Referees
“I’m fighting this illness with my faith. And my faith is strong.”
Those were the words of former Springbok hero, Joost van der Westhuizen.
He talked exclusively for the first time about the “death sentence”, which doctors informed him about four weeks ago.
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Sharks (6) 23 / Bulls (23) 32 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Vodacom Bulls at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban at 19:10 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Bulls controlled the first half and to a large extent bullied the Sharks, only for the Sharks to show a huge amount of guts in the second half to try and claw the deficit back.
In the end, the Bulls won by 9 points, denying the Sharks any Log points, whilst earning 4 Log points.
Cheetahs (21) 41 / Rebels (7) 21 (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs hosted the Melbourne Rebels at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Cheetahs were too strong for a game Melbourne Rebels side, but the game was eventually marred by an overzealous Refree, dishing out one Red Card and a few yellows, like they were Smarties.
Force (10) 13 / Brumbies (10) 13 (Final Score)
The Western Force hosted the Brumbies at NIB Stadium, Perth at 14:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
They say a draw is like kissing your sister, well this game was bad enough that it was rather like kissing your UGLY sister.
Waratahs (29) 29 / Lions (5) 12 (Final Score)
The Waratahs hosted the MTN Lions at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney at 11:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
By halftime the Waratahs had done enough for a bonus point win, the only score in the second half coming via a lone converted Lions try.
Crusaders (6) 25 / Chiefs (6) 19 (Final Score)
The Crusaders hosted the Chiefs at McLean Park, Napier at 09:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
In a dour game, with lots of errors, the Crusaders marched on in their quest for the title.
As we are moving towards the business end of the Super Rugby Conference rounds, the supporters will start to work out what the possible permutations are for teams to reach the play-off rounds, where 15 teams will be reduced to only 6.
Blues (19) 26 / Stormers (3) 28 (Final Score)
The Blues hosted the DHL Stormers at Eden Park, Auckland at 09:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Stormers grabbed the game out of the fire, with a last minute penalty… and the conversion won them the game.
Herewith ALL the Super Rugby team sheets as they are announced for week 14 of Super Rugby 2011.
Sharks name a strong team as they go into battle with the ever improving Vodacom Bulls in Durban.
The Brumbies have named their team to face the Western Force this Saturday with Rocky Elsom making his first start of the season.
Reds flyhalf, Quade Cooper, has signed a further one-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union which keeps the influential playmaker in Queensland for at least 2012.
Jaque Fourie was always going to be doubtful for this game as coach Allister 
Coetzee was concerned about his condition immediately after the loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton last weekend. Fourie has predictably been ruled out of the match, but he has been joined on the sidelines by his regular midfield partner Jean de Villiers.
Brumbies punished with icy night drill
Tony Rea’s post-match verbal attack was nothing compared to what he put his players through last night.
Waratahs out to rediscover their ‘beautiful’ game
Coach Chris Hickey believes his team can rekindle their expansive style of play as the finals approach.
Ioane becomes new focus
Wallabies fear they will lose spectacular utility back Digby Ioane
Jake White says four-year term is key
Jake negotiated another 4 year deal
Daniel Carter to announce playing future
Dan Carter is expected to announce his playing future at a press conference in Christchurch today. LATEST: He’s staying
‘We are at war’ in NZ conference: Joseph
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph says the difference between the New Zealand and Australian Super Rugby conferences is like “war and school stuff”.
Blues work on Stormers maul busting
It’s not like the Blues don’t know it’s coming. It’s just how effective they are in dealing with the Stormers potent rolling maul that’s the tricky part.
I was browsing for rugby news, and nearly swallowed my coffee cup… as I read on Sport24… then I just laughed.
Luke Watson was presented to the media in Cape Town by Highbury Safika Media (HSM – publishers of SA Rugby magazine and www.keo.co.za amongst others).
With the Superugby season getting into the business end of the season, every weekend you will have major deciding clashes. Everyone might differ which one is the most important and this article is written from a South African perspective.
This weekend’s action starts with one of the biggies, the Blues and the Stormers, on Friday, and ends with the Sharks versus the Bulls in Durban on Saturday evening.
The MTN Lions have announced their team to front up to the Waratahs on Saturday. A surprise choice is Butch James at flyhalf in place of Elton Jantjies, who had a brilliant game against the Brumbies.
Second test – 14 August 1993 – Ballymore, Brisbane
This Test was probably the Test that made the biggest impression on me of all the Test matches I’ve seen in my life mostly because of the way Australia played and won the Test. The tactics they employed and the extraordinary precision of execution impressed me immensely.
Crusaders Israel Dagg, Adam Whitelock and Sean Maitland are not expected to play any further part in this year’s Super Rugby season due to injury.
The Cheetahs have paid a price for their 33-20 victory over the Crusaders as two core players have ruled out due to injury.
SANZAR have released the match officials for the fourteenth Round of the 2011 Super Rugby tournament and Steve Walsh has been replaced.
The Crusaders blew a chance to go top of the New Zealand conference when they lost 33-20 to an Ashley Johnson-inspired Cheetahs for their second consecutive defeat in Bloemfontein this morning.
Richie McCaw’s men dominated territory and possession but Johnson, who scored the match-clinching try, and his fellow forwards produced a Herculean defensive effort to put the Crusaders under pressure and force them into costly errors.
I found this website on News24 and all Peter de Villiers fans are invited to listen to this interview with Peter. Take your time , it is in three parts and is 31 minutes long.
Listen to Peter when he is calm and not under pressure.
All the overawed Sonny Bill Williams fans Peter, has a point! Watch these videos with an open mind.
Cheetahs (16) 33 / Crusaders (17) 20 (Final Score)
The Cheetahs hosted the Crusaders at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, at 19:10 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Cheetahs recorded a masterful win over serious title contenders, the Crusaders…. and on top of it all kept the Crusaders from recording a single Log poin advance, well done Cheetahs!
Bulls (40) 47 / Rebels (3) 10 (Final Score)
The Bulls hosted the Melbourne Rebels at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Bulls blitzed the Melbourne Rebels in the first half, scoring 6 tries to none, but the second half was a dour affair with lots of replacements disrupting all rythm in the game and therefor the second half only produced 7 points for each of the 2 sides.
Job done and mission accomplished by the Bulls, 5 Log points in the bag.
Brumbies (10) 20 / MTN Lions (12) 29 (Final Score)
The Brumbies hosted the MTN Lions at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, at 11:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
For once the MTN Lions played clever and constuctive rugby, doing the right things at te right time! Better defence, good and solid all round performance by the Lions.
Chiefs (3) 30 / Stormers (20) 23 (Final Score)
The Chiefs hosted the Stormers at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, at 09:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
In a game of two different halves, the Stormers raced to a 20 / 3 Halftime lead, only to let the Chiefs score 27 points to 3 in the Second half.
It is with much less fear and a lot more anticipation that we line-up for the second match of the year. We’ve worked on a couple of things during the week but are acutely aware that we haven’t spend enough time integrating the forwards and backs (team runs). Continue reading
Reds (27) 37/Blues (14) 31 (Final Score)
The Reds host the Blues at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 11:40 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match is broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD en CSN on TV in SA.
Pampas XV (8) 14 / Blue Bulls (0) 9 (Final Score)
The Pampas XV, the only undefeated team in this year’s Vodacom Cup, will be hoping for one more victory in 2011 when they host the defending champions, the Vodacom Blue Bulls, at Profert Olën Park in Potchefstroom on Friday at 19h00.
Highlanders (10) 13 / Huricannes (3) 6 (Final Score)
The Highlanders hosted the Hurricanes at Rugby Park, Invercargill. They won the game with brilliant discipline in defense. One try was scored just before half time after a brilliant cross kick by Jimmy Cowan to Ben Smith.
Herewith ALL the Super Rugby team sheets as they were announced for week 13 of Super Rugby 2011.
Former Springbok rugby captain Joost van der Westhuizen is fighting for his health after being diagnosed with a motor-neuron muscle disease.
The disease, which is apparently similar to the one that put one of his teammates, Springbok flank André Venter in a wheelchair a few years ago, has been diagnosed as very serious and could have drastic implications for his health.
The game sees the return of Brok Harris, Ricky Januarie, Peter Grant and Brian Habana to the run-on 15.