superBul
Two match reports. First what New Zealand said and then the Australian view.
The Reds, who were playing for those who suffered because of the Queensland Floods early this year, came out on top.
But one thing is for sure – all of those involved with this Crusaders side should hold their heads high about what they’ve achieved this year.
This is not a spitefull article, nor is it one to show any insensitivity from my side.
We experience so many disasters in the world and in my eyes the biggest one so far in 2011 was the Japannese tragedy. Japan will for years live in doubt about radio-active radiation.
Greg Growden writes: A dream final, and all of Australian Rugby are willing the Queensland Reds to win. But it won’t be easy. The Crusaders were phenomenal against the Stormers in last weekend’s semi-final in Cape Town, with their triumph revolving about an exceptional forward performance, especially at the scrum. And that’s where the Crusaders, despite the trials of jetlag, should again dominate.
The Reds scrum is good, but not as good as the Crusaders. As well, the Crusaders midfield looks far more penetrating than the Reds counterparts, who last weekend worryingly fell off several crucial tackles. The Reds will threaten long and hard, and don’t be surprised if this final is determined in extra time.
The Free State Cheetahs are facing a massive fight to keep their Springbok fetcher Heinrich Brüssow in Bloemfontein after it emerged that Western Province have made a massive offer for him.
Brüssow is widely regarded as one of the best fetchers in the world, and is a shoo-in for the World Cup squad, but his contract with the Cheetahs ends at the end of this season and he has become a major target for other sides.
Compulsary rugby games will be played on Friday. Currie Cup teams must play a game against the “B” division teams. Sharks the current Currie Cup champions take on South Western Districts Eagles, Griquas will play against Border Bulldogs, Blue Bulls will play the Griffons and Free State Cheetahs take on the EP Kings. If more teams are released this post will be updated. If any of these matches will be broadcast Live is not known.
There was so much disappointment at the team’s exit from the current Super Rugby competition that it wasn’t noted at the time, but Jean de Villiers after the Newlands semi-final did have some encouraging words that should lighten the gloom for Stormers fans.
Standing in for regular captain Schalk Burger, who was unable to come back onto the field after halftime because of injury, the Springbok centre repeated what has been said often – perhaps too often for the liking of Cape supporters – this season: “We need to learn from this, absorb the lesson and apply the lesson”.
Heinrich Brüssow, a ball fetcher par excellence, should be named along with team-mate Ashley Johnson when the Springbok team for the Tri-Nations is announced on Saturday.
Brüssow will undergo medical tests when the preliminary World Cup group assembles in Cape Town on Wednesday. He is expected to be fit to face the Wallabies and All Blacks on 23 and 30 July in Sydney and Wellington respectively.
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Sometimes they say it is beneficial to go backwards in order to go forward … sadly for the Stormers, it tends to be a principle of dubious value in crunch rugby matches.
It did them no favours in an embarrassingly one-sided Vodacom Super Rugby semi-final exit, when a white flag was effectively raised at only the second set scrum of the evening.
THE Queensland Reds are one game away from becoming one of Australian sport’s great redemption stories after securing a home Super Rugby grand final with victory against the Auckland Blues.
It all came together on the night for Ewen McKenzie’s men as they outclassed the Blues at Suncorp Stadium, setting up the franchise’s first appearance in a Super Rugby decider next Saturday that will top off a mammoth week of football in the Queensland capital.
Stormers (10) 10 / Crusaders (23) 29 (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers hosted the Crusaders at Newlands, Cape Town. Stormers was forced to change their team. Dewald Duvenhage out, Louis Schreuder in. That disruption did not cost them the game, they also lost their inspirational captain at half time. Schalk Burger did not return from the changeroom, he broke a finger. The forwards of the Crusaders dominated the Stormers. At scrumtime the Stormers were not up to it. More to follow…..
Reds (15) 30 / Blues (7) 13 (Final Score)
The Reds hosted the Blues at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia. This action packed match was brilliantly won by the Reds, scoring 4 tries to one in return by the Blues. The Reds will host the final at the same venue against the winner of the second semi final between the Stormers and the Crusaders in Cape Town. Quade Cooper kicked poorly but his ball in hand game was brilliant.
THREE of the teams playing in this weekend’s Super Rugby semi-finals – the Stormers, the Crusaders and, especially, the Blues – have gone through the usual ritual this week of trying to justify their underdog status. I have never understood this rationalisation. Too often teams talk themselves out of a victory. So it is good that the Reds are talking up their prospects over the Blues tonight at Suncorp Stadium.
Coach Ewen McKenzie insists the home-ground advantage will inspire his side to victory. “We want people to turn up and be excited,” he has told reporters. The Reds supporters are the most vocal, partisan and inspiring for their team of all the Australian franchises.
The Queensland Reds, aiming for their first professional Super Rugby title, are not perturbed they lack players accustomed to finals football or waving impressive trophies above their heads. As they prepare for Saturday night’s semi-final against the Auckland Blues in Brisbane, Reds coach Ewen McKenzie said it was not a big disadvantage that his players were foreign to finals football.
The last time the Reds appeared in a Super final was in 2001, when they were beaten by the Brumbies in the semi-final.
Rynhardt Elstadt needs to “out-work” Brad Thorn and not be intimidated by him in Saturday’s Super Rugby semi-final between the Stormers and Crusaders at Newlands.
That was the call from Stormers forwards coach Matthew Proudfoot on Tuesday. The vastly experienced Thorn was injured and did not feature for the Crusaders in their recent 20-14 victory over the Stormers at Newlands, with Luke Romano and Chris Jack guarding the second row.
Female rugby supporters can now hang up their over-sized rugby jerseys and slip into a sexy Rugby Dress and show their support in style.
The Blue Bulls Company Pty (Ltd) is pleased to announce several new additions to its current coaching staff, as well as the long term appointment of Heyneke Meyer as Executive: Rugby.
We had an article about the brave Crusaders – I want to salute another team – The Reds.
From “cellar dwellars” to topping the Super Rugby Log in 2011. They won the most games of all competing sides this year, 13 out of 16.
The Queensland Reds’ amazing rise is set to see them surpass the Brisbane Broncos as South-East Queensland’s biggest football club drawcards.
Dr Ross Tucker, a well known Sports Scientist placed good articles about Rugby fatique before. I found this Article about the subject and want to share a few of his thoughts. The second part of his Article about home ground advantage is interesting, Here are a few extracts from the Article.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee says his team will “look to right the mistakes” they made in their league defeat to the Crusaders in Saturday’s Super Rugby semifinal at a sold-out Newlands (5.05pm kick-off).
Even though the Stormers went down 20-14 to an injury-ravaged Crusaders in May, the biggest problem on that Saturday night was taking their opportunities on attack, of which there were plenty.
Sharks coach John Plumtree says his side suffered because of the referee, but in the end, they just weren’t good enough.
In the sober light of Sunday morning, there is a very good reason that the Sharks were never going to win this one.
With the Super 15 nearing its conclusion, a lot more clarity has been provided to Springbok coach Peter de Villiers with regard to the make-up of his World Cup squad. The emergence of exciting talents like Coenie Oosthuizen and Bjorn Basson have added to the burgeoning pool of talent, but there are plenty of headaches for “Div”.
I enjoyed this article a lot, the reason why I am sharing it here. I have not read anything of Lungani Zama before, read it and give your opinion.
Last week former Crusaders coach Robbie Deans, who guided the team to a record five titles between 2000 and 2008, reckoned the heavy travel schedule during the finals series would wear down his former outfit.
England U20 booked their place in the IRB Junior World Championships Final on Wednesday with a 31-18 win over France in Treviso, Italy.
Congratulations Morné and team. I am glad we have such a good working relationship with your blog. Wish you well and hope this is not your last award and recognition.
Here is the whole article From Ruggaworld.
To mark the final World Cup-ometer, let’s take a look at the building blocks already laid down by the Tri Nations contenders over the regular rounds of the competition.
There will be further twists and turns over the coming weeks of finals football – and the opportunity to see how the players cope with the unique pressure of the knockout stages – but there has been ample evidence already presented to make a judgment of how the Wallabies, All Blacks and Springboks are shaping up.
The Blues and Crusaders will have to win the Super Rugby title the hard way but Blues coach Pat Lam doesn’t see that as a bad thing in a World Cup year.
There are no second lives for either New Zealand side under the extended six-team playoffs system.
The All Blacks could face a tricky juggling act with Richie McCaw in the lead up to the World Cup.
With Richie Mccaw still struggling with the screw in the metatarsal bone in his right foot there could be a tug of war over who his
backup is.
Former Hurricanes and Crusaders No 8 Thomas Waldrom has made the first cut in his quest to help England win the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.Waldrom, nicknamed the ‘Tank Engine’ for his exploits in a standout Super Rugby career, has been making headlines since joining the Leicester Tigers in England’s Premiership.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers probably started it with his cheeky reservations about midfield sensation Sonny Bill Williams a few weeks ago, but now New Zealanders appear to be firing back some verbal arrows of their own ahead of the World Cup.
ALL BLACKS coach Graham Henry is continuing to apply pressure on the referees, arguing that during this year’s Super Rugby tournament they have failed in the most elementary areas.
”You watch the game at the moment; the number of tries being scored from forward passes is ridiculous,” Henry said.
Twenty-one Rugby World Cup winners were among a preliminary Springbok squad of 49 players named for the 2011 tournament by the South African Rugby Union (SARU) on Monday.
The final Rugby World Cup squad of 30 will be named on August 23.
Following the completion of Round 18 of the Super Rugby regular season, the confirmed fixtures for the 2011 Super Rugby Finals Series Qualifiers are:
Date: Friday 24 June 2011
Teams: Blues (4th) vs Waratahs (5th)
Date: Saturday 25 June 2011
Teams: Crusaders (3rd – NZ Conference winners) vs Sharks (6th)
Cheetahs (13) 34 / Stormers (19) 44 (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs hosted the DHL Stormers at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 19:10 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Stormers booked 2nd spot overall with this good win over the gutsy Cheetahs.
Bulls (13) 23 / Sharks (16) 26 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls hosted the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
In a battle royal, the Sharks were victorious, snatching a place in the play-off’s with a 3-point win.
This match was an advertisement for rugby!
Waratahs (10) 41 / Brumbies (0) 7 (Final Score)
The Waratahs hosted the Brumbies at ANZ Stadium, Sydney at 11:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Waratahs were full value for their money as they dominated and demolished the Brumbies, getting a full haul of 5 Log points, now ahhead of both the Sharks and the Bulls, into 5th spot overall.