Referees
This article by JJ Harmse of News24 , a well known reporter accused many times for biased Bulls reports, about sums up how we should view the Bulls performance on Saturday. I feel much stronger than he does about the issue, he says it very mildly compared to my feelings about the sad state of affairs and this horrible debacle.
The Bulls played their worst game ever after promises of upping their game in recent weeks.
This weekend revealed the problem with South African rugby to be hot potato-ittis. The old disease of spilling the ball forward in the tackle took on epidemic proportions in the South African teams. The bulls in particular were spectacularly awful in this department. It was also prevalent at crucial moments in the Stormers match although not so frequent. Continue reading
It was a back and forth battle at Newlands on Saturday evening which saw the visiting Reds pull off a huge victory over a Stormers side that reminded one of the early days of the competition, where the Cape side showed promise on attack, but had little to show for it in terms of points.
Sharks (17) 27 / Lions (3) 3 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the MTN Lions at 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 Sharks scored their bonus point try after the final hooter via a quick tap by McLeod from a penalty and going over under the sticks, eventually winning by a 24-point margin against a Lions side who seem to be regressing and showing all the traits of last year.
Stormers (3) 6 / Reds (9) 19 (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers hosted the Reds at Newlands, Cape Town 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 Stormers lost their undefeated tag well and solidly today with a gritty performance from the Reds who allowed the Stormers no undue chances, a 13-point win for the Reds.
Force (3) 3 / Waratahs (17) 31 (Final Score)
The Western Force hosted the Waratahs 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.
The Waratahs scored 4 tries and earned their bonus point in a win where the Western Force looked like a totally spent force.
Brumbies (11) 17 / Hurricanes (10) 16 (Final Score)
The Brumbies hosted the Hurricanes at Caneberra 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.
In a dismal game the Brumbies sneaked a win by 1 point.
Crusaders (14) 27 / Bulls (0) 0 (Final Score)
The Crusaders hosted the Bulls at Alpine Energy Stadium, Timaru 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 Crusaders methodically dismantled an error-ridden and lacklustre Bulls effort, keeping them scoreless.
Highlanders (17) 24 / Cheetahs (14) 21 (Final Score)
The Highlanders hosted the Cheetahs at Carisbrook Stadium, Dunedin at 09:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD and M-Net on TV in SA.
The Highlanders prevailed by the skin of their teeth to win by a margin of 3 points in a game where both sides scored 3 tries each and with the Cheetahs fighting hard at the end to eradicate the Highlanders lead.
At the end of the day a couple of missed penalties by Sias Ebersohn, was the difference between the sides.
The Cheetahs are hoping to achieve a second victory on tour when they take on the Highlanders in a Super Rugby match between the so-called banana peel teams on Friday. Continue reading
Surprise promotions to abrasive hooker James Hanson and powerhouse forward Radike Samo have signalled that the Reds will muscle up and throw everything at the Stormers’ defence at Newlands.
Sharks Stefan Terblanche is set to become the first player in Sharks and Natal rugby history to play 200 games for the Union.
The Crusaders have named their team to face the Bulls in Timaru with Dan Carter being replaced by Matt Berquist due to injury.
Reds forwards James Hanson and Radike Samo receive their first starting opportunity for 2011 when a revamped lineup takes on the undefeated Stormers in Cape Town.
Allister Coetzee, head coach of the DHL Stormers, today named an unchanged team to take on the Reds at DHL Newlands on Saturday 9 April. The DHL Stormers beat the Sharks in Durban 16 – 6, in their last fixture. The DHL Stormers are unbeaten in this year’s competition.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union and co-owner Robert Gumede will sit around a table on Wednesday night to discuss reports that the IT Mogul has been undermining his own union.
According to reports Gumede has been bidding to take over Soccer City against the wishes of fellow shareholders at the Lions.
Herewith ALL the Super Rugby team sheets as they were announced for week 8 of Super Rugby 2011.
Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner has been given the green light to play against the Crusaders in Timaru on Saturday.
The fullback recovered from a knee strain and will front up against the home side in the Bulls second match of their 2011 Super Rugby tour to Australasia.
Waratahs coach Chris Hickey says that this year’s Super Rugby tournament will be won by defence and not by an attacking team.
The Sharks have lost lock Alistair Hargreaves for three weeks as a result of the shoulder injury he sustained playing against the Stormers in Durban last weekend.
SANZAR have released the match officials for the eighth Round of the 2011 Super Rugby tournament and Nathan Pearce starts the action for this week on Friday.
This week the Blues, Chiefs and Rebels have a BYE so there is one match less than last week. Friday has one match and Saturday has five matches.
Jonathan Kaplan will finish the action on Saturday in Durban.
Fourie du Preez may be nowhere near his best, but even when playing at less than a third of his capacity he is still better than any other scrumhalf.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee says that his team won’t change their defensive pattern to try to stop Reds dangerman Quade Cooper, and instead urged his team to produce more of the “good stuff” on attack in Saturday’s Super Rugby clash at Newlands.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers’s loyalty towards many of his senior soldiers may just come back to haunt him at the World Cup later in 2011.
Richie McCaw? Nah, he can wait.
And if Dan Carter’s sore hamstring is not right, he can forget about suiting up against the Bulls as well.
When England football coach, the Italian Fabio Capello, said he required only a maximum 100-word vocabulary to speak with his players about tactics, he grabbed a few ears.
FNB Maties, the 12-time SAA National Club Champions, firmly closed the book on their disappointing FNB Varsity Cup campaign when they recorded a resounding win on the opening weekend of the Western Province Super League A last Saturday.
Wayne Gray wrote an interesting article (Prelude of things to come in World Cup) in the New Zealand Herald about the Bulls victory over the Hurricanes. Here are some extracts:
Fast forward to October. The All Blacks want to play a fast-paced, ball-in-hand style of rugby at the World Cup.
The Springboks will favour muscular confrontation and an aerial bombardment if they adhere to recent comments from coach Peter de Villiers, who wondered why his side should vary much from the attritional, combative style the Springboks had used with success in annexing two World Cups. Continue reading
The Bulls, last year’s champions, could significantly re-announce themselves in Super Rugby if they upset the Crusaders at the small port town of Timaru on Saturday.
A team comprising star players in the French and English leagues, four Sevens players and six Springboks, will take on the Kings in Port Elizabeth on June 4.
Continue reading
Two wins from a possible four gives the South African team a 50% win result for this weekend. This is how i rate this weekends rugby.
Sharks (6) 6 / Stormers (13) 16 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the DHL Stormers at Kings Park, Durban 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.
In a hard and brutal battle the Stormers overcame the Sharks on Sharks home turf, resulting in the 3rd successive loss in a row for the Sharks now in the Super Rugby Series of 2011. The Stormers on the other hand stays the only unbeaten side in the Super Rugby Series of 2011.
Lions (14) 25 / Reds (10) 30 (Final Score)
The MTN Lions hosted the Reds at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 15:00 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 Lions took the early initiative and built up an early lead with the Reds being penalised relentlessly but gradually the Reds came more and more into the game and by Halftime had almost caught up. Then in the second half the Reds started dominating proceedings and eventually took the lead and then extended the lead gradually. Late in the game the Lions came back a bit with 2 penalties of their own, eventually going down to the Reds by a 5-point margin.
Force (15) 25 / Rebels (14) 26 (Final Score)
The Western Force hosted the Melbourne Rebels at NIB Stadium, Perth at 13:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 and M-Net on TV in SA.
The Melbourne Rebels came from behind to win a close game, their first away game win.
Hurricanes (3) 14 / Bulls (15) 26 (Final Score)
The Hurricanes hosted the Bulls at McLean Park, Napier at 08:35 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 Bulls started well with the wind and the early penalties as well as 2 Morné Steyn drop goals set up a good early lead. After that the canes were always playing catch-up rugby and eventually the Bulls ground out a 12-point win, in New Zealand.