RéDAN SPORTS BLOGGING

Over the past weekend, the Boks faced Wales in their final 2024 match at the iconic Principality Stadium. Coach Rassie opted for a strong lineup, which proved successful as they led 26-5 at halftime. Franco Mostert opened the scoring, followed by Jordan Hendrickse, stepping in for Handré Pollard, successfully converting the try. South Africa was very clinical in their attack during the first half, an aspect somewhat lacking in their previous matches against Scotland and England. In this game against Wales, they eliminated unnecessary mistakes and were also dominant in defense, conceding only two tries throughout the game. Referee Karl Dickson's performance wasn't too poor regarding some of the calls he made. However, I believe he allowed the game to flow excessively, which led to him overlooking two critical late tackles that should have warranted a penalty each time. But overall, he maintained consistency in his decision-making for both sides. Kudos to Cameron Hanekom for bein...

Round five of the URC (or round four for the South African franchises) saw the Vodacom Bulls aiming to extend their unbeaten streak in the 2024/25 season as they faced the Scarlets. The Scarlets were coming off a significant win in their Welsh derby against Cardiff the previous week, marking their first victory in this year's competition. The Bulls wasted no time, scoring within a minute thanks to a stunning try from outside center Canan Moodie, with Boeta Chamberlain kicking the conversion. Ten minutes later, the Scarlets responded with their flanker, number 7 Josh Macleod, crossing the try line and Ioan Lloyd leveling the score at 7-7.  Zak Burger snatched a try from the Bulls' forwards, darting through a gap on the blindside from the back of a driving maul. The team maintained their momentum and notched another try, this time by Kurt-Lee Arendse, with Chamberlain adding the extras after failing to convert Zak's try.  The Scarlets notched another penalty, entering the bre...

It has been nearly four months since I stepped away from the sport, and I am truly grateful for the experiences I gained. It was a rewarding journey where I not only encountered new challenges but also grew more resilient and developed transformative skills. A key lesson I learned is to never turn your back on your opponent, a basic rule that, although widely recognized, I adopted as a strategy to avoid conflicts and arguments. I was not familiar with this sport until it was introduced to me by someone who is not just a colleague but also a significant figure in my life. During a particularly difficult time at work, I sought an outlet and discovered it in Jiu-Jitsu. During that hour of practice, my mind was free, allowing me to focus entirely on the task at hand. For example, if you're trapped in an armbar and lose focus, you risk serious injury. Likewise, a momentary lapse in attention during a chokehold could have dire consequences. Morganti Brazilian-style Jiu-Jitsu, which clear...

 In the final round of this year's Rugby Championship, South Africa needed only a victory to secure their first title in a complete six-round tournament. However, despite this win, they did not regain the top position in the World Rankings. That's correct, despite their significant victory, Ireland remains number one in the latest rankings. Mariette Adams recently articulated in an article that the Springboks' unexpected 29-28 loss to Argentina in Santiago del Estero had significant consequences. Notably, it ended their 13-month tenure as the top-ranked team in World Rugby, ceding the position to Ireland. This shift occurred because the defeat cost the Springboks 1.81 rating points, dropping their total from 93.58 to 91.77, while Ireland, with a rating of 92.12, ascended to the number one spot by default. South Africa started the game with incredible intensity, securing a 7-0 lead within the first 40 minutes. Quick hands from Manie Libbok set up Fassi, who broke through fou...

The time had come for the four southern hemisphere nations to continue the rugby championship following a two-week hiatus. Still unbeaten in this year's contest, South Africa took on Argentina's Los Pumas, requiring only three log points to secure the championship. The Boks started the game on fire, scoring two quick tries inside the first ten minutes to race to a 14 - 0 lead thanks to tries from Aphelele Fassie and Jesse Kriel.  The image captures Fassi's try, which resulted from an excellent offensive play by the Boks. To clarify, this opportunity arose because all of Argentina's players had moved to the left, leaving only one defender out wide to cover two players. This shift created an opening for Fassi to break through and score the try. Jesse Kriel's try was a standout moment. Again, the defenders had clustered near the ruck, creating an opening for Kriel to break through and secure South Africa's second try. The momentum shifted when Kurt-Lee Arendse rece...

 The Currie Cup had reached its knockout stages once more. The stage was set to determine who would challenge the Lions at Emirates Airline Park after their victory over the defending champions, the Cheetahs, with a score of 43-34. With the URC's opening round of local derby matches postponed to next year, the four franchises were able to field their strongest teams for the semifinals.  The Bulls began the game sluggishly, with an initial error from starting scrum-half Keagan Johannes failing to clear the ball following a charge down by Sharks' lock Emile van Heerden, leading to a try for the towering player. At that moment, Johannes was having difficulty with his aerial kicks, and I believe Goosen should have been the one to send it deep into touch.  Shortly after, Johannes corrected his previous error and darted through a narrow opening to score an impressive try for the Bulls. Their defence, however, faltered occasionally, allowing the Sharks to score twice within thre...