Foote: Baltimore massive for RWC mentality

Junior Boks coach Kevin Foote believes the winners of Saturday’s fourth Test in Baltimore will get a psychological boost ahead of next year’s World Cup in Australia. truewildgame.online

The Springboks and All Blacks are on course to collide at the quarter-final stage of the global showpiece if they win all of their pool matches and round-of-16 playoff.

For that not to happen, New Zealand would need to lose to hosts Australia in Pool A or South Africa suffer a shock defeat to Italy in Pool B, assuming the other pool results go according to expectations.

That makes Saturday’s first-ever clash between the old rivals on American soil particularly significant for Foote, who believes victory at a neutral venue could provide a psychological edge should they meet in Australia.

“That’s why I think this game is so big because it’s a neutral venue – who can stand up at a neutral venue?” Foote said on the Boks Unpacked X The Verdict podcast.

“Australia is not going to be as neutral. There will be a lot of Kiwis there – it’s three and a half hours [away from New Zealand].

“But this is a massive one for the mentality going into the World Cup. If you can beat them in America, you can beat them in Australia.”

PLUS: Inside Boks, All Blacks’ America gamble

The Boks are looking to secure a 3-1 triumph at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday (11pm SA time), while the All Blacks can take home half of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry trophy with what many would consider to be a consolation victory.

“In my view, we’ve won the series,” said former Springbok centre and ex-Stormers coach Robbie Fleck, sitting alongside Foote. “The series was contested in South Africa and it’s 2-1. The [fourth] Test is being played in Baltimore for various reasons, whatever they may be – commercially or growing the game, whatever.

“Both teams are going to go out there to win it, there’s no doubt. But in my personal opinion, we won it [at FNB Stadium last week].

“I think New Zealand are battered, both physically and, I’d say, emotionally. Dave Rennie is an outstanding coach. He’s a great culture man and he’ll get them up for it. But the fact that we can select basically the same team and make one or two changes max is going to be tough for New Zealand.

“Both of them have had the same sort of travel, but New Zealand have been touring for a long time now. The odds are against them, and it was important that we went 2-1 up going over there.”

MORE: Siya wired to win the Springbok way

Foote expects another entertaining encounter after the teams combined for 161 points and 21 tries in the opening three Tests.

“I think it’s going to be a high-scoring game with the fatigue on board and tries are coming,” he said. “I’m going to go 42-32 to the Boks.”

“36-24 Boks,” added Fleck.

The post Foote: Baltimore massive for RWC mentality appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Aryna Sabalenka is “ready for the fight” as she eyes a third straight title at the US Open, where the woman standing in her way, Elena Rybakina, has already ended Sabalenka’s reign at number one in the world.

The blockbuster final in Flushing Meadows is a repeat of the Australian Open final in January won by Rybakina, who avenged a 2023 loss to Sabalenka in the Melbourne title match.

Sabalenka leads their head to head 10-7, including victories over Rybakina on the way to titles in the prestigious WTA 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami in March.

But the 28-year-old Belarusian’s results had tailed off since then, with disappointing exits at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

She has reemerged as a dominant force at Flushing Meadows, where she delivered a near-flawless display of power and precision to beat Jessica Pegula in straight sets to reach her fourth straight US Open final.

Rybakina fought back from a set down to beat 2023 champion Coco Gauff and reach her first US Open final.

By then the 27-year-old was assured of supplanting Sabalenka atop the rankings by virtue of reaching the semi-finals.

It’s a satisfying accomplishment for a player whose preparations for the tournament were clouded by a heel injury that forced her out of the tournament in Cincinnati last month and had her wondering if she would be able to play at all.

‘Big server’

In fact, the injury has not appeared to be an issue, and Sabalenka was bracing for another demanding encounter.

“She’s a big server. She really improved over the years on the baseline game,” Sabalenka said. “So it’s going to be a physically and mentally tough match.

“But I’m ready for the fight. I’m ready to do everything to get the win.”

Rybakina, whose self-contained demeanor makes her a perfect foil to the fiery Sabalenka, also stressed the mental demands of a matchup that leaves no margin for error.

“She’s a very aggressive player. It’s difficult to play with her, mentally, physically, because she has a big game, a big serve,” Rybakina said.

“I will need to come with all the energy I will have, bring my best serve against Aryna and make the right decisions in the right moment, because most of the times it’s a tight, tight score. This is where the decision makes a difference.”

Sabalenka, who leads the head to head 10-7, is the first player in the Open era to reach eight straight hard court Grand Slam finals, but she has stumbled in several.

Before her loss to Rybakina in Melbourne this year she was upset by Madison Keys there in 2025 — the American spoiling Sabalenka’s bid for third straight Australian title.

As she now tries to join Chris Evert and Serena Williams as the only women to win three consecutive US Open titles, Sabalenka says she has learned to tune out the noise surrounding the three-peat bid.

‘It’s not simple’

“It sounds simple, but it’s not really simple to do sometimes,” the four-time Grand Slam champion said.

A victory for Rybakina, whose second Grand Slam title in Australia came four years after her maiden major at Wimbledon, would further cement her status at the summit — and as chief rival to Sabalenka.

But Rybakina insists their fierce on-court rivalry isn’t personal.

“It’s an important match,” she said, but added: “Since it’s a final I feel like it doesn’t matter who is on the other side. You just want to win and do your best.

“But also, I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself,” she added.

Both players say that lifting the trophy come Saturday is more important than the No.1 ranking.

Sabalenka admitted it felt “a little bit weird” to know she’ll lose the top spot after a dominant two weeks in New York, but if the fortnight ends with a title, she said: “I don’t care.”

Pour le compte de la 5e journée de Liga, Séville s’est imposé face à Valence (1-0), ce vendredi soir. Un but tardif de Juan Iglesias a offert trois précieux points aux Andalous, qui se rapprochent du podium. De son côté, Valence reste lanterne rouge.

Un match fermé, décidé sur le tard

Dans un Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán bien garni, les deux équipes se sont livré un duel équilibré. Les occasions franches se sont fait rares, malgré quelques tentatives sévillanes face à un bloc valencien bien regroupé.

Alors que le match semblait se diriger vers un nul, le verrou a finalement sauté à la 81e minute. Au terme d’une belle action collective, Juan Iglesias a surgi pour inscrire l’unique but de la rencontre. Séville a ensuite conservé son avantage jusqu’au coup de sifflet final.

Séville retrouve le sourire

Après deux résultats décevants, Luis García et ses hommes avaient besoin de renouer avec la victoire. C’est désormais chose faite. Ce succès permet à Séville de porter son total à 10 points et de se rapprocher du podium.

Les Andalous retrouvent ainsi de la confiance avant leurs prochaines échéances. Une victoire importante pour relancer une dynamique qui commençait à s’essouffler.

Valence toujours dans le rouge

La situation se complique encore pour les Che. Avec seulement un point récolté en cinq journées, Valence reste dernier du classement.

Solides pendant plus de 80 minutes, les hommes de Carlos Corberán ont finalement cédé dans les dernières minutes et repartent d’Andalousie les mains vides. Les Valencians devront rapidement réagir pour éviter de s’enliser dans le bas du classement.

The post Liga : Séville se relance, Valence s’enfonce appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Speedster Lleyton Davids, “fearless” Dylan Miller and wunderkinds Markus Muller and Olly Reid have helped put the Stormers in a good position, according to John Dobson.

The Stormers boss was speaking on Friday post-match at Paarl’s Faure Street Stadium, where the hosts lost 38-26 to the Bulls in a pre-season north-south derby.

Davids (25) scored the Stormers’ second of four tries, demonstrating his acceleration and pace that saw the Bolander go viral prior to his maiden outing.

Ice cold finish. pic.twitter.com/IJX5YFMwMU

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) September 11, 2026

“‘The Robertson Express’ showed something. He showed some glimpses,” Dobson said. “If Louw Nel had drawn the opposing defender in, he [Davids] scores another one.

‘I thought that pass behind Xola Nyali [in the first half] was brilliant. If Xola had stayed outside, we were over again.

“I thought he overachieved … that sounds like he’s redlining – he was better than I thought he was going to be. I think there’s something really there.”

ICYMI: Dobbo upbeat despite Kolbe blow

The lanky Davids’ fluid stride and athletic background has drawn comparisons to US Sevens icon Perry Baker, yet it’s his efforts under the high ball that caught Dobson’s eye.

“He’s very confident there. He’s a triple jumper. I’m quite excited about him.”

Fullback Miller, who had impressed for the Stormers XXIII in the Currie Cup, bagged a brace of tries as well as getting stuck in off the ball.

Soft hands but it goes hard. #inittogether pic.twitter.com/FoUa3zgdIt

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) September 11, 2026

“He’s so tough, he’s absolutely fearless,” Dobson said. “How was that tackle on [centre] Stravino Jacobs? I think he’s special.

“He didn’t make the SA U20 [this year] but we think he’s going to be a star, mainly because he’s so fearless in his attitude. Ja, he’s not scared of anything, is he?”

Reid contributed to a penalty try against a formidable Bulls pack, while fellow Junior Springbok Muller – the youngest ever Stormer – worked tirelessly on defence and attack.

ALSO: Ackers sweats on playmakers’ fitness

“Olly’s a good player. I know [Gerhard] Steenekamp and Jan-Hendrik [Wessels] are with the Boks but to put that front row under pressure like that was excellent,” Dobson said.

“We’ve still got Wilco Louw, Zach Porthen, Ntuks [Ntuthuko Mchunu]; we’re in a good position.

“We expect a schoolboy star like Markus is going to be like Danie Gerber and run through everybody, but it’s different stuff – it’s decision-making, physicality, work rate … He’s extraordinary.”

Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images

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