Currie Cup result: Pumas survive Bulls comeback

The Pumas boosted their Currie Cup playoff hopes with a narrow bonus-point win against the Bulls XV at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Coach Jimmy Stonehouse’s team raced into a 19-point lead only to fall behind early in the second half before regaining their composure to triumph 33-31 in a game that produced five yellow cards and a red.

The Pumas moved up to third on the log, while the winless Bulls remain at the bottom. capturengo.com

The vistors started the match strongly, with wave after wave of attack resulting in a try for winger Alfondso Isaacs.

Big blow

The Bulls then suffered a big blow when flank Abongile Nonkontwana saw yellow for a shoulder tackle – later upgraded to red – and Pumas captain Willie Engelbrecht and lock JJ Scheepers barged over while he was off to make it 19-0 after 21 minutes.

The 14-man Bulls got on the board when Isaacs tackled a probable Bulls’ try-scorer without the ball and were awarded a penalty try, with the Pumas winger sin-binned.

But the hosts then went down to 12 when hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele and replacement loose forward Cephas van Biljon were yellow-carded for cynical breakdown infringements.

To the Bulls’ credit, they repelled the Pumas’ relentless attack and then scored a try through lock Johnathan Eloff with the clock in the red to reduce the deficit to five at the break.

With both teams restored to 15, the Bulls hit the front early in the second half when Mnebelele went over under the posts for a converted try.

But another yellow soon followed, this time flashed at Pumas flank Ntsika Fisanti for a shoulder tackle. That didn’t prevent the visitors from striking back, though, replacement hooker Jan-Henning Campher rumbling over from a lineout maul.

Bulls replacement prop Sandi Msengana levelled the scores at 26-26, only for lock Sintu Manjezi to be sin-binned for collapsing a maul and Campher to score his second.

The Bulls hit straight back through fullback Hakeem Kunene, but the try was scored in the corner and Johannes’ conversion went wide.

In round five of the Currie Cup, the Pumas host the Stormers XXIII while the Bulls welcome the Cheetahs to Loftus.

BULLS XV – Try: Penalty try, Johnathan Eloff, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Sandi Msengana, Hakeem Kunene. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (3).
PUMAS – Tries: Alfondso Isaacs, Willie Engelbrecht, JJ Scheepers, Jan-Henning Campher (2). Conversions: Nevaldo Fleurs (4).

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

Depuis le déclenchement de la crise migratoire à Ceuta, les arrestations se sont multipliées côté marocain. D’après l’ONG de défense des droits humains, AMDH, 111 personnes sont actuellement en détention provisoire, suite à cet afflux inédit vers l’enclave espagnole, mais aussi à Melilla, l’autre territoire européen situé sur le continent africain, 400 kilomètres plus à l'est. Aucune information officielle n'a pour l’instant été fournie sur ces cas.

Le Toulouse FC a connu un coup d’arrêt dans sa préparation estivale. Opposés à Elche ce samedi matin, les Violets ont subi une défaite nette (3-0) lors de leur troisième rencontre amicale de l’été.

Après un début de préparation plutôt positif, le TFC n’a cette fois pas réussi à trouver la solution face à la formation espagnole. Elche a pris les commandes dès la 14e minute grâce à Valera, profitant de l’occasion pour installer son rythme dans la rencontre.

Toulouse a tenté de réagir, mais les hommes de Carles Martínez Novell n’ont pas réussi à réduire leur retard. La formation espagnole a finalement assuré son succès dans les dernières minutes avec deux nouvelles réalisations signées Diangana (83e) puis Nino (90e+1).

Cette défaite intervient après un match nul contre Rodez (1-1) et une victoire face à la Real Sociedad (2-1). Le TFC aura l’occasion de se relancer samedi prochain lors d’un nouveau test de préparation contre Hambourg.

The post Amical : Toulouse chute face à Elche appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Argentina host the Springboks in a one-off Test in Buenos Aires on Saturday, with kick off at 9.10pm.

Both teams are missing key players who are either being rested or are injured.

The Springboks though welcome back several formerly injured players who need game-time behind them before the start of the four-Test series against the All Blacks.

Siya Kolis is one of them and he will play his first Test of the year and captain the team on Saturday. Pablo Matera will lead the Pumas.

Below is The Citizen’s live coverage of the match.

Pumas v Springboks – LIVE UPDATES

Updates from the match in Buenos Aires will appear below. Please refresh for latest posts.

TEAMS

ARGENTINA – 15 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Simón Benítez Cruz, 8 Joaquín Moro, 7 Benjamin Grondona, 6 Pablo Matera (c), 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Moreno, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 1 Boris Wenger.
Bench: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Tomás Rapetti, 19 Ephraim Elijah, 20 Juan Penoucos, 21 Juan Martín Scelzo, 22 Agustín Moyano, 23 Matías Moroni.

SPRINGBOKS – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Boan Venter.
Bench: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Cobus Wiese, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Morné van den Berg, 23 Handre Pollard.

Orlando Pirates came back behind after Durban City cancelled out Patrick Maswanganyi’s first-half penalty. Lungu eventually produced the decisive moment with a powerful volley in the final stages of extra time.

PATRICK MASWANGANYI BREAKS THE DEADLOCK

Orlando Pirates started with attacking intent but struggled to find a breakthrough in the opening stages. Thalente Mbatha tested Sangare from distance, while Tshepang Moremi came closest when his free-kick struck the crossbar.

Durban City also threatened on the counter. Lubumba broke forward and fired wide, while Mbuthuma missed a good opportunity after Maswanganyi delivered a dangerous cross.

The game changed in the 33rd minute. Poggenpoel brought down Moremi inside the box. The Durban City defender received a second yellow card and left his team with 10 players.

Maswanganyi stepped up and calmly converted the penalty. He sent Sangare the wrong way to give the Buccaneers a 1-0 lead. The Buccaneers took that advantage into the break.

Durban City responded after half-time despite playing with 10 men. Lubumba levelled in the 52nd minute after Shandu and Gaston Sirino combined effectively on the right. The visitors then defended resolutely as Pirates searched for another goal.

Sangare saved Appollis’ free-kick and later denied Moremi inside the box. Kgositsile also came close for Durban City, but his header flew narrowly wide.

Neither side found a winner in normal time.

Also read: Latest report: SAFA find new Bafana Bafana coach

GHAMPANI LUNGU GRABS LATE WINNER FOR ORLANDO PIRATES

Extra time produced another intense battle.

Moremi struck the crossbar with a free-kick early in the additional period. Domingo then curled an effort towards goal, but Sipho Chaine positioned himself well to make the save.

Durban City continued to threaten through Morris, but Seema showed impressive pace to recover and clear the danger.

Pirates increased the pressure during the second half of extra time.

Radiopane forced another save from Sangare, while Lungu saw an effort stopped by the goalkeeper. Mbatha also tested the Durban City defence with a powerful shot from distance.

Then came the decisive moment.

In the 29th minute of extra time, Lungu unleashed a powerful volley inside the box. Sangare had no chance as the ball crashed into the net. Orlando Pirates held on to win 2-1 and booked their place in the MTN8 semi-finals.

The Buccaneers remain on course for a historic fifth consecutive MTN8 title.