All Blacks brace for Bok ‘big bang’

All Blacks assistant coach Tana Umaga has described the Springboks as a side built on continuity and self-belief rather than reliance on outside factors. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.

Asked after training in Johannesburg on Tuesday whether the All Blacks’ warm-up matches against the Stormers, Sharks and Vodacom Bulls had given them an advantage in adapting to local conditions ahead of Saturday’s first Test at Ellis Park, Umaga dismissed the idea.

“This South African side’s been together for a long time,” he said, adding that their game plan is built on a foundation they trust completely. With 44 players having featured across New Zealand’s three matches so far on this tour, he suggested the rotation may have blunted any advantage they hoped to gain from extra game time. asg-reflektory.pl

On what makes facing South Africa physically and tactically different from other southern hemisphere opposition, Umaga singled out the sheer size and relentlessness of the Springbok pack.

He described the challenge as facing “a relentless wave of a big bang coming at you,” noting the Boks have added genuine skill and subtlety to their backline play in recent years, meaning defences can’t simply focus on the forward battle. The danger now comes from both directions, testing a team’s ability to divide its attention without losing shape.

ALSO: We’ll hit Boks hard – All Blacks scrum boss

Umaga also reflected on the fundamentals he believes matter most against the Springboks.

“Don’t give them entries into the areas that they want to get into,” he said, pointing to how that principle underpins South Africa’s ability to play to their strengths. He argued that quality ball retention and forward momentum ultimately dictate who comes away with the points.

On the injury front, there was a positive update on Damian McKenzie, who injured an ankle against the Sharks. Coaching staff confirmed the utility back trained on Tuesday and got through his session, with the medical and conditioning team taking every precaution to have him fit and available for the weekend. He has not been ruled out of the match.

MARSHY: Boks arrogant, undercooked

The rivalry carries extra personal weight for Umaga, who faced the Springboks 19 times as an All Black between 1997 and 2005, a run that gives him a rare, first-hand appreciation for what makes these encounters so fiercely contested on both sides of the great rivalry.

Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images

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L’avenir d’Amine Gouiri à l’Olympique de Marseille reste l’un des dossiers à surveiller dans les dernières semaines du mercato. Alors que plusieurs clubs européens s’intéressent à l’international algérien, l’OM s’attend à recevoir des offres fermes d’ici la fermeture du marché. Une situation qui pourrait encore animer les dernières semaines de l’été marseillais, selon les informations du média l'Équipe.

The post Mercato : Malgré les offres attendues, l’OM a un plan pour Gouiri appeared first on Football Algérien - DZFOOT.COM.

The Premier Soccer League have confirmed the dates, venues and kick-off times for the MTN8 semi-finals.

After an exciting quarter-final stage, the competition has reached the last four, with the remaining teams now set to battle for a place in the final and a shot at lifting the MTN8 trophy.

Orlando Pirates will take on Sekhukhune United in the first semi-final set to be played at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, 22 August.

Mamelodi Sundowns will welcome Golden Arrows to the Lucas Moripe Stadium when they meet in the second semi-final on Sunday, 23 August.

The Buccaneers will then welcome the same opponents to the Orlando Amstel Arena for the second leg set to take place on 29 August.

The Brazilians, meanwhile, will travel to the King Zwelithini Stadium for their second leg fixture set to be played on 30 August.

The two winners over the semi-final ties will advance to the MTN8 final, where they will compete for early-season silverware and the chance to be crowned champions of the prestigious knockout competition.

The PSL confirmed the MTN8 semi-final fixtures, venues and kick-off times are as follows:

MTN8 Semi-Finals First-Leg

Sekhukhune United v Orlando Pirates
Venue: Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
Date: Saturday, 22 August
Kick-off: 15:00

Mamelodi Sundowns v Golden Arrows
Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium
Date: Sunday, 23 August
Kick-off: 15:00

MTN8 Semi-Finals Second-Leg

Orlando Pirates v Sekhukhune United
Venue: Orlando Amstel Arena
Date: Saturday, 29 August
Kick-off: 15:00

Golden Arrows v Mamelodi Sundowns
Venue: King Zwelithini Stadium
Date: Sunday, 30 August
Kick-off: 15:00

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The County Championship returns this week after roughly an eight-week break since the June block wrapped up, with the competition’s third and final block of matches beginning on 20 August.

This block runs through six rounds per side, taking in the entire period from The Hundred’s conclusion through to the final round on 24 September.

David Bedingham tops Division Two’s run charts and Kyle Abbott leads Division One’s wicket-takers.

AFRICA PICKS: Cricket tips and predictions

Division One

Essex
Simon Harmer has taken 25 wickets this season at an average of 30.40, with best figures of 5-165, and has also chipped in 391 runs with the bat. Wiaan Mulder and Dean Elgar also feature in the squad, with Elgar making 380 runs including a top score of 107 not out.

Glamorgan
Colin Ingram has scored 522 runs this season at an average of 40.15, including two centuries and three fifties, with a top score of 103.

Hampshire
Kyle Abbott leads all of Division One’s bowlers with 39 wickets at an average of 16.30, including best figures of 6-21. Delano Potgieter and Codi Yusuf round out the county’s South African trio.

ALSO: How South Africa’s stars fared in The Hundred

Nottinghamshire
Kyle Verreynne has scored 247 runs this season, including a top score of 115.

Somerset
Migael Pretorius has taken 23 wickets at an average of 23.30, with best figures of 4-65. Jordan Hermann also features.

Derbyshire
Wayne Madsen has scored 421 runs this season with a top score of 119. Matthew Montgomery has also scored 421 runs, with a top score of 86.

Division Two

Durham
David Bedingham leads all of Division Two’s run-scorers with 794 runs this season at an average of 88.22, including four centuries, a top score of 147 and two fifties. Colin Ackermann and Duanne Olivier also feature.

Gloucestershire
Graeme van Buuren has taken 16 wickets this season at an average of 34.62, with best figures of 4-36.

Kent
Keith Dudgeon has taken 29 wickets at an average of 29.27, with best figures of 6-21. Glenton Stuurman, Senuran Muthusamy and Michael Cohen also feature in the squad.

Middlesex
Leus du Plooy has scored 728 runs this season at an average of 56.00, including two centuries, five fifties and a top score of 182, the second-highest tally in the division. Eathan Bosch also features.

ALSO: Wolvaardt, Kapp headline SA women’s Hundred campaign

Northamptonshire
Ricardo Vasconcelos has scored 572 runs this season at an average of 44.00, including three centuries and a top score of 187. Cape Town-born Germany international Justin Broad joins Vasconcelos in the sqaud.

Worcestershire
Daniel Lategan has scored 483 runs this season, including three fifties and a top score of 89. Gareth Roderick and Beyers Swanepoel, who has taken 18 wickets at an average of 27.27 with best figures of 5-65, complete the county’s South African contingent.

Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images

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