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Papier looking to make more memories at Murrayfield
Embrose Papier already has one of his standout rugby memories from Murrayfield, where he made his first start for the Springboks in 2018. Now he’s hoping to make more good memories at this iconic venue with the Vodacom Bulls in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship semi-final here on Saturday.
Murrayfield is an unknown quantity for several players in the Vodacom Bulls team who will experience it for the first time when they face the Glasgow Warriors. But Papier remembers it fondly and is looking forward to the challenge.
“I had my first international start for the Springboks at Murrayfield. I think Murrayfield has its own culture. The atmosphere there is unique, and the energy from the Scottish supporters is great. I’ve always enjoyed playing there because of that atmosphere. It’s exciting and I’m looking forward to playing there with the Vodacom Bulls. I think we’re all looking forward to the challenge,” the Vodacom United Rugby Championship’s South African Player of the Season said. palladian.co.za
For coach Johan Ackermann, the venue is a fitting one for a semi-final that he says will be at almost Test-match intensity.
“I don’t think we can set the scene better than the fact that we’re playing at a Test stadium. It’s a great privilege to play at such an iconic stadium,” he said.
“There’s an excitement about it. It brings energy. This whole season as a team we’ve spoken about controlling what we can. The surface at Murrayfield is exactly like Loftus Versfeld, so it won’t be such a foreign concept for us. At the end of the day, between those four while lines we just need to do what we’ve prepared for and do it as well as we can. So I think as a team we’re feeling comfortable about playing at Murrayfield.”
Issued By Michael Vlismas Media
The post Papier looking to make more memories at Murrayfield appeared first on SportsClub.
De Jong Hails Appollis’ Impact on Pirates’ Success
Orlando Pirates attacking midfielder Andre De Jong has heaped praise on teammate Oswin Appollis for playing an instrumental role in the team’s success.
Appollis has enjoyed an impressive debut campaign with the Buccaneers, having scored 12 goals and registered nine assists in 43 appearances in all competitions.
He also played a crucial role in helping the Sea Robbers secure the treble as well as their first league title in 14 years.
De Jong believes Appollis’ technical quality and knack for producing match-winning contributions have been instrumental to the team’s success, with the Bafana Bafana international often taking responsibility and turning games in Pirates’ favour when it matters most.
“I think some of the goals he scored were from outside the box this season, I think the big thing about him is his backlift is minimal,” said De Jong on Extra Time on SuperSport as per IDiski Times.
“I think he can obviously strike a ball from basically a standing start as well.
“But yeah, his contribution to the team has been incredible. I think also in some big moments where he’s almost taken the team upon himself, taken it a bit between his teeth and turned the games for us.”
The post De Jong Hails Appollis’ Impact on Pirates’ Success appeared first on SportsClub.
Blitzboks progress to quarter-finals at last leg of Sevens World Championship
The Blitzboks finished third in their pool after two defeats, but other results went their way, allowing them to progress to the Bordeaux Sevens World Championship quarter-finals.
They will face Fiji in the quarter-finals at 3.52pm on Saturday after losing their final pool game 15-12 to the same side.
South Africa finished behind Fiji and Great Britain in pool A, the latter shocking the Blitzboks with a 19-14 upset.
The Blitzboks’ 26-5 win over Kenya was their only lifeline as they finished the pool with five points and +13 points difference.
In the end, New Zealand beating Argentina allowed South Africa to end as the second-best third-place team.
The Blitzboks began the tournament as hot favourites, leading the World Championship with 38 points, four more than Argentina and eight more than Australia, following a title win in Hong Kong and a runner-up finish in Spain.
Blitzboks fall to Fiji
The SA team got off to the worst start in their last pool game when Siviwe Soyizwapi made contact with a Fijian player off the ball, earning a yellow card. Fiji’s Apete Narogo scored following a tap-and-go.
The South Africans responded when a Tristan Leyds offload found Shilton van Wyk, who dashed through a gap to score. Ricardo Duarttee’s conversion gave them a 7-5 lead in the sixth minute.
However, George Bose retook the lead for Fiji when he finished a good team move initiated by a powerful Filipe Sauturaga run. Terio Veilawa missed his second conversion to leave the score 10-7 to Fiji at the break.
Viwa Naduvalo scored Fiji’s third try from an overlap early in the second half. He dashed from his own 22 all the way to the Blitzboks’ try line. Veilawa again failed to convert.
A yellow card presented to Fiji’s Isaia Rugu gave the Blitzboks hope in the final two minutes. Sebastiaan Jobb was able to score on the sideline but Duarttee missed the conversion.
The Blitzboks came close near the end but Fiji performed a massive turnover on their 5m line to seal the win.
Scorers
Blitzboks: Tries -Shilton van Wyk, Sebastiaan Jobb. Conversions – Ricardo Duarttee 1/2.
Fiji: Tries – Apete Narogo, George Bose, Viwa Naduvalo. Conversions – Terio Veilawa 0/3.
Bordeaux president ‘very scared’ for Bok
Bordeaux Bègles president Laurent Marti says Springbok loose forward Jean-Luc du Preez should seriously consider retirement.
Du Preez joined the French club from the Sale Sharks ahead of the 2025-26 season, but has managed just three appearances for the back-to-back Investec Champions Cup winners.
The 30-year-old has not played since January after suffering a head knock and continues to battle concussion-related issues.
AFRICA PICKS: URC betting preview – Saturday semi-finals
Marti admits he is deeply concerned about Du Preez’s future in the game.
“I have serious doubts, but there are medical experts for that,” he told Sud Ouest. “If it were my son, I would ask him to stop because I’m very scared.
“It would be a huge loss for us because he’s exactly the kind of player who would have done us a lot of good.”
ALSO: Concussion lawsuit could collapse
Du Preez has endured a frustrating run of injuries and setbacks over the past two years.
He missed out on the 2023 World Cup squad and has not played a Test since facing Argentina in August that year.
Just when it appeared he was set to re-establish himself in the Springbok setup last year, illness ruled him out of the Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies in Cape Town before a knee injury sidelined him ahead of the clash against the All Blacks at Eden Park.
MORE: Boks get massive lock boost
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Bordeaux president ‘very scared’ for Bok appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Scottish cancer survivor and his special bond with Vodacom Bulls
When the Vodacom Bulls’ Marcell Coetzee asked John Whittaker how he was doing this week, Whittaker’s eyes started to fill with tears. For the proud Scotsman, this Vodacom Bulls team has been a literal lifesaver for him in his battle with cancer.
Since the South African teams entered the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, Whittaker has served as the Liaison Officer for the Vodacom Bulls whenever they come to Edinburgh – including this week as they prepare for their semi-final against the Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield on Saturday.
But last year he was given a cancer diagnosis that took him away from his beloved game, and some of the players he’s developed friendships with.
“I was diagnosed with cancer last year and the treatment was pretty brutal. I was isolated for six months. It was a big deal for me. The mental picture for me was difficult. I think every cancer sufferer has the same kind of thing that goes on in their heads,” says Whittaker.
“The team found out about it. When the treatment finished and the boys came over to play the Glasgow Warriors last October, I thought it was a great opportunity to go and see them and catch up. That day meant a huge amount to me. The positivity within this group is just immense. Every player I spoke to just kept telling me to be positive. That was the message – keep being you, John. I felt a part of something again. I’d been so isolated. But that day in Glasgow with this team was a big switch for me. It gave me confidence to be around people again. Just being around people who are positive and physically active and want to be the best really helped.”
In his role as a rugby liaison officer for visiting teams to Edinburgh, Whittaker has worked with several big club and international teams over the years. But he points out a distinct difference with the Vodacom Bulls.
“I think they seem like a family. Everyone cares for everyone. I’ve been around lots of teams, but this team are just good human beings who care for each other. You look at people like Embrose Papier, an absolute star of the game and he’s just so down-to-earth. Or Marcell Coetzee, who always has a smile on his face. Or Handré Pollard, a Rugby World Cup winner, and he’s just such a good person. Nizaam Carr spent so much time talking to me and sharing with me after my treatment. Kurt-Lee Arendse is also such a nice guy. They’re just so human, and you see that across this whole team.”
So that leaves the big question – who will Whittaker be supporting at Murrayfield this Saturday?
“You know, as a Scotsman I would like the Glasgow Warriors to win,” he says. And then he becomes emotional again.
“But it’s also always nice when your friends win.”
Issued By Michael Vlismas Media
The post Scottish cancer survivor and his special bond with Vodacom Bulls appeared first on SportsClub.