Yearly Archives: 2011
All Blacks (14) 20 / Wallabies (6) 6 (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks and Australian Wallabies did battle in the First Semi-Final of Rugby World Cup 2011 at Eden Park, Auckland 10:00 SA Time (21:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The All Blacks were ruthless and commited and deserve their place in next Sunday’s Final. It was however a brave effort by Australia but Quade Cooper should have clicked earlier for them to have any chance.
It began, again, somewhere around the 70th minute.
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde had just converted a Yannick Jauzion try, scored off a missed forward pass, giving the French a 20-18 lead in their 2007 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against the All Blacks in front of a packed Millenium Stadium in Cardiff.
The All Blacks were the best team in the world. All they needed was a penalty, a drop goal, a try. Momentum, that age-old All Blacks’ drive.
No matter the outcome of tonight’s semi-final match and who eventually win this tournament this 2011 RWC will be remembered as the mother of all referee muck-ups.
If Australia and France where to play in the final I won’t even watch it because neither of those two teams deserve to be there. Roll that into a zoll Paddy O’Brien and smoke it.
A New Zealand victory over Aussie would ensure a pretty one-sided final which should see the All Blacks running away with it.
Controversy due to inconsistent refereeing has somewhat marred a homecoming of the Rugby world cup to its original host of 24 years ago and the home of the most successful rugby side in rugby Union history.
Sharks 53 / Lions 9 (Final score)
The Sharks hosted the MTN Golden Lions at Kings Park, Durban at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The sharks totally outclassed a lethargic and error ridden Lions side to book a home semi final against the Free state Cheetahs next week, where they will certainly carry all of the momentum.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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WP (24) 43 / Pumas (8) 18 ( Final Score)
DHL Western Province hosted the Ford Pumas at Newlands, Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Cheetahs (20) 49 / Griquas (10) 39 (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs hosted the GWK Griquas at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 15:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Wales (3) 8 / France (6) 9 (Final Score)
Wales and France did battle in the First Semi-Final of Rugby World Cup 2011 at Eden Park, Auckland 10:00 SA Time (21:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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France squeeked past a galant Welsch side who had to play for about 60 minutes with only 14 men after their captain, Sam Warburton, was Red Carded.
Tim Noakes has denied accusing anyone of match fixing or any claims that the Springboks’ quarterfinal match against Australia officiated by Bryce Lawrence was either ‘fixed’ or ‘bent’, as has been reported.
In a letter to Sport24, Noakes claimed that his statements had been misconstrued and taken out of context. Continue reading
Blue Bulls (35) 92 / Leopards (21) 21 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Blue Bulls hosted the Platinum Leopards at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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The Blue Bulls managed their objective of winning by more than 59 points, in fact they won by 71 and it is now all in the hands of Western Province and the Pumas, whether the Blue Bulls go through to the final 4 or not.
At the moment the Blue Bulls temporarily moves into 4th spot on the Log.
The Blue Bulls ran in 14 tries to the 3 from the Leopards.
Wallaby fullback Kurtley Beale has been named to start the Rugby World Cup Semi-final against New Zealand but will be given until l Saturday to prove his fitness.
Peter de Villiers is beskikbaar om die Springbok-rugbyspan vir langer af te rig.
The Russian Rugby Union (RRU) have revealed that they will bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup after making their debut last month in New Zealand.
The All Blacks made three changes in their side and included injured skipper Richie McCaw for this weekend’s World Cup semi-final against Australia at Eden Park.
The Sharks coach, John Plumtree, has named his side to play the MTN Lions at Kings Park, Durban at 19:10 on Saturday.
The Sharks have obviously chosen a very strong side, compared to the Lions who are resting about six players, because the Sharks are still aiming to get a home semi-final, whereas the lions are firmly in first spot, even if they lose this game.
Three teams will fight it out this weekend for the final spot in the Currie Cup Premier Division semi-finals, with Western Province best placed to qualify for the playoffs.The Blue Bulls – at home against the Leopards – and Griquas – away to the Free State Cheetahs – linger in fifth and sixth position on the log and have a mathematical chance of making it through to the semi-finals, but they don’t have their destiny in their own hands.
A bit higher on the log, The Sharks, who take on the first-placed Golden Lions in Durban, and the Free State Cheetahs are in a race to second position on the log.
Semi-final permutations:
Allister Coetzee today announced the DHL WP team to take on the Ford Pumas at DHL Newlands on Saturday. All the Province returning Springboks are featured in a strong match 22.
James Hook has been named in place of Rhys Priestland at No. 10 for Wales in their Rugby World Cup semi-final against France on Saturday.
The French know their three straight victories over Wales will not matter one bit when the long-time rivals meet in the World Cup semi-final at Eden Park on Saturday. Continue reading
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen has hosed down any speculation on Richie McCaw’s ability to play in New Zealand’s semi-final against Australia at Eden Park on Sunday. Continue reading
In this week’s exclusive column, former Springbok prop Cobus Visagie discusses refereeing decisions and key match-ups.
I promise this is the last article I will publish about this subject. Cobus said it all, I cannot add any more. This is a good analysis by a Professional player with many years of experience.
As a general rule I watch the rugby not the referee.
This of course doesn’t mean that I don’t shout at the referee (even in front of the TV knowing pretty well that he can’t hear me) when he makes mistakes. I can see when the referee has a bad game and of course I get upset but I am, as a spectator, more interested in how we play; what do we do with the ball; our structures and systems at the tackle ball; our game tactics; what is the script we are following; our defensive patterns; are we showing improvement on previous games in areas we didn’t do well; how is our scrum going; are we using starter moves; running angles of the backline; how well is No10 dictating the match and where does he take up position behind the scrums, at rucks and line-outs and so forth.
A consequence of all that is that I tend to reflect more on why didn’t we get things right or what went wrong and what can we improve on, independent of whether we lose or win after the match. Continue reading
Former Rugby Football Union Vice-Chairman Fran Cotton has agreed to chair an independent review of the entire England structure after the national team exited the Rugby World Cup in the quarter finals.
Lock Wikus van Heerden returns to the Golden Lions starting line up and Butch James has been named on the bench for the Lions Currie Cup match against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Griquas coach Abre Minnie has named an unchanged line-up from the team that beat the Blue Bulls last week for his side’s crucial Currie Cup showdown with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Our friend and fellow blogger, Ashley, felt strongly enough about the issue to send me the following Article to publish… this is his view on the matter and he asks certain rather interesting questions.
Here are his thoughts:
Has the hierarchy at New Zealand Rugby at last lost faith in their team? Have they (or at least some powerful individuals) at last reached a stage where they no longer believe that their team can win the World Cup on their own steam?
Well, from where I’m sitting it certainly seems to be the case.
The Sharks will field several of their returning Springboks in this week’s crucial Currie Cup rugby encounter against the Lions in Durban, coach John Plumtree confirmed on Tuesday.
Wales are still sweating on Rhys Priestland’s shoulder injury ahead of their Rugby World Cup against France at Eden Park in New Zealand on Saturday.
France Rugby World Cup scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili says he is recovering well from a thigh injury he sustained playing against England and is “confident” of playing in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semifinal against Wales.
Australian fullback Kurtley Beale has a hamstring injury and is rated “touch and go” to play for Australia in Sunday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final with New Zealand at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Golden Lions CEO Manie Reyneke has quit in his position as Chief Executive Officer of the union, the GLRU announced.
Rugby World Cup history suggested successful kicking would play a key role in deciding the outcome of the weekend’s quarter-finals and so it proved in Saturday’s match-ups between the Northern Hemisphere teams.
Secret England training documents from the Rugby World Cup have been discovered in Ireland’s Rugby world Cup team hotel in New Zealand.
Got this from my brother and thought you guys would enjoy this immensely.