The Vodacom Bulls will be without regular captain Pierre Spies for a large part of the 2014 rugby season after he was ruled out of rugby due to an arm injury on Monday.
Spies again suffered a bicep muscle injury to his upper arm, the same injury that sidelined him in June last year, resulting in the no 8 missing the remainder of the 2013 season.
Blues coach John Kirwan will have to dig deep into his midfield reserves ahead of their Round Three Super Rugby encounter with the Crusaders.
Star centre Francis Saili, one of the Blues’ best players in his team’s mostly lacklustre performance in their 21-29 loss to the Highlanders in Dunedin at the weekend, has joined All Black midfielder Ma’a Nonu on the sidelines.
Captain Luke Braid is another key player likely to miss the Eden Park showdown.
The Hurricanes admitted they will have to work on their scrumming, ahead of their trip to Newlands and an encounter with the Stormers on Friday.
From the very first scrum – when the Sharks’ all-Springbok front row of Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis marched them 10 metres back – the visitors were under the cosh in the set pieces.
With the assistance of some leeway by Australian referee Andrew Lees, the Hurricanes managed to frustrated the Sharks for the first hour.
There was a mixed bag on the selection front for the Crusaders on Monday – Kieran Read set to return, but Richie McCaw likely to be ruled out.
McCaw is in doubt for Friday’s Round Three encounter against the Blues at Eden Park.
The openside flank is nursing a tender calf, after the Crusaders’ 10-18-10 loss to the Chiefs at Christchurch Stadium at the weekend.
The first full round of the 2014 edition of Vodacom Super Rugby produced a weekend of absorbing rugby that once again proved the old adage that in this competition the unexpected should almost be expected.
And as invariably is the case, there have already been casualties among the favoured teams, with multiple winners the Crusaders, the Blues and Vodacom Bulls already on the back foot, as are last year’s beaten finalists the Brumbies and the 2012 log winners, the DHL Stormers.
The Crusaders and Brumbies both suffered defeats to good teams, but they were results that wouldn’t have been anticipated if you look at historical precedent. The Crusaders have only lost twice in home games to the Chiefs, and only once in Christchurch, and the Brumbies have tended to be better than the Reds in Canberra.
The Vodacom Bulls may be putting a brave face on their poor start to the Vodacom Super Rugby season, but is clear that there are glaring problems in the team at the moment that need to be sorted out.
The alarm bells may not be ringing in coach Frans Ludeke’s ears after two losses in as many games, but they certainly are loud as the team struggle to find their feet after losing a mass amount of players last season.
To expect the Bulls to face such a mass exodus – much of it their own doing – and not suffer much of a setback is too much. Add to that the loss of Arno Botha and captain Pierre Spies to injury and the problems seem bigger.
Cell C Sharks director of rugby Jake White reckons his team has hit the target that was set them for the first segment of the season.
The Sharks beat the Hurricanes 27-9 at Growthpoint Kings Park this past weekend to ensure they go into their first bye week with two wins under the belt. And after picking up a four try bonus point against the Vodacom Bulls in week one, his men have only one point less than a full house and are soaring on the early log standings.
After their humiliating loss to the Lions, the Stormers received more bad news with injuries to two key players.
According to reports, Argentine lock Manuel Carizza and flank Schalk Burger could miss Friday night’s match against the Hurricanes after picking up injuries in their 34-10 loss at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The defending champion Chiefs are counting the cost of their 18-10 win over the Crusaders in their Super Rugby showdown in Christchurch on Friday.
Chiefs coach Dave Rennie admitted his team’s depth is being tested in the early stages of the season, but felt he will have sufficient cover as the men from Hamilton look for a hat-trick of titles.
Forwards Ben Afeaki, Brodie Retallick, Kane Thompson, Tevita Koloamatangi and All Black Mils Muliaina were all forced off the field in the brutal clash in Christchurch.
Sharks scrumhalf Charl McLeod has confirmed on Twitter that he’ll be joining Top 14 side Grenoble at the conclusion of the current Super Rugby season.
The backlash to Super Rugby being expanded again has begun with double Super Rugby winning coach Dave Rennie amongst others slamming the idea.
Super Rugby organisers SANZAR issued a limited statement on Thursday saying that they had agreed on a proposed format to include a sixth South African franchise and a team from Argentina.
The addition of two further Super Rugby teams will take the number to 17 teams when the next broadcast agreement comes into effect in 2016.
South African scrumhalf and kicker, Rory Kockott, has committed his future to Castres, with the French champions announcing that he had signed a new three-year deal.
English rugby legend Jonny Wilkinson celebrated his 100th match in the Top 14 in suitable fashion on Sunday as he kicked all of European champion Toulon’s points as they secured a 15-9 win at relegation-threatened Bayonne.
The 34-year-old landed four penalties and one drop goal to give Toulon only their second away win in eight away matches this campaign and consolidated their place in the top six places for the post-season playoffs – they are five points ahead of seventh placed Toulouse.
Top-level sport is often decided by small margins. Take the events in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
Scotland trailed Italy 20-18 with the clock showing that 79 minutes had elapsed. Scotland had one chance to snatch a desperately-needed win.
South Africa and Australia battled each other in the 2nd of three 5-Day Tests at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth.
Australia were 1 / 0 up in the series, after beating South Africa onvincingly in the 1st Test at Centurion Park, Pretoria.
The score cards were be updated at regular intervals here on Rugby-Talk.
See you in the comments section!
South Africa squared the series with a 231 run win, the series now 1 / 1 with the final 5-Day Test set up nicely for Newlands, Cape Town.
There was still 1 full day to go in the Test, but South Africa asked for the extra half an hour on Day 4 to finish the Australians up, which they duly did.
South Africa:
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First Innings – 423 All Out (150.5 Overs)
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Second Innings – 270 / 5 Declared (64 Overs)
Australia:
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First Innings – 246 All Out (57 Overs)
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Second Innings – 216 All Out (73.4 Overs)
Waratahs (22) 43 / 21 (11) Force (Final Score)
The Waratahs and Western Force did battle in Super Rugby at
Allianz Stadium, Sydney at 07:05 SA Time (16:05 Sydney Time, 05:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Rugby-Talk is ‘n trotse mede-borg van die Delas Rugbyklub Rugbydag op 22 Februarie 2014.
Klubrugby in Suid-Afrika gaan gebuk onder druk van alle kante, waar die owerhede, Suid-Afrikaanse Rugby Unie (SARU) en vermoënde borge maar min geld beskikbaar stel vir hierdie uiters belangrike komponent van rugby in Suid-Afrika.
Delmas Rugbyklub hou jaarliks ‘n Rugbydag en hierdie keer is dit al hul fyfde suksesvolle Rugbydag in ‘n ry in 2014.
Daar is 38 spanne, 19 wedstryde en wonderlike pret en plesier by die wonderlike byeenkoms. Ons nooi ieder en elk uit om saam met ons te deel in die genot van rugby op die platteland.
Daar is ‘n vlooimark, tonne vermaak en kunstenaars wat gaan optree… en natuurlik is ons ook daar saam met Radio Oos Rand Stereo (93.9 FM), Big Bang Events & Marketing Solutions, Phoenixian SA en die borge van die dag en die spanne.
Ons skeep ook nie Super Rugby af nie, want die 2 wedstryde van die oggend en die 2 middag en aand Super Rugby wedstryde word lewendig op die “Big Screen” aangebied, van waar Rugby-Talk dan ook lewendig oor die tellings en verloop van Super Rugby sal rapporteer.
Lions (22) 34 / 10 (10) Stormers (Final Score)
The Lions and DHL Stormers did battle in Super Rugby at
Ellis Park, Johannesburg at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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England (3) 13 / 10 (0) Ireland (Final Score)
England and Ireland did battle in the Six Nations at
Twickenham, London at 18:00 SA Time (16:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 8 on TV in SA and BBC1 in UK.
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Sharks (10) 27 / 9 (6) Hurricanes (Final Score)
The Cell C Sharks and Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at
Kings Park, Durban at 17:05 SA Time (04:05 Sunday NZ Time, 15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Italy (13) 20 / 21 (3) Scotland (Final Score)
Italy and Scotland did battle in the Six Nations at
Stadio Olimpico, Rome at 15:30 SA Time (14:30 Rome Time, 13:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 8 on TV in SA and BBC1 in UK.
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Brumbies (9) 17 / 27 (17) Reds (Final Score)
The Brumbies and Reds did battle in Super Rugby at
Canberra Stadium, Canberra at 10:40 SA Time (19:40 Canberra Time, 08:40 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Highlanders (24) 29 / 21(0) Blues (Final Score)
The Highlanders and Blues did battle in Super Rugby at
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin at 08:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 06:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Wales (20) 27 / 6 (6) France (Final Score)
Wales and France did battle in the Six Nations tournament at
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff at 22:00 SA Time (20:00 GMT, 21:00 French Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Just two log points separate the top four teams in the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International ahead of Round Four on Monday.
Defending champions FNB UP-Tuks are the only team yet to lose a game this season, and they lead the way but not by much with the chasing pack breathing down their necks.
They will be up against the fourth-placed FNB UCT – who are coming off two big away wins against FNB Maties and FNB NMMU – in the first televised game (live on Supersport One at 16:45) in Cape Town on Monday.
Australia backrow forward George Smith has signed a two-year deal with rising French second division side Lyon, the ProD2 club announced on Friday.
Cheetahs (12) 15 / 9 (3) Bulls (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby at
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Crusaders (0) 10 / 18 (8) Chiefs (Final Score)
The Crusaders and Chiefs did battle in Super Rugby at
AMI Stadium, Christchurch at 08:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 06:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Super Rugby is already in Round 2, with the Antipodion teams also taking part this weekend. We have 7 games in Round 2, with 2 games on Friday, 4 games on Saturday and 1 game in the early hours (SA Time) on Sunday morning.
The Melbourne Rebels have a bye weekend, right at the outset, but of course Bye Points fall away in 2014.
In June / July 2014 the Antipion teams will catch up in played games with the South African counterparts, when the South African sides sit out for 1 Round.
The Combined Log will therefore be skewed for the majority of the competition and one has to question why individual countries are allowed to start such a long competition ahead of it’s rivals. In 2013 the Australian sides started a week early, but at least they had the excuse that they needed an extra week in the middle of the year to prepare for the British & Irish Lions series, which they lost.
(The Weekend Teams are also up under the Main Menu, Super Rugby, 2014, Weekend Teams.)
Former All Black Carlos Spencer has been tasked to guide the Eastern Province Kings in their return to the Currie Cup competition.
Spencer, who joined the Kings in December, has been appointed head coach for the Currie Cup season.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has named an unchanged starting team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with England at Twickenham (kick-off 4pm). Paul O’Connell will lead the side on the occasion of his 90th cap as Ireland seek their first win at Twickenham since 2010.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union is pleased to announce Xerox as the new Golden Lions title sponsor for the Currie Cup tournament.
The three-year deal sees Xerox come on board as the naming rights sponsor of the senior Golden Lions team for the 2014 to 2016 competitions.
England named experienced tighthead prop David Wilson in place of the injured Dan Cole in their team to play Ireland in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday.
The inclusion of Wilson on Thursday was the only change in the starting line-up from the side which beat Scotland 20 / 0 at Murrayfield two weeks ago.
Club rugby will step back into the television spotlight next month when two of the country’s biggest derbies will be broadcast live during the second edition of the Cell C Community Cup, which kicks off on 8 March.
Lions head caoch Johan Ackermann has named his team to face the Stormers in their Super Rugby game at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The team sees a number of injury enforced changes.