17 February 2022 Despite an outstanding first half of hockey from South Africa, Germany put on a clinical performance in the second half to propel them to a 6-1 win for their second victory in Potchestfstroom. Overcoming a 1-1 score line at half time, the game was a valuable test for the young German side, whose more experienced version lost 4-3 to South Africa in pool play at the 2020 Olympic Games. The win was further highlighted by first international caps for both German goalkeepers Niklas Garst and Anton Brinckman. Despite the loss, South Africa put together one of their best halves of hockey to open the game. Stingy defence in the back and resilient pressure up front, the South Africans made lots of work for Germany, who were uncharacteristically turning the ball over. South Africa seemed to be doing everything right but their lack of detail in the circle haunted them. Germany had their share of early scoring chances including Luis Gill who beat three as he sliced through the South African circle but his off-balanced shot sailed wide of the empty cage. Then, Niklas Wellen thought he had an easy tap in as a pass across the goal beat Gowan Jones but a calm and cool Connor Beauchamp was there to intercept and clear the ball through traffic. After a scoreless opening quarter Germany came out looking to capitalize and it was Constantin Staib’s pass into the South African circle that drew the first penalty corner of the game. Tom Grambusch rippled the mesh with his flick, stick side on Estiaan Kriek for a 1-0 German lead and his third penalty corner goal in two games. Speaking after the game captain Mats Grambusch said of his brother: ‘Tom always does a great job (with his club team). He’s been training hard recently and his corners have been very successful. I hope to see that more coming up. I’m sure he will make coach  Henning happy and also us as a team.’ Never a team to sit back when down, South Africa continued with their strong defence, denying Mats Grambusch in the 23rd minute, while in the other end Nqobile Ntuli just missed a pass at the far post to level the score. It was a sign of what was to come as captain Keenan Horne was there to volley the ball in from next to no angle in the final minute of the half. Mats Grambusch, Player of the Match, commented about Germany’s opening half: “Our first half was not as good as we expected. Yes of course South Africa did a good job defensively and offensively but we didn’t play too well. We didn’t’ have enough ball possession. Second half got a lot better and we got into our playing style and I don’t know if had to be 6-1 but I think it was a deserved win.’ Germany coach Hennig wanted to see better technical skills and less errors after half time and his team did not disappoint. A solid variation in the 34th minute allowed Tom Grambusch to set up Mats at the far post for a penalty corner deflection and the eventual game winner. It was then that the momentum really started to favour the Germans. Fantastic finishes from Luis Gill and Thies Prinz inside a crowded circle elevated the Germans 4-1 by the end of the third quarter. South Africa continued to pressure but what few chances they had did not prove accurate including a diving effort from Mustapha Cassiem. Germany’s clinical passing and technical brilliance in the circle became too much and it was clear where the game was headed. Johannes Große’s pass cut the field in half only to find Wellen at the top of the circle in the 58th minute. Wellen’s size and superb first touch saw him turn and beat two only to rocket a shot into the bottom corner of the net for the 6-1 Germany lead. Germany had two more penalty corners in the final minute of the game but Estiaan Kreak made a glove save and Owen Mvimbi’s stick on the line denied a Tom Grambusch flick. Speaking about South Africa’s historic Olympic win over Germany, South African captain and goal scorer Keenan Horne said: ‘That win last year built the belief, but it shows you have to work through the whole 60 minutes of the game. We did that in 30 minutes of the game but that belief is just belief. You have to back it up on the field.’ More information on the game can be found on the match page. Stay up to date on the men’s FIH Pro League Standings. FIH Pro League games continue this weekend with a full slate of games on February 19 including France vs Germany men in Potchestfstroom, South Africa, while Argentina and England men and women will face off in Buenos Aires, Argentina. FIH Pro League – 17 February 2022 Potchestfstroom, University of North West (RSA) Result: Men’s Match 19 South Africa 1, Germany 6 Player of the Match: Mats Grambusch (GER) Umpires: Annelize Rostron (RSA), Ayden Shrives (RSA), Sean Rapaport (RSA-video) Keep up to date with all the latest news on the FIH Hockey Pro League via the Watch.Hockey app, event website and through FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. #FIHProLeague #HockeyInvites

15 February 2022 A two-goal opening quarter haunted South Africa as they dropped at 4-1 decision to France in the teams’ first-ever meeting in the FIH Pro League. Gaspard Baumgarten was named Player of the Match as he buried two goals, while teammates Blaise Rogeau and Timothée Clément also tallied in the win. South Africa’s Dayaan Cassiem was unlucky to only tally once as he also hit a cross bar in the final quarter. France’s Baumgarten said after the win: “I’m not too much a striker but happy to score today and even more happy for the win of the team. We are really happy (with their overall performance in South Africa). We played great hockey and tried to play better and better each game which was the purpose for being here.” It was clear from the opening whistle that France was keen to pick up from their second and third games last week that saw them tie the Netherlands and beat the Olympic bronze medalists, India. They wasted little time getting to work as three minutes in and France had a penalty corner. Moments later a flurry of shots put the South Africans under pressure. The final shot by Baumgarten took a touch off South African Nduduzo Lembethe and the ball popped through the legs of keeper Gowan Jones for the opening marker. South Africa’s Nqobile Ntuli had the best chance of the half for the hosts but the back-hand shot pinged off the post in the seventh minute. France doubled their lead in the 11th minute. Eliot Curty charged alone down the right side and his sweeping pass was deflected well by a diving Francois Goyet’s reverse stick. Blaise Rogeau was there at the near post to finish the pretty counterattack play and seal the 2-0 lead for France. Estiaan Kriek subbed into the South African net after the opening break and he punched away a brilliant shot from Baumgarten in the 17th minute to leave the game still 2-0 by half time. France, though clinical in execution, looked to relax their tempo in the third quarter. South Africa forced a number of turnovers and created lots of counter-attack play but failed to find any kind of finish. Despite the casual play of France, they were nonetheless clinical when they entered the South African circle. Matéo Desgouilllons forced a close-range save out of Gowan Jones in the 34th minute. The teams then spent a good seven minutes trading away sloppy turnovers but France were able to find their strides in the 41st. A brilliant deceptive pass from Stanislas Branicki paced the ball out to the right side and the pass came firing in to Baumgarten. The shot needed a deflection from defender Leneal Jackson to give France a 3-0 lead. Dayaan Cassiem had a chance to get South Africa on the board with minutes to go in the third quarter but his blast booked for the top shelf was seen the whole way by the blocker of Arthur Thieffry. The final quarter really sided with South Africa. Nqobile Ntuli and Cassium brothers Dayaan and Mustapha were combining dangerously up, but still without result. Dayaan then put on a show dancing his way with 3D skills past four French defenders only to leave Ryan Julius with a shot at goal but the ball blasted wide left of the net. France found their fourth goal on an aerial ball that allowed a baseline entry for Gaspar Xavier. His pass was sent into traffic for Clément to knock in and France took the lead 4-0. South Africa stayed in it and denied Timothée Clement’s penalty corner with a goalline save from Nicholas Spooner, while Dayaan Cassiem hit a cross-bar moment. It was a sign of what was to come as Mustapha set up his brother Dayaan to break the France shutout with three minutes to go in the game. It was too little, too late and France finished with the 4-1 victory and their second set of three points in their opening tour of the FIH Pro League. South African captain Horne said after the loss: “We had a quite a few chances and it’s a pity they didn’t go in. The French are very clinical and they did well and if you can’t score you can’t win. We will do our analysis after the game. There’s lots to take out of it. We had a lot of soft turnovers but they were just very clinical.” The two teams will dual again on Sunday, February 20 after playing games against Germany who join them in Potchestfstroom. To see the current men’s FIH Pro League Standings, click here. More information on the game can be found by clicking here. The FIH Hockey Pro League Season 3 will be back in action on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 with the France men playing Germany and then South Africa hosting Germany at Potchestfstroom, University of North West, South Africa. To see the complete FIH Hockey Pro League match schedule, please click here. FIH Pro League – 15 February 2021 Potchestfstroom, University of North West (RSA) Result: Men’s Match 17 South Africa 1, France 4 Player of the Match: Gaspard Baumgarten (FRA) Umpires: Ayden Shrives (RSA), Sean Rapaport (RSA), Wanri Venter (RSA-video) Keep up to date with all the latest news on the FIH Hockey Pro League via the Watch.Hockey app, event website and through FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. #FIHProLeague #HockeyInvites