Yearly Archives: 2011
So, the New Zealand All Blacks had made a truckload of changes from the team that trounced the Wallabies in Auckland. So, they were eight or more players short of their first-choice run-on team. So, they had never – but never – won in Port Elizabeth. They still expected to win! And a lot of good judges expected them to win, also.
Toulouse flanker Thierry Dusautoir will skipper France’s 30-strong World Cup squad to travel to New Zealand for the September 9-October 23 tournament.
Prop Deacon Manu has been named as Fiji captain for next month’s Rugby World Cup.
Manu, who has played more than 100 matches for Llanelli since moving to Wales from New Zealand in 2006, will lead the 30-man squad named on Saturday, which includes 21 overseas-based players.
What a classic Springbok / All Black test match.
It is games like these that keep the rivalry alive. Two opposing styles played almost to perfection with uncompromising defence and a bit of referee controversy into the mix.
What a game!
What a timely victory for the Springboks and congrats to the Springboks for not getting drawn into the capacious game so promoted and drooled over by the All Black ‘groupies’.
We want a contest not a flap-flap razzle and dazzle mismatch dominated by one team with a bunch of natural athletes suited to play a league hybrid gobbledygook.
Springboks (15) 18 / All Blacks (5) 5 (Final Score)
The South African Springboks hosted the New Zealand All Blacks at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth at 17:05 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.
Although the Springboks did not score a try, Morné Steyn’s boot was the difference… and all the Springboks worked hard enough, to really deserve the win!
The passion was back in the faces, the focus narrowed, the set phases were good and the breakdown battle was won by the Springboks.
Cheethas (28) 80 / Pumas (6) 16 (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs hosted the Ford Pumas at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 15:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 6 on TV in SA.
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs totally demolished the Ford Pumas, a rout of note.
WP (9) 28 / Lions (17) 26 (Final Score)
DHL Western Province hosted the MTN Golden Lions at Newlands, Cape Town 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.
In a nailbiter, DHL Western Province were the victors.
Blue Bulls (32) 44 / Griquas (3) 20 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Blue Bulls hosted GWK Griquas at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 17:05 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.
The Blue Bulls simply blew the Griquas away in the first 30 minutes, but Griquas, as we’ve come to know them, are fighters, and fought back bravely, but fell short of their bonus point try.
The replacements made by the Blue Bulls ccaused a serious slump in form, with the Griquas managing to outscore the Blue Bulls in the second Half.
I often hear the old cliché “we want to play heads up rugby”. What the hell, a meerkat does that, he sticks his head out to survey the threats of nature. Then he runs, away, not forward into the danger zone.
Former Springbok wing Stefan Terblanche believes uncertainty in key selection areas is hampering the Springboks as they continue their stuttered build-up towards the defence of their World Cup title.
The Springboks are at risk of a white wash (losing all 4 Tri-nation tests matches) for the first time in tri-nations history. Desperate times indeed and that might explain some of the selections for this match.
Matt Giteau’s exit from the Wallabies squad has been like a slow, dripping tap that has taken more than two years to be turned off.
Ultimately, it came down to the Wallabies management – and not just coach Robbie Deans – having concerns that apart from opposing teams having ”worked Giteau out”, the Test midfielder had fallen short of the mark on several occasions when on-field pressure was applied.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry was happy to turn the pressure up on the beleaguered Springboks ahead of this weekend’s test, saying a victory would be “vital” to the South Africans.
With a World Cup campaign around the corner and both sides doing some serious tinkering with their lineups ahead of that tournament, it’s a moot point who has more to lose or gain out of this Tri-Nations test on Sunday (NZ time).
Most of us here also blogged somewhere during the 2007 World Cup. Just like this year, in fact every time a Springbok team is picked, we the real experts pick our team too. Yes and every “selector” has his own favourites. In 2007 we disagreed with some of Jake White’s selections. Now let us see how many players back then were in YOUR team. Dont lie, some of us can remember your favorites, no cheating.
Western Province will have to beat the Golden Lions in Cape Town on Friday to avoid a similar three-match Currie Cup losing streak as in 2010.
The All Blacks have named their team to face the Springboks in a Tri-Nations test with Keven Mealamu being named as captain.
The All Blacks have rested 9 of their first choice players for this match including Dan Carter, captain Richie McCaw, number eight Kieran Read, lock Brad Thorn, prop Owen Franks, fullback Mils Muliaina and centre Conrad Smith.
Hooker Keven Mealamu has been named as All Blacks captain for the second time in a Test after he captained the All Blacks against Scotland in November 2008.
See the happy faces?
A major All Blacks sponsor on Thursday cancelled a campaign urging New Zealand sports fans give up sex to support their team during the World Cup, after a public backlash.
The Cheetahs have named their Currie Cup Rugby team to face the Pumas at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
This may shed some light on what is going on behind the scenes at SARU. Source Parliamentary Monitoring Group. A delegation of SARU presented a report of the preparation of the Springboks for the RWC.
James Horwill has replaced Rocky Elsom as Australia’s captain in a shock move before next month’s Rugby World Cup.
Queensland Reds skipper Horwill was surprised when coach Robbie Deans today named him to lead the 30-man Wallabies squad to the tournament, kicking off in New Zealand on September 9.
Smith has not sufficiently recovered from an injured Achilles and have therefore withdrawn himself from the South Africa’s World Cup squad.
“I am not 100%,” an emotional Smith told the Volksblad newspaper.
Flank Jacques Burger from English Premiership club Saracens will captain rank outsiders Namibia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next month.
The south-west Africa nation make their Group D debut on September 10 against Fiji in Rotorua and then tackle Samoa at the same venue four days later, title holders South Africa in North Shore on September 22 and Wales in New Plymouth after a three-day break.
The Pumas will have a new captain as they look for their first win of the Currie Cup season, when they tackle the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Regular captain Corné Steenkamp has been ruled out with a knee injury and midfielder JW Jonker taking over the leadership of the team.
Griquas tackle the Blue Bulls at Loftus on Friday with their king-pin scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius back in action, after missing the first five founds of the Currie Cup competition.
The New Zealand Rugby Union has supported a campaign encouraging All Black fans to abstain from sex in support of the All Blacks.
The Sharks have a brand new centre pairing for their home clash with the Leopards on Friday, with Meyer Bosman and Marius Joubert starting in the midfield.
Lessons from the past should provide the Lions rugby union with the vision needed to get them out of their current administrative crisis.
Chiliboy Ralepelle has been released for provincial duty by the Springboks and will play off the bench against Griquas on Friday.
Springbok loose forward Juan Smith needs to pass a fitness test before he will be considered to play for the Free State Cheetahs against the Pumas on Saturday.
Springboks Gio Aplon and Juan de Jongh have been named on the Western Province bench for their match against the Lions in Cape Town this weekend.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has signed a two year extension with the Australian Rugby Union which will keep him in Australia until 2013 at least.
Argentina coach Santiago Phelan selected his strongest line-up on Tuesday for the World Cup warm-up match with Wales on Saturday.
Wales however, have made 9 changes to the side which beat England on the weekend.
Wallabies stalwart Matt Giteau has given every indication he has controversially missed Rugby World Cup selection.
The MTN Golden Lions will be playing DHL Western Province this Friday, 19 August 2011 in Cape Town. Kick off is at 19:10.
It seems that with the good form the MTN Golden Lions have showed so far in the Currie Cup, that finally coach John Mitchell is able to settle on virtually the same team week after week now, which should greatly assist the Lions in maintaining their unbeaten form in the Currie Cup and also their top of the log status.
Coach Peter De Villiers has dropped Springbok Captain John Smit to the bench for this weekend’s clash against the All Blacks. Continue reading