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James Hook has been named in place of Rhys Priestland at No. 10 for Wales in their Rugby World Cup semi-final against France on Saturday.
Former Rugby Football Union Vice-Chairman Fran Cotton has agreed to chair an independent review of the entire England structure after the national team exited the Rugby World Cup in the quarter finals.
Lock Wikus van Heerden returns to the Golden Lions starting line up and Butch James has been named on the bench for the Lions Currie Cup match against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Griquas coach Abre Minnie has named an unchanged line-up from the team that beat the Blue Bulls last week for his side’s crucial Currie Cup showdown with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Our friend and fellow blogger, Ashley, felt strongly enough about the issue to send me the following Article to publish… this is his view on the matter and he asks certain rather interesting questions.
Here are his thoughts:
Has the hierarchy at New Zealand Rugby at last lost faith in their team? Have they (or at least some powerful individuals) at last reached a stage where they no longer believe that their team can win the World Cup on their own steam?
Well, from where I’m sitting it certainly seems to be the case.
The Sharks will field several of their returning Springboks in this week’s crucial Currie Cup rugby encounter against the Lions in Durban, coach John Plumtree confirmed on Tuesday.
Wales are still sweating on Rhys Priestland’s shoulder injury ahead of their Rugby World Cup against France at Eden Park in New Zealand on Saturday.
France Rugby World Cup scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili says he is recovering well from a thigh injury he sustained playing against England and is “confident” of playing in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semifinal against Wales.
Australian fullback Kurtley Beale has a hamstring injury and is rated “touch and go” to play for Australia in Sunday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final with New Zealand at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Golden Lions CEO Manie Reyneke has quit in his position as Chief Executive Officer of the union, the GLRU announced.
Secret England training documents from the Rugby World Cup have been discovered in Ireland’s Rugby world Cup team hotel in New Zealand.
GBS and BonzaiGBS
The South African National rugby shift boss…. errr sorry, coach appeared to have resigned in interviews in New Zealand, only to then deny that he had resigned upon arrival in South Africa. Whatever the situation, his 4-year contract comes to an end at the end of December 2011 anyway, which leaves the process open for a replacement to be appointed.
There has already been wide-spread speculation as to who the right candidates might be…. but that’s not why I am writing this Article!
France coach Marc Lievremont has named an unchanged starting team to face Wales in a Rugby World Cup semifinal against Wales on Saturday at Eden Park.
Wallabies scrumhalf Will Genia says Australia will test the All Blacks new tarting flyhalf Aaron Cruden in their Rugby World Cup semifinal this weekend.
Ireland’s Alain Rolland and South Africa’s Craig Joubert will referee the Rugby World Cup semi-finals, the International Rugby Board (IRB) announced on Monday.
The “jackal at the tackle” has become common parlance at the World Cup, but it has never been better personified than in the shape of Australia flank David Pocock.
The All Blacks have called up fly half Stephen Donald and winger Hosea Gear as replacements for full back Mils Muliaina and fly half Colin Slade who have both been ruled out due to injury.
Retiring Springbok Captain John Smit and his outgoing coach Peter de Villiers have placed a large portion of the blame on New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence for their Rugby World Cup exit.
England will decide on the future of England manager Martin Johnson before the end of the year according to England’s director of rugby operations Rob Andrew.
Australia are sweating on key Rugby World Cup injuries to Kurtley Beale, Pat McCabe and Sekope Kepu who will all undergo scans ahead of this weekend’s World Cup semi-final with New Zealand.
Rugby’s major nations have endorsed a 20-team format for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and have offered to play midweek matches to ensure lower-ranked teams have more time between rugby matches.
All Blacks (12) 33 / Pumas (7) 10 (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks and the Argentianian Pumas did battle in the Fourth Quarter Final in Auckland at 09:30 SA Time (20:30 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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The All Blacks progress through to the semi-finals, but only after the galant Argentinians gave them a bloody good go in the process.
The final four are now decided, they are Wales vs France and All Blacks vs Wallabies.
Springboks (3) 9 / Wallabies (8) 11 (Final Score)
The South African Springboks and the Australian Wallabies did battle in the Third Quarter Final in Wellington at 07:00 SA Time (18:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & 4, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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And so, the Springboks exit Rugby World Cup 2011….
Leopards (0) 14 / Sharks (15) 41 (Final Score)
The Platinum Leopards hosted The Sharks in Rustenburg 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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What a dreary game!
The Sharks scrored twice right at the end, making it look as if the won handsomely, but that would be untrue.
The match was marred by a plethera of errors, from both sides but none more so than the Leopards, when the tryline was begging for them to score.
Job done for the Sharks though, 5 Log points in the bag.
Lions (20) 42 / WP (9) 25 (Final Score)
The MTN Golden Lions host DHL Western Province at Coka-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
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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The Lions were full value for their 5 tries to 1 win over a Western Province side who had to try and stay in touch via the solid boot of Demetri Catrakilis.
Griquas (27) 48 / Blue Bulls (22) 44 (Final Score)
GWK Griquas and the Vodacom Blue Bulls did battle 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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The Griquas effectively ended the Blue Bulls aspirations to make the final four in the race for the Currie Cup, with this 4-point win.
England (0) 12 / France (16) 19 (Final Score)
England and France did battle in the Second Quarter Final in Auckland at 09:30 SA Time (20:30 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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France started like a house on fire and by halftime led by 16 / 0.
England did not give up though, and came back hard at France, but France prevailed.
England go home and France marches on.
Ireland (3) 10 / Wales (10) 22 (Final Score)
Ireland and Wales did battle in the First Quarter Final in Wellington at 07:00 SA Time (18:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & 4, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Excellent defence and an excellent match overall!
Wales knock out Ireland and is the first side to advance to the semi-finals.
Pumas (13) 23 / Cheetahs (7) 29 (Final Score)
The Ford Pumas and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in Witbank at 19:10 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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The Toyota Free State Cheetahs trailed for most of the match, with the Ford Pumas rising to the occasion. In the final minutes the Cheetahs scored 2 tries to eventually win by 6 points, earning their bonus point in the process.
Australia have all but restored the lineup they started the Rugby World Cup with for their Quarter final against South Africa.
Injuries have forced the All Blacks into making six changes to their starting side for their Rugby World Cup quarter final against Argentina on Sunday.
Argentina front row rock Rodrigo Roncero has been cleared to start in the World Cup quarter-final clash with New Zealand, enabling the South Americans to field their strongest available team on Sunday.
Griquas will be playing for Currie Cup survival while the Blue Bulls will not want to lose touch with the top four teams on the log when these two sides clash in Kimberley on Saturday.
Sharks coach John Plumtree announced four changes to the side that will play the Leopards in Saturday’s Currie Cup rugby match in Phokeng, near Rustenburg.
Springboks lock Bakkies Botha has been ruled out of the rugby world cup due to an Achilles tendon injury and will return to South Africa on Friday.