Referees
Well this was much better. The Springboks were innovative and clearly made some adjustments to how they play the game. Probably because of the change in game plan, most of the players played well. A few played exceptionally well like Frans Steyn, Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow, Gurthro Steenkamp and Bismarck du Plessis, when he came on.
Danie ‘Pakslae’ Rossouw was outstanding in everything he did and maintained a high work rate on defence and on attack. Out wide he showed some deft touches, good decision making and a surprising turn of speed.
The most pleasing aspect of the whole match was the fact that they kept the ball in hand.
Springboks (21) 49 / Fiji (3) 3 (Final Score)
The Springboks and Fiji did battle in POOL D in Wellington at 08:00 SA Time (18:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & 4, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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A very well balanced Springbok performance!
The Springboks scored 6 tries, 5 of them converted, plus 3 penalties to a lone Fiji penalty.
Job done, mission accomplished, 5 points in the bag!
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has reiterated that his plan to treat every game at this World Cup as a final and not to mix and match combinations to give everyone a run.
The Springboks made four changes to their starting line-up and two more on the bench when they named the team to meet Fiji in their Pool D World Cup 2011 match in Wellington on Saturday.
Following a racially charged altercation with a fellow colleague of Jacaranda 94.2, the FM radio station, DJ and sports presenter Darren Scott resigned from the station and was subsequently given an indefinite leave of absence from SuperSport.
The sports broadcaster has today announced that the 2 parties (Scott and SuperSport) parted ways.
This Article should actually be read in conjunction with the previous one, namely “Analysis of the Springbok / Wales match”. A lot of the things that I wrote about in the first Article can actually be seen on these video clips.
Frans Steyn scored for South Africa within the first 3 minutes of this historic match between SA and Wales in the second Pool D (so-called pool of death) match of the 2011 tournament.
Having dodged a Welsh bullet, Springboks coach Peter de Villiers is more convinced than ever about the three ways his team can retain the World Cup.
Watertight defence. Pinpoint goalkicking. And, perhaps the biggest headache, getting inside the respective heads of the referees.
Leading South African referee Mark Lawrence has announced his retirement from international match officiating to concentrate on a new role as a coach and mentor to emerging refereeing talent.
One has to feel for Wales as they were outstanding on the weekend. I got pretty upset with the Springboks as the match progressed but in retrospective one has the give credit to Warren Gatland and his Welsh side.
I had some sort of an Aha moment during this game in the sense that I developed a deeper appreciation of the impact of the new rule interpretation on the game. The most important thing of the modern game is structure at the breakdown. The emphasis has shifted from set piece to the breakdown. Where previously forward dominance was dependent on structure at set piece, forward dominance now depends on structure at the breakdowns. Continue reading
Rugby player Bees Roux, convicted of culpable homicide last week, should know this week if his suspension from the Blue Bulls would be lifted, according to a report on Monday.
Despite the most optimistic faces on the Springbok team at the moment, there is no doubt the Boks will be privately fuming with themselves at the way they allowed Wales to steal momentum in their 17-16 victory in Wellington on Sunday.
South Africa on Monday played down injury concerns in the camp, despite confirmation that veteran lock Bakkies Botha is not responding to treatment for his Achilles problem.
Springbok vice-captain Victor Matfield and centre Jean de Villiers have been ruled out of South Africa’s match against Fiji due to injury.
South Africa
The adrenaline seemed to be still pumping for South Africa coach Peter de Villiers the day after his team’s 17-16 victory over Wales in their opening Rugby World Cup 2011 Pool D match at Wellington Regional Stadium.
De Villiers was at his animated, playful best at the team press conference in their Wellington hotel on Monday, cracking jokes and expounding on team tactics and rugby trends.
South Africa’s three greatest exponents of line out play and masters of the tight phases are now injured.
Springboks (10) 17 / Wales (6) 16 (Final Score)
The Springboks and Wales did battle in Wellington at 10:30 SA Time (20:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The Springboks squeeked a win by one solitary point.
Not a good performance by the Springboks, with replacement players like Bismarck du Plessis, Willem Alberts and Francois Hougaard made a real difference!
South Africa’s campaign to be the first nation to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup kicks off at Wellington Regional Stadium on Sunday when their hardened veterans take on a youthful Welsh side.
Of the 25 matches between the two sides since 1906, Wales have managed one win and one draw, both at home. They have lost their past 12 encounters in an 11-year losing streak.
The Crusaders will play Super 15 rugby matches next season in their hometown of Christchurch but not at their regular home ground.
The Springboks have named the most experienced team in South African history for the opening match of the 2011 Rugby World Cup against Wales in Wellington on Sunday.
At first glance this pool looks to be cut and dried, but when one looks deeper into each squad and the potential clashes, it soon becomes apparent that this group has the potential to throw up some HUGE upsets.
Bakkies Botha
Reports are surfacing across the internet that Springbok lock Bakkies Botha’s Achilles tendon injury is worse than expected and may be ruled out of Rugby World Cup.
Springboks
Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield are injured ahead of Sunday’s opening game against Wales.
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers promised to “try to behave” and live up to the honour bestowed on him after being declared an honorary Maori when the team received their official welcome to Wellington on Monday.
Bokke!
It is often said that combinations are key to winning rugby. Now this article is mostly about statistics, so if you are not a statistic minded person it would most likely bore you to death, I did however find some telling stats looking at which combinations seemed to have worked for the Springboks.
Gatland fires 1st barb at Bokke
Their opening match may be just over a week away, but Wales coach Warren Gatland wasted no time in getting the first shot in, in what is sure to be an interesting verbal stoush in the coming days.
A message to the Springboks as they get ready to head to New Zealand to defend the Rugby World Cup.
World Cup 2007 Celebrations
The RWC is now imminent, it is there for important to prepare now rather than a day before the event. I thought it wise to set out a preparation guide and some rules to follow during this epic event. Continue reading
Demetri Catrakilis
Golden Lions coach, John Mitchell, and Western Province flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis were today named as the Currie Cup Coach and Player of the Month for August.
John Smit & Victor Matfield
Springbok captain John Smit and Vice Captain Victor Matfield say they want to end their international careers as double Rugby World Cup champions.
Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers
Rugby World Cup hosts New Zealand will be defending champions South Africa’s biggest obstacle at the Rugby World cup according to Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.
June 23, 1956 – South Africa 8 / Wellington 6
The playing surface was not entirely dry as it did rain in the days prior to the match. The match itself was, however, played in magnificent sunny weather in front of 45 000 spectators.
We are finally back ONLINE after an arduous 5 days!
The Domain Registration Trasfer is complete, the Contents and the SQL Database is up and running and the 2 Admin Mail Accounts have been re-created.
We’re still working on a few tweaks… lightening the SQL Database, tweaking the speed… and adding a few bits and bobs!
It is a very distinct possibility that the next time the Springboks meet the All Blacks, following the August 20 game at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will be at the 60 000-seater Eden Park in Auckland on October 23 at 9pm.
The Rugby World Cup starts in two weeks and all the national sides announce their squads this week and then depart for their bases in New Zealand.
Eighteen members of South Africa’s triumphant 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning squad were included in the 2011 party when the 30 players selected to attempt to retain the title were revealed in a live broadcast announcement on Tuesday.
Eighteen members of South Africa’s triumphant 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning squad were included in the 2011 party when the 30 players selected to attempt to retain the title were revealed in a live broadcast announcement on Tuesday.