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The Lions’ Kiwi coach John Mitchell has become the latest international victim of the crime wave sweeping South Africa … and he is lucky to still be alive.
In a report that has already reverberated around the world, it was revealed that the former All Black coach, Mitchell, was stabbed in the leg and arm in his Hyde Park Apartment in South Africa on Sunday.
Both the Sharks and Province’s Directors of Coaching – Rudolf Straeuli (Sharks) and Rassie Erasmus (WP) have a history of employing ‘cat-and-mouse’ tactics in the run-in to crucial matches, and it could well be the case this week.
The Free State Cheetahs moved to third place on the Absa Currie Cup log when they scored six tries in beating the Xerox Lions 43-37 in Bloemfontein in Saturday.
The Blue bulls kept their hopes of securing a home semi-final alive by crawling home to a 36-32 victory over arch rivals Western Province at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Cheetahs 43 / Lions 37 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs host the Xerox Lions in Bloemfontein at 17:05 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match is broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & HD & M-Net in SA.
Blue Bulls 36 / WP 32 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Blue Bulls host the Vodacom WP at Lotus, Pretoria at 15:00 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match is broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & HD & M-Net in SA.
We are kiling ourselves. There are far too many EGO’s in South African Rugby!
They say if you want loyalty, go and buy a dog. It certainly seems to be the case in South African rugby.
Glory be to the All Blacks, hallowed be their name, who with a year to go to a Rugby World Cup tournament are once again considered to be the best team on the planet.
It’s familiar territory for the All Blacks being all-conquering in the years between the World Cups only to come a cropper when they tournament takes place.
If YOU were made the consultant to assist Peter de Villiers what would you do? Lets see what Rugby-Talk bloggers have up their sleeve. A few rules apply.
Result of Survey Pending
Too few responses on the Survey to get a trend. We are certainly not blaming the same things for our poor Tri Nation performance.
Auckland – The All Blacks have topped a list of the greatest chokers in sport, beating the likes of golfer Greg Norman and the Proteas cricket team.
SARU on Monday completed an extensive review of the international season to date in conjunction with Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.
The All Blacks coaches are to increase their involvement in New Zealand’s five Super Rugby franchises next season, helping them with strategy and also player management in the crucial World Cup year.
“Over a million spectators attend the games. They are at 100 per cent capacity. It attracts the biggest TV audience in world rugby, bar the World Cup. It makes more money than any other annual competition. It gets more media attention. On any level you choose to measure it against, it works.”
The heads of Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and his two assistants, Dick Muir and Gary Gold, may all roll Today when their performance reviews are done.
The Blue Bulls grabbed five valuable Currie Cup points in Potchefstroom on Saturday, but struggled to beat a game Leopards side 39-26.
The South African Rugby Union (Saru) moved swiftly to shift blame, following Springbok utility back Frans Steyn’s claims that Bok coach Peter de Villiers has been disrespectful.
College Rovers won the SAA National Club Champs for the first time in their history when they beat Maties 24-15 (halftime 11-5) at the Danie Craven Stadium on Friday.
Springbok captain John Smit will get an opportunity next year to fill in the one gap that was left in his impressive CV following the 2007 World Cup triumph.
The Blue Bulls Rugby Union believe the growing storm surrounding their signing of Springbok winger Bjorn Basson is an “internal matter” in the Cheetahs franchise and has nothing to do with them.
Suddenly there is a crop of younger players making an impression on South African rugby – Elton Jantjes (20), Patrick Lambie (19), Nick Köster (20), Jaco Taute (19) and in his second year of Currie Cup rugby, Wandile Mjekevu (19), Gerhard van den Heever (21) and Martin Bezuidenhout (just 21).
The KZN champions College Rovers have qualified for the SAA National Club Championship final following their deserving 33-14 victory over NWU-Pukke
Maties dethroned defending champions and Western Province arch-rivals Hamilton 45-19
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Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu requested the use of rogue winger Lionel Mapoe for the upcoming Commonwealth Sevens tournament, but was refused by the Free State Rugby Union.
Gary Botha is back as captain and hooker for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in their Absa Currie Cup clash against the Leopards in Potchefstroom on Saturday.
The ink has not yet dried on the Blue Bulls contract of Griquas and Springbok wing Bjorn Basson and already there have been major consequences for the Griqualand West Rugby Union (GWRU).
The Vodacom Blue Bulls have made a massive coup by signing Griquas and Springbok winger Bjorn Basson to join them from November 1.
Western Province are comfortable with the knowledge that Griquas are coming to Cape Town on Friday in a desperate mood for if there is one thing they really want right now, it is to have their game subjected to a thorough examination.
Was this year really such a massive failure? What will Peter answer to questions and what plans will he put on the table.
If you were part of the review panel on the 28th of September , what would you ask Peter? Post your questions here.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) should consider changes to its competition structures to ensure that promising black players, in particular, do not “disappear” between under-21 and senior level.
Defending champions Hamiltons of Western Province and 12-time winners Maties will clash in a crunch semifinal at the SAA National Club Champs after both sides powered through their last-eight matches at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Monday.
Someone said earlier this week that some of the best coaches must come together and write a coaching manual. They said there is a need for it. I found this website and would like to share it with you. Rugby-Talk also added a section called LAWS & REGULATIONS, The links to this site can be found there.
Six teams are still jostling for semi-final places in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup as the Premier Division competition enters its final three weeks of league fixtures.
Archie Henderson: So the Tri-Nations wasn’t as bad as we thought. We might have lost all but one of the six matches against our old enemies and conceded the most tries, but – hell’s bells! – we made a lot of money going about it.
When the original Super12 expanded to the Super14 in 2006, Australia’s performances in the tournament dropped alarmingly and by further diluting their playing resources they’re unlikely to improve.
Defending champions Hamilton and three-time Varsity Cup champions Maties moved one step closer to a heavyweight, all-Western Province semi-final clash when they romped to huge victories on the opening day of the 36th SAA National Club Champs at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.
Sharks (18) 30 / Cheetahs (9) 16 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Cheetahs at ABSA Stadium, Durban at 15:00 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, M-Net and SuperSport HD in SA.
The Sharks extended their lead on the Currie Cup Log with this bonus point win, whereas the Cheetahs were prevented from scoring any Log points.