Latest news with #Leinster
The Star
41 minutes ago
- Sport
- The Star
Handré Pollard's return: Can the Bulls finally claim URC glory?
Leighton Koopman | Published 8 hours ago Comment by Leighton Koopman The Bulls' 32-7 defeat in the final of the United Rugby Championship against Leinster was a bitter pill to swallow for supporters, but making it to a third final in four seasons shows that they are not that far off from a title-winning campaign. With a core of experienced Springboks in their midst, the return of Handré Pollard in the flyhalf position, Jan Serfontein coming back as a vastly experienced centre and some exciting young players, the Pretoria outfit will be able to call on more experienced stars than ever before next year. While there is no shame in losing to a better team, and Leinster were streets ahead of the Loftus side, there will be questions around the Bulls if they can't claim silverware next season, especially with director of rugby Jake White looking to make some key adjustments in the off-season. Firstly, squad depth remains a concern for White, and he stated it again in his post-match press conference following the final last Saturday at Croke Park in Dublin. But he was the most successful South African coach when it came to rotating his team. He ensured he had players fit to take up positions when needed. But injuries to key players had a big influence towards the end of their tournament. Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw were out for the final and the latter stages of the competition respectively, and the dynamic duo were vital cogs in a physical, yet mobile loose trio of the Bulls. Hanekom's loss in the final was massive, as was the absence of Kurt-Lee Arendse as well. They need to have like-for-like replacements for their important players. Secondly, the Bulls must tighten up their discipline and defensive structures. Leinster found it too easy at times to circumvent their tacklers, and the space they left at the back allowed their opponents' attack to thrive. Three tries in just 23 minutes effectively sealed the game for the home side, and there was no coming back from that 19-0 deficit. Too many penalties due to ill-discipline and missed tackles cost them, and if they can eliminate some of those unforced errors, it will help them keep their footing in crunch games. With the addition of Pollard and Serfontein, their backline will also see some calmer heads. The Bulls' game management in pressure situations, especially in that final, was poor and cost them. Pollard's ability to control the tempo and territory under pressure will be critical. He kicks consistently well and brings additional leadership on the field. He will be that calming influence they dearly need. With strategic acquisitions to the squad, improved discipline on defence and better game management, the Bulls will be able to finally shed their dreaded URC bridesmaid tag in 2026. The missing puzzle pieces are almost in place for White's side. It's now only for them to seize the opportunity to make it their year when the new season starts in September.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Borthwick backs George in co-captaincy role with Ford
However, with Itoje away on Lions duty where he will captain the touring side in Australia, Borthwick has gone back to the tried-and-tested with George set to lead the team for the game against a French XV on Saturday, working as a co-captain with Ford. Borthwick explained that the two dovetail nicely in their leadership styles and having both in the joint position was 'the right way to go'. 'He's (George) really clear from a tactical point of view. He's got a brilliant voice. He has a fantastic feel and manner with people,' said Borthwick. 'Both of them are phenomenal players and both are brilliant, experienced leaders, both at club and international level. 'Whether they've been captains or vice-captains or not, they are leaders and they are role models for the rest of the players. 'I decided that was the right way to go, to have two great figureheads for this team. 'This week training, they complement each other superbly well, as you'll know from their different styles and different positions they play. 'That then gives us a figurehead in the forwards, a figurehead in the backs, leading the team. 'I've been really pleased with how it's gone.' Ford and George come into the tour as two of the most experienced members of the squad, with a combined 200 England caps between them, having both missed out on selection for the Lions in May. George, whilst not making the 38-man squad, has clearly remained in Farrell Snr's thinking and was called up to train with the Lions out in Portugal last week due to the absence of Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher, both of whom were on Leinster duty in the URC Final. Now back with England, the hooker reflected with pride on his third different Lions camp, despite the initial disappointment of missing out. 'I loved it,' he said. 'Me and George [Ford] are in the same boat. I was very disappointed not to be on the Tour in the first place, but to be given any opportunity to go in and show what you're about a little bit… It was a great opportunity for me to go out there. They're setting themselves up very nicely for a successful tour.' And with England set to fly out to Argentina, the opponents of the Lions on Friday evening in Dublin, George revealed he was keenly observing everything that was going on, partly to help when he was back with his national side. He added: 'There's a little bit more in it because they're playing Argentina tomorrow night and that's where our tour is going to be. As we were analysing in the Lions meetings, I was making sure I was making extra notes just to bring back about what I've seen. I think it's important.' There is scope for the England squad to change should the Lions come calling, with Jack van Poortvliet currently away as scrum-half cover for the side with Jamison Gibson-Park not fully fit. Borthwick remained tight-lipped about any potential return to the international fold for Owen Farrell, however, after he re-signed for Saracens this week following one season at Racing 92 in France, making him eligible for international duty once more. 'I think Owen has been very clear,' said Borthwick. 'He's happy to be home and he hasn't made any discussion around his future other than just wanting to get his family settled back in Hertfordshire. 'My focus is on these guys here.' On the timescale regarding Van Poortvliet's return, Borthwick said he is due to be back next week but admitted that date could be subject to change and that the Leicester scrum-half would be fully supported if that were to be the case. 'Jack might well be at the game on Saturday afternoon, but if that changes from a Lions perspective, then we fully support Jack,' he added. 'We've also spoken very publicly that we want as many England players in that Lions squad as possible. 'There might be situations were other England players join the squad in which case we'll be delighted for our players to do that.'
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Matt Williams: Lions can't afford to be infected by Irish rugby's sense of entitlement against resurgent Australia
Last weekend proved that 80 minutes of rugby can be a very long time in the professional game. After Leinster's stunning performance at Croke Park , they have gladly passed the chokers' T-shirt to the Bulls, who have now lost three United Rugby Championship finals in four years. At Twickenham, the Premiership final was as enjoyable as getting a tooth pulled, with the highlight being a legendary Michael Cheika sideline blow-up. In Super Rugby, the Brumbies were pumped out of the playoffs by the Chiefs, making it four seasons in a row that the Australian side have departed the Super Rugby competition at the semi-final stage. Leinster would have been glad to get the monkey off their back when it comes to finals. Inside the fortress of the GAA , normal service was finally restored. At long, long last, Leo Cullen's team won the trophy that had evaded them over so many close defeats. READ MORE All of which proves two things. Every team on the planet is only as good as their last game. And winners are grinners while losers can please themselves. In the binary, black-and-white world of knockout rugby, you are either a winner or a loser. Cheika worked wonders in getting Leicester to the English final in his first season. Over the past four years, the Brumbies have consistently performed at an outstanding level despite operating in a dysfunctional Australian rugby environment. In reaching three URC deciders in four years, the Bulls' performance must be described as exceptional. However, the reality is that on their biggest day of the rugby season, the Bulls, the Brumbies and Leicester have all come up short. That does not make them failures . More than any other club on the planet, Leinster understand that sentiment. Have Leinster answered their critics with this URC title win? Listen | 38:05 Across the last five years, Leinster's consistency across both the URC and the Champions Cup has been historic. Despite this, heart-breaking defeats in semi-finals and finals saw many calling for Cullen to be sacked. Sadly, many in the Leinster and wider Irish rugby community possess a deep sense of entitlement. They believed their team deserved to win because they had dominated the competition. This type of thinking denies the basic truth that victory in every match must be earned because, as we have already established, you are only as good as your last match. Leinster head coach Leo Cullen with Jordie Barrett after last Saturday's URC final victory against Bulls. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho The wisdom of the leadership that sits above the coach within Leinster could see that with their incredible consistency, season after season, they did not have a coaching problem. They understood that the club had a problem with players coping under the highest pressure imaginable. As the Lions are jetting off to Australia, Andy Farrell will face a similar problem to Cullen. Everyone in the northern hemisphere believes the Lions are entitled to dominate the series against the Wallabies. Wrongly, they remain fixated with the mess that was the Wallabies' 2023 World Cup campaign. This is understandable, as it remains a compelling case in how not to approach a World Cup. It contained a long, horrendous list of errors in selection and coaching appointments and culminated with the great Wallaby openside flanker, leader and talisman, Michael Hooper, not being selected in the World Cup squad. It remains the greatest selection blunder by the Wallabies in the professional era. [ Australia squad thin on playmakers may come back to bite Joe Schmidt Opens in new window ] It was the final act of two decades of mismanagement by Rugby Australia. The list of stupid decisions the Australian rugby community had to deal with across a 20-year period is hard to comprehend. But those in the north need to understand that there have been sweeping changes since. With former players Daniel Herbert as chairman and Phil Waugh as CEO, Australia have competent leaders with a high rugby intellect. For the first time in two decades, Australian rugby has changed for the better. While there remains a long and rocky path ahead, the game in Oz is moving forward. Resilience is a word that gets tossed about far too easily, but across the last 18 months, I have been astounded at the resilience within Australian professional rugby ranks. Joseph Sua'ali'i will be key to Australia's hopes against the Lions. Photograph:for Rugby Australia While it will take a decade for the full effect of the long-term planning to take effect, the elite end of the game is recovering far quicker than I considered possible. It is recovering to the extent that the Wallabies are capable of calling on a very strong 23 players. With Joe Schmidt in charge for the rest of the year and his successor, Les Kiss, already appointed – backed up with the technical excellence of Laurie Fisher – the Wallaby staff possess vast experience of rugby at a very high level. With the expected return of a number of Australian players from France and Japan, who were unavailable in recent seasons, and the stardust that Joseph Sua'ali'i will provide, the Wallabies will have vastly different personnel than the World Cup of two years ago. More importantly, the Lions will face a contest far more ferocious than many in the northern hemisphere are predicting. Any sense of entitlement from the Lions will be punished in a very public manner.
Rhyl Journal
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Borthwick backs George in co-captaincy role with Ford
However, with Itoje away on Lions duty where he will captain the touring side in Australia, Borthwick has gone back to the tried-and-tested with George set to lead the team for the game against a French XV on Saturday, working as a co-captain with Ford. Borthwick explained that the two dovetail nicely in their leadership styles and having both in the joint position was 'the right way to go'. 'He's (George) really clear from a tactical point of view. He's got a brilliant voice. He has a fantastic feel and manner with people,' said Borthwick. 'Both of them are phenomenal players and both are brilliant, experienced leaders, both at club and international level. 'Whether they've been captains or vice-captains or not, they are leaders and they are role models for the rest of the players. 'I decided that was the right way to go, to have two great figureheads for this team. 'This week training, they complement each other superbly well, as you'll know from their different styles and different positions they play. 'That then gives us a figurehead in the forwards, a figurehead in the backs, leading the team. 'I've been really pleased with how it's gone.' Ford and George come into the tour as two of the most experienced members of the squad, with a combined 200 England caps between them, having both missed out on selection for the Lions in May. George, whilst not making the 38-man squad, has clearly remained in Farrell Snr's thinking and was called up to train with the Lions out in Portugal last week due to the absence of Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher, both of whom were on Leinster duty in the URC Final. Now back with England, the hooker reflected with pride on his third different Lions camp, despite the initial disappointment of missing out. 'I loved it,' he said. 'Me and George [Ford] are in the same boat. I was very disappointed not to be on the Tour in the first place, but to be given any opportunity to go in and show what you're about a little bit… It was a great opportunity for me to go out there. They're setting themselves up very nicely for a successful tour.' And with England set to fly out to Argentina, the opponents of the Lions on Friday evening in Dublin, George revealed he was keenly observing everything that was going on, partly to help when he was back with his national side. He added: 'There's a little bit more in it because they're playing Argentina tomorrow night and that's where our tour is going to be. As we were analysing in the Lions meetings, I was making sure I was making extra notes just to bring back about what I've seen. I think it's important.' There is scope for the England squad to change should the Lions come calling, with Jack van Poortvliet currently away as scrum-half cover for the side with Jamison Gibson-Park not fully fit. Borthwick remained tight-lipped about any potential return to the international fold for Owen Farrell, however, after he re-signed for Saracens this week following one season at Racing 92 in France, making him eligible for international duty once more. 'I think Owen has been very clear,' said Borthwick. 'He's happy to be home and he hasn't made any discussion around his future other than just wanting to get his family settled back in Hertfordshire. 'My focus is on these guys here.' On the timescale regarding Van Poortvliet's return, Borthwick said he is due to be back next week but admitted that date could be subject to change and that the Leicester scrum-half would be fully supported if that were to be the case. 'Jack might well be at the game on Saturday afternoon, but if that changes from a Lions perspective, then we fully support Jack,' he added. 'We've also spoken very publicly that we want as many England players in that Lions squad as possible. 'There might be situations were other England players join the squad in which case we'll be delighted for our players to do that.'
South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Borthwick backs George in co-captaincy role with Ford
However, with Itoje away on Lions duty where he will captain the touring side in Australia, Borthwick has gone back to the tried-and-tested with George set to lead the team for the game against a French XV on Saturday, working as a co-captain with Ford. Borthwick explained that the two dovetail nicely in their leadership styles and having both in the joint position was 'the right way to go'. 'He's (George) really clear from a tactical point of view. He's got a brilliant voice. He has a fantastic feel and manner with people,' said Borthwick. 'Both of them are phenomenal players and both are brilliant, experienced leaders, both at club and international level. 'Whether they've been captains or vice-captains or not, they are leaders and they are role models for the rest of the players. 'I decided that was the right way to go, to have two great figureheads for this team. 'This week training, they complement each other superbly well, as you'll know from their different styles and different positions they play. 'That then gives us a figurehead in the forwards, a figurehead in the backs, leading the team. 'I've been really pleased with how it's gone.' Ford and George come into the tour as two of the most experienced members of the squad, with a combined 200 England caps between them, having both missed out on selection for the Lions in May. George, whilst not making the 38-man squad, has clearly remained in Farrell Snr's thinking and was called up to train with the Lions out in Portugal last week due to the absence of Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher, both of whom were on Leinster duty in the URC Final. Now back with England, the hooker reflected with pride on his third different Lions camp, despite the initial disappointment of missing out. 'I loved it,' he said. 'Me and George [Ford] are in the same boat. I was very disappointed not to be on the Tour in the first place, but to be given any opportunity to go in and show what you're about a little bit… It was a great opportunity for me to go out there. They're setting themselves up very nicely for a successful tour.' And with England set to fly out to Argentina, the opponents of the Lions on Friday evening in Dublin, George revealed he was keenly observing everything that was going on, partly to help when he was back with his national side. He added: 'There's a little bit more in it because they're playing Argentina tomorrow night and that's where our tour is going to be. As we were analysing in the Lions meetings, I was making sure I was making extra notes just to bring back about what I've seen. I think it's important.' There is scope for the England squad to change should the Lions come calling, with Jack van Poortvliet currently away as scrum-half cover for the side with Jamison Gibson-Park not fully fit. Borthwick remained tight-lipped about any potential return to the international fold for Owen Farrell, however, after he re-signed for Saracens this week following one season at Racing 92 in France, making him eligible for international duty once more. 'I think Owen has been very clear,' said Borthwick. 'He's happy to be home and he hasn't made any discussion around his future other than just wanting to get his family settled back in Hertfordshire. 'My focus is on these guys here.' On the timescale regarding Van Poortvliet's return, Borthwick said he is due to be back next week but admitted that date could be subject to change and that the Leicester scrum-half would be fully supported if that were to be the case. 'Jack might well be at the game on Saturday afternoon, but if that changes from a Lions perspective, then we fully support Jack,' he added. 'We've also spoken very publicly that we want as many England players in that Lions squad as possible.
