‘Helluva athletes’ backed to hit Boks hard

The pace and power of loose forward Peter Lakai and prop George Bower could hold the key to victory for the All Blacks in the third Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.

Head coach Dave Rennie will start Lakai at blindside flanker for Saturday’s clash at FNB Stadium, while entrusting Bower with the No 1 jersey for a second week in a row. tr-sport.click

World Rugby’s 2024 Breakthrough Player of the Year Wallace Sititi is also set to make his first Test appearance of the series, named among the replacements.

TEAM: All Blacks run-on XV rejigged to bash Boks

“He’s not a big loose forward compared to some of the other men on the field, especially in the opposition, but he’s really physical,” said Rennie on the 12-cap Lakai.

“He hits in the tackle and clean, and he’s a helluva athlete, so you lose a little bit in bulk but he’ll give us plenty around the track, both sides of the ball.

“He’s started a couple of other Tests this year and he’s always fronted when we’ve given him an opportunity. Got a similar type of impact from Wallace on the bench.”

ICYMI: Rennie sidesteps scrum controversy

Bower gets his second run-on Test outing of the tour, despite the return to training of fellow loosehead Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord after their HIA standdowns.

“Josh Lord has had his history of concussion so we decided to err on the side of caution … De Groot, similar to Josh,” Rennie said.

“He’s actually a good athlete, George. You’ll see him around the field, whether it’s carry, clean or tackle.

“I think scrum-wise, the scrum was interesting last game. I didn’t feel that they had the dominance that they had in that first Test … so we’ve got a lot of confidence in George to back that up this weekend.”

BOWER: We want to challenge Bok scrum

He named an unchanged backline and cover on the bench, but acknowledged the appeal of “X factor” Rieko Ioane for Anton Lienert-Brown.

“With the big men, it’s probably about getting some fresh legs out there. With the backs, it’s a lot about continuity.

“You can see when we’re accurate and get that right, we’re finding a lot of space, so we’re keen to keep them together.

“What we have in Anton, he’s a guy with a massive engine,” Rennie added. “Rieko gives you X factor. He doesn’t defend as well as Anton and probably doesn’t have the same level of work ethic, but he’s an absolute freak when he’s got ball in hand.”

Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images

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All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi will play against the Springboks for the first time since last year’s record defeat in Wellington, after head coach Dave Rennie named his matchday squad for the third Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test against South Africa on Saturday.

Meanwhile, prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord, pitted by assistant coach Tamati Ellison to return after clashing heads in the first Test at Ellis Park, were not selected.

Whether that is because Rennie opted for consistency since their defeat in Cape Town, the pair not being entirely fit yet, or if it’s part of more mind games, it is unknown at this stage.

Three changes

With the series level 1-1 and two Tests to play, Rennie opted for only three personnel changes in his matchday 23, in a similar vein to Rassie Erasmus, who only had one injury-enforced adjustment – wing Kurt-Lee Arendse coming in for Damian Willemse and Cheslin Kolbe moving to fullback.

Hooker Asafo Aumua will start for the All Blacks, with Samisoni Taukei’aho coming onto the bench at FNB Stadium, Soweto (kick-off 5.10pm).

Sam Darry starts at lock in his 11^th Test, while Fabian Holland moves to the bench.

Peter Lakai will start in the six jersey, and Sititi comes into the 23 on the bench.

Test centurion, hooker Codie Taylor, had a poor performance in the lineouts in the second Test against the Springboks.

He, lock Patrick Tuipulotu and flanker Simon Parker were the three players taken out of the matchday 23.

The backline is unchanged from Cape Town, with Damian McKenzie lining up at fullback in his 80th Test. He’s joined in the back three by Leroy Carter and Will Jordan. Jordie Barrett and Quin Tupaea play in midfield.

Cam Roigard and Ruben Love form up for the same potent halfback combination.

Props George Bower and Tyrel Lomax are entrusted to start again after a better showing in the controversy-marred second Test scrums, where allegations were made that the Springboks scrummed illegally.

They are once again covered by Xavier Numia and Fletcher Newell.

All Blacks lock to hit 50

Tupou Vaa’i will be playing his 50^th Test for the All Blacks.

“Tupes is a top man. It’ll be a special day for him and his family and additional motivation for us,” Rennie said.

“With both teams heading into the third Test one apiece, there’s everything to play for on Saturday.”

“The team that doesn’t win this weekend can’t win the series. That’s the kind of challenge we love to rise to.

“The team is feeling fresh after a full week’s lead-in to the game. We can’t wait to put everything out on the park.”

Starting XV

Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Leroy Carter, Ruben Love, Cam Roigard, Ardie Savea (captain, Luke Jacobson, Peter Lakai, Sam Darry, Tupou Vaa’i, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, George Bower.

Replacements

Samisoni Taukei’aho, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Fabian Holland, Wallace Sititi, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby.

Le premier stage de la saison de la sélection nationale U-23 de Rafik Saïfi a pris fin ce jeudi au centre technique national (CTN) de Sidi Moussa, qui a regroupé 25 joueurs issus du championnat national.

Le coach national, Rafik Saïfi, a convoqué 25 joueurs pour ce premier stage de la saison des U-23 dont un, le défenseur du Paradou AC Abdelhak Ben Idder qui a dû quitter le regroupement du centre technique national (CTN) de Sidi Moussa pour parapher son nouveau contrat avec l’OGC Nice.

Maintenant que cette sélection, exemptée du 1^er tour, est fixée sur ses prochains adversaires, à savoir le vainqueur de la double confrontation entre le Malawi et l’Eswatini dans le cadre du 2^e tour des éliminatoires de la Coupe d’Afrique des nations (CAN) – Egypte 2027, puis le vainqueur de Mali – Zimbabwe / Maurice au 3^e et dernier tour, le travail de préparation prend une autre consistance.

D’où ce stage ouvert aux joueurs évoluant dans le championnat national, auxquels manquaient ben évidemment les éléments qui avaient pris part au tournoi de football des Jeux Méditerranéens de Tarente 2026, en Italie.

Durant ce stage, Rafik Saïfi et son staff ont procédé à une nouvelle évaluation du potentiel local lors des séances d’entraînement organisées le long de la semaine et entrecoupées par des oppositions d’application, notamment par rapport aux nouveaux éléments convoqués et susceptibles de renforcer la liste élargie de la sélection.

Liste des 25 joueurs convoqués pour le stage :

• Gardiens de but : Mohamed-Aness Mokhtar (CR Belouizdad) – Zakaria Trad (ES Sétif) – Mohamed Merhab (JS Saoura).
• Joueurs de champ : Yakoub Gassi (MC Alger) – Aberrahmane Benadela (US Chaouia) – Abdelhak Cherrir (JS Saoura) – Yacine Chaib (MC Alger) – Rami Bouaouiche (JS Kabylie) – Wael Guerroudja (CR Témouchent) – Ahd Benabderrahmane Boungab (ES Sétif) – Abdelhak Ben Idder (Paradou AC) – Imad Eddine Diha (JS Saoura) – Faiz Ammam (JS El-Biar) – Mohammed Mahi (MB Rouisset) – Omar Boularas (USM Alger) – Mohamed Abdelhafid Sarri (ES Ben Aknoun) – Mohamed Guidoum (Paradou AC) – Youcef Belkaïd (Paradou AC) – Islam Abbaci (JS El-Biar) – Aïssa Feddal (ASO Chlef) – Islam Slimane Tichtich (JS Kabylie) – Ala eddine Limane (USM Alger) – Yacine Hamadouche (MC Alger) – Abdelkrim Souhaib Hamri (CR Témouchent).

L’article EN (U23) : Fin du premier stage de la saison est apparu en premier sur Foot Afrique.

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L’article Samuel Eto’o règle ses comptes avec un “ancien arbitre militaire” est apparu en premier sur Camfoot.com.