General
a Quick wrap up of the Varsity Cup games played on Monday 21 February 2011. Varsity Shield results are at the end of this article.
UJ (9) 28 / Shimlas (17) 24 (Final Score)
UJ hosted Shimlas at UJ Stadium, Johannesburg at 19:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
UJ fought back, like their bigger brothers at the Lions, but unlike the Lions they managed to make the comeback complete and to record a win over Shimlas by 3 points.
TUT (7) 12 / Maties (15) 44 (Final Score)
TUT hosted Maties at TUT Stadium, Pretoria at 17:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
Maties dominated most facets to earn a comprehensive win over TUT who fought bravely but desperately.
Reports from French Newspapers has suggested that Bakkies Botha signed a 3-year deal with French Club Toulon. Continue reading
The words “World Cup” are stamped on page one of every New Zealand Super 15 handbook with the series overshadowed by All Blacks’ coach Graham Henry charged with producing a world champion side.
Wallabies inside back Matt Giteau will leave Australia following the World Cup after signing with French Top 14 club Toulon.
Shimlas bounced back from their home defeat last week, to record a 21-15 Varsity Cup win over the defending champion FNB Maties on Monday night – an evening which saw FNB UCT, FNB TUT and FNB UJ all claim valuable away wins on Valentine’s Day.
NWU Pukke 8 / IKEYS 36 (Final Score)
Scorers:
NWU Pukke: Try- Willem Barnard
Penalty-Johann Laker
Ikeys : Tries -Tiger Bax, Therlow Pietersen, Nizaam Carr, Paul Cohen
Conversions- Demetri Catrakilis 2, Penalties- Demetri Catrakilis 4
Madibas (7) 16 / UJ (11) 21 (Final Score)
The first of 4 matches today in the Varsity Cup Competition was the one between NMMU and FNB UJ, it took place at NMMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth at 17:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
This must surely be the bottom of the barrell as far as games go, it was scrappy and error-ridden and UJ looked listless and dumb, with a very brave Madibas team trying their hearts out to make a game of it and nearly succeeding at the end.
For a person who is not a particular fan of the code, I have to concede that Sevens rugby is getting something right. Continue reading
Ireland 22 /France 25 (Final Score)
Ireland and France locked horns at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday with each looking to maintain their 100 percent record in this year’s Six Nations competition. France in the end did not have to play that much rugby. They were accurate with the boot from Parra and Yachvili and the Meddart try.
Scotland (3) 6 / Wales (16) 24 (Final Score)
Scotland hosted Wales at Murrayfield, Edinburgh at 19:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SS1 on TV in SA.
Wales started well but the game fizzeled out a bit and eventually Wales deserved their win, ground out the hard way.
England (31) 59 / Italy (6) 13 (Final Score)
England hosted Italy at Twickenham at 16:30 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SS1 on TV in SA.
England absolutely demolished Italy, with Chris Ashton scoring an impressive 4 tries in the process.
Round 2 of the Six Nations Championship will be played this weekend. Our Superbru Predictor of the Week EEE, leads the pack on 6.5 points. Get your predictions in before the cut off on Saturday 12 February, game starts at 16:30 SA time.
Maties (6) 32 / Pukke (6) 6 (Final Score)
FNB Maties hosted FNB Pukke at the Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch at 19:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
With both teams starting slowly and the halftime score at 6 / 6 it did not look too exciting but Maties came out firing in the second half and scored a furthr 26 points to none by Pukke, eventually ending as comfortable winners by 32 / 6.
Shimlas 10 / Ikeys 23 (Final Score)
Shimlas hosted FNB UCT (Ikeys) at Shimla Park, Bloemfontein at 17:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 and CSN on TV in SA.
FNB UCT controlled the game well and led right through, with Shimlas making far too many basic mistakes.
This mtch was scrappy in general.
The Maties have won three titles in a row and even though some find winning boring – those who lose tend to find it boring, it seems! – there is no doubting the overall excellence of the Men in Maroon since 2008.
The expanded Super rugby competition, particularly its emphasis on bone-crushing derby matches, holds peril Springbok coach Peter de Villiers admits may keep him up at night.
France (17) 34 / Scotland (7) 21 (Final Score)
France hosted Scotland at Stade de France, Paris at 19:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
For a change a red hot French team pitched to play and they started like a house on fire but the brave Scotland side fought back all the way, till the end.
In the end there was just too much French fire power as reflected in the final score of 34 / 21.
Italy (6) 11 / Ireland (3) 13 (Final Score)
Italy hosted Ireland at the Stadio Flaminio, Rome at 16:30 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN.
Italy nearly upset the apple cart but Ireland scrapes a win with a late Ronan O’Gara drop goal.
England (13) 26 / Wales (6) 19 (Final Score)
Wales hosted England at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales in the 1st Six Nations encounter of 2011 at 21:45 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
In a hard and brutal encounter and surprisingly fast-paced rugby in the first half, England drew first blood with a converted try and kept that 7-point margin till the end.
Final score was England 26 / 19.
Tonight, Friday 4 February 2011, sees the start of the Six Nations Tournament, featuring the strongest 6 European Nations.
First up is Wales vs England at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales at 21:45 SA Time.
Rugby-Talk will cover this match live tonight.
Well folks, the serious rugby is upon us again, with the Six Nations kicking off tonight, the HSBC Sevens World Series in Wellington already under way, as well as some Super Rugby warm-up matches to be played.
Here’s the schedule for this weekend:
The HSBC Sevens World Series Tournament concluded in Wellington, New Zealand.
New Zealand won this Tournament at home against England by 29 / 14.
The results were not good for South Africa overall, they won their opening game against Canada and then lost against France of all nations on day one, drew with Fiji on day 1, lost to Australia in the Cup Quarters, won against Wales and lost to Fiji in the Plate final! So it was 2 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses… not good enough!
Wales selectors have announced seven changes to the starting line-up for the Six Nations opener against England on Friday night, having lost six and drawn one of their last seven Tests.
England Manager, Martin Johnson, has named a power team to take on Wales in the 6N opening encounter. Continue reading
Naka Drotske has announced a strong team to take on the EP Kings on Friday in the Windy City. Continue reading
The Six Nations season starts on Friday with the game between Wales and England in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Click on More for Previews.
Our 6 Nations Superbru
The value of the Kings victory over the weekend should not only be measured in the final score or their ‘readiness’ program for Super Rugby 2013. Continue reading
Baby Bok coach, Dawie Theron, has his work cut out following his team’s hammering at the hands of Vodacom WP. Continue reading
SA Under-20 coach Dawie Theron on Thursday insisted that there were plenty of lessons learnt during his side’s 50-10 defeat against DHL Western Province in Bellville.
The Stormers have picked an experienced stating side , with plenty of youngsters on the bench, for the clash against the Lions. Continue reading
London Irish’s South African prop Faan Rautenbach has been cited for stamping on Munster flanker David Wallace.
The Brumbies have effectively told Matt Giteau that he should pack his bags at the end of the season. They regard Adam Ashley-Cooper as far more valuable.
This is the gist of the message from Brumbies boss Andrew Fagan, who made it clear that they will be working very hard on retaining Ashley-Cooper.
South Africa Under-20 coach Dawie Theron on Saturday said that South African junior rugby is in a healthy state and added that there is talent and depth to consistently excel on the international stage in the future.