Referees
Soccer
Paraguay 0-0 Japan, Paraguay won the shootout 5-3
Spain 1-0 Portugal
Cricket
South Africa won by 7 wickets231 & 161
West Indies
South Africa 346 & 49/3 (8.4 ov)
The Winter Tours in the Southern Hemisphere is a thing of the past, with a clear advantage to the Southern Hemisphere in the results, except for an Australian hickup against England in the 2nd Test and 2 results for Scotland against Argentina. The rest of the results all went the way of the Southern Hemisphere.
I am still not fully happy though with the Springbok run-up to the Tri-Nations and think our National coach missed some opportunities in selecting or establishing the true pecking order in a few positions.
Springbok captain John Smit said the coming Tri-Nations tour will be taken serious and not used solely as a yardstick and building block for the World Cup in 15 months time.
“If we want to go there with the focus on next year we’ll miss the plot. We want to go there and focus on things we’ve built up over the last few tests.
Cricket
West Indies vs South Africa
West Indies 231
South Africa 285/6 (104 ov)
End of day 2
More to follow
Lead-up to the test
Ivan the terrible’s revenge
From a New Zealand perspective, the fourth test of the 1970 tour will be remembered for an incident that occurred a week before the test in Potchefstroom. Continue reading
South Africa comfortably beat Italy 55-11 at Buffalo City Stadium Saturday in South Africa’s last match of the June International series.
Springboks flyhalf Morné Steyn scored two of the Springboks’ 7 tries and with his kicking a total of 26 points to the winners’ total.
Shortly after the Springboks resounding victory over the Azuri, Oregan Hoskins announced coach Peter de Villiers’ chosen Tri-Nations squad.
Springboks (27) 55 / Azuri (6) 11 (Final Score)
The Springboks hosted the Italian Azuri for the 2nd Test at Buffalo City Stadium, East London. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
As expected, the Springboks had far too much ammunition for the Azuri side, scoring converted 7 tries to 1 try in the process.
The final score was Springboks 55 / 11.
Players on Springbok side who shone was Morné Steyn, Gurthro Steenkamp and Francois Louw.
The Springboks meet the Italian Azuri for the 2nd Test at Buffalo City Stadium, East London on Saturday at 15:00 SA Time.
Both teams have made plenty of changes and both teams do not field their strongest possible sides for this match.
At last “The Beast”, Tendai Mtawarira, gets the go ahead to represent the country he loves and has represented with great distinction.
Article thanks to News24 Continue reading
The Springboks will once again show their support for the victims of serious and/or catastrophic rugby injuries when they take to the field in Saturday’s Test against Italy in East London wearing the logo of the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund on their shorts.
Italy coach Nick Mallett has made nine changes to the team to face South Africa in the second Test on Saturday.
Fabio Ongaro, Lorenzo Cittadini, Marco Bortolami, Carlo Del Fava, Paul Derbyshire and Manoa Vosawai come into the forward pack and Simone Picone, Michele Sepe and Gonzalo Canale are included in the backline.
Lock Danie Rossouw has withdrawn from the Springbok rugby team to face Italy at the Buffalo City Stadium in East London on Saturday.
Rossouw, who was selected on the bench for the match, suffered a hip flexor injury during training this week and has been withdrawn by the medical team.
At 31 years of age and with almost more injuries than goals scored during the first two weeks of the World Cup, André Pretorius says he still has the hunger for big rugby.
The Western Force have bolstered their squad with the addition of talented back Gene Fairbanks on a two year deal.
It is also reported that they are looking to secure the services of Sias Ebersohn of the Cheetahs to replace Andre Pretorius who never played a game for the Franchise before once again being injured.
Additionally it was announced that Ryan Cross has left the Western Force to join the Waratahs for next season’s Super 15 tournament.
Smit made his debut here against Canada a decade ago
John Smit has recovered from his hamstring injury and will lead theSpringboks on Saturday in the second Test against Italy, at the Buffalo City Stadium in East London.
From New24
The IRB World Rankings saw a dramatic change as 20 countries dropped places and 19 improved their positions as a result of the matches this weekend.
At the top, whilst New Zealand and South Africa recorded victories over Wales and Italy respectively to maintain the top two positions, Australia dropped from third to fourth after suffering a 21-20 defeat to England at the ANZ Stadium.
In general I was not impressed with the Springbok performance in Mordor (Witbank) on Saturday and felt it necessary to bring out my own Rating of the individual Bokke.
Victor Matfield and a few key Bokke are set to be rested for the 2nd Test against the Azuri from Italy in East London.
Eary indications are that John Smit will lead the side in the Test and recalls of Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger, Jaque Fourie, Danie Rossouw and Wynand Olivier as well as the omission of Flip van der Merwe, Alistair Hargreaves and Bandise Maku (who did not travel with the team to East London) indicate that we’ll see a considerably revamped Bokke Team this Saturday.
Western Province and Stormers Senior Professional coach Rassie Erasmus and his lawyer friend Frikkie Erasmus are planning a new tournament of “instant” rugby that will revolutionise the game.
According to a report in the Afrikaans weekly Rapport the tournament, based on the highly success Indian Premier League (20-overs) cricket series, will attract 200 of the world’s leading players.
After the high intensity performance against France the previous week and the come-from-behind effort in Cardiff the week before that, the Springboks were probably due the step backwards they took against Italy in Witbank.
Considering the result of the 1st Test and considering where SA stands in preparation for the Tri-Nations (and next year’s World Cup), what would constitute a “CLEVER” or “ASTUTE” Run-on Springbok Team for the 2nd Azuri Test.
To make this decision, one needs to look at a few things, namely:
Springboks (22) 29 / Azuri (3) 13 (Final Score)
The Springboks hosted the Italian Azuri team at Witbank, Mpumalanga, South Africa at 15:00 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The game was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Springboks won convincingly but rhytm lacked in the 2nd half, specially when too many subs came on.
The most pleasing part of the game was that the Springboks dominated the scrums where Gurthro Steenkamp clearly mastered Martin Castrogiovanni and his replaceent after he went off injured.
Players who enhanced their Springbok futures were Gurthro Steenkamp, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Francois Louw, Dewald Potgieter, Morné Steyn and Zane Kirchner.
Players who did not enhance their Springbok futures were Butch James (who was also awarded a yellow card), Ricky Januarie & Alistair Hargreaves.
The Springboks ran in 4 tries to 1 and the final score was Springboks 29 / 13.
Hardly a media conference goes by that there isn’t some reference to next year’s World Cup in New Zealand by Springbok coach Peter de Villiers or even the players who are interviewed separately afterwards
On Saturday we see the 1st of 2 Tests this year by the Springboks against the Azuri from Italy.
Due to Soccer World Cup repercussions the 1st Test is hosted at Witbank and the 2nd Test in East London.
It will be a Springbok mix-and match side against the hard-scrumming Azuri but who offers very little in the backline.
I suppose it had to happen. It was just a matter of time. Unfortunately for South Africa – and Bafana Bafana – it took only two games of their participation in soccer’s world showpiece to show what the “beautiful” game is all about. Continue reading
Veteran flank Schalk Burger has been withdrawn from the Springbok team to face Italy at the Puma Stadium in Witbank on Saturday.
Nick Mallett has named his Italy Team to face the Springboks in Witbank in the 1st of 2 Tests between the Azuri and the Springboks and has his inspirational captain, Sergio Parisse back in the team.
The Azzurri take on the Springboks for only the ninth time in their history, having never beaten the Springboks.
The Springbok medical team and its regional counterparts have met to plan the way ahead for the country’s leading rugby players in the lead up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Ke nako. It’s time.
A article written by JJ Harmse, one i could just as well written. Yes the things said in this article was my view all along.
Victor Matfield will captain the Boks for the 11th time against Italy in Witbank on Saturday. Team announced
The last three tour games of the 1970 All Black tour were against North East Cape, Northern Transvaal and the Junior Springboks (Gazelle). The one against North East Cape had a cricket score but the other two were hard matches that the All Blacks almost lost. Continue reading
The most experienced lock pairing in the history of world rugby will be re-united against Italy on Saturday when Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha play together for a 60th time.