The news – good, bad and odd – from around the Super 14 teams.
HURRICANES
In the news: The Hurricanes become the Hammercanes with new coach Mark Hammett revealed as the coach. Hammett and his assistant Alama Ieremia then have an awkward planning meeting for 2011 with neither man willing to share any information.
Physio’s table: Conrad Smith (thumb ligaments), Tamati Ellison (shoulder), Jason Eaton (knee), six months, Hosea Gear (knee), four more weeks, Jason Kawau (sinus).
The good: Alapati Leiua is set to get a chance at Super 14 level in South Africa. The Norths midfielder was unlucky to miss a contract in the first place.
The bad: The locking voodoo doll remains at large with Eaton the next to feel its wrath. First a pedantic barman’s letter gives him a week’s suspension, then a knee injury wrecks his season.
BLUES
In the news: Blues coach Pat Lam does everyone a favour and puts under-performing All Blacks across the nation on notice by dropping prop Tony Woodcock for Charlie Faumuina, who had to have the Heimlich performed on him after hearing his name read out.
Physio’s table: Luke McAlister (calf), expected to return in round six; Peter Saili (minor shoulder strain), one week; John Afoa (calf).
The good: Rene Ranger. Is there a more carefree spirit in New Zealand rugby at the moment? Ranger has a huge future and his try against the Reds showed immense strength and power. The only question is whether he’s a centre or a wing.
The bad: Stealing is bad. Alby Mathewson, Dan Kirkpatrick, Filo Paulo, Serge Lilo – send them back to Wellington now and this case will be considered closed.
CHIEFS
In the news: Mils Muliaina pulls out the old, ‘Can I borrow your boots bro?’ after training with his club side Te Rapa, for the first time in nine years. “Going to training on Tuesday certainly brought back a few memories of how club rugby works and the different things about it like having to remember to take your own training kit.”
Physio’s table: Kevin O’Neill (Achilles) Sitiveni Sivivatu (shoulder), Craig Clarke (groin), James McGougan (back).
The good: Lelia Masaga and his post-try dance moves are back. Not sure what genre his latest moves were from, but Highland dance, tap and hip-hop was an interesting blend.
The bad: Duh, dunah, dah, di-di dah (to the tune of the A-Team). Hika Elliott’s Mr T hair cut. Teamtalk is making a “What you looking at, fool?” banner for the Chiefs-Hurricanes match.
CRUSADERS
In the news: The Crusaders reveal the true meaning of “culture” when eight Royal New Zealand Ballet dancers trained with the squad yesterday. Brad Thorn is said to have impressed and may have a small part in the upcoming production of The Nutcracker.
Physio’s table: Thomas Waldrom (Achilles), Ben Franks (knee), Corey Flynn (ankle), Isaac Ross (ankle), Chris Jack (wrist surgery), Kade Poki (knee).
The good: Watching Zac Guildford play rugby. Sure, it’s a pity he’s not in the Hurricanes, but the Hawke’s Bay kid plays with energy, enjoyment, anticipation and pace.
The bad: Todd Blackadder has confessed to being a huge balletomane, while Richie McCaw’s arabesque’s and plies are poor. Owen Franks feet are not petite enough for ballet shoes, and he isn’t even close to a grant battement. Google told me people, Google.
HIGHLANDERS
In the news: Dunedin makes a play for Wellington’s sevens tournament. The Sevens party in the deep south? Are you serious? How many Eskimo and Winter Olympic-theme costumes are available?
Physio’s table: Nasi Manu (knee), at least two more weeks.
The good: Two years in the making, an away win in Highlander’s country is about as rare as the Royal New Zealand Ballet training with the Crusaders … wait a darn minute.
The bad: Michael Hobbs would make a terrible mime after his effort against the Cheetahs. Hobbs should work on the simple, `Look, I’m stuck in a box’, or maybe, `I’m pulling a rope’, before his complicated routine.
AUSSIE WATCH
Anyone else notice how well Force first-five James O’Connor played against the Chiefs? The youngster could be Robbie Deans’ trump card for next year’s World Cup, but that hair? It’s like watching Rockin Rod Stewart in his heyday.
Teamtalk is concerned for Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and not because of his hamstring injury. If the Super rugby website’s headline is true: “Waratahs sweating on Polota-Nau” he’s in for an uncomfortable week. And just how sweaty are we talking?
AFRICAN WATCH
STORMERS
Stormers fullback Joe Peterson wrecks certain people’s [not naming names] Super 14 picks by missing a last-gasp conversion in the 19-17 loss to the Brumbies.
Schalk Burger will make a return to the Stormers line-up after an injury lay-off and will lead the side against the Highlanders.
BULLS
Bakkies Botha should be back on the rugby field in five weeks time, but is in a race to be included in the Bulls touring squad.
In beating the Brumbies and Waratahs in successive weeks, they have seen off the challenges of two of the favoured teams in the competition.
SHARKS
The star-studded Sharks are making a play for the best, worst team in world sport. How a team with that roster has lost three on the trot is difficult to fathom.
The pressure is mounting on Sharks coach John Plumtree and it appears that he will be sacked if his team has an unsuccessful Super 14 tour in Australia and New Zealand.
And, to make things worse, the Waratahs have stated that they will have no mercy for the struggling Sharks in Sydney on Saturday.
The Sharks have a poor record in Sydney. The last time that they won there was in 2000.
LIONS
Former All Blacks flyhalf Carlos Spencer has been bracketed on the bench and lock Willem Stoltz returns from suspension in two of the seven changes the Lions head coach Dick Muir has made.
Muir has emphasised that nothing should be read into the changes other than that it is part of the rotation policy to rest some of the players, yeah right, if you can believe this you can believe anything.
CHEETAHS
Lock Waltie Vermeulen is set to make a first start for the Cheetahs in Saturday’s Super 14 match against the Hurricanes.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské made four changes and a positional switch following the defeat to the Highlanders.
The changes are aimed at giving the Cheetahs an attacking edge.
Excellent and entertaining!!!!
Cheetahs to cause the upset this weekend…?
The Vodacom Blue Bulls players, Tendayi Chikukwa (left) and Tom Seabela (middle) joined Player 23, Jan (right), at the Netcare Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg as part of the Vodacom Tries for Smiles campaign.
Nineteen young children who unfortunately suffer from craniofacial anomalies were happy beneficiaries of corrective surgery through the Johannesburg Craniofacial Programme, supported by Vodacom and Netcare. The operations will go a long way towards affording them a chance to enjoy happy and healthy lives.
Their stories, and the accounts of how a series of complex operations have restored their lives, were highlighted today at a briefing at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital, Johannesburg, attended by players from the Vodacom Blue Bulls, as part of Vodacom’s Tries for Smiles campaign.
The briefing was followed by a tour of the children’s ward of the hospital, during which the excited young craniofacial patients were introduced to their sporting heroes where rugby balls were signed as mementos for the children. The players also interacted with beneficiaries of another Vodacom supported programme, the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa (WSPCCA), which provides cardiac surgery to disadvantaged children.
Mthobi Tyamzashe, Chairman of the Vodacom Foundation, remarked: “Vodacom is pleased to be invited to the programme and contribute to providing affected children a chance to enjoy fuller lives.”
Johan Holder, General Manager of Netcare Sunninghill Hospital, points out that this joint Netcare and Vodacom initiative extends a helping hand to families and individuals who otherwise would have had no access to treatment for these rare and crippling anomalies.
“Everyone involved in the programme has been inspired by the difference that the surgery has made to the quality of life these young patients. From the talented medical team, to the nursing and support staff we have all been deeply touched by these children. It is wonderful to know that they can go home to completely new lives after their surgery has been completed. This project has truly provided a ray of hope to children and their families who are affected by conditions such as these.”
It is estimated that one baby in every two thousand is born with craniofacial anomalies. Many are hidden away from society by their families and tragically grow up in isolation and seclusion.
Craniofacial conditions are very intricate and can be caused by various kinds of syndromes, abnormal growths or birth defects. This condition affects the soft tissue and bones of the face and skull causing disfigurement.
Depending on the complexity of the surgeries, children can be in hospital for many months undergoing from four up to seven corrective operations.
One of the beneficiaries of the programme, Oupa Mathebula, previously lived in trauma and isolation because of the benign growth that deformed his face. After his successful surgeries, he returned home as a hero of his community and bearer of hope for many children who have craniofacial anomalies and do not have the means to pay for medical treatment.
This joint programme between Vodacom and Netcare extends a helping hand to families and individuals who otherwise would not have been able to access such medical services.
A specialist medical team, including two plastic and reconstructive surgeons, two anaesthetists, a maxillofacial surgeon, a neurosurgeon, a paediatrician and a social worker, are required to conduct the series of surgeries.
Their dedication and specialised skills ensure that these young people are transformed into normal, healthy children, able to grow and learn within their communities.
Since the programme’s inception in 2008, Vodacom has contributed a total of R1.6-million towards the craniofacial programme. The contribution includes R200 000 donated as part of Vodacom Foundation’s tenth birthday celebration in October 2009.
The Johannesburg Craniofacial Programme is one of the beneficiaries of Vodacom’s innovative ‘Tries for Smiles’ campaign that has successfully linked the company’s rugby sponsorships to its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme.
For every try scored by a South African team in South Africa during Vodacom-sponsored rugby tournaments, the Vodacom Foundation donates R25 000 to three beneficiaries for the purposes of providing corrective surgery for children with facial, craniofacial and heart anomalies.
Other beneficiaries of the campaign include The Smile Foundation, Netcare Vodacom Smiles for You Programme and The Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa.
* The Vodacom Foundation was established in 1999 as the main vehicle for coordinating Vodacom’s Corporate Social Investments. Since then, the Foundation has invested some R500 million to uplift and improve communities. The Foundation’s vision is to give life to the Vodacom Group’s commitment to explore opportunities available to share the company’s successes with communities who have helped achieve them. Its focus is to enhance the quality of life of vulnerable people, with special emphasis on the application of information and communication technology to address challenges in education, health and security.
Now thats GOOD news…
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