OM-Atlético : le groupe du club espagnol Álvarez absent

L’Atlético de Madrid se déplace au Vélodrome ce vendredi à 17h30 pour y affronter l’Olympique de Marseille, à l’occasion d’un dernier match de préparation avant la reprise du championnat.

Le club espagnol a communiqué la liste des joueurs convoqués pour cette rencontre. Comme prévu, Julián Álvarez, Álex Baena, Marcos Llorente et Juan Musso ne figurent pas dans le groupe. Les quatre joueurs viennent tout juste de reprendre l’entraînement cette semaine et manquent encore de rythme. saltysenoritaaz.com

Concernant Julián Álvarez, son absence n’est pas liée aux spéculations autour de son avenir. L’attaquant argentin était simplement attendu plus tard dans la préparation et poursuit sa remise en condition avant de retrouver progressivement la compétition.

Une rencontre qui permettra à l’Atlético de Madrid de poursuivre sa préparation avant le début de la saison officielle.

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Former All Blacks flank Josh Kronfeld says no one can match the Springboks when it comes to size and aggression in contact.

Kronfeld earned 54 Test caps between 1995 and 2000 and knows first-hand what it takes to succeed in South Africa, having been part of the All Blacks team that claimed a historic series victory in 1996.

The former opensider believes the physical challenge posed by the Boks remains unique.

“It’s on another level, especially in their size and aggression in the contact,” Kronfeld told Betway. “This is where South Africa are more consistent than most.

“In my time, I knew if I was at the bottom of a ruck, I was going to wear something. If my ankle was lying out on the wrong side, it was probably going to get stood on.

“Everything was pushed to the nth degree of the law and remember that was without the assistance of all those cameras they have today.

“If they had been around in my day, games would have been very stop-start!”

LOMAX: Scrums will be more than just restarts

Kronfeld described South Africa as the toughest country in which to play and believes the challenge extends well beyond what happens between the white lines.

“Of every nation I’ve been to, it’s easily the hardest,” he said. “You can never understand it until you go over and experience South Africa for yourself.

“There are a number of the boys on this tour who hadn’t been to South Africa before.

“One, they wouldn’t have known what to expect to play in South Africa, two, against South African pride and three, against the whole South African people and a country. It’s quite a unique sensation. It’s a unique environment to be in.”

ALSO: All Blacks legend hails steely Bok mentality

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie sought to give his players an insight into that experience by organising a gathering with members of the 1996 touring team during the weekend of the Ireland Test in Auckland.

“They got us 1996 guys for a meet and greet with the young fellows, and many of us were in stitches about some of the old stories from that era.

“They also showed some historical context when the Boks came and toured here and the anti-apartheid protests [in 1981]. They painted a bit of a picture for the boys of what they were going to expect in South Africa.

“New Zealand’s anti-apartheid stance has always been part of the history that you learn through school and when you come into rugby you learn what a sporting culture and a rugby culture means to a South African.”

MORE: Kronfeld laments death of breakdown bandit

Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images

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Avant de faire le déplacement en Égypte ce jeudi 13 août, le chef de la diplomatie turque Hakan Fidan a effectué une visite de deux jours en Libye où il a rencontré les responsables de deux camps libyens en visitant à la fois Tripoli et Benghazi. Ankara, l'un des pays les plus influents en Libye, voudrait consolider sa présence dans cet État stratégique du nord de l'Afrique. Elle se pose désormais en tant que réconciliatrice et veut accroitre avec la Libye ses relations économiques tout comme celles de la sécurité et de la défense.

All Blacks boss Dave Rennie has hinted at changes to NZ Rugby’s eligibility rules after the late call-up of playmaker Richie Mo’unga for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.

Mo’unga on Thursday was called into the All Blacks squad as a replacement for the injured Billy Proctor. The 56-Test flyhalf has not represented New Zealand since the 2023 World Cup final against the Springboks and only returned home a few months ago following his stint in Japan.

The 32-year-old became eligible for All Blacks selection again after playing for Canterbury against Auckland in the NPC on 1 August.

He was previously ineligible despite being contracted, since his 18-month deal fell short of the two-year threshold required for automatic selection. Rennie had pushed unsuccessfully for Mo’unga’s fast-tracked inclusion.

ALSO: Rennie reveals Richie return plan

Speaking in Pretoria ahead of Saturday’s clash against the Vodacom Bulls, Rennie addressed Mo’unga’s previous complications and potentially selecting overseas-based All Blacks.

“What they [NZ Rugby] wanted was Richie to sign a two-year deal,” he said. “I guess he committed for 18 months and, if he’d signed for two years, then he would have been eligible from the start.

“I guess all policies will be looked at over the next wee while, but that was the criteria we’re dealing with.”

“[High performance director] Don [Tricker] and I have had conversations around what things look like long term,” Rennie added.

“There’s a bit of work to be done around the possibility of picking players from overseas, but that’ll be a long process that will need to go through board approval.”

MORE: Rieko has ‘realistic’ chance of tackling Boks

Writing for the New Zealand Herald, journalist Gregor Paul argues Mo’unga’s call-up has reignited scrutiny of NZ Rugby’s eligibility rules rather than settling the debate around them.

Paul says the saga has exposed inconsistencies in how NZ Rugby applies eligibility policy, and also references Rennie’s separate case for accessing players like Brodie Retallick from Japan.

Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

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Springboks Elrigh Louw and Johan Grobbelaar have joined the Vodacom Bulls squad for Saturday’s match against the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld.

The pair were released to gain more playing time ahead of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.

They will play from the bench after returning from Argentina and completing one training session with the Bulls.

“It’s great to have them with us, and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” coach Johan Ackermann said.

Curwin Bosch starts at flyhalf

The Bulls have selected Curwin Bosch at flyhalf following his return from a two-year spell in France.

Bosch partners scrumhalf Embrose Papier, one of the Bulls’ leading performers during their Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign.

Captain Marcell Coetzee leads the team from flank, while Springbok Willie le Roux starts at fullback.

Hanro Liebenberg returns to South Africa

Hanro Liebenberg starts at flank after returning to South Africa following his time with Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership.

Jeandre Rudolph starts at No 8, completing the loose trio alongside Liebenberg and Coetzee.

The Bulls have selected Ruan Vermaak and JF van Heerden in the second row.

Thaakir Abrahams starts on the wing

Former Sharks and Munster wing Thaakir Abrahams starts on the right wing.

Stravino Jacobs takes the left-wing position, while Harold Vorster and Stedman Gans form the midfield partnership.

Hakeem Kunene included among replacements

Hakeem Kunene was included in the initial match-day squad after impressing since joining the Bulls for the Currie Cup.

The initial replacements list also featured Jaundre Schoeman, Sti Sithole, Khuta Mchunu, Reinhardt Ludwig, Mpilo Gumede, Paul de Wet and Katlego Letebele.

Louw and Grobbelaar were subsequently added to the bench.

The supplied update did not confirm their jersey numbers or identify which players would make way in the revised match-day squad.

All Blacks lead the historic rivalry

The Bulls and All Blacks have met four times since 1949, with New Zealand winning three matches.

The Bulls’ only victory came in August 1976, when Northern Transvaal beat the tourists 29-27.

Saturday’s fixture takes place close to the 50th anniversary of that result.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV

1. Alu Tshakweni
2. Juann Else
3. Francois Klopper
4. Ruan Vermaak
5. JF van Heerden
6. Marcell Coetzee, captain
7. Hanro Liebenberg
8. Jeandre Rudolph
9. Embrose Papier
10. Curwin Bosch
11. Stravino Jacobs
12. Harold Vorster
13. Stedman Gans
14. Thaakir Abrahams
15. Willie le Roux

Initial replacements announced

16. Jaundre Schoeman
17. Sti Sithole
18. Khuta Mchunu
19. Reinhardt Ludwig
20. Mpilo Gumede
21. Paul de Wet
22. Katlego Letebele
23. Hakeem Kunene

Elrigh Louw and Johan Grobbelaar have since been drafted into the squad. The revised numbered replacements list was not supplied.

Bulls vs All Blacks match details

Fixture: Vodacom Bulls vs All Blacks

Date: Saturday, 15 August 2026

Venue: Loftus Versfeld

South African kick-off: 19:00 SAST

United Kingdom kick-off: 18:00 BST

New Zealand kick-off: 05:00 NZST on Sunday, 16 August 2026

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