Referees
Yes you read it here first as it has come to light that the Sharks are in advance talks with Bath Rugby Club to try get Butch James back home in Durban.Although not much more is known at this stage, we will let you know as soon as more infomation is available on this matter.
Here it simply explains what we all seem to know, but fail to ackowlegde as and when it suits us thus not being very understanding to the situation. I made a posting in keo ealier today saying in as much and if one takes the team the Sharks could and would have had , had management just kept what we had and taken the players that approached them like J Fourie, Brussow.
With these players plus what they lost the quality and combinations of this team would have been extremely potent and near unstoppable. Talk about spilt milk >????
At the elite level of competition that is the Vodacom Super 14, the margins between victory and defeat are impossibly small, requiring that every avenue be explored in pursuit of success.
“I’ve Never Seen an Attacking Side Win Any Competition”
(says Stormers’ coach, Allister Coetzee)
By – Famed schoolboy coach, Basil Bey, provides an alternative argument in his column, Read on.
A while ago, during the Bokke end of year tour, we here on Rugby-talk debated the need for a Scrumming Academy of some sort. I clearly remember that we were the only rugby web site to agitate so fiercely for this proposed scrumming Academy. Between our bloggers tight head, grootblousmile, Loosehead and some others, we pleaded for the formation of an Academy which would ensure that all SA Super 14 teams would sing from the same hymmbook as far as scrumming is concerned, we pleaded for more than that, in fact we felt an Academy was needed where a South African formula or scrumming blueprint could be developed and taught from age level upwards.
Well, it looks like someone either read our viewpoints or our prayers have been answered.
Sharks head coach John Plumtree has, again, angrily dismissed reports that there is a rift in his squad.
Continue reading
Cape Town – The Stormers have suspended flyhalf Lionel Cronjé for two weeks after he was involved in a fight in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Continue reading
To all my fellow bloggers I put to you this challenge… Continue reading
Alistair Coetzee has stayed loyal to consistency in naming his squad to face the Hurricanes on Saturday evening.
Rugby’s governing body will pay $2 million (Euro 1.5 million) so Argentina can play in the Tri-Nations from 2012.
Ask any Shark supporter what they think of the refereeing system used by SANZAR in this years Super 14 competition and you might hear many words not suitable for a family Rugby blog site.
Cape Town – Mark Alexander will oppose South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins at the Annual General Council Meeting to take place on March 26 at the Southern Sun Hotel, Newlands, Cape Town.
The young Bokke (SA u/20) took on Argentina u/20 at Newlands, Cape Town in a curtain raiser for the Stormers / Highlanders match. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA. The game ended in a 20 / 20 draw, with the Bokkies coming from a 20 / 3 deficit and ending very strong. All in all the Bokkies were the dominant side but did not finish their opportunities early on, whereas the Argentinians grabbed each opportunity with open arms.
Latest results of the Super 14 and Vodacom Cup.
I found this very interesting piece on Rugby365, it was just too good to pass up. Rugby365 has always been a reliable source of information.
Springbok coach Pieter de Villiers could use 2010 as a ‘trial’ for the legion of South Africans currently plying their trade abroad.
Alistair Coetzee announced the Stormers team to take on the Highlanders this Saturday at Newlands. I attended the training session. Continue reading
The Vodacom Super 14 competition puts elite rugby players through one of the toughest tests in the game – with up to 15 maximum efforts over 16 weeks, often across 10 time-zones against teams wishing to displace the Bulls as the reigning Super Rugby champions.
The SA Rugby Union (SARU) is killing the Goose that lays the golden eggs – against scientific advice and proven experience that helped Jake White’s team to win the 2007 World Cup.
Stephen Jones, that irrepressible British critic of Southern Hemisphere rugby, has predictably launched a scathing attack on the latest version of the Super 14, labelling it “tripe”, “sickly”, “a shambles” and “pap rugby”.
It certainly looks like we chose the right weekend to get away from civilization and into the bush. Only one of the SA Teams managed a win this weekend… and there were 4 losses.
After this weekends overdose of Rugby, it is hard to start writing a match report. Where do you start. The games on Friday is almost erased out of your mind after the humdinger that was played at Loftus last night.
Friends,
As has become the habit with this Super 14 Competition, we have put up a Page (under TEAMS just below the Rugby-Talk header graphics) with the Teams of all participating Franchises this week.
Referee Stuart Dickinson has been forced to withdraw from the Super 14 match between the Cheetahs and the Highlanders in Bloemfontein so his place will be taken by Pro Legoete of South Africa. Continue reading
1970 All Black tour – Ne Exeat Regno
There was significant pressure from various quarters within New Zealand to stop the tour. David provides background of several internal political and local events in New Zealand –that most South Africans were not even aware off- that almost stopped the tour.
Well, our friend Manlybok was kind enough to forward a link to me from the Sydney Morning Herald, describing the Fear of God that Loftus holds to visiting Teams… enjoy!
Bulls lock Victor Matfield has been found ‘not guilty’ on a foul play charge. He is free to play against the Waratahs on in a Super 14 Round Three match on Saturday.
Good news as injury concerns lessen at the Bulls. Dewalt Potgieter is ready, so too Danie Rossouw and Pierre Spies.
On the 5th March 2010, SA Rugby nominations for President, Deputy President and Vice President, must be received in writing, from both the nominees accepting the nomination, as well as those doing the nomination, for the SA Rugby elections that will take place on the 26th March 2010.
It is really quite simple. SA Rugby’s 14 unions each have 2 votes and the individual with a majority of 15 out of 28 votes wins.
The sharks website have confirmed the addition of 2 players to the Sharks fold. Continue reading
Club rugby in Western Province received a huge boost with the announcement by the Department of Culture Affairs and Sport of the Western Cape Government that they will give financial support to 25 rugby clubs.
South Africa, Super 14, Super Rugby
Super 14
The Blue Bulls Company has released Vodacom Bulls lock Wilhelm Steenkamp on loan to the Sharks for the remainder of the Vodacom Super 14 competition.
Steenkamp, who has 19 Super Rugby caps, will return to his Pretoria base after completion of the competition.
He will again be available for selection for the Vodacom Blue Bulls once the Currie Cup season starts.
According to the BBC’s business and high performance manager, Ian Schwartz, a request from the Sharks to utilize the services of Steenkamp, was granted and Steenkamp will join the coastal side immediately.
“Wilhelm will get playing time at the Sharks, which will not only benefit the player, but South African rugby as a whole,” Schwartz said of Steenkamp, who last year also represented the Emerging Boks against the British and Irish Lions.
“The Sharks is in need of a top class lock and we have released Wilhelm due to our depth in that position. We have no doubt that he will add value to the Sharks in their campaign.”
courtesy of www.thebulls.co.za
The Sharks have chosen a far better balanced team, although once all injuries are over it could still be stronger.
Players still out are as follows, Muller, Swannepoel, Mostert, Ludick, Mvovo Continue reading
Springbok Ashley Johnson has been left out of the Cheetahs starting line-up and will sit on the bench when the team travels to Durban to face the Sharks in a Super 14 Round Two match on Friday. Continue reading
According to Terry McLean the 1965 team was the worst Springbok team ever to visit New Zealand. Weak indeed as a team, but consisted of really talented players, including some of the best known and biggest Springbok legends.