Just For Kicks
Sharks (43) 53 / 0 (0) Kings (Final Score)
The Cell C Sharks and Southern Kings did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban at 17:10 SA Time (15:10 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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EP Kings (19) 22 / 41 (21) Golden Lions (Final Score)
The Eastern Province Kings and Xerox Golden Lions did battle in the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division at
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Griquas (3) 25 / 36 (15) FS Cheetahs (Final Score)
GWK Griquas and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division at
GWK Park, Kimberley at 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Scotland (14) 17 / 19 (9) France (Final Score)
Scotland and France did battle in the Six Nations tournament at
Murrayfield, Edinburgh at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT, 18:00 French Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 7 on TV in SA.
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Ireland (17) 41 / 7 (7) Italy (Final Score)
Ireland and Italy did battle in the Six Nations tournament at
Aviva Stadium, Dublin at 16:30 SA Time (14:30 GMT, 15:30 Italy Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 7 on TV in SA.
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England (3) 13 / 10 (0) Ireland (Final Score)
England and Ireland did battle in the Six Nations at
Twickenham, London at 18:00 SA Time (16:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 8 on TV in SA and BBC1 in UK.
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Italy (13) 20 / 21 (3) Scotland (Final Score)
Italy and Scotland did battle in the Six Nations at
Stadio Olimpico, Rome at 15:30 SA Time (14:30 Rome Time, 13:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 8 on TV in SA and BBC1 in UK.
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England won the toss and elected to bat at a cloudy, but dry Chester-Le-Street with an unchanged side. With the Ashes in their pockets, thanks to the draw in Manchester, England were hoping to keep the Australians winless in the series. The Australians made one change in the quickie, Jackson Bird, who came in for Mitchell Starc. The pitch was hard and dry and swing was expected.
England put up a first innings score of 238 runs, all out and Australia replied with 270 all out. England’s second innings delivered 330 runs, all out.
On Day 4 the target set for Australia in their 2nd innings was 299 to win the match. Australia started well and with over a third of the runs in the bag, they lost their 1st wicket, then in the early 170’s they lost the plot and lost a number of wickets in the space of a few runs. After that the wickets kept falling in regular intervals and almost at close of play on Day 4 England bagged the last wicket to win by 74 runs.
Australia won the toss and chose to bat first against England in the 3rd Ashes Test at Old Trafford. Australia made three changes to their side with David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon who came into the side. The England side was unchanged.
The pitch wass dry and hard to start with, which supplied a bit of bounce first up and spin was forecast reasonably soon. Atmospheric conditions on the 1st day was conducive to swing early on before temperatures rose too much.
The match ended in a dull draw with a lot of rain delaying play in the last days, forcing Australie to declare their 2nd innings at 172 / 7, setting England the ungettable target of 332 runs off just over 20 overs remaining in the match. England were 37 / 3 when the game was stopped and the draw announced.
This is what really happened behind the scenes…
[youtube]http://youtu.be/_APSHxnTZp8[/youtube]
You know we’re joking, of course
In what can only be described as a very dead rubber, SA faced a weakened Sri Lankan side in Columbo, where AB felt that losing 3-2 would be better than losing 4-1. Something I hadn’t thought of – well done, AB. Sri Lanka, with 3 Perera’s and as many changes, won the toss and chose to bat. Unfortunately AB’s side did go down 4-1. Good news is that AB did realise, at the interview, that they needed to improve
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat against South Africa. After a 30-minute delay due to a wet outfield, Dinesh Chandimal chose to bat in cloudy Colombo at the R Premadasa Stadium.
Rain interrupted play again with the Sri Lankan score on 223 / 9 after 49.2 overs.
South Africa eventually came in to bat, with the game reduced to 29 overs and needing 176 to win.
From about 11 overs gone, South Africa started falling behind the par score in terms of a Duckworth / Lewis calculation and eventually the rain stopped play again after 21 overs, with the covers coming on.
All further play was called off and Sri Lanka was declared the winner by 17 runs.
Australia took on England at the home of cricket, Lords, in the 2nd of 5 Test matches. England won the first Test and therefore were 1 / 0 up in the series at the start of the game.
England demolished the Australians in the 2nd Test, winning by 347 runs, one full day early.
A comprehensive Highlights package of the match available here.
The 24-year-old Wales flanker has what the Lions have described as “a significant tear” in his left hamstring
Sharks (17) 22 / 20 (5) Blues (Final Score)
The Sharks and Blues did battle in Super Rugby at Kings Park, Durban 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.
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Three Six Nations games are played today but unfortunately the early Saturday games overlap with a Super Rugby game and a game in the Lions Challenge.
So, we’ve decided to do one combined Six Nations Article for the early games and a seperate one for the late evening game… giving progress and scores from both Six Nations matches.
Here it is…
Two Six Nations games are played today. Unfortunately the Saturday games overlap with two Super Rugby games.
So, we’ve decided to do one combined Six Nations Article… giving progress and scores from both Six Nations matches.
Here it is…
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…
England (19) 38 / 18 (11) Scotland (Final Score)
England and Scotland did battle in the Six Nations tournament at Twickenham, London at 18:00 SA Time (16:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 & SHD4 on TV in SA.
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Wales (3) 22 / 30 (23) Ireland (Final Score)
Wales and Ireland did battle in the Six Nations tournament at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff at 15:30 SA Time (13:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 & SHD4 on TV in SA.
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On Tuesday the Lions announced a 35-man squad that will take part in the Lions Challenge series that kicks off against Russia this Saturday at Ellis Park.
Finally, we come to the back three, the wings and fullback. The Cape has always produced a plethora of gifted wingbacks and this year it is no exception. Add to the mix the precocious talent of a young Mr Taute, and we have the making of a sublime back three.
Limpopo will play in the Vodacom Cup as a separate team for the first time when this 16-team competition kicks off on the second weekend of March.
Springboks and Stormers lock Andries Bekker could leave South Africa after the 2013 Super Rugby season and take up a contract in Europe.
South Africa is blessed with some wonderful centres at the moment, and the lads in the Stormers squad are no exception. Springbok Captain Jean de Villiers again wears the Captains band for the Stormers, even though Schalk Burger is expected back from a long injury lay-off a couple of weeks into the season.
Last year, this is where I expected the bloggers have a good giggle. This year, we all know the coup pulled off by Allister Coetzee and Co which has, with the signing of one player, completely changed the face of the Stormers flyhalf dilemma of the past.
And so we move on to the backs, but before we do, some housekeeping and a summary of what has happened through player movements at Stormers HQ from the 2012 to the 2013 season.
“This is where the debate starts to get interesting. So much conjecture around Schalk Burger, his role and where he should play. With Francois Louw gone, is the fetching role going to be an area of contention?” This was my view from the same article 12 months ago – has anything changed?
Schalk Burger still under a cloud, Nizaam Carr still hobbling, but a plethora of very good players in the squad means that if these two players do ever get into frontline rugby again, the Stormers will certainly be able to post a formidable loose trio on match days!
With only four locks in the squad, and the well documented injury problems that Bekker seems to pick up on a regular basis, this looks like an area of concern for Alister Coetzee and his assistants.
Time to talk about the men in the middle. Although there is heaps of talent, and plenty of experience, they seem to be very thin on the ground, especially if Fourie does decide to migrate to the side of the scrum… or perhaps even further!
2012 Saw the Stormers topping the table in the round robin, only to lose out to the Sharks in the semi’s. 2013 Will be a big year for the boys. With almost the whole of the young 2012 squad still available and the coaching staff remaining unchanged (unlike the very disruptive 2012 start), this side has every chance of going all the way this year. Add to the squad the likes of Burger, Cilliers, Rhodes, Taute and Jantjies, depth in every position looks so much better.
Bryan Habana’s spectacular score against New Zealand in the inaugural Rugby Championship has been named Try of the Year for 2012 by the International Rugby Players’ Association.
The Springboks may have an alternative captain leading them onto the field for their second tour match against Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh on Saturday.
The Springboks have moved into second spot on the International Rugby Board’s rankings after their 16-12 win over Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.