Hansen calls out Boks, Stormers’ risky ploy

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

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.

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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.

“That’s the risk you take whomever is doing it, so it will be interesting to see if it changes people’s minds or if they keep doing it and are prepared to take the risk.”

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

The post Hansen calls out Boks, Stormers’ risky ploy appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

L'attaquant star du Real Madrid Kylian Mbappé a fait son retour à l'entraînement lundi 10 août après trois semaines de vacances, aux côtés de deux nouvelles recrues madrilènes, le défenseur français Ibrahima Konaté et le champion du monde espagnol Marc Cucurella. Les trois joueurs ont effectué leur visite médicale avant de prendre part à leur première séance d'entraînement sous les ordres de leur nouveau coach José Mourinho, de retour au Real treize ans après son premier passage sur le banc merengue. Mbappé, meilleur buteur du Mondial 2026 terminé à la quatrième place avec la France, a passé les trois dernières semaines en vacances, notamment à Ibiza, aux Baléares, en compagnie de son ami et ex-coéquipier au PSG Achraf Hakimi. Les joueurs madrilènes effectueront leurs débuts en Liga le 22 août sur la pelouse de l'Espanyol Barcelone.

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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.

Le Sénat américain ouvre la voie à une prolongation de l'Agoa, jusqu'en décembre 2028. Cet accord de libre-échange permet à 32 pays africains d'exporter certains produits sans droits de douane. La Chambre des représentants doit encore examiner le texte, avant sa promulgation par Donald Trump. Quels impacts sur les échanges entre Washington et les pays africains concernés ? Alexandre Kateb, économiste et fondateur de Multipolarity AI, est l'invité d'Afrique Midi.