his former employers. Although Sundowns dominated the opening half, Nhlanhla Gasa did give Ronwen Williams something to think about with a fierce shot from the edge of the area, but the Sundowns goalkeeper calmly collected.

In fact, it was Arrows who ended the first half the stronger of the two teams. Williams produced two excellent saves on the stroke of half-time to keep his side in the lead at the break.

Sundowns were quick off the blocks after the restart, and Brayan León was denied by Thakasani Mbanjwa five minutes into the second half after being put through on goal by Cassius Mailula.

Abafana Besthende took advantage of some naivety from Sundowns to equalise through Dion in the 75th minute. Sundowns were temporarily down to 10 men with an injured León off the pitch.

Instead of kicking the ball out to break up play and allow a substitution to take place, they played on and lost possession.

Arrows used their numerical advantage to pounce, but just when the game appeared to be heading for a draw, Mokoena picked up the ball on the edge of the area and smashed it home to bag all three points for Sundowns.

Le Vélodrome attend une réaction. Après sa défaite à Monaco, l’Olympique de Marseille retrouve son public avec la volonté de relancer immédiatement sa dynamique. Mais le défi s’annonce piégeux face au Paris FC, qui débarque dans la cité phocéenne avec le plein de confiance après une prestation particulièrement convaincante contre Nice. Entre une équipe marseillaise sous pression et un promu qui n’a rien à perdre, tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour un rendez-vous disputé.

L’OM a payé cher son manque d’efficacité lors de son dernier déplacement, battu 2-0 par Monaco malgré des situations intéressantes. Angel Gomes l’a reconnu après la rencontre, appelant surtout ses partenaires à rester soudés pour traverser cette période. À domicile, les hommes de Roberto De Zerbi devront donc montrer davantage de caractère et surtout convertir leurs occasions. Une réaction est attendue, d’autant que le Vélodrome pourrait rapidement se montrer exigeant si les Marseillais ne parviennent pas à imposer leur rythme.

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En face, le Paris FC possède des arguments pour compliquer sérieusement la tâche des Olympiens. Les Parisiens viennent de dominer l’OGC Nice (3-0), avec des buts de Lassine Sinayoko, Samir Chergui et Vincent Marchetti. Une prestation aboutie qui confirme les progrès d’une équipe capable de se montrer à la fois solide défensivement et dangereuse dans les derniers mètres. Fort de cette confiance, le Paris FC tentera de profiter des éventuels doutes marseillais pour réaliser un nouveau coup d’éclat.

La pression sera donc clairement sur les épaules de l’OM, qui devra assumer son statut et répondre devant son public. Le duel entre l’Olympique de Marseille et le Paris FC se disputera ce dimanche 6 septembre à 20h45 au stade Vélodrome. La rencontre sera à suivre en direct sur Ligue 1+ 2, avec également un accès via DAZN et Prime Video.

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L’Olympique de Marseille a dévoilé son groupe pour la réception du Paris FC, ce dimanche soir en clôture de la troisième journée de Ligue 1. Bruno Genesio devra composer avec plusieurs absences, dont celles de Geoffrey Kondogbia et Tochukwu Nnadi, tous deux blessés. À l’inverse, Bamo Meïté et Igor Paixao font bien partie des joueurs convoqués pour cette rencontre au Vélodrome.

Sorti lors de la défaite contre l’AS Monaco (0-2), Kondogbia souffre d’une blessure à la cuisse et ne pourra pas tenir sa place. Même constat pour Tochukwu Nnadi, touché au genou droit lors de cette même rencontre. Deux forfaits qui réduisent les options de Genesio au milieu de terrain, alors que l’OM cherche à réagir après son revers de la précédente journée.

Meïté retrouve le groupe, Paixao également convoqué

Bamo Meïté effectue, lui, son retour dans le groupe après avoir manqué les deux premières journées de championnat. De retour d’un prêt d’une saison à Lorient, le défenseur ivoirien a retrouvé du rythme avec la réserve marseillaise, en disputant l’intégralité du match face à Espaly samedi (0-0). Son retour constitue une solution supplémentaire pour Genesio, qui avait expliqué vendredi que son joueur était désormais « physiquement en pleine forme ».

Igor Paixao figure également parmi les convoqués. Alors qu’il avait été absent contre Monaco en raison d’une blessure à une cuisse et que son avenir reste incertain dans cette fin de mercato, l’ailier brésilien est finalement disponible pour affronter le Paris FC. L’OM tentera de décrocher sa deuxième victoire de la saison ce dimanche à 20h45 au Vélodrome.

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Flyhalf Clinton Swart’s late penalty helped the Pumas progress to the Currie Cup final with a come-from-behind win against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Sunday afternoon.

Man of the Match Swart split the uprights in the 70th minute at Free State Stadium to complete a 27-24 victory that will see Jimmy Stonehouse’s men contest next Saturday’s decider in Kimberley against the defending champions Griquas, who earlier in the day thrashed the Lions 52-12 at Griqua Stadium.

It was also back-to-back wins for the Pumas over Frans Steyn’s troops after last week’s 52-26 rout in Nelspruit.

The Lowvelders are no strangers to the showpiece of rugby’s oldest domestic competition, having reached consecutive finals in 2022 and 2023 and a maiden title triumph four years ago.

RECAP: Griquas run riot to book final berth

Sunday’s hosts controlled territory from the outset before Cheetahs flyhalf Jaco van der Walt opened the scoring with a penalty in the 18th minute.

Their forwards did the damage from there, a rolling maul on 35 minutes ending in a try for flanker Ramon Uys and Van der Walt converted.

The Pumas struggled to find rhythm with ball in hand, undone by handling errors and a scrum that kept giving the home team a platform.

Swart’s penalty on the stroke of half-time was the visitors’ only reward as the Cheetahs took a 10-3 lead into the break.

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The Pumas struck early after the restart, winger Darren Adonis finishing off a lineout steal and Swart converting to level matters at 10-10.

Flanker Andre Goedhals barged over for a second try, but the Cheetahs hit back through replacement Marko Janse van Rensburg’s maul finish, and Van der Walt tied it up again from the kicking tee.

Substitute Gustav du Rand’s rolling-maul try nudged the Pumas back in front before centre Carel-Jan Coetzee’s converted touchdown levelled it once more at 24-24.

Swart’s final strike then edged the Pumas in front, and they held on from there to book a spot in the decider.

CHEETAHS – Tries: Ramon Uys, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Carel-Jan Coetzee. Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (3). Penalty: Van der Walt.
PUMAS – Tries: Darren Adonis, Andre Goedhals, Gustav du Rand. Conversions: Clinton Swart (3). Penalties: Swart (2).

Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images

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