Yearly Archives: 2011
Backline a real eyebrow-raiser
The All Blacks have sprung several major selection surprises for Friday night’s Rugby World Cup opener against Tonga in Auckland, with test regulars Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith and Keven Mealamu missing from the 22.
The Cheetahs have made two changes to their team, one in the backline and one in the forward pack, for their Currie Cup clash with the Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
James Kamana returns to big time rugby after breaking his leg during the Super Rugby season, against GWK Griquas on Friday night. Kamana will start off the bench. Other changes see Joshua Strauss, Doppies La Grange and Derick Minnie return to the starting line up after injury enforced lay offs. Continue reading
Wales flyhalf Stephen Jones remains in doubt for his team’s opening Rugby World Cup match against South Africa because of a calf injury.
The All Blacks have jettisoned their controversial player rotation policy and say they will stick with the hardcore of their first XV through the World Cup starting on Friday.
France have named Toulouse hooker William Servat in their starting Rugby World Cup line up against Japan in North Harbour even though he has not played since June the 4th.
Argentina coach Santiago Phelan has made just one change to his Rugby World Cup starting lineup which lost 28.13 to Wales for their match against England.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has retained the starting team that secured the Tri-Nations title two weeks ago and named James O’Connor on the bench.
Springboks
Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield are injured ahead of Sunday’s opening game against Wales.
Lewis Moody
England Captain Lewis Moody will miss his team’s Rugby World Cup opener against Argentina on Saturday as he has not recovered from a knee injury.
Shaun Edwards, Wales defence coach
Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards has welcomed the IRB’s move to be more stringent with policing of the breakdown and offside during the World Cup.
Ireland
Ireland’s Rugby World Cup squad have been given a boost as Cian Healy and Gordon D’Arcy joined up with the rest of the squad in Queenstown New Zealand after a delayed departure.
The number
5 – Days left until the first match of RWC 2011, and countries who have reached the quarter-finals of every World Cup:
Australia, England, France, New Zealand and Scotland.
He said it
“There was almost a few broken bones and a few bodies knocked out of the World Cup. I wasn’t great to be honest, I was just trying to knock people off the road.”
– Ireland wing Tommy Bowe gives coach Declan Kidney – not to mention the physios – a few grey hairs when he and his teammates tackled the Skyline Luge through the trees of Queenstown.
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers promised to “try to behave” and live up to the honour bestowed on him after being declared an honorary Maori when the team received their official welcome to Wellington on Monday.
RWC 2011 Judicial Process Background Information
The on-field disciplinary process for Rugby World Cup 2011 deals with Illegal and/or Foul Play and Misconduct. It reflects the citing, hearing and sanctioning process which applies across international Rugby as set out in IRB Regulation 17, but under expedited timeframes for the seven week tournament. Rugby World Cup 2011 will benefit from the most experienced Citing Commissioners and Judicial Officers selected on merit from the elite international Game to act in such roles at the Tournament.
The appointment of Citing Commissioners, Judicial Officers and Appeal Committees during the Tournament is based upon neutrality considerations.
Bokke!
It is often said that combinations are key to winning rugby. Now this article is mostly about statistics, so if you are not a statistic minded person it would most likely bore you to death, I did however find some telling stats looking at which combinations seemed to have worked for the Springboks.
It is Sunday 4 September 2011… the time is now nearly 18:15 SA Time. The next live RUGBY we’ll see in South Africa will be from New Zealand, at the Rugby World Cup.
It is 5 nights, or sleeps as we were told as todlers, till the World Cup!
Can you wait… I can’t!
Blue Bulls (15) 27 / Sharks (23) 39 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Blue Bulls hosted The Sharks at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the match. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Blue Bulls denied the Sharks a bonus point win whilst earning a bonus point for tries right on the death. The Sharks were full value for their win though, with exemplary goal kicking compared to the shoddiest of goal kicking by the Blue Bulls.
Griquas (15) 35 / WP (21) 41 (Final Score)
GWK Griquas hosted DHL Western Province at GWK Park, Kimberley at 15:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
Western Province scored 7 tries to 4 by Griquas.
Paddy O'Brien
International referees boss Paddy O’Brien has said that the 10 men who will take charge of the Rugby World Cup matches will be told to toughen up.
Gatland fires 1st barb at Bokke
Their opening match may be just over a week away, but Wales coach Warren Gatland wasted no time in getting the first shot in, in what is sure to be an interesting verbal stoush in the coming days.
Pumas (6) 20 / Lions (27) 34 (Final Score)
The Ford Pumas hosted the MTN Golden Lions at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit at 19:10 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
It was a game of 2 halves, with the Lions dominating the 1st half and the brave Pumas dominating the 2nd half.
Well after the final hooter, the Lions managed to get their bonus point for tries, via replacement Johan Snyman.
Was a very good game to watch!
“In one week’s time, the world will be watching us as the seventh Rugby World Cup gets underway,” said Martin Snedden, CEO for Tournament Organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011.
“We promise all fans, at Eden Park, and those watching from afar, a night to remember.
Supersport’s Television coverage starts at 09:00
Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has rewarded some on-form fringe players by naming them in the starting XV to face Griquas in their Currie Cup clash in Kimberley on Saturday.
A message to the Springboks as they get ready to head to New Zealand to defend the Rugby World Cup.
The Sharks
Sharks coach John Plumtree has named Jean Deysel at eighthman as one of three Currie Cup changes for the Blue Bulls at Loftus this Saturday.
I am publishing these as additional rules for the World Cup. This is very important to read, and or to pass on to your wife/fiance/girlfriend/partner/significant other:
**** Extremely important advice and recommendations to be passed on to wives, Girlfriends, fiancées, mothers, sisters, daughters, etc. (to all women in General) ****
Claims on the eve of the World Cup that the All Blacks are blatant cheats have gone down like a cup of cold soup with rugby icon Colin Meads.
World Cup 2007 Celebrations
The RWC is now imminent, it is there for important to prepare now rather than a day before the event. I thought it wise to set out a preparation guide and some rules to follow during this epic event. Continue reading
Demetri Catrakilis
Golden Lions coach, John Mitchell, and Western Province flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis were today named as the Currie Cup Coach and Player of the Month for August.
John Plumtree
Sharks coach John Plumtree has begun this week by drumming into his players that they need to “tidy up” their game if they want to beat the tougher teams in the Currie Cup and go on to mount a serious defence of their title.
Earl Rose
Griquas have named a 24-man Currie Cup squad, while they wait on the fitness of two key players, for their Currie Cup game against Western Province in Kimberley on Saturday.
Wales Rugby
Wales will arrive at the Rugby World Cup more confident than ever of finally making an impression at rugby’s greatest showpiece after the failure of 2007 when they failed to reach the knock out stages.
John Smit & Victor Matfield
Springbok captain John Smit and Vice Captain Victor Matfield say they want to end their international careers as double Rugby World Cup champions.
Dewald Potgieter
Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar has recalled fit again Springbok loose forward Dewald Potgieter to his side to take on the Natal Sharks in a Currie Cup Rugby clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.