Deon Fourie returns to Springbok squad for All Blacks series

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has recalled veteran utility forward Deon Fourie ahead of the four-Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand.

The 39-year-old will join the Springbok squad in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning. newssport.cv

Fourie covers loose forward and hooker, giving Erasmus another experienced option in the forwards.

Fourie returns after lengthy injury lay-off

Fourie recently returned to top-level rugby after spending an extended period on the sidelines through injury.

He played for the DHL Stormers against the All Blacks in Cape Town on Friday night.

The Rugby World Cup winner last represented South Africa in the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final against New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris.

His return to the Springbok squad follows his first appearance in the opening match of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.

Springboks prepare for four All Blacks Tests

The Springboks and All Blacks will meet in four Tests across South Africa and the United States.

The series begins at 10bet Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, 22 August.

The second Test takes place at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on 29 August, followed by a match at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 5 September.

The final Test will be played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on 12 September.

Springbok squad returns from Argentina

The Springboks returned to South Africa in two groups on Sunday and Monday following their trip to Argentina.

The final group is expected to arrive in Johannesburg today.

Fourie will link up with the squad as preparations begin for the opening Test at Ellis Park.

Nick Hatton leads Sharks against All Blacks

Nick Hatton has been named captain of the Hollywoodbets Sharks for their match against the All Blacks in Durban tonight.

Former New Zealand centre Ma’a Nonu will start on the Sharks bench.

The Durban fixture is the second match of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.

New Zealand will face all four South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship teams before beginning the four-Test series against the Springboks.

All Blacks beat Stormers in tour opener

The tour started in Cape Town on Friday night.

The All Blacks secured a 38-21 victory over the DHL Stormers after facing a strong challenge from the hosts.

Their next match against the Sharks provides another preparation fixture before the Test series begins in Johannesburg.

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Coach Frans Steyn says even Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk can get better as the Cheetahs look to up their game in the Currie Cup.

De Klerk dotted down at the death to snatch a 31-26 victory against the Stormers XXIII at Athlone Stadium on Sunday, capping a Man of the Match display.

On Tuesday, Steyn was again full of praise for his former Bok teammate’s influence since arriving in Bloemfontein.

“The feelings he has for the Cheetahs, there’s nothing he won’t do for this place,” he said. “He’s all in and wants to see this place get better every day.

“He didn’t do everything right on the weekend and he’ll hear that in the team meeting. But he’s a good team man. He listens to everybody and has stuff to say when he thinks we can do something better. We have missed somebody like that.”

MORE: Frans feeling old after Cheetahs fightback

Sunday’s win moved the Cheetahs up to second on the Currie Cup log, behind Griquas on points difference.

“If you told me before the season started that after four rounds, we’d be tied at the top, we would have taken it,” he said. “We’re happy. But I don’t think we are at the level we want to be.

“We need to play much better if we want to win this competition. We want to play old winning Free State rugby and we’re not there yet.

“Our kicking game wasn’t good on the weekend. Our lineout struggled. Defensively, we soaked tackles in the first half. There’s still a lot of work for us to do.”

ALSO: JP on Ma’a Nonu: His name says it all

Captain Neels Volschenk said getting a win rather than a draw was important in the context of the competition but echoed his coach’s honest assessment of the performance.

“Those three extra points we have now on the log are going to be crucial as we progress to the end of this competition,” said Volschenk. “If you want a home semi or home final, that matters.

“But no one – not me, not the coaches, not any player – is naive about how much work still needs to be put in. Against the Stormers we were not better than we were against Griquas.”

BULLS COACH: Discipline is a massive issue

The Cheetahs’ next assignment is against the winless Bulls XV at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday, and Volschenk warned against complacency.

“They have talented rugby players and like we’ve seen against the Lions and the Sharks, if you think you’re just going to pitch up and win, it’s not going to be easy,” he said. “You have to work hard, be on it and be clinical.”

Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images

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Mamelodi Sundowns winger Antonio Van Wyk dedicated his goal against Polokwane City to the late Jayden Adams, paying tribute to the former teammate’s lasting impact on the club.

Van Wyk became Sundowns’ first signing of the new season after he completed his transfer from Austrian outfit SV Ried.

The 24-year-old went on to make his first start for Sundowns and got his name on the score sheet as they secured a 3-2 victory over Polokwane City in the quarter-finals of the MTN8.

He paid tribute to the late Jayden Adams after finding the back of the net, dedicating his goal to the former teammate.

“It feels amazing especially playing in front of this amazing crowd, I mean the fans showed up and supported us until the 120 minute,” Van Wyk told Sundowns TV.

“I just want to dedicate my goal to Jayden Adams because he was an important player at this club and he continues to be an important player at this club.

“The fans can expect great football from us, I mean personally I wouldn’t be hear without this team.

“The performance I gave was a good one, the team performance was a great one and also it’s our first game, but I feel like we did so well.”

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Despite a relatively poor performance, the Springboks got what they needed out of their one-off Test hit-out against Argentina in Buenos Aires over the weekend ahead of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks, according to utility back Canan Moodie.

The Boks struggled against an understrength Argentina, but eventually walked away with a 17-10 win, which was important in keeping their momentum ahead of facing their biggest rivals.

A number of players also returned from injury, including Moodie himself, and that was also important in getting game time into them ahead of the first Test at Ellis Park next weekend.

“I think a lot of the boys coming back from injuries, you know, are not quite match fit yet, and I think getting 80 minutes in was very important, so we hopefully put our names in the hat (to be selected) for that All Blacks game,” explained Moodie.

“I think we’ve obviously got out of the game (against Argentina) what we wanted to get out of it, so now it’s full focus on the All Blacks series.

“They’ve played already against the Stormers (this past Friday), and have got another one against the Sharks (on Tuesday), so we’ll be dialled into whatever they’re doing and then prepare as best as we can.”

Argentina pressure

Moodie said that the pressure placed on them by Argentina and the fact that they were forced to grind out a win, will stand them in good stead if they are forced into a similar situation in the RGR series against the All Blacks.

“A lot of boys haven’t played in Argentina, and we knew it was going to be hostile. We had to stick to our guns, stick to our systems and at the end of the day, show a lot of character,” said Moodie.

“Our system was there backing us against obviously all the fatigue and the long ball in play and the hostile crowd. We stuck to our systems and that worked out for us.

“It was a massive grind, and it was always going to be difficult. Glad we got the win at the end. The Argentinians, they just never go away. We had to fight for it right until the end. It easily could have been a draw at the end, but glad we got the win.

“I think that was very important. It wasn’t easy, but you know, guys showed a lot of character and yeah, hopefully we can carry that into the Test series when it gets a bit tough, then we can dig deep and get the result.”

The All Blacks take on the Sharks in Durban on Tuesday and Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday, before the first Test against the Springboks in Johannesburg next week Saturday, followed by a game against the Lions and then three further Tests against the Boks.

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz expressed his disappointment after his side’s defeat, admitting that the Glamour Boys failed to capitalise on their chances.

The Glamour Boys returned to the top-eight competition after a two-year absence, facing Golden Arrows in the quarter-finals.

Amakhosi’s journey in the competition came to a premature end after they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Abafana Bes’thende at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

Da Cruz praised his players’ effort but highlighted a lack of composure in front of goal, while also lamenting the result for the supporters who turned out to back the team.

“It’s very disappointing for the players because they put in a lot of effort,” Da Cruz told his club’s official website.

“Also, for the fans because a lot of them came to the stadium. We had a lot of chances to score but we didn’t take them and unfortunately they scored with their only chance from a cross.

“Regarding our chances, we lacked lucidity (composure) inside the box. Even after they scored we had opportunities but we need to work on being calmer in those situations.”

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