Why Springboks won’t be worried about Tony Brown exit

It was confirmed on Sunday, somewhat unexpectedly, that Springbok attack coach Tony Brown would be returning home to take up a coaching position with the New Zealand Rugby Union in 2028.

Many have questioned the timing of the All Blacks’ announcement, as well as whether it is feasible for Brown to remain so closely involved in the Springboks’ inner circle before heading to their arch-rivals, but there are unlikely to be such concerns.

Former All Blacks wing John Kirwan was someone who quipped that Brown would help New Zealand “steal” all the Springboks’ “intellectual property”, and yet a more valid point was made by Springbok legend Victor Matfield when he insisted there really weren’t that many state secrets that could be given away. sweetbonan.org

“I think everyone knows what the DNA of the Springboks is,” Matfield commented said. “We want to dominate the set-piece, dominate territory, and the kicking game and aerial battle are hugely important to us. Then we’ve got X-factor players who can hurt you from anywhere.”

Springboks should also be confident in how to replace Tony Brown

As the Springboks need to consider their succession planning, Rassie Erasmus will be happily watching the success of Johan Ackermann at the Bulls as he’s imperiously led the Bulls to the URC final.

Let’s not forget the success he also previously had at the Lions during the Super Rugby era, turning them into one of the most exciting attacking team’s in the competition.

Looking overseas, there is also Franco Smith, who has worked wonders with the Glasgow Warriors and is renowned for his attack-minded rugby brain.

More options to consider

Generally speaking, there are also other assistant coach options to consider such as bringing back Jacques Nienaber as he begins to grow disillusioned at Leinster.

Then there is of course of Johann van Graan who has come of age as a coach at Bath, and could be someone else for the Springboks to consider luring into their system after the next World Cup.

No reason to worry

Besides having an array of options to assess between now and the time Tony Brown departs, the New Zealander has also the Springboks are his “only focus” at the moment.

“My contract with New Zealand Rugby only begins in 2028, so there is still a long road ahead before that comes into play,” Brown said in a SA Rugby statement.

“Right now, I am fully committed to the Springboks. What we are building and trying to achieve as a team over the next two years is my only focus.”

Bulls president Willem Strauss has praised Johan Ackermann’s men for reaching the Vodacom URC final after slamming them earlier in the season.

The Bulls will face Leinster in Dublin next Friday night after producing a stunning comeback to beat the Glasgow Warriors 22-21 in the Murrayfield semi-final.

A fourth final in five seasons seemed unlikely eight months ago when the Pretoria-based side was struggling under new coach Johan Ackermann.

Following a 28-7 defeat to Ulster in Belfast, Strauss did not hold back.

“Arguably our worst performance since joining the URC. Terrible effort. Not interested and disconnected,” he said in a WhatsApp broadcast message. “We’ve now conceded 14 tries in just 3 games. We need urgency and intensity asap.”

Things would get much worse for the Bulls before they got better, with a seven-match losing streak across competitions finally ended by a Champions Cup pool win in Pau.

The Bulls went on to win eight of their last nine URC league-stage matches to finish fourth on the log, and hammered Muster in a home quarter-final.

CULLEN: Bulls a serious outfit

“They endured some incredible criticism in the beginning, but they came through it,” Strauss told News24. “That shows their mental toughness and fighting spirit.

“We are proud of this coaching staff and the players. They have shown incredible character; they have been fighting back the whole season.

“This team are the comeback kids of the URC,” he added. “We won the semi-final with a hell of a comeback; it’s a reflection of this team’s character.

POLL: Who will win URC final?

“In the beginning of this season, we were against the ropes with a new coach, at one stage we were 12th on the log and we fought back.

“I am really proud of them; they just keep on fighting. They have that South African spirit of fighting.”

FULL STORY

Photo: Vodacom Bulls

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Les calendriers de la saison 2026-2027 seront dévoilés demain par la LFP pour la Ligue 1 et la Ligue 2.

La LFP a annoncé, ce mardi, sur son site officiel la date où seront révélés les calendriers de Ligue 1 et de Ligue 2 pour la saison 2026-2027. Les deux calendriers seront connus ce mercredi 10 juin par l’instance.

Paris Saint-Germain, RC Lens, Lille OSC, Olympique Lyonnais, Olympique de Marseille, Stade Rennais, AS Monaco, RC Strasbourg, Toulouse FC, FC Lorient, Paris FC, Stade Brestois, SCO Angers, Le Havre AC, AJ Auxerre, OGC Nice, ESTAC Troyes, Le Mans FC sont les 18 clubs qui participeront à la saison de Ligue 1 2026-2027.

Red Star, Rodez AF, Stade de Reims, FC Annecy, Montpellier HSC, Pau FC, USL Dunkerque, EA Guingamp, Grenoble Foot 38, Clermont Foot, AS Nancy Lorraine, US Boulogne-sur-Mer, Stade Lavallois, AS Saint-Étienne, FC Metz, FC Nantes, Dijon FCO et le FC Sochaux seont les 18 formations sur la ligne de départ de Ligue 2 saison 2026-2027.

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Here are the updated Top 20 First XV SA schools rankings after the latest round of action.

The South African schools rugby season is entering its decisive phase, with the latest First XV rankings offering a clearer picture of the country’s leading sides.

Paarl Gimnasium remain the benchmark.

However, significant movement behind them has reshaped the Top 20 order.

SA SCHOOLS FIRST XV RUGBY RANKINGS: TOP 20

Rank	Team	Points
1	PAARL GIMNASIUM	21.685
2	STELLENBERG	20.638
3	PAUL ROOS GYMNASIUM	20.123
4	GARSFONTEIN	19.438
5	GREY COLLEGE	19.350
6	PAARL BOYS’ HIGH	19.225
7	AFFIES	18.992
8	HILTON COLLEGE	17.600
9	MONUMENT	17.550
10	MARITZBURG COLLEGE	17.525
11	NORTHWOOD	17.264
12	WESTVILLE	17.094
13	OAKDALE	17.036
14	RONDEBOSCH	16.975
15	DHS	16.958
16	OUTENIQUA	16.809
17	MICHAELHOUSE	16.425
18	WATERKLOOF	16.008
19	GREY HIGH SCHOOL	15.300
20	GRAEME COLLEGE	15.146

STELLENBERG CLOSE ON THE SUMMIT

Paarl Gimnasium continue to lead the SA schools rankings with 21.685 points.

They firmly established their lead at the top after a convincing 68-22 victory over Paul Roos in a top of the table clash last Saturday This also sent Paul Roos down to third position.

However, the biggest development at the top comes from Stellenberg.

The Cape side has climbed into second place on 20.638 points following their 59-5 victory over Bishops en route to leapfrogging Paul Roos.

The margin between second and third is now just over half a point, setting up an intriguing battle in the weeks ahead.

As mentioned, Paul Roos slipped to third despite remaining firmly in contention among the country’s elite teams.

Garsfontein have moved into fourth place after destroying Monument 62-31. The Pretoria school edged ahead of Grey College, who dropped to fifth.

Paarl Boys’ High remained sixth and strengthened the Boland region’s grip on the upper reaches of the rankings.

They Wetsern-Cape based giants beat Boland Landbou 49-21.

Meanwhile, Affies hold seventh position and remain within touching distance of the top six.

Hilton College have climbed three places to eighth after another productive week following their 43-31 victory over Northwood in another high-scoring encounter.

Monument slipped one position to ninth after their loss against Garsfontein, while Maritzburg College round out the top 10 after they defeated Kearsney 24-22 in a tightly contested derby.

ALSO READ: SPRINGBOKS NEW ERA: HOW THE BOKS WILL LINE UP AFTER 2027 RUGBY WORLD CUP

PLENTY OF MOVEMENT IN THE TOP 20

Northwood have dropped outside of the top 10, slipping two places from ninth to 11th.

Westville’s rise continues. The Durban school moved up three places to 12th and now sit ahead of Oakdale who fell to 13th, while Rondebosch climbed one place to 14th.

DHS remain 15th while Outeniqua retain 16th position and remain firmly inside the top 20.

Michaelhouse slipped to 17th, but continue to feature among the country’s leading schools.

Waterkloof are unchanged in 18th.

Meanwhile, Grey High School moved up one place to 19th, pushing Graeme College down to 20th.

Ultimately, Paarl Gimnasium continue to lead the way – in fine fashion – with Stellenberg and Garsfontein continuing to be the surprise, feel good sides this season.

WHICH SA RUGBY FIRST XV DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY AT THE MOMENT AND HOW IS YOUR SCHOOL DOING?

Let us know in the comments section below …

Avant de s’envoler demain pour les Etats-Unis et la Coupe du monde, 15 des 26 joueurs retenus avec l’équipe de France ont déjà marqué avec l’équipe nationale.

La France a terminé sa préparation et peut désormais se tourner exclusivement vers la Coupe du monde où elle entrera en lice le 16 juin contre le Sénégal dans le groupe I au MetLife Stadium à East Rutherford dans le New Jersey.

Avec son triplé inscrit hier soir à Lille contre l’Irlande du Nord, Michael Olise devient l’un des meilleurs buteurs actuels des Bleus où 15 joueurs sur 26 ont déjà marqué au moins un but avec les Tricolores. L’ailier du Bayern Munich rejoint avec 7 buts, Ousmane Dembélé et Adrien Rabiot. Les trois hommes sont en revanche très loin du capitaine Kylian Mbappé, auteur de 56 buts, à une unité du record établi par Olivier Giroud.

Six joueurs à deux buts marqués

Derrière, Bradley Barcola, Marcus Thuram et Aurélien Tchouaméni totalise 3 buts. Six joueurs comptent deux buts avec les Bleus : Jean-Philippe Mateta, Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki, Dayot Upamecano, Théo Hernandez et N’Golo Kanté. Enfin, Maghnes Akliouche et Warren Zaïre-Emery ont une réalisation au compteur.

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