Referees
Cheetahs flanker Juan Smith has been named as captain of the Springbok squad for Saturday’s season-ending finale against the Barbarians at Twickenham.
Let us not be guilty of suggesting all is suddenly hunky-dory again in Springbok rugby: it isn’t. But there are also times when the pessimists must be banished, humiliated, to the back seats for a while and a special weekend – “finish and klaar!” — be savoured by those who doggedly keep the faith.
England (6) 11 / Springboks (6) 21 (Final Score)
England hosted the Springboks at Twickenham at 16:30 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SuperSport HD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Springboks came out firing in the forwards, dominating the forwards battle and scored 2 tries in the process, one a wonderful break by Lwazi Mvovo who gets his first international try.
The Springboks showed some guts and grit and determination and deserved their win, well done Bokke.
To be honest I am slightly dumbfounded after the loss against Scotland and the rather pathetic show against Wales. This year’s international rugby season was one colossal disappointment for me and I am really struggling to mount any enthusiasm about this weekend’s game.
I am bitterly disappointed with not only the type of rugby we play but also with our inability to execute our “game plan” if one can call it a plan. Continue reading
The handing out of Springbok jerseys, a pre-matchday tradition in the South African team, has a new member in their club.
Fikile Mbalula, the minister for Sport and Recreation, presented the team with their match jerseys in London on Friday – ahead of the Boks’ encounter with England at Twickenham on Saturday.
Dawie Theron, the new SA Under-20 coach, on Thursday said he was looking forward to work with SARU in an attempt to further develop South Africa’s rugby talent.
After two Springboks had two players tested positive for banned substances in Chiliboy Ralapelle and Bjorn Basson the Six Nations Rugby Limited increased the normal number of two players tested to six.
The Springbok rugby team is currently hampered by their lack of an openside flanker of world-class quality like Richie McCaw.
Tendai ‘Beast” Mtawarira is set to stay at the Tank, Even though huge money was thrown his way it seems his heart won the battle. Continue reading
For strong-running flank Jean Deysel, 2010 was a season of highs and lows, his own personal disappointments tempered by the team’s success culminating in winning the Absa Currie Cup trophy almost a month ago. Continue reading
CORNE KRIGE admitted he deliberately set out to injure England players during South Africa’s 53-3 record mauling at Twickenham in 2002.
See added video material of the Krige elbow incident; the Labuschagne red card, and the Greenwood tries.
Presenting a Gallery of the top 10 most humiliating defeats under Peter de Villiers since his reign began as coach of the Springboks in 2008.
Peter de Villiers took over a World Cup winning team, and took them to Tri-Nations and British and Irish Lions glory, but along the way he has at times plumbed new Springbok lows and earned unwanted records especially in recent times where the Springboks have seemingly gone from World Champions to Chumps.
During May and June 1984 England toured South Africa playing a series of seven matches including two test matches against the Springboks. They won four of the seven matches but lost both of the test matches as well as drawing the fixture against Western Province. Continue reading
Over the years there have been some intense battles on the rugbyfield between SA and England. England have this uncanny ability to surprise, frustrate and bring us back to earth. For the next couple of days I am going to describe my personal favourites of matches between these two rugby nations in terms of the worst, the best, the most frustrating, most annoying, most dissapointing, most embarrasing, most shocking and most satisfying matches I’ve had the privilage to experience (see or listen to on the radio). I’ll start with the most shocking test match between England and South Africa.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has made just two changes to his side to face England, as Pierre Spies and Ruan Pienaar return to the starting line-up for the final Test match of the tour.
It is major decision time for Springbok coach Peter de Villiers following the disappointing manner in which his team lost to lowly Scotland in Edinburgh at the weekend.
Martin Johnson believes England’s gritty victory over Samoa will stand his side in good stead as they attempt to end their four-year losing streak against South Africa.
The Springboks were tactically pathetic and physically overwhelmed in what can only be described as an embarrassing performance.
I always love this , when each players participation is assessed by the experts. Everyone has their own opinion. Read this and go ahead speak your mind.
Scotland (12) 21 / Springboks (9) 17 (Final Score)
Scotland hosted the Springboks at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh at 16:30 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
In a scrappy game a brave Scotland held out to beat the Springboks and shatter their Grand Slam hopes.
Worst Springbok performance in a very long time.
The Grand Slam is a relatively modern term coined to either represent a full house of wins by one Six Nations country over the other five participating nations or a full house of wins by a touring Southern Hemisphere team over the four United Kingdom (UK) home unions. The term Grand Slam was first used in 1933, by the American journalist John Kieran. In describing the attempt that year by Jack Crawford to win all four titles, he compared it with “a countered and vulnerable grand slam in bridge”. Kieran singled out these four titles as being the biggest in tennis because, at the time, they were the main international championships held in the only four countries who had won the Davis Cup. Crawford failed to achieve the Grand Slam that year as he lost in the US Championships final to Fred Perry. It wasn’t until 1938 that Donald Budge became the first person to achieve the Grand Slam. The expression Grand Slam, initially used to describe the winning of the tennis major events, was later incorporated by other sports, notably golf, to describe a similar accomplishment.
Considering that each of the four UK teams (and France) generally play a different style and have different strengths and weaknesses a Grand Slam is, in terms of adaptability, probably a greater feat than winning a series against one country.
The Sharks have stood by their word and made sure Kings Park will remain the home of Sharks rugby.
For this time of year there is a lot of rugby to be seen on TV in SA This weekend.
The plot to assasinate Deon Helberg has thickened, it now reads like a Hollywood story… or a true television soapie.
All Rugby Unions have received the following Letter from BokSmart, notifying them of the requirements for next year.
A bit longwinded but interesting.
England vs South Africa Rugby Legends, 26 November 2010 @ The Stoop 19:45pm
A 47-year-old woman was arrested on Thursday for allegedly conspiring to murder Blue Bulls rugby player Deon Helberg, police said.
Coach Peter de Villiers on Thursday called up three replacements to the Springbok squad for the final two matches of the team’s end-of-year tour against England and the Barbarians – both matches at Twickenham.
Coach Graham Henry has continued with his policy of rotation by benching Sonny Bill Williams.
We laud some schools for developing rugby and producing quality players like a conveyor belt, well Grey College boasts 9 players in the Springbok touring squad and 8 out of 22 in the match 22 for the Springboks against Scotland! Amazing.
People might think we are making a huge fuss about this Springbok “doping” scandal but I guess they do not see the implications of it for us, as sports lovers, and moreso the impact it has on our already tainted reputation as world leaders in Rugby. For me its a major embarassment, especially to think that our whole team may have been exposed. Continue reading
The South African Rugby Players Association has welcomed the arbitration award handed down by Advocate Nic Treurnicht – confirming that SARPA must with immediate effect be given representation on the SARU Executive Council.
It is the second time that a court has ruled in favour of the players’ union, to ensure they have a member on the council.
The banned substance methylhexaneamine, for which two Springbok rugby players tested positive, is apparently freely available in South African pharmacies.
20 July 1976 – South African Gazelle 15 / All Blacks 21
Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth; Weather: fine, warm with a wisp of a breeze; Ground: Perfect; Crowd: 27 000; Referee: Max Baize (Eastern Province). Continue reading