grootblousmile
South Africa’s Craig Joubert, who was in charge of the Rugby World Cup 2011 Final, will referee the first Test under the scrum engagement trial sequence when he takes charge of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship match between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney on 17 August.
The International Rugby Board on Wednesday announced the names of the 12 referees for The Castle Rugby Championship. These appointments were made by the IRB Match Official Selection Committee following a detailed review of recent performances during the June Tests.
Die Vodacom Bulls gaan die volgende twee weke van die Vodacom Super Rugby-toernooi sonder Jan Serfontein moet klaarkom. Die senter het ‘n kniebesering in die Bulls se 20-19 sege oor die Sharks opgedoen en volgens spandokter Org Strauss gaan hy minstens twee weke buite aksie wees.
The Cheetahs have been boosted by the announcement that Springbok Willie le Roux extended his contract at the franchise for a further two years.
Australian rugby chiefs are to fire national coach Robbie Deans and replace him with the Reds’ Ewen McKenzie on Tuesday, reports said on Monday following the Wallabies’ series loss to the British and Irish Lions.
Deans will be sacked six months before his contract ends, as the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) seeks to rebuild after the national team’s 41-16 thrashing by the Lions in Saturday’s series-deciding third Test, the Sydney Morning Herald said.
The mass exodus at the Rebels franchise extended to the coaching staff on Monday, with news that Damien Hill has followed Test star James O’Connor and scrumhalf Nick Phipps out the door.
The Melbourne-based Super Rugby franchise has appointed Wallabies coaching co-ordinator Tony McGahan as the new head coach.
Defending Super Rugby champions, the Chiefs, have signed Crusaders utility back Tom Marshall for two years.
The Vodacom Bulls moved to the top of the log and the Toyota Cheetahs made Vodacom Super Rugby history during a weekend where the top six for 2013 was finalised with one round of action left to play.
The Melbourne Rebels have confirmed that they will not be offering Wallaby flyhalf James O’Connor a further contract beyond the 2013 season.
Bulls (13) 20 / 19 (8) Sharks (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and The Sharks did battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 19:15 SA Time (17:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
Cheetahs (19) 34 / 13 (10) Blues (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and Blues did battle in Super Rugby at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 14:50 SA Time (12:50 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
Wallabies (10) 16 / 41 (19) Lions (Final Score)
The Australian Wallabies and British & Irish Lions did battle in the British & Irish Lions series of 2013 at
ANZ Stadium, Sydney at 12:00 SA Time (20:00 AEST, 10:00 GMT, 11:00 BST).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
*******************
Hurricanes (13) 44 / 49 (32) Highlanders (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Highlanders did battle in Super Rugby at Westpac Stadium, Wellington at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
Crusaders (19) 43 / 15 (8) Chiefs (Final Score)
The Crusaders and Chiefs did battle in Super Rugby at AMI Stadium, Christchurch at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
Here are the Super Rugby Team Sheets as they are announded for Round 19 of Super Rugby 2013. Only the Highlanders side still outstanding.
Seasoned flank George Smith has been recalled to the Australian team for the deciding Test against the British and Irish Lions in Sydney on Saturday.
Die Vodacom Bulls se mees ervare speler nog, Mornè Steyn, is terug in die beginspan wat Saterdag op Loftus Versfeld teen die Sharks in ‘n Vodacom Super Rugby-wedstryd speel.
Two of the Cheetahs’ key players face late fitness tests ahead of the team’s decisive Super Rugby encounter with the Blues in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The Cheetahs, who have a bye in the final round of league action next week, must beat the Blues to guarantee themselves a first-ever appearance in the Super Rugby play-offs.
The Chiefs and the Crusaders have both named their sides to face each other in the vital New zealand derby clash between the 2 sides on Friday.
Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies will play two more matches for the Stormers, before returning to Johannesburg to help the Golden Lions in their bid to regain their Super Rugby status.
SANZAR has released the names of the match officials forRound 19 of Super Rugby 2013.
Jonathon White is in charge of Friday’s match between the Chiefs and Crusaders, and what an important clash that will be!
There are 5 matches this weekend, with the Australian sides still sitting out due to the British & Irish Lions series in Australia, but the good news is that at conclusion of this weekend, the Combined Log will no longer be skewed and will reflect the correct position between all 15 sides, finally!
Friday has 1 match and Saturday has 4 matches.
South Africa’s national football and rugby teams will play on the same day at the former World Cup showpiece stadium in Soweto to honour Nelson Mandela, bringing together the country’s two most popular sports that once portrayed its racial divisions.
Zac Guildford has re-signed with the Crusaders, for another year.
Jamie Mackintosh of the Highlanders will be walking over to the Chiefs, having signed a 2-year deal.
However the news is not so good for the Melbourne Rebels, with news that Cooper Vuna was granted an early release from his Super Rugby contract, to go after the lure of the Yen.
It seems not only South African players are heading to Japan and New Zealand certainly has their fair share of players swopping teams!
British and Irish Lions tour manager Andy Irvine says that he still has hope that three key injured players will be available for the deciding Test against the Wallabies.
While Irvine is positive about the Lions hopes he admits that the loss of captain Sam Warburton is a “serious blow” to the team.
The Sharks head into their clash with the Bulls in Pretoria with the rare positive that they have a clean bill of health after their last-ditch victory over the Blues.
Apart from the usual knocks that players receive during a match, the Sharks have every player available from the nail-bitting win at Kings Park on Saturday.
The Southern Kings have named an unchanged starting line-up for their derby clash with the Stormers in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Will Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke elevate young Handre Pollard to his match squad for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby showdown with the Sharks?
That’s the big question this week as the Bulls prepare to rumble on against a dangerous Sharks team who still believes it can make the playoffs.
The International Rugby Board’s appeal of Australia captain James Horwill’s stamping case has been adjourned by judicial officer Graeme Mew of Canada, with Horwill’s place in the third and deciding test Saturday hanging in the balance.
Last week, the IRB appealed against the original decision that cleared Horwill of stamping on British and Irish Lions lock Alun-Wyn Jones in the first test on June 22 in Brisbane.
It’s been a dramatic weekend in Super Rugby with a number of players being cited, banned, injured and more.
Where does one start…
Ma’a Nonu of the Highlanders has been banned for 3 weeks for a Red Card tackle on Crusaders Tom Marshall, and is therefore out of the rest of Super Rugby in 2013. Jarrad Hoeata also of the Highlanders received a 1-week ban following 3 Yellow Cards.
Stormers and Springbok loose forward, Siya Koilisi is out injured for 6 weeks with torn ankle ligaments. Louis Fouché of the Bulls has injured knee ligaments requiring surgery and will be out for 6 months. The Blues have received a double hit with Chris Noakes and Piri Weepu out injured.
At the Cheetahs, Coenie Oosthuizen and Elgar Watts were casualties from the disasterous Cheetahs game against the Stormers and the Cheetahs will be sweating this week on their readyness to face the Blues on the coming weekend.
Meanwhile it is reported that the Stormers heavy guns who missed out on the past weekend’s game, Jean de Villiers, Rynhardt Elstadt and PatCilliers will be ready and available on the weekend for the Stormers.
The Vodacom Bulls secured first place in the South African Conference and booked their place in the Vodacom Super Rugby Finals Series with an emphatic win over the Southern Kings at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
At the same time, The Sharks and the DHL Stormers kept alive their slim mathematical chances of reaching the playoffs when they beat the Blues and the Toyota Cheetahs respectively.
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 was held in Moscow, Russia between 28-30 June. It was the sixth RWC Sevens and the second comprising a men’s and women’s tournament, following the event in Dubai in 2009.
Before this tournament, the defending men’s champions were Wales. Australia were the inaugural women’s champions.
New Zealand’s MEN and WOMEN’s sides won this tournament, completing an impressive double.
New Zealand 33 / 0 England (men)
New Zealand 29 / 12 Canada (women)
Bulls (31) 48 / 18 (13) Kings (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and Southern Kings did battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
Wallabies (9) 16 / 15 (12) Lions (Final Score)
The Australian Wallabies and British & Irish Lions did battle in the British & Irish Lions series of 2013 at
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne at 12:05 SA Time (20:05 AEST, 11:05 BST, 10:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
*******************
Highlanders (7) 12 / 40 (13) Crusaders (Final Score)
The Highlanders and Crusaders did battle in Super Rugby at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
Chiefs (17) 34 / 22 (15) Hurricanes (Final Score)
The Chiefs and Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
Here are the Super Rugby Team Sheets as they were announded for Round 18 of Super Rugby 2013.