Monthly Archives: August 2012
This weekend sees the start of the RaboDirect Pro12 for the 2012/2013 season. In what could arguably be the pick of the fixtures Edinburgh, last year’s Heineken Cup semi-finalists, face Munster. Defending champions The Ospreys will be away to Treviso, while Leinster, consistently Ireland’s best team for the last few years, travel to face Llanelli Scarlets.
The 3rd Cricket ODI between England and South Africa (3 of 5), played at Kennington Oval, London – 31 August 2012 – day/night (50-over match).
England won by 4 wickets, with 12 balls to spare.
Lions (18) 32 / 42 (28) Griquas (Final Score)
The MTN Golden Lions and GWK Griquas did battle in the Currie Cup, Premier Division at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg 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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SANZAR look set to release the 2013 Super Rugby fixture list with Australian teams starting a week earlier than New Zealand and South African teams in order to accomodate the British and Irish Lions tour.
The Aviva Premiership gets underway this weekend, with the first match kicking off at 1500 South African time on Saturday at Twickenham. There will be a further four matches on Saturday with the final game for the round due to kick off at 1500 South African time on Sunday.
Robbie Deans has brought in five players to an extended Australia squad for the Rugby Championship clash with South Africa.
Captain Jean de Villiers says the Springboks need to learn from their mistakes as they prepare for the Australasia leg of their Rugby Championship campaign.
The Sharks have named their side to face the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in an official Sharks Media Release, for the Absa Currie Cup this weekend.
The team features Springbok returnee, Keegan Daniel, who starts for the Sharks at No 8.
Griquas coach Pote Human has gone against consistency and rung the changes again to his Currie Cup team for their clash against the Lions in Johannesburg on Friday.
New Zealand’s Maori All Blacks will tour the Northern Hemisphere in November this year to play Leicester Tigers, Canada and a RFU Championship select XV.
The Sharks support Anti-Bullying
The Sharks are pleased to announce the launch of our Anti-Bullying Campaign in partnership with Childline KZN, which aims to raise awareness and support a serious issue that is becoming more prevalent amongst the youth in our country.
DHL Western Province No 8 Duane Vermeulen and Toyota Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Johan Goosen are the two uncapped players that have been added to the Springbok squad for the Australasian leg of The Castle Rugby Championship.
The squad of 28 for Tests against Australia in Perth (September 8) and New Zealand in Dunedin (September 15), was finalised on Wednesday.
Apart from the inclusion of Vermeulen and Goosen, there were recalls for DHL Western Province midfielder Juan de Jongh as well as loose forward Francois Louw, who has captained Bath in England.
DHL Western Province head coach Allister Coetzee has named his team for Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup clash against the Vodacom Blue Bulls at DHL Newlands (19h10).
Utility back JJ Engelbrecht will make his Vodacom Blue Bulls debut on Saturday when the team plays Western Province in an Absa Currie Cup match at Newlands in Cape Town.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has come out in defence of his Wallabies rival Robbie Dean who is under severe pressure for his job to turn the Australian Rugby team around or face the sack.
The 2nd Cricket ODI between England and South Africa (2 of 5), played at The Rose Bowl, Southampton – 28 August 2012 – day/night (50-over match).
South Africa won by 80 runs.
Scotland and London Irish centre Joe Ansbro has suffered a broken neck while playing in a pre-season match against Munster. This news follows that of fellow Scotland star backline player Stuart Hogg also being ruled out of rugby for a while, having undergone a foot operation.
Any thoughts that Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer may have about selecting Toyota Free State wunderkid Johan Goosen should be shelved until the Boks get back from Australia and New Zealand.
The Reds have rounded off their coaching staff for next season with the re-signing of Super Rugby-winning High Performance coaches, Jim McKay and Damian Marsh.
The Western Force on Tuesday signed New Zealand scrumhalf Alby Mathewson as its marquee player for the 2013 season as they work to rebuild the team.
Wallaby lock Dan Vickerman on Tuesday announced his retirement from all forms of the game after being sidelined with injury for much of the year.
Prior to the new round of 3 matches this coming weekend, we have to report that Trevor Nyakane, prop of the Free State Cheetahs, has broken his thumb and might be out for the rest of the Currie Cup. Blue Bulls young monster looseforwar, Arno Botha, who was struggling with a hamstring strain seems to have strained the hamstring some more and indications are he is out for at least one week. Western Province has not escaped the injury bogey either with news that not only is Siya Kolisi out for the remainder of the Currie Cup season, but Tyrone Holmes is out for 2 weeks with a shoulder injury. The good news for Western Province however is that they will have Rynhardt Elstadt and Deon Carsten back from injury this week.
The deadly boot of flyhalf Elton Jantjies ensured that defending champions the Golden Lions climbed back to the top of the Currie Cup Premier Division standings, while there were also wins for the Free State Cheetahs and Blue Bulls in Round three of South Africa’s premier domestic competition.
Various pre-season friendly matches have taken place this weekend, ahead of the start of the Aviva Premiership and RaboDirect Pro12 competitions. Furthemore, there has been news of player injuries as well as some player transfer news.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer pulled no punches when asked where things went wrong for his team as they drew the second Test in The Castle Rugby Championship, against Argentina in Mendoza, by 16-16.
We were asked the question – So what is a full house, about 40,000 or so? Lets be generous and call it roughly 70% empty. Even Newlands in Cape Town is nowhere near full for Currie Cup matches, yet all the big stadiums are near full house for Super Sugby, so back to my question, any theories on why this apparent lack of interest in Currie Cup matches?
My thoughts are as follows. Add yours!
Pumas (13) 16 / 16 (3) Springboks (Final Score)
The Argentinian Pumas and South African Springboks did battle in The Rugby Championships at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza at 21:10 SA Time (16:10 ARG Time, 19:10 GMT).
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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Blue Bulls (12) 42 / 31 (14) Sharks (Final Score)
The Vodacom Blue Bulls and The Sharks did battle in the Currie Cup, Premier Division at Loftus Versfeld at 19:00 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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Lions (11) 26 / 23 (10) WP (Final Score)
The MTN Golden Lions and DHL Western Province did battle in the Currie Cup, Premier Division at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
After a ding dong game that swayed back and forth the home team emerged victorious by a slight margin thanks to an Elton Jantjies penalty several minutes after the final hooter.
MAN OF YHR MATCH: Elton Jantjies
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Griquas (10) 16 / 29 (10) Cheetahs (Final Score)
GWK Griquas and Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in the Currie Cup, Premier Division 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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All Blacks (9) 22 / 0 (0) Wallabies (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks and Australian Wallabies did battle in The Rugby Championship at Eden Park, Auckland 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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Northampton Saints have announced that twenty five year old hooker Brett Sharman, has left the club.
I certainly hope you all have your rugby shoes ready for tomorrow, Saturday 25 August 2012!
There are 5 marvelous games on, starting with the Test between the All Blacks vs Wallabies at 09:35 SA Time.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union announced the MTN Golden Lions team to play DHL Western Province on Saturday 25 August 2012 at Coca-Cola Park.
The next dramatic chapter in the protracted Super Rugby participation saga will be written in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Golden Lions Rugby Union President Kevin de Klerk said that he will meet up with the South African Rugby Union hierarchy on Thursday. This follows the SARU decision last week to axe the Lions and replace them with the Southern Kings in 2013.