Referees
The following matches will be broadcast this weekend:
Earl and Jody Rose are set to sign for an overseas club because of the lack of interest and opportunities in South Africa.
Having had a look at the new look Super 15 schedule for 2011 and reviewing the results of this year’s Tri-Nations and going back all the way to the End Of Year Tour last November it is becoming increasingly clear that our top rugby players are playing way too much rugby. Injuries have also taken it’ s toll on a number of Springboks and a few had to take care of long standing injuries such as Fourie Du Preez with his shoulder. Continue reading
The likely absence of Butch James could open the door to a Springbok return for Peter Grant at flyhalf on the Grand Slam tour at the end of the year.
The bulk of the All Blacks squad have been made available to play in the NPC over the coming weeks, before New Zealand’s end of year tour to Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The Super 15 can be tantamount to a SANZAR suicide if players from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia are not managed carefully to enable them to perform optimally at next year’s World Cup.
Former Harlequins physiotherapist who admitted to five instances of faking blood injuries in rugby matches has been stripped of his license.
Here goes, this is how I (Biltongbek) would break up the year. Continue reading
Bath Rugby have confirmed that Butch James has undergone surgery to stabilise his right shoulder, and is expected to be back in November.
September 28 is D-Day for Peter de Villiers.
The Complete format and draw for next year’s Super 15 and the official Super 15 Logo has been announced.
I tried, I really really tried…
But I can’t do it anymore.
I said that, if De Villiers really believes nothing is wrong with the way we are playing and that we do not need to get someone in to help out (even after trying to source Jacques Nienaber from WP) and that the structures are in place, so there is no need for another person, I cannot and will not try and defend him anymore. Continue reading
Run up to the test
A interesting relationship developed between Danie Craven, the media and the New Zealand public during the 1956 tour –when Craven was coaching the side. Adoration and apprehension probably the best way to desbribe the curious fascination they had with the man. They adored him for his dedication, his competiveness and the excitement he brought, by posing a real challence but they were apprehensive because of the uncertainty within that very challenge; the fear of not being able to overcome the challence or that their beloved All Blacks might lose. Craven was literally front page news -on a daily basis- in 1956. A man they loved to hate and in 1965 he was treated like royalty on arrival in New Zealand. Continue reading
This topic has been on but here is my views on this issue. Continue reading
No matter which way you paint this, SA Rugby lacks leadership. Continue reading
In the pre isolation years South Africa played 174 Tests winning 112 Tests, drawing 15 Tests and losing 47 Tests. With an overall win rate of 64% Continue reading
Reports are rife this morning that some contracted players are revolting against their conditioning programme and that certain agreements reached between them and SARU is being breached. Continue reading
I have just recieved the following, celebrating the 40-year aniversary of a memorable occasion:
On 18/09/2010 we are holding a commemoration of the match that took place on 18 Sept 1970, when Griquas beat the mighty Northern Transvaal 11-9 at Kimberley to win the Currie Cup. We are expecting the likes of Mannetjies Roux, Piet Visagie and Piet Van Deventer to name but a few to come visit us here at Ammosal clubhouse. This was the last time Griquas won the Currie Cup, and we have been bragging for years about the fact that nearly the whole team consisted of Ammosal players.
Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile is “furious” about the comment by Springbok coach Peter de Villiers that the Springboks support Blue Bulls prop and murder suspect Bees Roux.
“Goodness man! Get yourself a spokesperson!” was the advice offered by Stofile to the Bok coach.
This season could be the most important in the history of rugby union. We are entering a 12-month period that will define the game’s future, change the view we had of it looking back, and put down the foundations for global domination that will see rugby challenge the biggest spectator sports.
Former Springbok coach Jake White believes the warning lights are flickering for Bok rugby. Continue reading
Jake White wants his old job back – but only as an interim measure to help get Springbok rugby back on track before handing over to his former assistant, Allister Coetzee, after 2011.
New Zealand Women have been crowned RWC Champions for the fourth time in succession. Continue reading
It was what one could call a winter of discontent for the Springboks as they lost their fifth Tri-Nations match from six in Bloemfontein on Saturday and set a new Tri-Nations record by conceding the most tries in the 15 years of the competition. The 41-39 loss meant the Springboks ended bottom of the log.
Simple. What you see is what you get. That is Francois Hougaard.
Humble about his successes, yet confident in his abilities. Quiet-spoken about his fame, but not shy about his hairstyle or shiny set of wheels.
The annual review of the Springboks’ performance in the Vodacom Tri-Nations will be scheduled with Springbok coach Peter de Villiers for later this month.
The review will cover all aspects of the Springboks’ performances.
Reaction on the 2nd test
In the firing line, the All Black backline unable to score tries in spite of having the majority of the possession. Too much kicking, the charge against the halfbacks. After a TV broadcast of the test even the Springboks were asked about this; their response slightly arrogant. Terry McLean writes:
After a telefilm of the test, the Springboks, or the thinking ones, this evening were agreed on one thing –if the All Blacks had been really on the ball, they would have won by 20, even 25, to nil. The case in point just before halftime when Laidlaw ran the blindside from a loose movement with Murdoch, Moreton and Birtwistle lined up outside him. Ahead stood only Gainsford and Brynard.
With any sort of accuracy in passing and any sort of speed in movement, it must have been a try at the other end. But did this try come off? Not a ghost of a chance. Murdoch kicked.
“I tell you,” said Gainsford not without a touch of scorn, “those All Black backs will never run against us. They never will. They will always kick.” This remains to be seen and proved; but it was a devastating display of defensiveness of New Zealand rugby at the highest level. Continue reading
We have read a lot and discussed a lot that our players are overplayed. The Tim Noakes’ and the Neels Liebel’s and other scientists all have their opinions and we have recently learned that the ideal is for a player to play no more than 1400 to 1600 minutes of Rugby per year.
I am of the view that these minutes are dependant on whether you are a backline, looseforward or tight forward player and also on your age and your proneness to injury. Guys like Bismarck get injured often, and its probably a challenge to even get him up to the 1600 minute mark! Continue reading
The last time the Wallabies won on the Highveld was in 1963 when they won two of the four tests to square the series. They lost the first test (14-3) at Loftus Versveld, won the second (9-5) at Newlands and the third one (11-9) at Ellis Park before losing the last one (22-6) Boet Erasmus in Port Elizabeth. Continue reading
Just read an article by Marc Hinton (Nonu and Smith the best ever) in which he argues that Nonu and Smith is right up there as one the best centre combinations –if not the best ever. He then goes on and compare them with other All Black centre combinations as if New Zealand is the only country that can produce top class centers. Continue reading
The Springbok management aren’t concerned about the apparent slump in form of winger Bryan Habana during this year’s Vodacom Tri Nations tournament.
Last night I watched the semi finals of the IRB Womens Rugby World Cup between France and New Zealand, and England and Australia. New Zealand totally outplayed France and England beat Australia in a typical low scoring Northern hemisphere type of match. Watching these games last night I was terribly disappointed in the lack of eye candy on display. I mean, one would expect a world class event to at least show some semblance of quality, but really, these Rugby games were so error ridden and clumsy, I could not enjoy it. It was frustrating to say the least!
I do not get why women want to play Rugby in any event. Rugby is a collision sport and women are not genetically designed for this type of game. Well, unless you are a Mamma Nonu with breast implants, with nipples harder than nails pointing through your breast pads! Either that girl was on a testosterone high or she was very pleased to be playing the game! Either way, the sheer physical nature of the game is not fitting for women, not to even speak about the type of embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions which may occur. White is just not a fitting colour for a women’s rugby jersey!
Former Springbok flyhalf Louis Koen, who played 15 Tests for South Africa between 2000 and 2003 will return to rugby in the Currie Cup.
Super 15 franchise the Force, has released coach John Mitchell from the final year of his contract and the New Zealander will join the Golden Lions on a three-year contract. Continue reading
Leading All Blacks may be rested during next year’s Super 15 rugby tournament in order to ensure that they will be fit for the World Cup in New Zealand later in the year.