Yearly Archives: 2011
Following on from GrootBlouSmile’s article about South African rugby’s next step. Here is my input.
GBS and BonzaiGBS
The South African National rugby shift boss…. errr sorry, coach appeared to have resigned in interviews in New Zealand, only to then deny that he had resigned upon arrival in South Africa. Whatever the situation, his 4-year contract comes to an end at the end of December 2011 anyway, which leaves the process open for a replacement to be appointed.
There has already been wide-spread speculation as to who the right candidates might be…. but that’s not why I am writing this Article!
Danny Svoboda (in picture) played for Rhodesia in 1970 on the wing. The picture here shows him playing against the 1970 All Blacks touring side.
Danny’s widow, now living in Thailand, has contacted me in search of information about Danny.
France coach Marc Lievremont has named an unchanged starting team to face Wales in a Rugby World Cup semifinal against Wales on Saturday at Eden Park.
Wallabies scrumhalf Will Genia says Australia will test the All Blacks new tarting flyhalf Aaron Cruden in their Rugby World Cup semifinal this weekend.
Ireland’s Alain Rolland and South Africa’s Craig Joubert will referee the Rugby World Cup semi-finals, the International Rugby Board (IRB) announced on Monday.
The “jackal at the tackle” has become common parlance at the World Cup, but it has never been better personified than in the shape of Australia flank David Pocock.
The All Blacks have called up fly half Stephen Donald and winger Hosea Gear as replacements for full back Mils Muliaina and fly half Colin Slade who have both been ruled out due to injury.
Retiring Springbok Captain John Smit and his outgoing coach Peter de Villiers have placed a large portion of the blame on New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence for their Rugby World Cup exit.
England will decide on the future of England manager Martin Johnson before the end of the year according to England’s director of rugby operations Rob Andrew.
Australia are sweating on key Rugby World Cup injuries to Kurtley Beale, Pat McCabe and Sekope Kepu who will all undergo scans ahead of this weekend’s World Cup semi-final with New Zealand.
Rugby’s major nations have endorsed a 20-team format for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and have offered to play midweek matches to ensure lower-ranked teams have more time between rugby matches.
As you read this, Bakkies Botha is back in Pretoria, leaving behind him New Zealand and the next 3 games of the Rugby World Cup which ends on the 23 October.
Cause: “Achilles Tendon injury”.
Halfway through a frustrating night -during which I slept little due to the massive disappointment of SA dropping out of the 2011 RWC- I started to see some reasons why the Springboks lost.
The thing that kept me awake most was the fact that the Springboks had 76% of the ball, dominated scrums and line-outs (Matfield taking 6 of their line-out balls), had territorial advantage for most of the match and had the Wallabies under massive pressure for almost the entire match and still lost the game.
Here are the 13 reasons I came up during my night of suffering. Continue reading
There are four main pillars to society, it establishes an order out of the chaos, the same can be said for rugby, this is perhaps the four major pillars of Rugby Union.
Peter de Villiers called it quits as South Africa coach after the reigining champions lost a World Cup quarter-final to Australia on Sunday.
“It was a brilliant journey,” said de Villiers, who took over from Jake White following the Springboks’ 2007 World Cup win.
John Smit was born on 3 April 1978 in Pietersburg, he went to Pretoria Boys High where he was head prefect and played for the first XV from 1996 to 1998. As natural born leader he was destined to become captain of the Springbok team and was identified at a very young age by Jake White, making his debut for South Africa against Canada at the tender age of 22. Since his debut in 2000 John Smit has played 111 test matches for South Africa, captaining his country on 83 occasions. South Africa won 69 of the 111 tests in which John Smit represented his country, he captained South Africa 83 times winning 54 tests.
All Blacks (12) 33 / Pumas (7) 10 (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks and the Argentianian Pumas did battle in the Fourth Quarter Final in Auckland at 09:30 SA Time (20:30 NZ 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 All Blacks progress through to the semi-finals, but only after the galant Argentinians gave them a bloody good go in the process.
The final four are now decided, they are Wales vs France and All Blacks vs Wallabies.
Dit was Frans Steyn se heel laaste minuut in die Wêreldbeker.
Springboks (3) 9 / Wallabies (8) 11 (Final Score)
The South African Springboks and the Australian Wallabies did battle in the Third Quarter Final in Wellington at 07:00 SA Time (18:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & 4, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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And so, the Springboks exit Rugby World Cup 2011….
The Wallabies will have to prove they are outstanding all-weather footballers as the anticipated wet and windy conditions during today’s quarter-final against the Springboks will play a major role in determining whether they stay at the World Cup or head home tomorrow.
A Wales side playing “without fear” defended their way to a Rugby World Cup semi-final by standing up to a muscular Ireland to win the first quarter-final 22-10 on Saturday.
Imanol Harinordoquy gave a barnstorming display to earn the man-of-the-match award as France reached the Rugby World Cup semi-finals with a 19-12 win against England on Saturday.
Leopards (0) 14 / Sharks (15) 41 (Final Score)
The Platinum Leopards hosted The Sharks in Rustenburg at 19:10 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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What a dreary game!
The Sharks scrored twice right at the end, making it look as if the won handsomely, but that would be untrue.
The match was marred by a plethera of errors, from both sides but none more so than the Leopards, when the tryline was begging for them to score.
Job done for the Sharks though, 5 Log points in the bag.
Lions (20) 42 / WP (9) 25 (Final Score)
The MTN Golden Lions host DHL Western Province at Coka-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
This is the live match discussion Article.
The match is broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The Lions were full value for their 5 tries to 1 win over a Western Province side who had to try and stay in touch via the solid boot of Demetri Catrakilis.
Griquas (27) 48 / Blue Bulls (22) 44 (Final Score)
GWK Griquas and the Vodacom Blue Bulls did battle at GWK Park, Kimberley 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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The Griquas effectively ended the Blue Bulls aspirations to make the final four in the race for the Currie Cup, with this 4-point win.
England (0) 12 / France (16) 19 (Final Score)
England and France did battle in the Second Quarter Final in Auckland at 09:30 SA Time (20:30 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 started like a house on fire and by halftime led by 16 / 0.
England did not give up though, and came back hard at France, but France prevailed.
England go home and France marches on.
Ireland (3) 10 / Wales (10) 22 (Final Score)
Ireland and Wales did battle in the First Quarter Final in Wellington at 07:00 SA Time (18:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & 4, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Excellent defence and an excellent match overall!
Wales knock out Ireland and is the first side to advance to the semi-finals.
When England and France line up against each other in Saturday’s quarter-final Martin Johnson’s men will take confidence from a record of three victories in four Rugby World Cup matches against their cross-Channel rivals.
In an exclusive column for the official Rugby World Cup 2011 match programme, South Africa’s RWC 2007 winning coach Jake White analyses this weekend’s epic quarter-finals.
Pumas (13) 23 / Cheetahs (7) 29 (Final Score)
The Ford Pumas and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in Witbank 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 Toyota Free State Cheetahs trailed for most of the match, with the Ford Pumas rising to the occasion. In the final minutes the Cheetahs scored 2 tries to eventually win by 6 points, earning their bonus point in the process.
Australia have all but restored the lineup they started the Rugby World Cup with for their Quarter final against South Africa.
Injuries have forced the All Blacks into making six changes to their starting side for their Rugby World Cup quarter final against Argentina on Sunday.
Argentina front row rock Rodrigo Roncero has been cleared to start in the World Cup quarter-final clash with New Zealand, enabling the South Americans to field their strongest available team on Sunday.
At quarter-final time you play the game with your bags packed.
If you lose, you’re on the next flight out. It’s simple motivation to make sure you keep going for at least one more week.