All Blacks name side to take on Stormers

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has named a strong 23-man squad for Friday night’s historic clash against the Stormers at the Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, with experienced lock Patrick Tuipulotu captaining the side. mieszalniakolorado.pl

The fixture, which kicks off at 19:10, marks the opening match of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour and will be the first-ever meeting between the All Blacks and the Stormers.

Tuipulotu will captain New Zealand for just the second time, having previously led the side against Japan in October 2024.

Two potential debutants

The All Blacks could hand first appearances in the famous black jersey to prop Siale Lauaki and utility back Josh Jacomb, who have both been named on the bench.

Seven other players will make their first All Blacks appearance of the year, including Ollie Norris, Fabian Holland, Simon Parker, Ethan Blackadder, Kyle Preston, Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane.

Veteran flyhalf Beauden Barrett starts at No 10, earning his 145th appearance (including one non-Test match), while Anton Lienert-Brown and Rieko Ioane provide plenty of experience in the backline.

Rennie expecting physical battle

Rennie congratulated the debutants and said the squad was eager to begin the South African tour.

“Firstly, I want to congratulate the new All Blacks Siale and Josh. It will be a very exciting and proud day for them and their families,” he said.

“We’ve had a great welcome in Cape Town and we’re excited to get this tour underway.

“We are really pleased with how our leaders, including match-day captain Patrick and tour captain Codie, have prepared the group. We can’t wait for Friday.”

The coach also expects a stern challenge from John Dobson’s Stormers.

“We’re well aware of how good this Stormers side is. They made the semi-finals of the United Rugby Championship last year and they are a big, physical side with a mix of talented youngsters and Springboks, so we are preparing for a real war of attrition.”

Historic occasion

Although the All Blacks have faced Western Province five times in the past – winning three and losing two – Friday’s encounter will be their first against the Stormers since the franchise era began.

It will also be New Zealand’s second appearance at the Cape Town Stadium, with all 10 previous Test matches in Cape Town having been played at Newlands.

Overall, the All Blacks have played 25 matches in Cape Town, winning 17, losing seven and drawing one.

Teams

Stormers

15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo

Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Wandile Mlaba, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Wandisile Simelane

New Zealand

15 Josh Moorby, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Anton Leinert-Brown, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Peer Lakai, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 George Bower

Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Caleb Clarke

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)

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Beauden Barrett will start at flyhalf for the All Blacks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour opener against the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium on Friday night.

The two-time World Rugby Player of the Year headlines a much-changed side named by coach Dave Rennie.

Only lock Patrick Tuipulotu and fullback Josh Moorby retain their places from the team that beat Ireland last month, with Tuipulotu captaining the side in the absence of regular skipper Ardie Savea, who remains in New Zealand on a managed break, while tour captain Codie Taylor misses out with a calf injury.

Barrett, who did not feature during the All Blacks’ three-Test Nations Championship campaign in July, has been handed the No 10 jersey as he looks to force his way into contention for the opening Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park on 22 August.

ALSO: New Springbok jersey revealed

The starting XV also includes the return of lock Fabian Holland, whose July Test campaign was derailed by a shoulder injury, while winger Rieko Ioane earns his first start since returning from a sabbatical at Leinster.

There are also two potential debutants on the bench, tighthead prop Siale Lauaki and flyhalf Josh Jacomb.

ALL BLACKS – 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 George Bower.
Bench: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Caleb Clarke.

STORMERS TEAM: Yaqeen unleashed on All Blacks

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

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Head coach Dave Rennie says the All Blacks on Friday can expect a fired-up Stormers side packed with quality players out to prove a point to Springbok boss Rassie Erasmus.

Speaking on Thursday ahead of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry opener at Cape Town Stadium, Rennie acknowledged the extra motivation on offer for those in the Stormers camp with Bok aspirations.

“Absolutely,” Rennie said. “Rassie has shown that he’s prepared to take a punt on good young players coming through, and he’s used an enormous amount of players already this year.”

ALSO: All Blacks sweat on injured skipper

Director of rugby John Dobson has named 11 URC champions in the Stormers match 23, including Evan Roos and Ntuthuko Mchunu, both released by Erasmus for the fixture.

“I would imagine that everyone is excited to perform well and apply pressure or get their name in the hat,” Rennie added. “I’m sure it’s a motivating factor for them.”

He was quick to dismiss any notion that the four club matches on tour are a warm-up before the four-Test series kicks off.

“There’s no shortage of talent and depth in this country. The old days of playing a French Barbarians or a South African XV to soften you up heading into a series have changed.

TEAM: Barrett back for All Blacks’ tour opener

“We’re well aware of the quality of the side that we’ll play, and we’ll give them that respect,” the Kiwi said. “We’ve had a decent look at all three sides and because of a short turnaround in games, we’ve looked for common ground… areas that we expect the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls to try and stress us.

“We know the Stormers will kick a lot and apply pressure through that. They’ve got absolute lightning wheels all over the park, so we’re going to have to deal with that.

“But it does create opportunities for us; the ball will be kicked to us and if we can deal with that, then we’ll get some opportunities. Hopefully the weather plays its part.”

ICYMI: Rassie unloads on media

Rennie, who kick-started his tenure with three successive wins in the Nations Championship, outlined what he wants from his side on Friday.

“We’ve had a little bit more time together and that’s been good, but there’s some new combinations,” he said.

“We’re going to play against a side that is very competitive in the URC, and who will be excited about the potential of an international scalp, so that makes them dangerous.

“We’ve got a Test match only around the corner and we know we’ll need to be better against the Springboks than we were in the previous three Tests.”

Photo: @THESTORMERS/X

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L’attaquant guinéen Morgan Guilavogui s’est une nouvelle fois montré décisif, malgré l’élimination du Real Salt Lake face aux Mexicains du Tigres UANL.

Dans la nuit de mardi à mercredi, le Real Salt Lake se déplaçait sur la pelouse du Tigres UANL dans le cadre du premier tour de la League Cup nord-américaine.

Au terme d’une rencontre disputée, les deux équipes se sont neutralisées à l’issue du temps réglementaire (1-1). Les Mexicains ont finalement décroché leur qualification lors de la séance de tirs au but, remportée sur le score de 6 tirs à 5.

Malgré la défaite de son équipe, Morgan Guilavogui a laissé son empreinte sur la rencontre en délivrant une passe décisive dès la 16e minute sur l’unique réalisation du Real Salt Lake.

Avec cette nouvelle offrande, l’international guinéen porte son bilan à un but et cinq passes décisives en 15 apparitions toutes compétitions confondues cette saison.

Une prestation encourageante de plus pour Guilavogui, qui confirme son importance dans l’animation offensive du Real Salt Lake et poursuit sa montée en puissance au sein de la formation américaine.

A. Diouma Bah

The post League Cup : Morgan Guilavogui brille, mais le Real Salt Lake tombe aux tirs au but appeared first on AFRICASPORT.ORG.

Prêté l’hiver dernier au Clermont Foot par le RC Strasbourg, avec lequel il est lié jusqu’en 2028, Saïdou Sow pourrait de nouveau changer de club lors de ce mercato estival.

De retour à la compétition après une longue blessure, le défenseur central guinéen s’est rapidement imposé comme l’un des hommes forts de l’arrière-garde clermontoise. Sous les couleurs du Clermont Foot, l’international guinéen a disputé 12 rencontres de Ligue 2 et inscrit un but.

Alors qu’un retour à Strasbourg semblait être l’option la plus probable pour la saison à venir, l’avenir de Saïdou Sow pourrait finalement s’écrire du côté du FC Nantes.

Selon les informations de L’Équipe, le club nantais serait proche de trouver un accord pour s’attacher les services du défenseur guinéen. Les discussions porteraient sur un prêt d’une saison assorti d’une option d’achat.

Un retour chez les Canaris permettrait à Saïdou Sow de retrouver un environnement qu’il connaît bien. En 2025, il avait disputé neuf rencontres sous les couleurs nantaises et inscrit un but avant d’être victime, au début du mois de mai, d’une rupture du ligament croisé antérieur du genou gauche.

Freiné à plusieurs reprises par des blessures ces dernières saisons, le défenseur de 24 ans pourrait ainsi bénéficier d’une nouvelle opportunité pour retrouver de la continuité et relancer durablement sa carrière au plus haut niveau.

A. Diouma Bah

The post Mercato : le FC Nantes en pole pour accueillir Saïdou Sow appeared first on AFRICASPORT.ORG.