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Lions licking their lips for Leinster challenge
Morné van den Berg and Jaque Fourie say the in-form Lions have returned from a week’s break revved up in the race to the Vodacom URC playoffs. umafrika.club
Following six consecutive wins, Ivan van Rooyen’s Pride are all but assured of a first-ever appearance in the quarter-finals of the URC. They are set to cross swords with Irish giants Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.
The Joburgers are well-placed in third to secure a home playoff, with two rounds left of the regular season, yet Leinster are fresh off a narrow win over Toulon in the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals.
Speaking in a teleconference on Tuesday, Van den Berg told journalists that the Lions have the opportunity to test their game against one of the league’s leading teams at the Aviva Stadium.
“I think we’re at a place where we’re really backing our game” the Springbok scrumhalf said. “And if we can prove to ourselves that that game is good enough to beat Leinster in Dublin, then we can really back ourselves in the playoffs.”
COLUMN: Lions roar into new territory
“We’re going to just take it moment by moment, not get ahead of ourselves this weekend and just really go for it. Now it is our responsibility to go and give it our all.”
Van den Berg highlighted a need to avoid the lapses that Leinster punished in a previous meeting at the Aviva.
“In that game everything changed when we knocked the ball on in the 22 when we had all the momentum,” he said. “One kick changed the game and James Lowe kicked almost a 50:22.”
“It’s playing in the right areas and really, if you have the momentum, to stay on top of them and not have soft moments. In the past we’ve had a lot of soft moments where we just switch off mentally.”
“From a defence point, personally for me, I’ve been very proud of the guys,” Fourie added. “I think we’ve grown heaps and bounds the last four games.”
“After the Bulls game, we came back that Monday and we had to change a few things. And it’s just gotten better and better.”
The former Bok and defence coach said the Lions have built confidence, but the next step is to take that to the Irish capital.
“For us now, I think we’ve had four or five big results at home, that has built a lot of confidence,” Fourie explained. “But that’s what you need when you come to Leinster to play them.”
MORE: Lions hungry to ‘play with the big dogs’
“We’ve found our identity. We know how we want to play. We know what we need to do on Saturday to win and to beat Leinster.”
“We’re using our defence as a weapon to go score tries,” he added. “For us, it’s all about putting teams under pressure, getting the ball back and then converting that pressure into points.”
“We know we haven’t achieved anything yet,” he said. “We still have two big games. Our biggest challenge is Saturday in Dublin against Leinster.”
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
The post Lions licking their lips for Leinster challenge appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Au Real Madrid, un front anti Kylian Mbappé prend de l'ampleur
Malgré des statistiques impressionnantes, le capitaine des Bleus, actuellement blessé, doit faire face à la colère d'une partie des supporters madrilènes qui lui reprochent son manque d'enthousiasme en cette fin de saison. Son escapade en Italie avec l’actrice Ester Expósito est venue accréditer le récit d'un Kylian Mbappé peu impliqué alors que le Real Madrid est éliminé de la Ligue des champions.
Former Springbok centre Jan Serfontein retires
Springbok and Bulls centre Jan Serfontein has decided to retire after a rugby career spanning 15 years.
Serfontein last played for the Boks in the Rugby Championship in 2017. He scored four tries for the national team, representing South Africa 35 times at Test level.
Domestically, he played at the Bulls for four seasons, then Montpellier for eight before returning to the club of his youth this season, on a three-year deal.
However, he has battled with a severe knee injury since April.
“Every player knows that there’s a time to call it a day,” reflected the 33-year-old.
He said that playing for the Bulls had been a dream come true.
“We used to drive up from Port Elizabeth to watch Currie Cup finals and also the year (2009) they won the Super Rugby final against the Chiefs. I was always a fan from when I was a youngster. There were many highs and lows and I’m massively proud and fortunate to have represented the Bulls.”
Serfontein’s illustrious career
Serfontein’s ascent was meteoric. Born in the Eastern Cape in 1993, he first grabbed major attention in 2012 when he helped the Junior Springboks to a Junior World Championship title on home soil.
His dominant performances that year earned him the prestigious title of World Junior Player of the Year, marking him as a potential Springbok mainstay.
Serfontein transitioned seamlessly into the senior ranks, making his Bok debut at just 20 years old against Italy in 2013. Over the next four years, he became a fixture in the national setup, earning 35 caps and representing South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, where the team secured a bronze medal.
Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone said: “Jan has been the epitome of a true professional and a ‘Loftus man’ through and through. From the moment he first arrived as a world-class junior talent to his return as a veteran leader, his contribution to this jersey has been immense.
“While his final season was unfortunately cut short by injury, his impact on the culture of this team and his mentorship of the younger players remained invaluable. We wish Jan and his family nothing but the best for this next chapter.”
Bulls coach: ‘A quality person’
Coach Johan Ackermann praised Serfontein’s professional manner while representing the Bulls.
“I must congratulate him for playing at the highest level and always putting his body on the line. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a long time coaching Jan at the Bulls but he struck me as a quality person and a great team man. He was always humble and supportive of the team.
“When he saw me, I felt the need to support his decision…
“I can only thank him for the way he was every day. May he and his family be blessed as they embark on their new chapter.”
In 2017, Serfontein moved to Montpellier, where he would spend the next eight seasons. During his time in France, he evolved into a veteran leader, making over 140 appearances and helping the club reach the pinnacle of European rugby.
He highlighted his tenure by winning two major trophies: the European Challenge Cup in 2021 and the French Top 14 title in 2022.
FC Barcelone : Lamine Yamal de retour à l’entraînement
C’est une nouvelle qui va ravir les supporters du Barça et de l’Espagne. Ce mardi, Lamine Yamal a publié une story Instagram dans laquelle on peut le voir de retour à l’entraînement, un peu plus de dix jours seulement après sa blessure. Le jeune prodige du FC Barcelone s’était blessé le 22 avril lors d’un match face au Celta Vigo. Après avoir inscrit un penalty (seul but de la rencontre), il avait dû quitter ses coéquipiers à la 40e minute, visiblement touché, et rapidement remplacé par Bardghji. Les examens ont ensuite révélé une blessure à la cuisse gauche, suffisamment sérieuse pour mettre un terme à sa saison avec le Barça. Un coup dur pour le club catalan, privé de l’un de ses joueurs les plus prometteurs dans ce sprint final. Mais du côté de la sélection espagnole, l’espoir reste permis. Car malgré ce forfait avec le Barça, Lamine Yamal pourrait être apte pour la prochaine Coupe du monde. Et visiblement, le joueur n’a pas perdu de temps. Déterminé à revenir au plus vite, il a déjà repris le chemin de l’entraînement. Même si cette reprise reste progressive, elle envoie un signal fort quant à son état physique et à sa volonté de retrouver la compétition rapidement. À l’approche de la Coupe du monde, son retour est une excellente nouvelle pour l’Espagne, qui compte sur lui pour briller sur la scène internationale.
L’article FC Barcelone : Lamine Yamal de retour à l’entraînement est apparu en premier sur AfricaFootUnited.
Drogba set for key role as Tanzania eyes AFCON 2027 success
Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan has held high level talks with Ivorian football legend Didier Drogba following his visit to State House in Chamwino, Dodoma, as Tanzania intensifies preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Drogba, a former Ivory Coast national football team captain and Chelsea FC star, is in the country at the invitation of the government, with his visit centered on strengthening Tanzania’s international sporting profile and supporting long term football development.
During their meeting, President Samia formally requested the former striker to serve as a goodwill ambassador for Tanzania ahead of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The move is seen as part of broader efforts to boost the country’s global visibility as it prepares to co-host the continental showpiece.
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More details on Drogba’s potential role
Beyond the ambassadorial role, discussions also focused on knowledge sharing in sports development. The President directed the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports to collaborate with Drogba in exchanging expertise on the establishment and management of sports academies.
Tanzania is keen to enhance its youth development structures, drawing from international experience to nurture future football talent.
The two-time Africa Cup of Nations runner-up welcomed the proposal and expressed readiness to work closely with the Tanzanian government in advancing football and youth empowerment initiatives. His involvement is expected to inspire young players and contribute to building sustainable sports systems in the country.
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Renowned not only for his achievements on the pitch but also for his humanitarian impact, Drogba’s influence extends beyond football. In 2005, he played a notable role in advocating for peace during political unrest in Ivory Coast, underscoring his reputation as a unifying figure.
This marks Drogba’s return to Tanzania for the first time since June 2013, when he featured in a World Cup qualifier between Tanzania and Ivory Coast. His latest visit signals a new chapter of collaboration, with Tanzania aiming to leverage his global stature in its journey towards a successful AFCON 2027 campaign.