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Français (Afrique)Otto Addo fully focused on Austria game
Ghana are guests of European side Austria in the first of their two international friendlies in March, a game both countries will use to shape up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars qualified for its fifth World Cup after topping Group I but missed out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Matchday — International Friendly
Austria
Ghana
17:00 GMT
Ernst Happel Stadium#BlackStars | #AUSGHA pic.twitter.com/OiXKKAq26N
—
Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) March 27, 2026
The friendly matches against Austria and Germany this month will now serve as a perfect platform to diagnose the team’s readiness for the mundial and head coach Otto Addo is prepped up for the Austria challenge.
Speaking ahead of the first fixture, Otto Addo said the team is fully focused on the Austria game.
Ghana faces Austria and Germany
“To be honest, in modern-day football, I think everyone can beat everyone. I’m very, very sure, and I think we saw it at the last World Cup that there are no teams to be underrated,” he said.
“Surely, Germany is high profile, but to be honest, I’m not thinking about Germany now.”
“For us, it’s full focus on Austria. We want to win every match we play; this is for sure. And now, the full focus is on Austria.
“We saw what they do, we’ve analysed them well, and I’m very, very hopeful that the players will do it at the end.
“It’s about them, and with the focus on Austria, we know what to do. Now we have to execute. It will be an intense game, and this is what we’re looking up to.”
“After the match, we will think about Germany,” he said.
The four time African champions will face Austria on Friday March 27 in Vienna before taking on Germany in Stuttgart on Monday March 31 as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
Ghana is paired in Group L alongside Panama, Croatia and England for the World Cup to be co-hosted in Canada, USA and Mexico.
All the kick off times for SA teams in the URC
All the South African teams will be playing at home this weekend in the URC, and another clean sweep of victories would be most welcome as the playoffs loom on the horizon.
The Sharks will take the field first against Cardiff in Durban on Friday evening, while a jam-packed Saturday will see the Bulls host Munster in Pretoria, the Lions take on the Dragons in Johannesburg, and the Stormers will wrap up the action against Edinburgh in Cape Town.
With only 15 points separating log-leaders, the Glasgow Warriors and the ninth-placed Connacht – who are level on 35 log points with the eighth-placed Bulls – and the 11th-placed Sharks trailing them by six points, the race is still wide open for several teams to play themselves into contention for quarter-final berths.
The match-up at Kings Park between the Sharks and fifth-placed Cardiff will be crucial for the hosts, as a defeat could deal a huge blow to their playoff hopes, given the intense scramble higher up on the table.
ALL THE MATCH INFORMATION FOR SA TEAMS IN THE URC THIS WEEKEND
Sharks v Cardiff
Date: Friday, 27 March
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
SA Time: 19h00
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
TV: SuperSport
Sharks – 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 André Esterhuizen (c), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Phatu Ganyane.
Subs: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Ox Nché, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Corné Rahl, 20 Jannes Potgieter, 21 Jaden Hendrikse/Ross Braude, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Le Roux Malan.
Saturday action
Bulls v Munster
Date: Saturday, 28 March
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
SA Time: 14h00
Referee: Hollie Davidson
TV: SuperSport
Lions v Dragons
Date: Saturday, 28 March
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
SA Time: 16h30
Referee: Robbie Jenkinson
TV: SuperSport
Stormers v Edinburgh
Date: Saturday, 28 March
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
SA Time: 19h00
Referee: Eoghan Cross
TV: SuperSport
All Blacks brewing something special
The All Blacks new coaching ticket has raised the stakes for this year’s Greatest Rugby Rivalry tour, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane says the intrigue is not just about rankings or recent results, but the collective strength of a coaching group that signals intent and experience ahead of a full tour to South Africa.
The appointment of Dave Rennie as head coach, backed by a globally seasoned support staff, has shifted the narrative from caution to anticipation. The All Blacks are no longer rebuilding; they are recalibrating for immediate impact.
“What’s brewing is the quality of the All Blacks coaching group,” Keohane writes.
MORE: Rennie’s All Blacks assistants revealed
Rennie’s track record is complemented by assistants Mike Blair and Tana Umaga, while forwards coach Jason Ryan provides continuity from previous regimes. The key addition, however, is Neil Barnes, whose influence in New Zealand rugby has long been respected.
Keohane believes Barnes completes the puzzle, adding the authority and experience that was missing.
“This will change in the next 18 months because all the talk is that he is the glue that was missing.”
UMAGA: Unbelievable to be back
The Springboks remain world No 1, but this is not a warning as much as it is a promise of what lies ahead. A full All Blacks tour, underpinned by a hardened coaching group, ensures the rivalry will rise again.
The biggest rugby story of the week was not in the URC, but in the All Blacks’ coaching box.
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
The post All Blacks brewing something special appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Australie – Cameroun : le onze probable de David Pagou
Les Lions Indomptables affrontent l'Australie ce matin au stade Accor. C'est dans le cadre du tournoi FIFA Series 2026. Non qualifiés pour la prochaine Coupe du monde, David Pagou et ses poulains veulent saisir cette fenêtre pour mettre en place un groupe solide pour les éliminatoires de la CAN 2027. Pour ce match très attendu,
L’article Australie – Cameroun : le onze probable de David Pagou est apparu en premier sur Camfoot.com.
Bok hooker backed amid ‘unsettled’ whispers
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has dismissed suggestions that Joseph Dweba is struggling to settle in England.
The former Springbok hooker, who joined the Premiership club from the Stormers, has scored five tries in 15 appearances this season but has not featured since the Premiership Cup final defeat to the Leicester Tigers two weeks ago.
His recent absence – including being left out against the Sale Sharks –has fuelled speculation, but Baxter was quick to shut it down.
“I think he misses his family without a doubt. But the plan is that they’ll be over here shortly now. I think they’re coming over this summer. So, there’s absolutely no reason for him not to be settled in more than he is now,” Baxter explained to RugbyPass.
Baxter acknowledged the challenges Dweba has faced off the field, but praised his professionalism.
“I think he’s fitted in really well. It’s clearly not easy. We gave him some additional time, obviously, to make it worth travelling back to South Africa, spending time with his family.
“He got held up, not being able to fly back through the Middle East, because of all the bits and pieces that happened. But, you know, those issues will happen every now and again, but I think Joseph’s handled it really well.
“He’s been very professional about things and how he has to get on with stuff. So, no, he’s dealing with it as best he can. I can only see things improving in that realm, not getting worse.”
SAFFAS ABROAD: Hat-trick hero Faf soars for Eagles
Importantly, Baxter believes Dweba remains a key figure in the Chiefs’ progress this season and expects him back in the mix soon.
“I think he’s been one of the factors in improving large parts of how we played over the season. I think without doubt, I think Joe knows he was a bit off the pace in the Premiership Cup final.
“But he’s back on it now, he’s working hard, doing lots of extras. He’s going to get sharp again, and he’ll be back in the side relatively quickly.”
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
The post Bok hooker backed amid ‘unsettled’ whispers appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.