Monthly Archives: October 2010
Folks, say welcome to the new addition to Authors here on Rugby-Talk. Rob Peters is the owner of NEWSPOD MEDIA who will also supply us with AUDIO CONTENT of after match interviews.
They act as Media Provider to a host of Radio Stations in SA and an exciting collaboration between Rob and Myself might see us lead into a new era of Pod Casting and possibly Live Streaming in future.
Welcome the man with open arms, here’s another outstanding rugby lover in our midst!
AUDIO REGARDING THE SEMI’s & THE UPCOMING FINAL:
[cincopa AUOAURahKLLj]
Sharks coach John Plumtree on Sunday praised his players for the guts and character they showed to secure their 16-12 victory over the Blue Bulls in their Absa Currie Cup semifinal on home ground on Saturday.
I wrote about the importance of the breakdowns before and this weekend it was dominance at the breakdowns yet again that determined the outcome of at least one of the semifinals if not both. Continue reading
What is new or updated on Rugby-Talk.
After going down 16-12 to the Sharks in the first Absa Currie Cup rugby semifinal in Durban on Saturday, Vodacom Blue Bulls’ coach Frans Ludeke admitted that his men were not accurate enough at the breakdowns against a side that took special care of retaining possession.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has spent the past few weeks trying to rid his side of its soft centre as he continues to transform the look of his team.
Sonny Bill Williams is the only new All Black, while there are recalls for Hika Elliot, Hosea Gear, Andy Ellis, Isaia Toeava, Daniel Braid and Stephen Donald in Graham Henry’s 30-man end-of-year touring squad named tonight.
All Black Team
The hand-off is not something that you really see in South African rugby. At least to the extent that you see it here in New Zealand. No Springbok rugby player –as an example of an exponent of the hand-off- spring to mind when you think of the hand-off. Continue reading
Western Province reached the Currie Cup final for the first time since 2001 following their awe-inspiring 31-7 win over the Free State Cheetahs in their Absa Currie Cup semi-final at a jam-packed Newlands Rugby Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Sharks ended the Blue Bulls’ reign as Currie Cup champions and secured a home final with a hard-fought 16-12 victory in atrocious conditions at Absa Stadium on Saturday.
WP (13) 31 / Cheetahs (0) 7 (Final Score)
Vodacom WP hosted Vodacom Free State Cheetahs at Newlands, Cape Town at 17:05 on Saturday 16 October 2010. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SSHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
A bit of a shaky start from the kickers on both sides eventually saw Willem de Waal regaining confidence and WP becoming stronger and stronger as the game progressed.
At halftime WP was already 13 / 0 in the lead which prompted them to run more freely and the tries came. Eventually with WP 31 / 0 ahead, a simple WP mistake saw Philip Snyman score a consolation try to avoid a nasty Cheetahs whitewash.
To rights the Cheetahs tried hard but there was always only one winner.
Final score WP 31 / 7.
Sharks (10) 16 / Blue Bulls (6) 12 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Vodacom Blue Bulls at ABSA Stadium, Durban at 14:30 SA Time on 16 October 2010. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match is broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SSHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
With a first half where the Sharks absolutely controlled territory and possession, the Sharks laid the foundation for their 4-point win.
In a hard fought match and terrential rain deep in the second half, the Blue Bulls attacked hard but the resolute defence of the Sharks held.
Congratulations Sharks, the final will be in Durban.
SWD Eagles (9) 12 / EP Kings (10) 16 (Final Score)
The SWD Eagles hosted the Eastern Province Kings at Outeniqua Park, George in the Final of the Currie Cup 1st Division Final at 19:10 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Eastern Province Kings won a scrappy affair by 16 / 12 after leading by 10 / 9 at Halftime.
Saturday sees the 2 Currie Cup Premier Division semi-finals, one between the Sharks vs Blue Bulls in Durban, the other between WP and the Free state Cheetahs at Newlands in Cape Town.
Here are the team sheets for the 2 clashes:
Let them carry on and God bless. This is the view of KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union (KZNRU) president Peter Hassard, who yesterday cocked a snook at some of the province’s black rugby officials who have threatened a breakaway union if their transformation and development concerns are ignored. Continue reading
Here’s a look at the Rugby on TV in Sa this weekend.
Okay, so after all the chest beating and Yo-Mama insults, let’s get down to business and look who is set to play in the final of this year’s Currie Cup. Continue reading
South African rugby supporters can help decide whether Gurthrö Steenkamp, Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, Schalk Burger or Francois Hougaard will win the coveted SARU Player of the Year award, which will be announced at a glittering banquet at Vodaworld, Midrand on Monday 1 November 2010.
The SWD Eagles will be aiming to secure their third Absa Currie Cup First Division title while the EP Kings will be out to achieve their maiden title on Friday when these sides go head to head in the final at Outeniqua Park at 19h10.
The Blue Bulls have given their departing hooker – Springbok Bandise Maku – the blessing to leave for the Lions at the end of the season.
Ex-Transvaal Fullback Liaan Kirkham sadly passed away after being involved in a motor accident on Saturday 10 October.
The Sharks coach, John Plumtree, has named his team to take on the might of the Blue Bulls in Durban for one of the 2 semi-finals of the Currie Cup.
With 3 games left the great predictors are in a tense battle for top honors. The top 10 all have a good chance.
Need help? Read Superbru’s Preview and history at the end of this article.
A lot was said already and a lot more will be said in the psychological war of words this week. No one wants to be the favorite this week. It is quite funny how every team digs up stats to show that their opponent is the favorite.
Some of todays best cricket news. India wins series 2 nil against Australia. The ICC has approved the creation of a league-style Test Championship and redrawn the lines of one-day cricket as part of an extensive restructuring of the international game
Outspoken All Black centre Ma’a Nonu has let rip again, this time without the controversial F-word.
However, the veteran midfielder did not hold back when he criticised the Wellington Lions coaching staff for their inconsistent selection policy.
The Free State Cheetahs will tackle Western Province in their Currie Cup semifinal on Saturday with a Springbok prop on the bench.
Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke named an unchanged side for Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup semi-final clash against the Sharks in Durban.
Newlands will host three semi-final clashes on Saturday 16 October. The rugby action kicks off at 12h30, when Vodacom WP u19 take on the Leopards u19. The u21 semi-final between Vodacom WP and the Vodacom Cheetahs follows at 14h25.
From the Official Blue Buls site. Spies and Stegmann declared fit.
I’ve just watched the semi finals of the common wealth seven’s tournament played between New Zealand/England and Australia/South Africa respectively.
NZ won relatively easily against the Poms and South Africa lost 17-7 against the Aussies. While watching these matches I penned down 7 observations. Continue reading
Front page allegations of racism at the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union have clouded the Sharks’ build-up to the Currie Cup semi-final against their perennial rivals, the resurgent Blue Bulls, on Saturday.
New Zealand and Australia will compete for the gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games after beating England and South Africa in their respective semifinals.
The strength of the situation the Sharks were in when they found themselves with an unassailable lead at the top of the Currie Cup log with one match to play was that they could use their final league match to ask the questions that needed answering.
Top South African referees Marius Jonker and Mark Lawrence have been handed this weekend’s crucial Absa Currie Cup semifinals.