Monthly Archives: February 2013
Blues (20) 34 / 15 (12) Crusaders (Final Score)
The Blues and Crusaders did battle in Super Rugby at Eden Park, Auckland at 08:30 SA Time (06:30 GMT, 19:30 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 as they are announded for Round 3 of Super Rugby 2013.
The Australian Rugby Union has announced that the Wallabies will have a dedicated three-week window to prepare for their once in a lifetime opportunity against the British & Irish Lions.
Coach John Plumtree has opted for continuity and kept the exact same squad of 22 players for their encounter with the Stormers in Durban on Saturday. In the only change within that squad, strongman Jean Deysel will be starting this week with Jacques Botes moving to the bench.
DHL Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has made few changes to the squad that lost their opening match against the Bulls last weekend.
Here we are midweek already and looking forward to the coming weekend’s rugby. Most of the attention up north is due to be focussed on the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Aviva Premiership as there is yet another break in the RBS 6 Nations tournament. Last weekend’s rugby may now be a distant memory but felt it would be interesting to share the views of two former international players of the action between Scotland and Ireland.
Burton Francis, the much travelled 26-year old Griquas flyhalf, will fly in to join the Toyota Cheetahs on their Australasian Tour to replace the injured Elgar Watts.
Francis recently joined Griquas after initially forming part of the Southern Kings wider training group in the pre-season.
There was good news for clubs on both sides of the Central Belt as the services of two valuable loose forwards were announced. Glasgow Warriors have managed to secure the services of prodigal son Richie Vernon once more while Roddy Grant has extended his contract with Edinburgh Rugby.
There were several decisions this last weekend which are worth debating. One of them was the try scored by Chiliboy Ralepelle of the Bulls, a try which took the home team to 25-10 with 13 minutes to play.
Now that the euphoria amongst Sharks fans has settled down, many are beginning too ponder how the Sharks team went from a commanding lead of 21 points after 50 minutes of rugby, to scrambling desperately to prevent the Cheetahs snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. By contrast Cheetahs fans are grimly searching for some positives to take out of the match. The following thoughts was posted on the Cheetahs Blog.
The good performances by the Cheetah looseforwards against the Sharks the past weekend, has given coach Naka Drotskè enough reason to hold back the return of bok flanker Heinrich Brüssow. The Cheetahs loose trio of Frans Viljoen, Lappies Labuschagne and Phillip van der Walt gave a good account of themselves in a losing cause. Boom Prinsloo also made a positive contribution from the replacement bench. Phillip van der Walt played probably his best Super Rugby match to date and he combined well with Lappies in creating a well-crafted try.
Tuks (16) 16 / 18 (16) Maties (Final Score)
The University of Pretoria FNB UP-Tuks and University of Stellenbosch FNB Maties did battle in the Varsity Cup at Tuks Rugby Stadium at 19:005 SA 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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Wits (16) 24 / 63 (34) UJ (Final Score)
FNB Wits and FNB UJ did battle in the Varsity Cup at Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg at 16:45 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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I am thrilled with the win against tough opponents in such testing conditions Sharks coach John Plumtree admitted after his team’s 29-22 victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. “We just had to get the win, even if it was ugly he said.
DHL Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has some tough decisions to make this week after a poor showing in key areas last week.
Expecting the worst, I was reluctant to the point of rather snooze off in front of the TV when the Southern Kings vs Western Force match started at 06:00 this morning in New Zealand.
The first 10 minutes was not encouraging at all with the Kings hardly seeing the ball. On the brink of switching the TV off, the Kings scored the first try of the match. Intrigued I started to watch, with more interest and what a delight it turned out to be.
SuperBru points in the back of my mind, I was not concerned about them losing. So I kept on watching not because they were edging ahead and eventually winning but because of the delightful rugby they dished-up.
The defence was good, the set piece solid (mostly), the line-out better than the Stormers on the weekend and the ball handling in the backline refreshing and full of variation. There was some enchanting inter-passing between forwards and backs, good hands, nice light touches and good decision-making when they carried the ball. Some exciting new talent was on display as well on the wing with Sergeal Petersen. Demetri Catrakilis had an impressive game at flyhalf. Seems that we have a wing here that could be a Springbok in the making and Catrakilis impressed as a flyhalf that can dictate as well as play the running game.
Three Six Nations games were played this weekend, two Saturday afternoon and evening and one on Sunday. Unfortunately the Saturday games overlaped with two Super Rugby games.
So, we’ve decided to do one combined Six Nations Article… giving progress and scores from all three Six Nations matches.
Here it is…
The 1st game up in a season of Super Rugby is never easy, but hell it was nice to sit in the Press Benches at Loftus Versfeld again watching Super Rugby!
Firstly, I have to complain bitterly about 2 things though…. the first being Pretoria Traffic Department’s abhorrent handling of the traffic around Loftus, before the match. Many people were still stuck in traffic after the match had started, not a first time occurence in Pretoria either.
Get yourselves sorted out Traffic Department, you are a blight on Pretoria!
Secondly I have to complain about 3G Internet coverage at Loftus! None of the Cell Networks allowed any workable Internet access for the scribes in the Press Boxes and with 45 000 supporters in the stands with their Cell Phones on, these Networks were all clearly overloaded. Note to myself, take this up with the Bulls… they in turn would have to take it up with their principle sponsors, Vodacom and the other Cell Networks, or else provide a working Wi-Fi Hotspot scenario for proper Internet Access.
For both the Vodacom Bulls and the DHL Stormers, this was not easy either! These 2 “Big Guns” went hammer and tongs with one another at Loftus Versveld on Friday evening 22 February 2013.
The Bulls won on the evening, by 25 / 17, bagging 4 Log Points and giving the Stormers no Log Points.
South Africa and Pakistan did battle in the 3rd and final 5-Day Test at Centurion park, Pretoria which started at 10:30 SA Time on Friday 22 February and which was scheduled to run till Tuesday 26 February 2013.
This was the Live Game Article for the Match.
South Africa won the Toss and elected to bat.
In South Africa’s First Innings they ammassed 409 runs, all out. Pakistan only managed 156 runs in their First innings and was instructed to follow on. In their Second Innings, the Pakistani’s fought bravely until they were all out on 235 runs, still 18 behind South Africa’s First Innings total.
South Africa won by an Innings and 18 runs, making a clean sweep and achieving a whitewash of Pakistan in the Test Series in South Africa
Have you ever wondered where the TV and Radio Commentators get all their statistics on Teams, Coaching Staff, Players, participating Countries and detailed Tournament History?
Well, wonder no more, because here is exactly what they work from, for your own personal pleasure!
I took the trouble and the liberty to take the 402 page printed Media Guide Book – converted it into a fully indexed PDF Document (which opens with any version of Adobe Reader – which is normally installed on almost all computers – and the latest version of Adobe Reader XI [Free version or Professional version] is available for download and installation from www.adobe.com).
If you do not have Adobe Reader, you certainly still live in the stone age and definately do not belong in front of a computer… with your knuckles certainly scraping the ground when you walk! Tell you what, I’ll even teach you to make fire and help you re-invent the wheel… how’s that?
Whoopie!
Kings (5) 22 / 10 (10) Force (Final Score)
The Southern Kings made their debut in Super Rugby against the Western Force at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth 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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Cheetahs (5) 22 / 29 (16) Sharks (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and The Sharks did battle in Super Rugby at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 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.
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Reds (17) 25 / 17 (3) Waratahs (Final Score)
The Reds and Waratahs did battle in Super Rugby at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 10:40 SA Time (18:40 Brisbane Time, 08:40 GMT).
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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Hurricanes (13) 20 / 34 (11) Blues (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Blues did battle in Super Rugby at Westpac Stadium, Wellington at 08:35 SA Time (06:30 GMT, 19:30 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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With just seven rounds left in the regular season of the PRO12, the race is really on for a top four finish, and qualification for the play-offs. In the pick of the games this weekend first plays second when leaders Ulster travel to face Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun on Friday night.
Harlequins will look to cement their place at the top of the Premiership standings when they visit Salford City Stadium on Friday. Up against the troubled and bottom-placed Sale Sharks, defending champion Quins are expected to collect a full-house five points.
Continue reading
Bulls (9) 25 / 17 (0) Stormers (Final Score)
The Vodacon Bulls and DHL Stormers do battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
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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Rebels (13) 13 / 30 (12) Brumbies (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels and ACT Brumbies did battle in Super Rugby at AAMI Stadium, Melbourne at 10:40 SA Time (08:40 GMT, 19:40 Melbourne Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Highlanders (14) 27 / 41 (16) Chiefs (Final Score)
The Highlanders and Chiefs did battle in Super Rugby at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin at 08:35 SA Time (06:35 GMT, 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 Round 2 of Super Rugby 2013.
Leicester prop Martin Castrogiovanni will lead Italy in the absence of banned number eight Sergio Parisse for Saturday’s Six Nations game with Wales. Stade Francais’ Parisse is out of the tournament after being suspended for 30 days for insulting a match referee.
South Africa-born flanker Antonie Claassen is on the bench for France who travel to Twickenham to tackle England in the Six Nations this Saturday. Francois Trinh-Duc returns at fly-half as another change for France who make seven personnel changes, plus one positional, to their side.
England have brought back Manu Tuilagi, Courtney Lawes and Dylan Hartley for Saturday’s crunch Six Nations clash with France at Twickenham.
Going through the Internet, looking for interesting rugby titbits, I once again came accross Dewald Potgieter’s Blog, one which SuperSport publishes week by week in the active rugby season down south.
Dewald continues to surprise with his easy and well-written articles.
Interestingly, my wife was at the Christmas Function of the Blue Bulls end of last year, where Dewald Potgieter also acted as Master of Ceremonies… and the same sentiments eminated from her. Dewald is a very well-spoken and eloquent young man, take your time to read what he says.
