Yearly Archives: 2011
The appearance of the World Cup-winning All Black team in Soweto and the process to appoint a new Springbok coach appear to be the main bullet points on the agenda this week.
The Crusaders star All Black duo of Richie McCaw and Dan Carter are expected to miss the opening rounds of the 2012 Super Rugby season.
The Golden Lions have made a number of signings ahead of the 2012 Super Rugby season as they look to follow on from their Currie Cup victory.
New Italy coach Jacques Brunel has said that Italy will have to quickly reach a level of Rugby that will enable them to compete for the Six Nations championship.
The New Zealand Super Rugby squads have been announced for 2012.
What did it feel like going cold-turkey without Rugby-Talk for 2 days?
We’re finally back on line after a disasterous SQL Database crash. In simple terms, SQL is the Database we use to store information which integrates with the web site’s content and administrative pages at the Web Hosts.
I think you’ll appreciate that after 4217 Articles, the Database and it’s 173 000 comments is quite a fatty.
Rugby World Cup winning All Blacks coach Graham Henry has ended his career as New Zealand Rugby coach after 103 All Black tests over the last eight years.
International Rugby Board referees boss Paddy O’Brien says the authority of television match officials is likely to be extended on a trial basis next year and could be permanently increased.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has been nominated for a royal honour, and possibly a knighthood, just days after leading the team to victory in the Rugby World Cup.
Western Province centre Tim Whitehead – who missed their Currie Cup campaign with a knee injury – has signed a deal with the Sharks.
Former Springbok and Sharks captain Stefan Terblanche has signalled the end of his career with the Sharks by signing a three month contract with Ulster Rugby.
Martin Johnson looks set to continue as England Rugby coach but he will have to agree to remove some of his back room staff after England exited the Rugby World Cup early.
Lock Jason Eaton has become the latest player to recommit to the Hurricanes for 2012, which will be his seventh season with the franchise.
The Brumbies have added towering lock Leon Power for the 2012 Super Rugby season from Bay of Plenty in New Zealand’s ITM Cup.
The Golden Lions recorded the most emphatic Currie Cup final victory since 1980 when they beat The Sharks, champions in 2010, by 42-16 at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The big beard Lions captain Joshua Strauss had grown while he waited for his girlfriend to relocate from Cape Town was forcefully removed by teammate Wikus van Heerden after Saturday’s Currie Cup Final victory against the Sharks.
All Blacks midfield back Sonny Bill Williams will play Super Rugby for the Chiefs in 2012 after he signed a one year extension to his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU).
A group of 23 Springbok Sevens players including four new players has been announced and will start soon with full preparations at their base in Stellenbosch for the upcoming Sevens World Series.
The Melbourne Rebels have named their 30 strong Super Rugby squad for the 2012 Super Rugby season which includes several new signings including James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale.
French No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy of Biarritz said that the French coach Marc Lièvremont was lost at the World Cup in New Zealand and that the players had taken over the running of the team, ignoring their coach.
Toulon are hoping to sign England veteran lock Simon Shaw as injury cover for South African Bakkies Botha in France’s Top 14.
Shane Williams has confirmed that he plans to end his international rugby career with Wales against Australia in Cardiff on December the 3rd.
Respected sport scientist and long standing friend of RuggaWorld, Dr. Ross Tucker, offers his views on the Rugby World Cup and specifically referees and how their performance is damaging the game’s credibility.
Article originally published on The Science of Sport website
Thanks Morne & RuggaWorld. Some of the responses will be brought over to appear under the comments. I found this article to be one of the very best I have ever read. Warning it is long, take your time and read the comments too.
Springboks 22 / Poverty Bay-East Coast Combined 0
The Springboks travelled by plane -for the first time on tour- from Wellington to Gisborne to play a combined Poverty Bay-East Coach team.
Gisborne was a lovely town (now a city) nestling amid the hills and woods which fringe Poverty Bay, where Captain Cook made his first landing in Aotearoa. Continue reading
Lions (19) 42 / Sharks (6) 16 (Final Score)
The MTN Golden Lions hosted The Sharks at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:30 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 MTN Golden Lions are the Currie Cup champions for 2011.
The MTN Golden Lions was clearly more fired up, from the word go and already led by 19 / 6 at Halftime.
It was after halftime though that they really put foot on the pedal and eventually demolished The Sharks by 26 points, the final score being 42 / 16.
Well done and a hearty congratulations go out to the MTN Golden Lions and their supporters.
U/19 Lions (3) 20 / U/19 Blue Bulls (6) 19 (Final Score)
The MTN Golden Lions u/19 team hosts the Vodacom Blue Bulls u/19 team at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 12:30 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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U/21 Blue Bulls (22) 46 / U/21 Sharks (10) 30 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Blue Bulls u/21 team do battle with The Sharks u/21 team at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 14:30 SA Time.
This is the live match discussion Article.
The match is broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
South Africa 222/6 (50 ov)
Australia 227/7 (47.3 ov)
Australia won by 3 wickets (with 15 balls remaining)
After some careful thought about the repercussions a team has to face, due to foul play by individuals in a team, who in most cases really aren’t dirty players and what it actually means for a team to play with 14 men for either 10 minutes and in some cases anything up to 80 minutes, it is clear in my opinion that it needs to be re-assessed.
Sharks coach John Plumtree has made one change to his team for the Currie Cup final on Saturday against the Lions at Coca-Cola Park.
Vodacom Blue Bulls and Vodacom Bulls player Stephan Dippenaar has been released by the Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd to take up a contract with SA Rugby’s sevens team.
New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup winning coach Graham Henry has indicated that he would be interested in working with the RFU in England in the future.
As a neutral in this game, I have been wondering.
As the most capped Springbok ever, Victor Matfield is a national hero who transcends rugby provincialism and has fans across the world. His rugby exploits and achievements are numerous: he was an instrumental part of the team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup, he helped win two Tri Nations tournaments for the Boks, he has lifted the Super 14 trophy three times with the Bulls and he has enjoyed Currie Cup glory.