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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.
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.
The Sharks have made a statement about the fire at Mr Price Kings Park… here it is.
The Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) have advised that they will not appeal the SANZAR judicial ruling to suspend Queensland Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper on a dangerous tackle charge to avoid further disruption to its team’s title defence which continues in two days time.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has appealed to television match officials to get “the big moments” right as the Super Rugby enters the sudden death rounds on Saturday.
History favours the Crusaders and Reds in their playoff clashes against the Bulls and Sharks, and Blackadder does not want the results decided by controversial rulings.
It’s the hunting season and the targets are the young bucks of South African rugby. It is an intense time for talent scouts and likely to grow more intense.
SANZAR have announced the dates and times for the Super Rugby Semi-Finals, to be played in the second week of the 2012 Super Rugby Finals Series.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee still hasn’t given up all hope of influential No 8 Duane Vermeulen being ready to play some part in the Super Rugby semifinal at Newlands against one of the Crusaders, Sharks or Bulls on 28 July.
Former All Blacks great John Kirwan has been appointed as Blues coach in Auckland replacing Pat Lam for the next two Super Rugby seasons.
The disciplinary hearing of suspended Lions coach John Mitchell will start at the offices of the Golden Lions Rugby Union on Tuesday.
The Wallabies have named a twenty-seven strong training squad for the upcoming Four Nations Rugby Championship including previously injured Test wingers Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner.
Bulls (20) 37 / (20) 20 Lions (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and MTN Lions did battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 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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Reds (12) 32 / (11) 16 Waratahs (Final Score)
The Reds and Waratahs did battle in 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 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Crusaders (32) 38 / (3) 24 Force (Final Score)
The Crusaders and Western Force did battle in 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 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Brumbies (13) 16 / (21) 30 Blues (Final Score)
The Brumbies and Blues did battle in Super Rugby at Canberra Stadium, Canberra at 07:30 SA Time (15:30 Canberra 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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Hurricanes (18) 28 / (15) 25 Chiefs (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Chiefs did battle in Super Rugby at Westpac Stadium, Wellington 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 Week 18, the last open round before the play-off’s, of Super Rugby 2012.
Herewith ALL the Team Sheets as they were announced.
The Lions were beaten by Free State in last year’s final game in Kimberley. The Bulls beat the Pumas 36-10 in their second game on Thursday to become one of just three sides, along with the Lions and the hosts, Eastern Province, to win two out of two going into the final day of the week.
SANZAR have released the match officials for Week 18, the last open round for all participating teams in the 2012 Super Rugby tournament, with Jonathan Kaplan starting proceedings this weekend.
This weekend has 7 matches, 1 on Friday and 6 on Saturday.
This weekend the Highlanders have the bye, thus having already completed their season.
The Stormers might have to wait a little longer before lock Eben Etzebeth is back on the park, with the big man still struggling to shake off an ankle injury.
Vodacom Bulls loose forward Jono Ross will be hoping the next fortnight goes well as he undergoes a trial at English club Saracens.
Promising Kenyan forward Daniel Adongo has been released from his contract with the Blue Bulls after just six months.
There is just one round left in the regular season of Super Rugby and eight teams are still in the hunt for a berth in the top six.
All Blacks and Chiefs star Sonny Bill Williams has confirmed that he will leave New Zealand Rugby and play in Japan after the Super Rugby season.
The International Rugby Board have announced a list of eight referees and match officials for the forthcoming Rugby Championship which replaces the TriNations.
Cheetahs (3) 6 / (3) 13 Stormers (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and DHL Stormers did battle in Super Rugby at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 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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Waratahs (5) 15 / (9) 19 Brumbies (final Score)
The Waratahs and Brumbies did battle in Super Rugby at ANZ Stadium, Sydney at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Sydney 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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Blues (13) 32 / (9) 9 Force (Final Score)
The Blues and Western Force did battle in Super Rugby 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 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Sharks (20) 32 / (3) 10 Bulls (Final Score)
The Sharks and Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban 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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Reds (6) 19 / (3) 13 Highlanders (Final Score)
The Reds and Highlanders did battle in 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 & CSN on TV in SA.
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