Big Vic backs Brannas to nuke All Blacks

Deon Fourie’s Springbok recall will offer Rassie Erasmus a huge impact off the bench against the All Blacks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, according to Victor Matfield.

The 39-year-old Fourie on Monday was called up to the Bok squad after scoring a try, making 14 tackles and winning two turnovers in the Stormers’ loss to New Zealand in Cape Town last week.

“He’s been out for six months, and he’s 39 years old, turning 40 one of these days. I mean, that performance earned him a call-up,” Matfield said on the Rivals podcast. sweetbonanza-app.com

ICYMI: Rassie recalls Bok veteran

Fourie’s last Bok outing came in the 2023 World Cup final, when the 13-cap ballhawk came off the bench at hooker and played 77 minutes.

“He was outstanding in the World Cup final, coming on and playing hooker for 70 minutes,” Matfield added. “He’s just a guy who leads from the front.

“Especially with a guy like Kwagga Smith not being there at the moment, he might just play a role off the bench,” Matfield added.

The former Bok skipper highlighted what makes Fourie so effective at hooker and loose forward.

MORE: Frans on influential Faf’s Bok future

“When he started playing hooker, a lot of people said he was too small for the position. So then he started playing a bit of openside.

“He went over to France and then, at about 35 or 36, he came back and led the Stormers, where he had a huge impact.

“He’s just a physical beast who likes to get stuck in,” Matfield added. “He’s a bit like an old-school Heinrich Brüssow over the ball.”

ALSO: ‘The age is coming down, despite Brannas’

Matfield also believes Fourie’s influence has been felt in the rise of Paul de Villiers, who will now find himself competing with his former Stormers mentor at the Boks.

“Paul de Villiers, who has done so well, has learned from him. I mean, he’s had to keep Paul out of the [Stormers] team for the last three years,” the ex-lock noted.

“Now that Deon is ready, Paul may need to move to the bench. They’re two outstanding fetchers, and I think Deon’s impact on Paul’s development has also been huge.”

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images

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Sharks head coach JP Pietersen said the Sharks are at 70-80% of their strength due to injuries, including two late ones that have forced them to change their matchday 23, but they will “give it everything we can” when they take on the All Blacks on Tuesday.

Furthermore, the Durban union will share whatever knowledge they can glean from the game with the Springboks ahead of their four Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tests against the New Zealanders.

The Sharks and All Blacks clash at Kings Park at 7.10pm in the second of four matches between the visitors and local clubs, after the All Blacks beat a tenacious Stormers side 38-21 in Cape Town.

The Sharks are still dealing with injuries – a trend at the union over their last two seasons – including to Springboks Bongi Mbonambi, Trevor Nyakane, Jason Jenkins, and Jordan and Jaden Hendrikse.

‘Youth vs experience’

Meanwhile, most of their fit Springboks are with the national squad – Aphelele Fassi, Ethan Hooker, Eben Etzebeth and André Esterhuizen included.

The latest setback is the late withdrawal of Springbok Vincent Tshituka and Sharks Player of the Year Emile van Heerden from the already largely inexperienced matchday 23.

Still, six players in the Sharks line-up were part of the SA A side that thrashed Zimbabwe 40-0 in June. Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said he was excited to see these in action after working with them during that clash.

“We prepped the boys as best we could to be robust tomorrow, and be competitive against the All Blacks,” Pietersen said, adding that he was crossing fingers and toes that there would be no more injuries in the pre-season.

“We won’t be at 100%, but we will be at our best at 70-80%. We’ll give it everything we can give.”

The Sharks coach backed his young side to bring energy and fight for the full 80 minutes, using what they learned during the SA A game, and tips shared by All Blacks great Ma’a Nonu.

“It will be a great test tomorrow, youth vs experience. If I were still a young player, I’d be looking forward to seeing how I could measure myself a Jordie Barrett or Damian McKenzie. It will be a great battle to see what [they] can do against a quality team.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 10, 2026 – The 2026/27 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League is set to kick off on the weekend of August 29-30 with nine fixtures on the card.

According to the fixtures released on Monday night, defending champions Gor Mahia will host Murang’a Seal as will arch-rivals AFC Leopards welcome Bandari on the same weekend.

Nairobi United host KCB as Ulinzi Stars — who survived relegation by the skin of their teeth — welcome domestic cup champions Tusker at their Lang’ata Sports Complex backyard.

Newly promoted 3K FC have a tricky visit from Mara Sugar as their fellow newbies, Mombasa United and Migori Youth face a baptism by fire when they host Kakamega Homeboyz and Kenya Police, respectively.

Of the teams expected to compete for the title, K’Ogalo appear to have tough matches on paper, facing APS Bomet, Bandari, Kakamega Homeboyz, KCB and Nairobi United in their subsequent four fixtures in the league.

Save for Abana Ba Ingo, Charles Akonnor’s side failed to glean maximum points from the aforementioned opponents in 2025/26.

Ingwe, who finished second in the past season, travel to Police Sacco Stadium to face the law enforcers in Matchweek Two — still smarting from their 4-0 loss to Nicholas Muyoti’s side the last time round.

They then welcome another top five side, Shabana, in Matchweek Three before travelling to Awendo to meet Mara Sugar.

Matchweek Five comes with the Ingo Derby against Kakamega Homeboyz in Nairobi.

The first leg of the Mashemeji Derby pitting Gor and AFC is slated for the weekend of November 19-22, with Fred Ambani’s side as the host team.

The two rivals lock horns once again on the weekend of April 2-4 for the second leg.

The start of the league has been shrouded in uncertainty following court cases surrounding FKF’s controversial relegation and promotions regulations that were introduced in September last year.

The new regulations stipulated that the bottom three teams in the top tier would be relegated to the National Super League (NSL) whereas the top three in the second tier would graduate to the Premier League.

However, Kariobangi Sharks — who finished 16th last season — had appealed their relegation at the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT), arguing that the enactment of the new regulations was devoid of public participation and had been irregularly ratified by the federation’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

The tribunal on Monday ruled in favour of the federation, adding that the slum boys did not exhaust all the internal mechanisms at FKF to resolve the issue.

Ethiopia produced a spectacular display of emerging talent as Almaz Yohannis was crowned world champion in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon, powering to a commanding victory in 9:15.81.

Yohannis delivered a superb performance to secure the gold medal and, in the process, recorded a World U20 Leading time (WU20L), underlining the strength of her performance on the global junior stage.

The young Ethiopian established herself as the athlete to beat, maintaining her composure and strength throughout the demanding eight-lap steeplechase before crossing the finish line well clear of the field. Her winning mark of 9:15.81 provided a fitting reward for a dominant championship performance.

Ethiopia’s celebrations were doubled when Wosane Asefa secured the silver medal in 9:30.50, producing a season’s best (SB) and completing an impressive Ethiopian one-two.

Kenya’s Anatasha Cheptoo ensured there was East African representation on all three steps of the podium, fighting her way to the bronze medal in 9:37.18.

Behind the medalists, Sweden’s Majken Söderlund Larsson finished fourth in 9:48.01, setting a national U20 record (NU20R), while Czech Republic’s Ema Berková followed in fifth with 9:49.06, also recording a national U20 record.

Sweden’s Fanny Szalkai placed sixth in 9:55.06, a personal best, while Greece’s Anna Dafni Almyroudi Stroumpou finished seventh in 10:00.63, another national U20 record.

Egypt’s Malak Abdelghany Abdalla Ibrahim crossed eighth in 10:04.52, also establishing a national U20 record. Slovakia’s Anna Švrček was ninth in 10:05.91, followed by Japan’s Rei Taya in 10:12.37.

Portugal’s Lara Roque finished 11th in 10:15.69, setting a national U20 record, while Poland’s Zuzanna Szymańska took 12th in 10:15.94, a personal best. Great Britain’s Ava James was 13th in 10:18.96, followed by American Sierra Wall in 14th with 10:21.21.

Poland’s Michalina Thamm completed the finishers in 15th place in 10:39.01.

Kenya’s Mercy Chepngeno Koskey, who had also lined up as part of the Kenyan challenge, was unfortunately unable to finish the race.

The final podium therefore belonged to three of East Africa’s rising stars, with Yohannis and Asefa delivering a memorable Ethiopian one-two, while Cheptoo secured bronze for Kenya.

Women’s 3000m Steeplechase — Official Results

1. Almaz Yohannis (Ethiopia) — 9:15.81 (WU20L)

2. Wosane Asefa (Ethiopia) — 9:30.50 (SB)

3. Anatasha Cheptoo (Kenya) — 9:37.18

4. Majken Söderlund Larsson (Sweden) — 9:48.01 (NU20R)

5. Ema Berková (Czech Republic) — 9:49.06 (NU20R)

6. Fanny Szalkai (Sweden) — 9:55.06 (PB)

7. Anna Dafni Almyroudi Stroumpou (Greece) — 10:00.63 (NU20R)

8. Malak Abdelghany Abdalla Ibrahim (Egypt) — 10:04.52 (NU20R)

9. Anna Švrček (Slovakia) — 10:05.91

10. Rei Taya (Japan) — 10:12.37

11. Lara Roque (Portugal) — 10:15.69 (NU20R)

12. Zuzanna Szymańska (Poland) — 10:15.94 (PB)

13. Ava James (Great Britain) — 10:18.96

14. Sierra Wall (United States) — 10:21.21

15. Michalina Thamm (Poland) — 10:39.01

DNF: Mercy Chepngeno Koskey (Kenya)

Yohannis’ victory marked the highlight of a brilliant Ethiopian performance, with her 9:15.81 World U20-leading mark setting the tone for a memorable championship final and announcing another exciting young talent onto the international athletics scene.

SOURCE: MY BEST RUNS

The post World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26: Ethiopia’s Almaz Yohannis crowned world champion in women’s 3000m steeplechase appeared first on SportsAfrica - Sports news | Live scores | Match highlights | Betting tips.

Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has highlighted the pitfalls of South African teams’ 6-2 split strategy, saying it can leave them vulnerable when injuries strike.

Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks first deployed the Bomb Squad at the 2019 World Cup, now even going 7-1, and several countries and teams have employed similar tactics.

Speaking on the Rugby Unity podcast, Hansen said the Stormers’ 38-21 defeat by the All Blacks last week showed the risk involved when two players in the same position are injured.

ICYMI: ‘Remarkable’ duel comes at a cost for Stormers

John Dobson’s charges lost scrumhalves Imad Khan and Dewaldt Duvenage, leaving their outside backs to alternate at the base of the ruck, Wandisile Simelane their only other backline replacement and no recognised playmaker as cover.

“The 6-2 split didn’t work in favour of the South Africans this time. They roll the dice every time they do it and they were unlucky in that they got two players injured in the same position,” Hansen said.

“I hear the commentators, ‘it’s changed the course of the game’, but you know that before you go in, I don’t think you can use it as an excuse for anything.

KEO: Stormers lost but won

“If you’re going to play a 6-2 split, you’ve got to go through all the scenarios. It showed me how it can be vulnerable if things don’t go the way you want them to go.”

Bok hybrid André Esterhuizen provides the world champions with flexibility, but the World Cup winner’s head knock last Saturday in Argentina, after skipper Siya Kolisi’s 24th minute substitution due to a hamstring injury, affected Rassie Erasmus’ tactics.

“That’s the risk you take,” Hansen said. “It will be interesting to see if it changes people’s minds or if they keep doing it.”

MALLETT: Boks’ contestable kicking very poor

Photo: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images

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