Category Archives: Sports News

News24.com | Sharks confident of full-strength team for Currie Cup semi-final v WP

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  • Sharks coach Sean Everitt is confident they’ll turn up with
    a full-strength team for the Currie Cup semi-final against Western Province at
    Newlands next weekend.
  • The Sharks have been ravaged by Covid-19 interruptions,
    which necessitated the cancellation of their last pool match against Province.
  • By the time they face WP next weekend, 21 days would have
    lapsed since their 47-19 win over Griquas.

Sharks coach Sean Everitt said they were confident of
showing up with a full-strength team for the Currie Cup semi-final against
Western Province at Newlands next weekend.

The Sharks have been ravaged by Covid-19 interruptions,
which necessitated their last round robin match against Province to be called
off.

READ | Sharks CEO Eduard Coetzee opens up on Siya Kolisi link

SA Rugby went a step further and granted the Durbanites an
extra week’s grace by moving the semi-finals and final back by a week, from 16
January to 23 January and 30 January, respectively.

But, at this desperately late stage, any team that fails to
have a Covid-free match day squad will forfeit their match.

“I’m extremely confident that we will have a
full-strength team for the semi-final,” said Everitt.

“The players have really tried hard in isolating
themselves at home and I believe the Bulls, Province and Lions have been in the
same boat.

“No one wants to lose that opportunity of playing in a
semi and possibly a final.

“We can only control what we control and, as we stand
now, we’ll have a full team to select from next week.”

Everitt expounded on the Covid matter that wreaked havoc
with his side’s momentum.

Before they were due to play WP, the Sharks had beaten
Griquas convincingly at Kings Park and were looking to carry that forward into
the business end of the competition.

By the time they face Province next weekend, however, 21
days would have lapsed since that 47-19 victory.

“We had a good week of training but, obviously, we had
some guys that returned to training late this week because of Covid
protocols,” said Everitt.

“It affects their return to play: if you’re a contact
[case] you can return to pay immediately but if you tested positive then
there’s a return to play process.

“We did have a number of players that tested positive
last week, so some of them will only return tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday.

“The rest of the guys have resumed training, so we are
in a pretty good space at the moment.”

The coach said the sharpness of players who contracted the
deadly virus after their recovery varied from player to player.

“It varies from player to player and the severity of
the Covid symptoms they had,” he said.

“Generally, the return to play protocols in place give
the guys five days to return to full training, which helps quite a lot.

“Guys with mild symptoms are able to return to full
fitness a lot quicker.

“You can be out from 10 to 21 days and the longer
you’re out, the longer it will take for you to get back to full fitness.

“We don’t have anyone who has been ruled out at the
moment but we will have testing again on Monday.”

News24.com | WP training in groups of 5, without rugby balls

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John Dobson (Gallo Images)

John Dobson (Gallo Images)

Western Province are doing everything they can this week to ensure they are fit and firing in the Currie Cup semi-finals.

Having finished the league phase of the competition in second place on the standings, Western Province will host the Sharks in a semi-final which will kick-off at 16:30 on Saturday 23 January at Newlands.

Following the postponement of the playoffs by a week as a precautionary measure due to Covid-19, the Western Province squad’s training schedule for the week has also been adjusted accordingly.

Players are training in groups of five, without rugby balls and while maintaining social distancing, in an effort to ensure that as many of them as possible are available for selection in the semi-final next week.

WP coach John Dobson says that the focus this week is on keeping the players conditioned while taking every precaution to ensure that any potential Covid-19 impact is minimised.

“We have earned the right to host a Currie Cup semi-final at Newlands and we want to do everything we can to put out a strong team for that game next week,” he told the WP Rugby website.

“We are fortunate that we had done a lot of technical analysis on the Sharks in preparation for our final league game against them which was cancelled.

“The players are doing a lot of analysis of their own this week and we are holding regular meetings online, but we are limiting physical interaction as much as we can.

“SARU deserve enormous credit for how they have got rugby back on the field and to the sharp end of this great competition. I think we are very grateful for that, as unusual as it’s been,” he said.

The WP mentor added that the entire squad was looking forward to getting back together as a group next week and building towards what should be a great occasion at Newlands.

“This week we are working on conditioning and technical analysis so that we can give it a full crack next week for the semi-final.

“Our players and coaches cannot wait to get stuck in next week and ensure that the team that runs out at Newlands is as well-prepared as possible,” he said.

– WP Rugby

News24.com | Mallett, Swys concerned over SA’s rugby product: ‘It sadly doesn’t make for good viewing’

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Nick Mallett (Gallo Images)

Nick Mallett (Gallo Images)

  • Nick Mallett and Swys de Bruin have expressed their concerns over the quality of product dished up by SA’s rugby franchises.
  • Mallett says scrums, driving mauls and kicking up-and-unders “doesn’t make for good viewing”.
  • De Bruin feels teams’ tactics are predictable, “almost like a storybook”.

Two renowned pundits have expressed their concerns over the quality of product dished up by South Africa’s franchises during the Super Rugby Unlocked and Currie Cup events.

After a double round of action, the Currie Cup semi-finals are scheduled for next Saturday, with the Bulls hosting the Lions at Loftus Versfeld and Western Province entertaining the Sharks at Newlands.

But former Springbok coach Nick Mallett and ex-Lions mentor Swys de Bruin were left a bit frustrated by what they witnessed since the country’s return to rugby following the Covid-19 lockdown.

The duo shared their views on SuperSport’s The Final Whistle programme after the completion of the Currie Cup’s round-robin action on Sunday.

“It’s difficult not to be a little bit negative on the performances of our teams quite frankly. If you compare it with the way New Zealand cracked in with their Aotearoa competition, with teams really embracing the quick ruck ball and ball in hand [style]… they were reasonably high-scoring games, but the defences were excellent and their attacks were great. And it was rugby that was worth watching,” Mallett said.

He continued: “When we started there was obviously issues with our fitness and conditioning. There were a lot of error-ridden games early on. And then it appeared that every single team that got into a tight situation just resorted to World Cup final tactics which basically means driving mauls, pushing scrums for penalties and kicking an up-and-under from 9 or 10 the entire game.”

Mallett said this type of game “sadly just doesn’t make for good viewing”.

“If you’re waiting for other people to make a mistake… it’s like watching us playing Wales in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup which was not a good spectacle, it was great that South Africa won, but it wasn’t a good rugby spectacle for viewers. And we have to remember that we are in the entertainment business in rugby and we need to entertain people. And people get entertained by watching tries being scored through good passing, good lines of running, timing and good stepping.

“To see a (Cheslin) Kolbe score a try is worth sitting there for an hour and a half in an afternoon. But if I’ve got to watch up-and-unders and driving mauls all day… and collapsed scrums and penalties… I’m not excited by that product. So, I think we’ve got a few issues to talk through.”

De Bruin, who is also a former attack consultant to the Springboks, concurred with Mallett.

“I want to add to what Nick said, it’s almost like a storybook now… I can see there’s a scrum that will reset and reset again, then the advantage will come, then the next chapter is the penalty. From there the maul starts. Before the maul there’s a little meeting with the forwards that eats up more time. After that meeting the lineout starts, but before the lineout starts the refs walk up and down through the lineout first. Eventually when the lineout starts the real thing starts… what’s going to happen now, who’s going to join, who’s going to sack and lift legs… for me that’s become almost the story.”

De Bruin highlighted a worrisome trend where the amount of actual playing time during games was diminishing.

“In Super Rugby in 2017 and 2018 we had 35 minutes of continuing play on average. We aimed for 40, if we got 35 or 36 we were happy. I spoke to one of the analysts and in the Currie Cup they’re hitting 24, 25, 26 (minutes)… so out of 80 minutes, you see 25 minutes of rugby and that’s a problem.”

De Bruin though added that he understood why teams were employing these tactics and said SA Rugby’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus, along with Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber, understood the system well.

“They are used to the up-and-under game, they won the World Cup with that, their pressure system is good, they know how to play it. They understand it.”

With South Africa’s franchises heading to the northern hemisphere to compete in the PRO16 Rainbow Cup event, De Bruin noted that a more conservative game style was needed at times.

“They (Erasmus and Nienaber) both coached at Munster (in Ireland). So they know that (style of play) so very well. But if you look at Jacques and what they stand for… they know the system up there. We must remember, we’re going to play up there in their conditions.

“But for the sponsors, for the spectators, for everyone, the sooner we put our foot down and say ‘all role players, let’s get this game interesting again’. We must put actions plans in to get our product right where we need it.”

– Compiled by Herman Mostert

News24.com | Percy Tau makes impressive debut as Brighton need penalties to advance in FA Cup

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Percy Tau during an FA Cup third round clash against Newport County.

Percy Tau during an FA Cup third round clash against Newport County.

South African attacker Percy Tau made an impressive cameo off the bench as Brighton & Hove Albion beat Newport County 4-3 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 after regulation time in the third round of the FA Cup.

Solly March scored what seemed to be the match-winner as he curled a left-footed effort beyond Newport goalkeeper Tom King as the clock moved into the 90th minute.

With seconds left of the four minutes of additional time a gaffe by Brighton back-up goalkeeper Jason Steele who completely miscued an attempted punch resulted in an own goal by defender Adam Webster.

The good news for South African fans is that they got to see an extra 30 minutes of Tau as the game went into extra-time.

Brighton looked the most likely to score with make-shift striker Lewis Dunk coming closest with first a glancing header and a shot from range that narrowly missed the target.

With five minutes left Tau went close after Neal Maupay laid it off in the area with Tau unable to keep his effort down as his right-foot effort went over the bar.

With the contest moving to a penalty shoot-out Brighton goalkeeper Steele made amends for his earlier mistake by saving the first two Newport penalties on his way to saving an incredible four from the spot.

Steele indeed showed nerves of steel as Brighton advanced on penalties after sudden death.

From a South African perspective a round-up of Tau’s display saw the Bafana Bafana international make an impressive debut with a few attempts at goal and nearly providing a couple of assists.

The draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup takes place on Monday at 21:10 SA time.

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News24.com | We can’t make excuses, says Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt after another loss

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Gavin Hunt. (Gallo Images)

Gavin Hunt. (Gallo Images)

Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt was not looking for excuses after a 2-0 home defeat to Maritzburg United in the DStv Premiership on Saturday.

“Disappointed with the result. I think they had two chances and they scored. But that’s football. That’s what’s happening with us. I thought we had a lot of the play but obviously a little bit of lack of energy in the areas,” Hunt told SuperSport TV.

“And obviously only having two central midfielders available so we couldn’t change much. But it is what it is.

Due to Covid-19 disruptions, the Amakhosi mentor was forced to field the young duo of Darrel Matsheke and Njabulo Blom in midfield.

“They gave a big effort on Tuesday. We couldn’t change it because we didn’t have anything else. But we can’t make excuses. Everyone’s in the same boat with Covid. We’ve got to be tougher, bigger, stronger. I thought for both goals we were a little bit weak. Is it really a 2-0 game? But it’s 2-0. That’s what it is.

“The second one’s a throw-in. The ball’s bouncing in the box and he’s controlled it. The ball should never be bouncing in the box. Not at this level. And the second one, it’s been cleared and the ball’s been played back into the ruck. You’ve got to defend those situations better.

“We’ve got a lot of games. We’re getting more and more depleted so we’ve got to be very careful.”

Pressure is mounting on Chiefs mentor Hunt, with his side now sitting a lowly 14th in the standings with only one win from nine games.

Meanwhile Hunt’s counterpart Ernst Middendorp, who was sacked as Chiefs coach just before the new season, saw his Maritzburg United side move off the bottom of the log to 12th spot.

– Compiled by Sport24 staff

News24.com | OPINION | Can scorned Middendorp spring a nasty surprise on his ex-club Chiefs?

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Ernst Middendorp (Gallo Images)

Ernst Middendorp (Gallo Images)

  • On Saturday, Ernst Middendorp returns to the same stadium where he watched his league dreams go up in smoke.
  • With a different club, he has a different mission, to save their Premiership status, something he’s done before.
  • Kaizer Chiefs, his former club who are also struggling, stand in his way.

The image of Ernst Middendorp standing in the bowels of the menacing FNB Stadium, looking on disbelievingly and dishevelled last year when Samir Nurkovic missed a sitter, from where Bienvenu Eva Nga scored for the now defunct Bidvest Wits, remains the most harrowing of the 2019/20 Premiership season.

It was a super Sunday, one that should have determined the destiny of the league title. It just happened to be one step in Kaizer Chiefs’ mother of all chokes; a choke that put South African cricket’s legendary World Cup mishaps firmly in the shade.

It’s also worth remembering that on that very same Sunday, Mamelodi Sundowns coughed up three points in a home defeat to Baroka FC.

That said game contained a widely circulated video of a desperate Pitso Mosimane launching club apparel into space with his famous left foot.

By the Saturday, to quote Mosimane: “You know the story. You know how this movie will end”, Sundowns burgled the league in the last 30 minutes of football action after Chiefs led for 28 rounds.

Such is the nature of the game; Mosimane went on to win four more trophies by the end of the year, while Middendorp trended, as the coach, fairly for the choke and lost his job.

One picture taken at a PSL function of Middendorp walking past the league trophy turned into a legendary meme titled: “Normalise walking away from things that don’t concern you.”

Can Middendorp be branded as the face of the failure at Kaizer Chiefs?

On the basis of a lost a Nedbank Cup final against an unheralded TS Galaxy and the league choke, the answer becomes straightforward, even though the rot at the Glamour Boys had long set in before he was hired to replace the hapless Giovanni Solinas.

However, Middendorp is back at his favourite Midlands football haunt with a tongue better tuned than a sharpened pitch-fork while reprising his favourite pastime: The Relegation Salvage Battle!

He’s done it before and boy was it exciting!

Whether it’ll have the same excitement of the 2015/16 season (that had faithful fans following them around) will remain to be seen.

A neat trend from the 2015/16 season is that he’s started the year without defeat at home.

In 2021, they beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 while in 2016; they held Orlando Pirates to an electric and memorable 3-all draw at a heaving Harry Gwala Stadium in what turned out to be Mondli Cele’s last game for the club.

Cele’s death the following morning shocked them, but also cajoled them enough to find the strength to shock Jomo Cosmos 3-1 at Olen Park in Potchefstroom to sink them into the GladAfrica Championship abyss.

Still worth noting, Maritzburg were last on the log leading into the game, Cosmos were 14th and only needed a draw to stay safe.

From Linda Mntambo’s 28th minute goal, Cosmos were cruising to the Premiership Promised Land, but 82nd, 87th and 94th minute sucker punches from Mohau Mokate and Evans Rusike saw the Team of Choice not only into euphoria, but saw Middendorp break into a rare but permanent smile.

Maybe last season’s choke torture was football’s comeuppance for his great escape.

You cannot be a jailbreak expert and a league winner at the same time.

Football isn’t kind like that, but it’s a giver of second shots at redemption.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 27: Kaizer Chiefs

Middendorp has another one with a club that always turns to him in its hour of need. Part of his salvage job may also involve sinking his former employers, but with this being football, all bets are off.

Surly-faced Gavin Hunt against Stern-Faced Middendorp – this is the stuff that South African footballing dreams are made of.

True to his form, Middendorp was terse when contacted. “I won’t be making any comments,” was the robotically correct response.

This is the Middendorp we’ve come to know and love, but the single-minded and driven Middendorp Chiefs may need to fear, especially with the knowledge he possesses of the players.

Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom
of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists
published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent
the views of Sport24. 

News24.com | Fourie du Preez: Lions weren’t ready for 1st Test in 2009, they won’t make same mistake…

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Legendary former Springbok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez believes the British & Irish Lions will be a different prospect on their tour to South Africa in 2021.

Du Preez was a key member of the Springbok team that beat the Lions 2-1 in a series in South Africa in 2009.

On subsequent tours, under the tutelage of Warren Gatland, the Lions claimed a 2-1 series win over Australia in 2013 and drew 1-1 with New Zealand in 2017.

Gatland is again at the helm for this year’s series and Du Preez believes the New Zealander’s expertise, as well as the ominous form of the home nations, will make the upcoming series a tough one for South Africa.

“The Lions weren’t ready for that first Test in 2009. I doubt they will make the same mistake in 2021,” Du Preez said in an interview with Rugby World.

“Warren Gatland has been successful on past tours to Australia and New Zealand. He knows what’s required in South Africa, having been part of the coaching team in 2009 and having been head coach of Wales for so long,” Du Preez said.

As head coach of Wales, Gatland had a good record against the Springboks, having gone on a four-match winning run between 2016 and 2018, before South Africa turned the tables in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals.

Du Preez added: “England have been playing good rugby and winning big matches. Ireland have a lot of good players, and there are a few from Scotland too. Gatland will know how to get the best out of the Welsh players.

“The Lions certainly have all the ingredients for a successful tour. The Boks will have to be at their very best to come out on top.”

Meanwhile, as Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc across the globe, there appears to be doubt over whether the tour will go ahead as planned this year.

There have even been a suggestion that it could be moved to the UK and Ireland or delayed until 2022.

SA Rugby presidentMark Alexander told Sport24 over the weekend that the tour would not be worthwhile if it was to happen behind closed doors with no spectators in attendance.

Alexander added that any decisions on the tour would be taken by SA Rugby and the Lions together as part of the joint venture and that any final decisions would need to be taken by March at the latest.

The Lions’ first match in South Africa is scheduled for 3 July against the Stormers in Cape Town.

Full 2021 British & Irish Lions tour schedule:

– Saturday 26 June: British & Irish Lions v Japan – Murrayfield, Edinburgh
– Saturday 3 July: British & Irish Lions v Stormers – Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
– Wednesday 7 July: British & Irish Lions v South Africa ‘Invitational’ – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
– Saturday 10 July: British & Irish Lions v Sharks – Kings Park, Durban
– Wednesday 14 July: British & Irish Lions v South Africa ‘A’ Team – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
– Saturday 17 July: British & Irish Lions v Bulls – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
– Saturday 24 July (first Test): Springboks v British & Irish Lions – FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
– Saturday 31 July (second Test): Springboks v British & Irish Lions – Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
– Saturday 7 August (third Test): Springboks v British & Irish Lions – Ellis Park, Johannesburg

– Compiled by Sport24 staff

News24.com | Boucher himself on five key takeaways from the Proteas’ Test series win

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  • The Proteas’ 2-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka is undeniably welcome for a team that has been under the pump for some time.
  • But there will be reservations that the opposition wasn’t necessarily the sternest and head coach Mark Boucher himself admits there’s still a lot to work on.
  • Here are his thoughts on five talking points to emerge from the series.

The Proteas, happily, dispelled some of the gloom that had suffocated the local game over the past few months by claiming a 2-0 Test series whitewash over Sri Lanka.

It’s a creditable showing given their own challenges in terms of poor previous form, the continued battle to fill the voids left by a raft of retirements and the consequent question marks over depth in that regard.

South Africa probably didn’t face the sternest opposition as the visitors were hit by a freakish number of injuries, which notably made the home side’s batting in the first Test in Centurion seem more potent than it would’ve been had the Islanders been able to call on a full-strength attack.

Yet, as head coach, Mark Boucher, noted, this result could be the start of better days for the team.

Here are some of his thoughts on some of the key takeaways from the series.

There are still various areas to work on ahead of an intriguing and possibly tough tour to Pakistan…

From a technical perspective, our batsmen can always keep working. We’re going into different conditions later this month. I thought the batters’ techniques were quite solid on tough wickets – if the bowlers got deliveries in the right areas, it was always going to be difficult. 

Bowling wise we’re a young group. It’s about keeping things nice and simple, trying to establish a new DNA that we can impose on the bowlers and enabling us to get the best out of them in any conditions we play in. By no means are we a finished product, there’s still a lot of hard work to be done and the guys understand that.

We’re going to make mistakes along the way, but as long as we keep learning from them, we’re going in the right direction.

The Proteas learn the value of partnerships, when batting and bowling…

That’s the key to building a bit of pressure on the opposition. There was one very good and defining batting partnership at the Wanderers (a record 184-run stand between Dean Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen) and a few good ones in Centurion. Same with the bowling.

The batters realised that coming out to the crease meant they had to keep up the intensity and maintain a positive mindset because one always felt there was one delivery that probably had your name on it. And if we got into a situation where we created some sort of partnership, we had to drive that advantage home. That’s exactly what happened.

The collapse (at the Wanderers) wasn’t ideal, but I do think that the Sri Lankans got the ball to swing and get bounce. If you’re a bowler, there’s always something in it for you if you get it in the right place.

Lutho Sipamla vividly illustrates a temperament for Test cricket…

It was difficult to judge Lutho on his first day of Test cricket – there are so many butterflies and nerves and certain people handle those feelings in different ways. He’s very young and he’s probably never felt like that before, especially because Test cricket means such a lot to him.

That’s a good sign for me, when a guy is so passionate about playing for his country, especially for a Test match. He is one of the pluses for me. From where he started to where he is now, he has learnt a hell of a lot in the last two games. It’s one thing cleaning the tail up but the areas that he was hitting, always asking questions, with some decent pace as well (illustrated how he kept improving).

As did his fellow 22-year-old team-mate, Wiaan Mulder…

We didn’t really see the batting side of Wiaan, but he’s a very good batsman who could go into the top six. But he was fantastic for us with the ball, he’s there to make breakthroughs and it’s great to have that all-round option.

Wiaan is still very young, but the talent is obviously there. And he has a great attitude, he’s so keen to learn and hopefully he can now stay on the park because I see a great future for him. 

Dean Elgar proves he’s the lynchpin of the Proteas batting order…

If you look at the conditions our batters have had to face over the last period, it’s been tough, especially as an opener. So I’m really happy that Dean’s in good form. Technically, he’s looking very good. 

He’s been nice and aggressive as well, which is something we have spoken about as a team. There’s nothing better than when a senior player takes those words from the team on board and runs with it, especially at the top of the order.

He’ll feel really good about where his game is at the moment and I’m very happy with where he is.

– Compiled by Heinz Schenk

 

News24.com | Percy Tau on verge of getting work permit to finally play in England for Brighton

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Percy Tau has done enough to qualify the UK work permit under new Brexit rules.

Percy Tau has done enough to qualify the UK work permit under new Brexit rules.

SPORT

Bafana Bafana star Percy Tau is on the verge of realising his dream of playing in England, to join his parent club Brighton & Hove Albion, City Press has reliably learnt.

Sources close to the player have confirmed that the 26-year-old striker now qualifies for a work permit, thanks to the new regulations in the wake of Brexit, the UK’s departure from the EU.

Tau has spent nearly three years on loan in Belgium after failing to meet the UK work permit requirements since he left Mamelodi Sundowns to join Brighton in a South African record four-year deal worth more than R50 million in June 2018.

Media reports in Belgium recently quoted Brighton coach Graham Potter hinting at the club’s efforts to recall Tau from his latest loan spell at RSC Anderlecht in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League.

According to Dutch news outlet HNL, Potter confirmed that Brighton have been monitoring Tau.

“I am aware that he has been playing well, he’s been scoring goals and enjoying his football so that is good,” Potter was quoted as saying.

Tau’s business manager Mmatsatsi Sefalafala could only confirm that talks have been ongoing but politely declined to give further details.

Tau has spent nearly three years on loan in Belgium after failing to meet the UK work permit requirements since he left Mamelodi Sundowns to join Brighton in a South African record four-year deal worth more than R50 million in June 2018.

For a foreign player to be eligible to feature in the EPL, they must meet a certain points threshold to earn an endorsement from the governing body, the FA.

Before Brexit was finalised on New Year’s eve, Tau failed to meet the UK work permit requirements because of Bafana’s low Fifa ranking.

However, under the new system his run with Club Brugge in the 2019/20 season could be weighted in.

Tau made 30 appearances for Brugge in all competitions and helped the club to the league triumph, including an impressive individual performances in Uefa’s elite competitions – the Champions League and the Europa League.

He has already played 14 games and scored four times for Anderlecht since he joined the side coached by former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany in July. Finally moving to England will end almost three years of waiting for the player from Emalahleni in Mpumalanga.

Read: Bafana man Mokotjo faces a possible pay cut in the US

Media reports in Belgium are that Anderlecht are now eyeing RB Salzburg midfielder, Ghanaian Majeed Ashimeru, as a potential replacement for Tau.

Brighton on the hand, have also been busy since the EPL player transfer window opened on January 2.

The club are recalling some other players on loan, to reinforce the squad as coach Potter’s side have been struggling to get the results.

The Seagulls, who haven’t won in their last five matches, are placed 17th on the EPL table, three places above the relegation zone.

Brighton take on English fourth tie campaigners Newport County in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday, before Potter’s team travel to Manchester City next Wednesday.

. This is a developing story.

Daniel
Mothowagae 

Deputy sports editor

News24.com | Proteas ‘aware’ of nasty habit for batting collapses, but Elgar not worried

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Dean Elgar scored a brilliant 127, but his dismissal sparked another Proteas collapse (AFP)

Dean Elgar scored a brilliant 127, but his dismissal sparked another Proteas collapse (AFP)

  • Dean Elgar would seem blameless for the Proteas’ latest batting collapse, but it was his dismissal that sparked Sri Lanka’s fightback in the second Test at the Wanderers.
  • The gritty opener believes the South African batting order might be lacking a bit of conviction at times and that the nasty habit needs to be addressed.
  • However, he also stressed that there are mitigating factors such as local conditions’ general better assistance for the bowlers.

A fluent 127 off 166 deliveries largely exonerates from the latest sinning, but Dean Elgar admits that the Proteas batting order will need to investigate a fairly regular habit for collapsing in a heap.

Monday’s second day’s play of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Wanderers was the latest example as South Africa lost their last nine wickets for a mere 84 runs after Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen had put them in a powerful position with a record 184-run second-wicket stand.

“It’s a fair question,” the influential opener said at the close of play.

“I do believe that the nature of the pitches are a factor. It’s almost like if you’re coming out to bat, you have to be on the right side of momentum.

“We saw it today. The game shifted from us being 218/1 to 241/5 in little to no time. It shows you how important it is to have batters that are in and settled.”

Despite their fine efforts, Elgar and Van der Dussen were – harshly or not – the men that sparked the implosion.

“I went out and Rassie followed quickly thereafter, which wasn’t ideal,” said Elgar. 

Yet the onus still rests on the rest of the order to capitalise on decent platforms, who, at least in this match, didn’t play with the utmost conviction.

Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock were undone by hard hands in trying to defend probing fuller deliveries, while Temba Bavuma oddly padded up to a straight delivery.

“Maybe from a mental point of view we just relaxed a bit too much,” said Elgar.

“One has to be a bit more assertive out there, trust your technique more intently and longer. That’s just my outside observation. We’ll definitely address at the conclusion of the series because we’re aware of it. But we also have to take conditions into account.”

Indeed, on a Wanderers surface that has quickened up from the opening day, there are distinct periods of substantial assistance being on offer for the bowlers before fizzling out to make stroke-play easier.

“There were quite a few very good deliveries bowled,” said Elgar.

“You have to give the Sri Lankans credit for the way they used conditions and fought back. Partnerships are important and if you’re able to get past that period where you respect conditions, you can definitely conquer a bit.”