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Siya eyes history, honours Soweto’s sacrifice
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi says Saturday’s Test against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium is about more than winning, it is a chance to repay a debt to the people of Soweto. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports. musojam.blog
Kolisi spoke movingly on Friday afternoon about the sacrifices made by the community living in the shadow of the famous Calabash.
“We’re thankful for the people connected to that place who fought for the freedom that lets me and him [assistant coach Mzwandile Stick] sit here today,” he said, adding that the current generation had benefited from freedoms secured by those who endured struggles they themselves had never experienced.
“Giving our best tomorrow, and using every opportunity we get, is part of us saying thank you.”
AFRICA PICKS: Springboks vs All Blacks betting odds
The Springbok skipper recalled the deep footballing history tied to the ground, referencing memories from the 1996 African Cup of Nations, and said the connection runs far beyond rugby. He described homeless residents rising to cheer as the team bus passes, and locals giving up what little they have so others can watch the match.
“It hasn’t always gone our way in Soweto, we didn’t win the first time we played here, but the numbers that show up at the stadium, and the vibe inside it, we feel it,” he said. “We hope we can give them a good memory, not just with words but with our efforts tomorrow.”
SNAKEY: Boks’ midfield holds edge
On the field, Kolisi is closing in on a piece of Springbok history of his own. A win would give him a record 55th Test victory as Bok captain, taking him past John Smit.
He and teammates Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese will also claim the record for the most Tests played together as a Springbok loose trio, a combination Kolisi credits for much of the side’s recent success.
“We’ve all got different roles, and we’re used to playing alongside one another,” Kolisi said. “You can see the way Jasper carries the ball through contact, the work Pietie puts in, and mine is more the stuff nobody really notices, which I actually enjoy.”
STOKKE: Boks want home series win
He was quick to deflect individual milestones back to the collective.
“As for the wins record, that’s a team achievement, not mine personally. As long as we win, I’m happy, because it shows we’re building and moving forward as a group.”
Asked whether wet weather forecast for kick-off could disrupt the Springboks’ plans, Kolisi was unmoved.
“It won’t affect our game plan at all. The way we play is built for any weather.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Siya eyes history, honours Soweto’s sacrifice appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Manchester City : Enzo Fernández prêt à affronter Coventry
Ce samedi 6 septembre, Manchester City s’apprête à affronter Coventry à l’occasion de la 3e journée de Premier League. Une rencontre à laquelle pourrait participer Enzo Fernández.
Fernández déjà disponible
À peine arrivé à Manchester City, Enzo Fernández pourrait déjà faire ses débuts avec les Cityzens. Présent en conférence de presse d’avant-match, Enzo Maresca a confirmé que le milieu de terrain était disponible pour cette prochaine échéance, tout en louant ses qualités :
« Enzo est prêt, oui. […] Je connais bien Enzo et je sais ce qu’il peut apporter à l’équipe. […] C’est un gagnant, avec une mentalité de gagnant, il sait comment gagner. La Coupe du Monde, la Coupe du Monde des Clubs… C’est l’essentiel. »
Alors que Fernández n’a disputé que 25 minutes avec Chelsea cette saison, Enzo Maresca semble déjà compter pleinement sur son nouveau joueur.
Des retours et des absents
Dans le même temps, Enzo Maresca a également confirmé le retour de Matheus Nunes, absent lors de la rencontre face à Crystal Palace, remportée par ces derniers (1-4).
En revanche, Jérémy Doku manquera une nouvelle fois à l’appel. L’ailier belge n’a plus fait son apparition depuis le 16 août 2026, lors du Community Shield face à Arsenal, et devra encore patienter avant de retrouver les terrains.
The post Manchester City : Enzo Fernández prêt à affronter Coventry appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.
Swys on his shock exit: It’s not about money
Swys de Bruin has opened up about his sudden resignation as Springbok Women head coach.
Speaking exclusively to Netwerk24 on Friday, De Bruin dismissed reports that he had quit following a dispute with SA Rugby over bonuses owed to him.
The former Lions head coach said his resignation had been in the pipeline for some time and was simply held back from announcement until after the Bok Women’s clash with the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
AFRICA PICKS: Springboks vs All Blacks betting odds
“Let me put it very simply, it’s not as big a story as it’s being made out to be. I submitted my resignation a long time ago,” De Bruin said.
“There’s really nothing funny about it, I’m just moving on. For me it’s a new season. It’s not a case of me having a psychological setback or there was a dispute about money.”
TEAM: Bok Women move on without Swys
De Bruin took charge of the Bok Women as high-performance coach in August 2024, going on to guide the team to a first-ever World Cup quarter-final last year.
Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September, De Bruin’s former assistants who led the Bok Women in Fiji and at the African tournament in Kenya, will continue as co-coaches, Saru confirmed on Thursday.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Swys on his shock exit: It’s not about money appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
OL – Auxerre : sur quelle chaîne tv voir le match en direct ?
L’Olympique Lyonnais veut tourner la page. Après un début de saison correct en Ligue 1, le club rhodanien doit rapidement évacuer la déception de son élimination en barrages de la Ligue des champions et retrouver une dynamique positive. Face à lui, Auxerre arrive au Groupama Stadium avec l’ambition de décrocher ses premiers points de la saison, ce vendredi soir, à l’occasion de la 3e journée de Ligue 1.
Avec une victoire et un match nul lors de ses deux premières sorties, l’OL avait pourtant bien lancé son Championnat. Mais l’élimination contre Fenerbahçe (1-2), à domicile, a laissé des traces, avant qu’un nouveau coup d’arrêt ne survienne au Havre (1-1). Le mercato a également animé les dernières heures du club lyonnais, avec les départs d’Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Duje Caleta-Car et Malick Fofana, compensés par l’arrivée de Keito Nakamura en provenance de Reims. Une victoire face à Auxerre permettrait aux Lyonnais de relancer rapidement leur saison.
Auxerre veut enfin débloquer son compteur
La situation est plus délicate pour l’AJA. Battus par Lens (5-2), puis par Angers (3-1), les Auxerrois sont la seule équipe à ne pas avoir pris le moindre point après deux journées et occupent logiquement la dernière place du classement. Will Still attend donc une réaction de ses joueurs, renforcés dans les dernières heures du mercato par les arrivées du défenseur Axel Tuanzebe et de l’attaquant Cameron Archer.
Le coup d’envoi de OL – Auxerre sera donné ce vendredi 4 septembre à 19 heures, au Groupama Stadium. Pour suivre en direct cette rencontre de la 3e journée de Ligue 1, il faudra se brancher sur Ligue 1+, qui assurera la diffusion du match.
The post OL – Auxerre : sur quelle chaîne tv voir le match en direct ? appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.
Stokke: Boks want home series win
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says nothing but victory will do for the Springboks in Saturday’s third Test against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.
With the four-Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series locked at 1-1, Stick explained the thinking behind the Boks’ approach to selection and continuity.
“From the start, we said we’d treat this series like a World Cup knockout campaign,” he said.
“The changes we made after the first Test were mostly enforced, one or two were down to injuries.
“When it comes to continuity, the players understand that’s the plan for the series, because if you’re in this position at a World Cup you always want your best available side out there.
AFRICA PICKS: Springboks vs All Blacks betting odds
“It was unlucky for some of the younger players who’d had a chance to show what they can do, but we also had a couple of senior players return from injury and go straight back into their positions. As a coach I always enjoy seeing younger players push the more experienced ones, that’s exactly the kind of competition we need in the squad.
“New Zealand have made a few changes too, but you probably know their best 23, and the spine of their team hasn’t changed much. They’ve got combinations that are working.
ALSO: Springboks vs All Blacks – NZ media view
“This rivalry is living up to its name, arguably one of the best in the world historically, and people are getting value for their ticket money because you never know who’ll win.”
Stick did not shy away from the psychological weight of a New Zealand victory on South African soil.
“If they win tomorrow, they’ll claim they’ve beaten South Africa [2-1] in our own backyard, so we understand exactly what’s motivating them. We also want to protect what we stand for as South Africans.”
EXPLAINED: Why Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry ends in USA
He was equally sharp on the mathematics of the contest.
“Whoever wins has a genuine shot at winning the wider series when we travel on [to Baltimore in the USA for the fourth Test]; whoever loses can still only draw the series. Both teams will be desperate for a result.”
On where the game will be won and lost, Stick pointed to the collision zones.
“We still want to get better at the breakdown, because we know they’ll target it with the players they’ve selected. If we want to create opportunities, we have to be clinical there.”
MORE: Siya eyes history, honours Soweto’s sacrifice
He was firm that the Springboks won’t abandon their identity to chase New Zealand’s ball-in-hand approach.
“Set-piece is one of our biggest attacking platforms, we want to go forward, we’ve never been a team that goes around the contact, so if we get scrum or lineout opportunities we’ll look to dominate.
“New Zealand will want to keep the ball in play and avoid the breakdown and set-piece as much as they can – that suits their game plan.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Stokke: Boks want home series win appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.