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ABSA, one of the South African Rugby Union’s (SARU) biggest sponsors, are upset over several of the predominantly white teams in the Currie Cup.
I read this article earlier today on another Rugby website. We haven’t had a similar article yet unless I missed it. Read the awards and comment below if you differ from their views.
The Absa Currie Cup race remains wide open and any of six sides can still win the title. And, what’s more, with the exception of sixth-placed Griquas, the play-offs are very much in their own hands.
The contractual dispute between the Cheetahs and Sharks over the services of wing Lionel Mapoe is set to add fuel to the fire of the rugby war that will be waged between the unions in Saturday’s Currie Cup match in Durban.
IT doesn’t get any more cruel than this. The Wallabies excel in all areas of play, except one – goalkicking – and they experience the pain and indignity of suffering their longest sequence of losses to the All Blacks.
Aaron Cruden will start at flyhalf in place of Daniel Carter in one of five changes to the All Blacks team for Saturday’s final match of the Tri-Nations rugby series against Australia.
In another apparent shambles in Springbok rugby the reported unity between the Springbok management and players during the difficult Tri-Nations competition is now under strain following accusations of a breach of an undertaking to the players earlier in the year.
Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile is “furious” about the comment by Springbok coach Peter de Villiers that the Springboks support Blue Bulls prop and murder suspect Bees Roux.
“Goodness man! Get yourself a spokesperson!” was the advice offered by Stofile to the Bok coach.
This season could be the most important in the history of rugby union. We are entering a 12-month period that will define the game’s future, change the view we had of it looking back, and put down the foundations for global domination that will see rugby challenge the biggest spectator sports.
“It’s nice to be back.”
The remark by Bakkies Botha could just as well have been the official comment from the Blue Bulls.
The Blue Bulls may have a swagger following their win over the Sharks, but Free State would also have started their preparations for Saturday’s Currie Cup match against the champions with a smile.
Springbok prop CJ van der Linde will strengthen the Cheetahs’ pack for the clash with the Blue Bulls.
Stats from Australia , more will follow from the rugby guru’s. Interpret these the way you feel. Lets hear what comes out of this.
It was what one could call a winter of discontent for the Springboks as they lost their fifth Tri-Nations match from six in Bloemfontein on Saturday and set a new Tri-Nations record by conceding the most tries in the 15 years of the competition. The 41-39 loss meant the Springboks ended bottom of the log.
Simple. What you see is what you get. That is Francois Hougaard.
Humble about his successes, yet confident in his abilities. Quiet-spoken about his fame, but not shy about his hairstyle or shiny set of wheels.
The Champions League Twenty20 has the potential to be one of the world’s biggest cricket tournaments, former Australia opening batsman Matthew Hayden said on Sunday.
The annual review of the Springboks’ performance in the Vodacom Tri-Nations will be scheduled with Springbok coach Peter de Villiers for later this month.
The review will cover all aspects of the Springboks’ performances.
What a weekend of upsets. The previous weekend had two surprise results, with one a real upset. The Cheetah win against WP was not such a shock but the Bulls sent back to Pretoria with the wool over their head was. This weekend had again two great surprises.
Injuries have reduced the Wallabies to a make-shift line-up. If all players were available, they would look a vastly different side. Greg Growden reports from Bloemfontein.
The Barloworld Toyota Pumas held off a fast-finishing Platinum Leopards’ outfit to claim a narrow 27-26 (half-time 20-13) in their Absa Currie Cup match at Olen Park in Potchefstroom on Friday.
Solid defence by the Free State Cheetahs late in their Absa Currie Cup match against Griquas on Friday night earned them a well-deserved 33-28 win. Griquas now have a mountain to climb if they want to reach the semi-finals.
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A rampant Lions team were able to give their new Super 15 coach, John Mitchell, a fantastic welcome be easily outgunning Western Province at Ellis Park on Friday night.
The Springbok management aren’t concerned about the apparent slump in form of winger Bryan Habana during this year’s Vodacom Tri Nations tournament.
Will Genia, who has showed that he is ready to follow in the footsteps of George Gregan for the Wallabies, singled out the injured Springbok scrumhalf as his big hero and believes South Africa have lacked a dimension without him.
Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has opted for prop power on his substitutes bench and kicking options in the backline for Saturday’s Currie Cup match against the Sharks in Pretoria.
While WP have lost their last two Currie Cup games, Mitchell has enough reasons to be concerned ahead of Friday’s match at Coca-Cola Park. Province beat the Lions 32-0 at Newlands in their last meeting.
The South African mentality is big on abrasive obstinacy as a dominant characteristic. We saw this in the determined manner in which the Springboks fought their way back into the Test at Pretoria after giving up 14 points in the opening minutes. And also in the way Victor Matfield played out the full 80 minutes of his 100th Test.
South Africa will look to replicate the expansive game that saw them score five tries against Australia last week, when the Springboks and Wallabies go head-to-head in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
What a performance! The hoodoo of the 100th test has been broken, and no more fitting than being that of the great Victor Matfield at the stronghold of Bulls rugby, Loftus Versfeld.
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Springbok coach Peter de Villiers had a simple statement for all those critical of the national team even though they had won this weekend: Either you’re for us or you’re against us.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has a few tough calls to make after Bryan Habana and John Smit struggled through Saturday’s Tri-Nations Test against the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld.
Australia’s Drew Mitchell (R) breaks past South Africa’s JP Pietersen to score a try only to be denied by the TMO. Photo: Reuters
The Wallabies, the masters of ruining green and golden opportunities, uncovered another way to lose the unlosable Test on the highveld on Saturday night.
This year’s Club Champs takes place at Maties from Saturday 18 to Friday 24 September and, in addition to Hammies and Noordelike, will feature the country’s 14 provincial champions in a 16-team first-round draw.
You could see the smile on his face widen when the question was finally asked. There was no doubt that Wallaby coach Robbie Deans had been waiting for the opportunity.
John Smit was answering fan questions in the Springbok E-zine and was asked how long he still feels he can play at this level.
Despite consistent criticism throughout this year’s Vodacom Tri-Nations campaign, and a mediocre showing in his 100th Test match, where his fitness and form was consistently questioned, Smit still believes he can soldier on until the World Cup.
The captain was visibly irritated last week by questions about him retiring and a rumour that went around that he would call it a day after the 100th cap. After missing the tackle that cost the Boks the game against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium, he has returned this week more determined than ever to make up for his mistake.
Schalk Burger is a ‘world-class’ fetcher, and highly rated by the Australians, even though he is regarded as just another ‘brute basher’ in his own country.