English
Indian
العربية
Español
Deutsch
Türkçe
Русский
Français (Afrique)
Nomlomo backs youthful Bulls to fire
Phiwe Nomlomo is confident his young Vodacom Bulls XV squad can rise to the challenge of a demanding start to the Currie Cup.
The Bulls begin their campaign with three successive away matches against Boland, Griquas and the Lions, but Nomlomo believes his players are ready to embrace the test.
“It’s an exciting squad,” said the coach. “Really, really exciting. I think we’re going to play a good brand of rugby.” betsport24.es
WATCH: Stormers skipper champing at the bit
Nomlomo acknowledged that the fixture list presents an early challenge, but said the Bulls have planned extensively for a season in which player availability will be heavily influenced by injuries and Springbok commitments.
Nomlomo revealed he and Bulls URC coach Johan Ackermann have worked closely to prepare for those demands.
“We’ve had some really good meetings,” he said. “It’s all hands on deck, and that’s why there are a few names in this squad that people might not recognise. I can tell you, it’s exciting.”
ALSO: Two ex-Sharks link up with Stormers
The Bulls are expected to lose several players at different stages of the competition because of Springbok duty, with the domestic schedule overlapping with the much-anticipated Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.
Despite those challenges, Nomlomo believes the depth within the wider Bulls system gives a new generation of players the chance to make their mark in the Currie Cup.
MORE: Cheetahs invest in future stars
Bulls XV squad
Forwards: Abri van der Westhuysen, Abongile Nonkotwana, Arnu Gustafson, Cephas van Biljon, Chinedu Amadi, Damian Baker, Dian Coetzee, Dieter Schubert, Dylan Smith, Jon Hobson, Esethu Mnebelele, Heinrich Theron, Jaundre Schoeman, Jean Erasmus, JJ Theron, Jonathan Eloff, Junior Pokomela, KB Maake, Mawande Mdanda, Migael Turner, Nama Xaba, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Oelof de Meyer, Ranon Fourie, Sandisiwe Msengana, Sintu Manjezi, Ulrich van der Westhuizen.
Backs: Aka Boqwana, Brooklyn Newman, Christiaan Viok, Christan Vorster, Daniel van der Merwe, Hakeem Kunene, Hendre Schoeman, JJ Motlhodi, Ian van der Merwe, Lindsey Jansen, Marnus Rademeyer, Neil le Roux, PA van Niekerk, Pieter van der Merwe, Riwan van Aswegen, Riyaad Bam, Ruan Enslin, Ruben Groenewald, Unathi Mlotshwa, Viaan Mentoor, Melt Viljoen, Demitre Erasmus, Devon Williams, Keagan Johannes, Shaun Schümann, Thomas Beling.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
The post Nomlomo backs youthful Bulls to fire appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Arkema Première Ligue : l’OM annonce le départ de sa gardienne italienne Margot Shore
Arrivée de Bologne l’an dernier, la gardienne internationale italienne Margot Shore quitte l’OM.
L’Olympique de Marseille a officialisé, ce mercredi, le départ de Margot Shore, gardienne de but internationale italienne et dernier rempart de son équipe féminine, club d’Arkema Première Ligue.
Après avoir porté les couleurs en Italie de Lecce, Bari, l’Hellas Vérone et Bologne, la joueuse de 29 ans, avait rallié la Provence l’an dernier, et a disputé 21 matchs en Arkema Première Ligue avec les Marseillaises. « Lors de cette saison à l’OM, Margot Shore aura été l’une des grandes artisanes du maintien des Marseillaises, s’imposant comme un véritable rempart dans les buts. Décisive dans les moments clés, jouant un rôle majeur dans le maintien en Arkema Première Ligue, notre gardienne a marqué la saison par son engagement, son travail sans relâche et son caractère solaire », a salué le club phocéen dans un message sur son compte Instagram.
The post Arkema Première Ligue : l’OM annonce le départ de sa gardienne italienne Margot Shore appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.
Egypt file complaint against referee after controversial FIFA World Cup exit
The Egyptian football federation said on Wednesday it had asked for the officiating team who handled the Pharoahs’ 3-2 loss in the last-16 to Argentina to be thrown out of the FIFA World Cup.
“Hany Aburida, President of the Egyptian Football Federation, filed a complaint with FIFA, demanding an investigation into the French referee Francois Letexier… after the serious refereeing mistakes committed by the team of referees and double standards, which caused the Egypt team to lose the match and leave the World Cup,” said a statement from the federation.
VAR intervened
On Tuesday evening, Letexier ruled out a Mostafa Ziko goal ruled out when they were leading 1-0 after VAR intervened to spot a foul on Lisandro Martinez much earlier in the move.
A few minutes later, Ziko did put Egyptian 2-0 up and on the brink of a place in the last eight for the first time but there was further controversy in added time, after Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi had brought the champions level.
In the build-up to Argentina’s winner scored by Enzo Fernandez, Egypt believe they should have instead been awarded a penalty for a pull by Alexis Mac Allister on Hamdy Fathy.
“Aburida demanded the investigation of the entire team of referees, including the video technology referees, because of the blatant errors and insisting on not reviewing some of the footage that we believe are in favour of the Egyptian national team, and we see in it the Pharaohs’ right to a correct goal and a penalty,” said the Egyptian statement.
It added that the president had also “demanded the exclusion of the referee and the entire crew from the World Cup after investigating these mistakes and proving the crime of discrimination against the Egyptian national team”.
‘Cheated unfairly’
The statement echoed remarks by Egypt coach Hossam Hassan immediately after the game.
“I do not want to put it nicely and talk about hard luck. We have been cheated unfairly today, we have suffered injustice,” Hassan told journalists.
“We haven’t seen respect or fair play. There has not been respect or fair play.”
Hassan told BeIN: “Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running.
“In football, there are sometimes external factors that go beyond the technical aspects. The world champions received support at every level.”
Do Egypt have reason to feel aggrieved?
Let us know by clicking on the comment banner below …
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
Coupe du Monde : L’Égypte saisit la FIFA et réclame l’exclusion de François Letexier
L’Association égyptienne de football a officiellement déposé une plainte auprès de la FIFA à la suite de la défaite de l’Égypte face à l’Argentine (3-2), mardi, en huitièmes de finale de la Coupe du Monde.
Très remontée après cette élimination, l’instance dirigeante du football égyptien estime que plusieurs décisions arbitrales ont pénalisé sa sélection au cours de la rencontre. Dans son recours, elle dénonce des choix jugés défavorables et demande à la FIFA d’examiner la prestation du corps arbitral. L’Association égyptienne de football va plus loin en réclamant l’exclusion de l’arbitre français François Letexier pour le reste de la compétition. Selon elle, certaines de ses décisions auraient eu une influence directe sur l’issue du match.
Pour l’heure, la FIFA n’a pas encore communiqué sur cette plainte ni indiqué si une procédure d’examen serait ouverte. De son côté, l’Argentine poursuit son parcours dans la compétition après cette victoire acquise sur le score de 3 buts à 2.
The post Coupe du Monde : L’Égypte saisit la FIFA et réclame l’exclusion de François Letexier appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.