Another All Black heading home

The All Blacks have suffered a third injury blow ahead of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the Springboks. mieszalniakolorado.pl

Winger Caleb Clarke will return to New Zealand after scans revealed he ruptured a tendon in his shoulder during Tuesday night’s 54-0 win against the Sharks in Durban.

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie said an injury replacement will not be called in at this point.

Hooker George Bell was previously ruled out after suffering a calf injury in training, while centre Billy Proctor was sent home after scans revealed a fractured shoulder blade suffered during the tour opener against the Stormers in Durban.

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Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images

The post Another All Black heading home appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Former All Blacks flank Josh Kronfeld believes an obsession with big ball-carrying centres has changed the whole dynamic of the back row.

Kronfeld earned a reputation as one of the game’s finest ball-stealing openside flanks during his 54-Test career, but the role has evolved significantly since his playing days, with versatility increasingly valued over specialist skills.

That was highlighted when openside flank Du’Plessis Kirifi was a shock omission from Dave Rennie’s All Blacks squad for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa, with the coach preferring loose forwards capable of moving across the back row.

Kronfeld believes the shift can be traced back to changes in attacking approach.

“Rugby as it should be is to have a really good understanding of the beauty of passing before contact,” he told Betway. “It’s a skillset that was quite dominant in All Blacks rugby, but not like it used to be.

“It’s just shifting before the contact, changing the line of attack, and then shifting it again. I feel that sort of rugby used to exist all the time in the 1990s.

“But when Jonah [Lomu] came along, we moved on to the next lot of centres and midfielders like Tana Umaga, Ma’a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams, who were all big ball players. But it was about shifting the ball in contact, not before it.

“I think we’ve got almost obsessed with that whole idea of the midfield having a big running dynamic [outside] centre or second five [inside centre] which became the key point for starting that next phase.”

Kronfeld believes that evolution in the midfield has had a knock-on effect.

“That’s changed the whole dynamic of the back row and loose forward play,” he said.

“Loose forwards now are all about retention at the breakdown to the extent you don’t have a genuine openside, or a six [blindside] or eight.

“The specialist thing has gone out the door, especially in New Zealand.

“A six, seven and eight now tend to be all the same style of player.”

KRONFELD: Springboks on another level

Kronfeld pointed to Luke Jacobson as an example of the modern versatile loose forward, but admitted he was frustrated to see him start at openside flank against the Stormers in Cape Town.

“Luke Jacobson has been unbelievable, his stats are off the chart in terms of ruck clear-outs and at the breakdown. He could play anywhere in the back row.

“But he’s not your typical openside and I was almost tearing my hair out when he was at seven against the Stormers.

“For New Zealand to leave behind Du’Plessis Kirifi after an amazing season with the Hurricanes says everything.

“He is a specialist openside, and he didn’t really fit into what they were thinking.”

MORE: Ex-All Blacks stunned by Kirifi omission

Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

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L’affaire Youcef Belaïli prend une nouvelle tournure et pourrait désormais dépasser le simple cadre sportif. Alors que l’international algérien est officiellement de retour au Espérance Sportive de Tunis, la situation avec le Mouloudia Club d'Alger pourrait ouvrir un nouveau dossier, notamment autour de la signature de deux engagements contractuels avec deux clubs différents.

The post Cas Belaïli : Un contrat au MCA, un autre à l’Espérance… appeared first on Football Algérien - DZFOOT.COM.

Defending champions Griquas produced a dominant display against the Sharks XV in Kimberley on Friday.

Winger Dylan Maart and replacement hooker Tiaan Lange both crossed for hat-tricks as Griquas secured a 55-21 win.

It moved them five points clear of the Boland Cavaliers, who beat the Lions earlier in the day, and the Cheetahs, who face the Bulls XV at Loftus on Sunday.

The Sharks remain seventh on the log with just two matches to play.

The hosts took charge with early set-piece pressure forcing a series of penalties before hooker Janus Venter powered over from a maul. Flyhalf George Whitehead added the extras.

Scrumhalf Bobby Alexander thought he had scored the second but it was ruled out for offside before Sharks flyhalf Tim Swiel cynically stopped another scoring opportunity, resulting in a penalty try and 10 minutes in the sin bin.

The Sharks hit back through flanker Tino Mavesere before Maart sensationally dotted down in the corner to restore the 12-point buffer.

The visitors then went on a second-quarter blitz, with tries from Swiel and lock Johan Momsen giving them a 21-19 lead.

Griquas responded immediately, though, with winger Gurswin Wehr making a powerful run before an offload released Alexander to dot down.

The hosts went back to basics in the second half, with Whitehead threading a superb grubber into space for Maart to collect and dive over for his second try and the bonus point.

The Sharks rallied but another powerful Griquas maul resulted in Lange crossing the whitewash and replacement flyhalf Liam Koen converted to make it 38-21.

Mavesere was shown a yellow card for cynical play in the red zone and the hosts made the one-man advantage count. Lange powered over for his second before completing his hat-trick from yet another powerful maul.

Maart then dived over in the corner to claim his own hat-trick.

In round six, Griquas travel to Nelspruit to face the Pumas, while the Sharks host the Lions in Durban.

GRIQUAS – Tries: Janus Venter, Dylan Maart (3), Bobby Alexander, Tiaan Lange (3), penalty try. Conversions: George Whitehead (2), Liam Koen (2).
SHARKS XV – Tries: Tino Mavesere, Tim Swiel, Johan Momsen. Conversions: Luan Giliomee, Tim Swiel (2).

This story first appeared on sarugbymag.co.za. It is republished here with permission.