superBul
Richie McCaw admits he has to step up his game against the Springboks.
The Boks have been a persistent problem for All Blacks captain McCaw, touted as the world’s best No7.
If you had to pick one person in sport to live the rest of their life in a compression chamber it would be Robbie Deans. As he says, he is “used to pressure”.
Against all odds Uruguay has reached the last four, with Forlan looking ominous, can Tabarez take his team to the top? Only the Netherlands stand in their way.
Tuesday’s Semi-Final
Netherlands vs Uruguay
Read on how to win a case off beer
“I’m certain all rugby fans would send Brendan Cannon their support and best wishes at such a difficult time. An terrible accident, exactly the same as that which Phil Kearns experienced five years ago” – Old Griqua
Western Province and the Blue Bulls produced the least impressive performance of the big guns as the teams finished off their pre-season Currie Cup build-up with a series of friendly matches at the weekend.
ONE of the many hallmarks of Richie McCaw’s All Blacks captaincy has been an aversion to saying anything even mildly contentious.
Yesterday, McCaw the diplomat, holding fort at Camp All Black, stayed to script. He gave the Springboks, who arrive in Auckland tonight, not the smallest crumb to feed off, with one tiny but significant exception.
A big fat Springbok-sized reality check is coming for the All Blacks in just over a week’s time – and the challenge for Graham Henry’s men is to be a lot more ready for it than they were last year.
From the article – Swaggering Springboks up All Blacks’ ante
By MARC HINTON – Stuff
As we prepare for yet another punishing Tri-Nations series, there are a couple of added pressures on the Springboks this year.
A JJ Harmse article from News24
A new employment agreement signed by the New Zealand Rugby Union and the association representing its professional players has cleared the way for overseas players to join New Zealand Super Rugby teams for the first time.
Extracts from articles on News24 and Rugby Heaven.
Johannesburg – The inclusion of scrumhalf Jano Vermaak who has been linked to the Natal Sharks and Springbok centre acquisition Waylon Murray are the most notable features in the Xerox Lions side to play the Boland Cavaliers in a compulsory friendly in Wellington on Saturday.
Soccer
Paraguay 0-0 Japan, Paraguay won the shootout 5-3
Spain 1-0 Portugal
Cricket
South Africa won by 7 wickets231 & 161
West Indies
South Africa 346 & 49/3 (8.4 ov)
Springbok captain John Smit said the coming Tri-Nations tour will be taken serious and not used solely as a yardstick and building block for the World Cup in 15 months time.
“If we want to go there with the focus on next year we’ll miss the plot. We want to go there and focus on things we’ve built up over the last few tests.
Cricket
West Indies vs South Africa
West Indies 231
South Africa 285/6 (104 ov)
End of day 2
More to follow
A humiliating 41-13 defeat by Argentina has left France’s players unable to explain how they could have fallen from Six Nations heros to touring zeros.
Kick at your peril. It’s a message the All Blacks have beamed out to the world in the opening two rugby tests of the season.
One would not be surprised if South Africa had been CC’d on the memo.
By TOBY ROBSON – The Dominion Post
The 3rd Round of the SWC starts today. For 16 teams this Round will spell the end of SWC 2010. We stand together today behind South Africa who are with little hope of survival.
Read on to see all the landmarks reached by the Proteas in this match.
A very dull draw though on a pitch called a tar road by commentators.
Smit made his debut here against Canada a decade ago
John Smit has recovered from his hamstring injury and will lead theSpringboks on Saturday in the second Test against Italy, at the Buffalo City Stadium in East London.
From New24
New Zealand remain the only side to lift the IRB Junior World Championship trophy after producing a dominant display to beat Australia 62-17 at the Estadio El Coloso del Parque in Rosario on Monday.
Hardly a media conference goes by that there isn’t some reference to next year’s World Cup in New Zealand by Springbok coach Peter de Villiers or even the players who are interviewed separately afterwards
Wellington – The Nude Blacks are to meet the Welsh Leeks in a nude rugby international match organised by Otago University students to be held in the New Zealand city of Dunedin on Saturday.
GBS if they dont behave, delete this. Hahahaha. Can not believe it is a curtain raiser before the All Black Test.
| Semi Finals | ||||
| Date | Team A | Score | Team B | Venue |
| 17 June 2010 | Australia | 28-16 | England | Estadio El Coloso del Parque, Rosario |
| 17 June 2010 | New Zealand | 36-7 | South Africa | Estadio El Coloso del Parque, Rosario |
Group A looks too close to call after two draws on the opening day, but hosts South Africa and Uruguay should have a clearer idea of their destinies at this World Cup after what promises to be a hotly contested encounter in the heartland of Pretoria. While it is far-fetched to suggest that their Loftus Versfeld Stadium encounter will be decisive, a victory for either side would go a long way to booking a place in the Round of 16.
Score – South Africa 0 – 3 Uruguay
SA coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has made one change to his starting line-up against Uruguay, with Tsepo Masilela replacing Lucas Thwala.
Teams
South Africa: 16-Itumeleng Khune; 2-Siboniso Gaxa, 3-Tsepo Masilela, 20-Bongani Khumalo, 4-Aaron Mokoena; 12-Reneilwe Letsholonyane, 13-Kagisho Dikgacoi, 10-Steven Pienaar, 11-Teko Modise, 8-Siphiwe Tshabalala; 9-Katlego Mphela.
Uruguay: 1-Fernando Muslera; 2-Diego Lugano, 3-Diego Godin, 4-Jorge Fucile, 16-Maximiliano Pereira, 15-Diego Perez, 17-Egidio Arevalo, 7-Edinson Cavani, 11-Alvaro Pereira, 9-Luis Suarez, 10-Diego Forlan.
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
Ke nako. It’s time.
A article written by JJ Harmse, one i could just as well written. Yes the things said in this article was my view all along.
Times are changing in a once rugby-obsessed nation, writes Paul Rees.
Players from the Vodacom Super 14 finalist Bulls and Stormers have unsurprisingly monopolised the nominations in the race for the title of Vodacom Super 14 Player of the Year award, the South African Rugby Union announced on Tuesday.
Our own poll will be up on Sunday
Go ahead, nominate your players, closing date for nominations Saturday after the last Test of the day.
Victor Matfield will captain the Boks for the 11th time against Italy in Witbank on Saturday. Team announced
The most experienced lock pairing in the history of world rugby will be re-united against Italy on Saturday when Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha play together for a 60th time.
Chiliboy Ralepelle at hooker and Victor Matfield as captain?
That will probably be just two of the moves that Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will make for Saturday’s rugby test against Italy in Witbank.
De Villiers has retained the squad of 27 that did duty for South Africa last week.
The Bulls’ most experienced Super 14 player, Pedrie Wannenburg, will continue his rugby career with Ulster.
Springbok prop Jannie du Plessis saved a man’s life at Newlands on Saturday night shortly after helping his side to their biggest Test win yet over France on South African soil.
Continue reading
Score:- South Africa 35 – 42 Australia
South Africa 352 & 206/4d
West Indies 102 & 293 (80.3 ov)
South Africa won by 163 runs
Years of planning and hard work will culminate on Friday with the start of the FIFA World Cup final at Soccer City in Johannesburg.