Monthly Archives: July 2012
Chiefs scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow believes that his team’s defence will have to set the tone in their final showdown with the Sharks.
The Waratahs will have a new Super Rugby coach for the 2013 Super Rugby season after coach Michael Foley decided to call it a day and leave the New South Wales province.
Although he would have learned a lot in recent weeks, how many changes can we expect to see in Heyneke Meyer’s Rugby Championship squad?
The Bok coach will reveal his squad on Saturday after the Super Rugby Final, and faces some big selection decisions in key positions given the differing fortunes of the major contenders in the last few weeks.
Five times in Super Rugby history since its most formal inception in 1996, teams have crossed the Indian Ocean in either direction for the final … each time they have flown home empty-handed.
Sonny Bill Williams has confirmed his availability for the All Blacks in the upcoming Four Nations Rugby Championship which starts in August.
Vodacom Bulls winger Bjorn Basson will return to South Africa on Wednesday following his successful recovery from an operation in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Good news just in, Johan Goosen is set to return for the Free State Cheetahs in early September.
First of all, a heartfelt congratulations to the Sharks. A better team, a better Game plan, and a better execution. They came, they saw, they conquered.
The Sharks landed in Sidney, Australia with some good news and some bad news, good news being the addition of Patrick Lambie and Paul Jordaan who will both be ready for selection. This was great news for the Sharks as both players are very important to the Sharks cause, but there was bad news to follow. Continue reading
In breaking news, Tim Whitehead has not traveled with the Sharks to New Zealand due to injury.
Stormers (6) 19 / 26 (13) Sharks (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers hosted The Sharks in a Semi-Final of Super Rugby at Newlands, Cape Town at 17:00 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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Chiefs (17) 20 / (11) 17 Crusaders (Final Score)
The Chiefs hosted the Crusaders in a Semi-Final of Super Rugby at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 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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Here are the Super Rugby Team Sheets for the Semi-Finals of Super Rugby 2012.
All the team sheets have now been updated and announced.
The Chiefs have set the pace for most of the season, but the Crusaders have caught up.
Reds captain and scrumhalf Will Genia has been named Australia’s Super rugby Player of the Year and the Reds won Australian Super Rugby team of the year.
Toulon’s England international flanker Steffon Armitage has tested positive for a product on the World Doping Agency’s banned list, albeit one which could be construed as having therapeutic qualities.
Looking ahead to the semi final clash in Cape Town between the Stormers and the Sharks this weekend, is so difficult to call as no matter from what angle one looks at this match, the pros and cons are quite deceiving.
There are so many reasons for the Sharks to win or lose, so many reasons that turn you from being positive about their chances of victory to being negative and going back to being positive.
All Black centre Conrad Smith will miss the opening rounds of the new Four Nations Rugby Championship at least due to an eye injury.
Patrick Lambie might not be available for the Sharks in their Super Rugby semi-final against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday, coach John Plumtree has confirmed.
Duane Vermeulen got through a semi-contact session on Tuesday afternoon apparently without any complaints, but it is still touch and go whether he will be named in the Stormers team when it is announced later on Wednesday.
SANZAR head of referees Lyndon Bray confirmed on Wednesday that New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence’s Test career is over, according to EWN Sport.
England and the South African Proteas did battle in the 1st Test of the Series in England at Kennington Oval, London, UK.
South Africa won by an innings and 12 runs.
We should all be familiar with that old saying ‘ crime doesn’t pay’. I have found an instance, with a rugby connection, in which it does. Thanks to the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities initiative, Scottish rugby clubs have already and will receive further much needed ‘donations’ courtesy of the criminals.
SANZAR have announced the referee appointments for the 2012 Super Rugby Semi-Finals with Craig Joubert and Steve Walsh taking charge of this weekend’s matches.
The New Zealand Conference winning Chiefs will host the Crusaders in Hamilton this Friday with Craig Joubert in the middle, while Steve Walsh will officiate the top-of-the-table Stormers and South African Conference champions versus the Sharks match the following evening in Cape Town.
The Crusaders will definitely be without their All Black No.8 Kieran read when they face the Chiefs on Friday.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee was reminded how important a physical back-row will be in Saturday’s Super Rugby semifinal, so he will be anxiously awaiting further assessments on the condition of Duane Vermeulen before finalising his team for the Newlands showdown with the Sharks.
Bulls wing Bjorn Basson has undergone surgery in New Zealand after he sustained a tear to his intestines during his side’s loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch.
The appointment of Australians to high profile positions in rugby has continued with the announcement of Brett Gosper as the International Rugby Board’s new Chief Executive as well as Managing Director of the Rugby World Cup.
Reds (10) 17 / (20) 30 Sharks (Final Score)
The Reds hosted The Sharks in the Play-off’s of Super Rugby at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Brisbane 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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Crusaders (16) 28 / (3) 13 Bulls (Final Score)
The Crusaders hosted the Vodacom Bulls in the Play-off’s of Super Rugby at AMI Stadium, Christchurch at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 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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Here are the Super Rugby Team Sheets for the Play-Off Weekend of Super Rugby 2012.
All 4 team sheets for the 2 Play-Off games this weekend are up.
Bulls midfielder Johann Sadie may be the first high-profile player to opt for a dual-contract, allowing him to play both Sevens and provincial rugby in the near future.
Springbok Eben Etzebeth was running at full tilt at the Stormers’ training session in Bellville on Thursday, and is fit to lock the side’s vulnerable scrum in their Super Rugby semi-final at Newlands next week.
In what is regarded as an significant coup for Cheetahs rugby, Volksblad reported this morning that it is confirmed that Johann Sadie, the promising WP star, who joined the Bulls earlier this, is heading to Bloemfontein to join the Cheetahs. It is believed that he will flourish in the Cheetahs playing pattern. Lack of game time, and a host of other players in the center position at the Bulls led to the players frustration.
Whilst the Cheetahs are not involved in further participation of the Super 15, some interesting players signings bode well for the Cheetahs 2013 season. Of course more players will sign, and some will leave, but it is interesting to note the movements.
The Sharks have made a statement about the fire at Mr Price Kings Park… here it is.