Now we are into the business part of the Super Rugby season! Before the TEST Window break each South African team has 2 games left (Sharks have only 1).
Quade Cooper was left out of a 25-man Wallaby squad for the British and Irish Lions series, but code-hopper Israel Folau was chosen.
Coach Robbie Deans said troubled star back Kurtley Beale still has a chance of playing against the British and Irish Lions despite missing the initial Wallabies squad.
It was the Springboks’ best performance of the tour. A real confidence booster after the shock defeat against the University side but at the same time a game that had a negative impact in more than one way. It showed New Zealand the danger of allowing the Springboks space to play the Craven-linking pattern. Not that New Zealand was unaware of the Springbok style but it re-affirmed the necessity of keeping the Springboks on the back foot.
Cheetahs (18) 27 / 13 (6) Reds (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and Reds 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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Bulls (23) 35 / 18 (6) Highlanders (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and Highlanders did battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 17:05 SA 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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Waratahs (6) 28 / 22 (13) Brumbies (Final Score)
The Waratahs and Brumbies did battle in Super Rugby at ANZ Stadium, Sydney at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Sydney Time, 09:40 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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English flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson will seek to add a continental crown to his honours when his Toulon take on French rivals Clermont in the European Cup final on Saturday.
The match at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium might be between two French Top 14 clubs, but on paper it is a truly international clash, with top players from across the globe ready to battle it out for the ultimate honour in northern hemisphere club rugby.
The long history of South African teams being done in by the incompetence and, let’s be honest, the one-eyed approach of Australasian match officials took another turn for the worse on Friday as the DHL Stormers were beaten 30-21 by the Rebels in a Vodacom Super Rugby match in Melbourne.
Crusaders (13) 23 / 3 (3) Blues (Final score)
The Crusaders and Blues did battle in Super Rugby at AMI Stadium, Christchurch at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 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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Pumas (20) 28 / 42 (23) Golden Lions (Final Score)
The Pumas and MTN Golden Lions did battle in Super Rugby at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit at 19:10 SA Time.
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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Force (10) 13 / 23 (7) Sharks (Final Score)
The Western Force and The Sharks did battle in Super Rugby at NIB Stadium, Perth at 13:45 SA Time (19:45 Perth Time, 11:45 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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Rebels (13) 30 / 21 (14) Stormers (Final Score)
The Melbourne rebels and DHL Stormers did battle in Super Rugby at AAMI Park, Melbourne at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Melbourne Time, 09:40 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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Hurricanes (9) 12 / 17 (12) Chiefs (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Chiefs did battle in Super Rugby at Westpac Stadium, Wellington at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 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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Here are the Super Rugby Team Sheets as they were announded for Round 14 of Super Rugby 2013.
Brian O’Driscoll ended speculation about his future by signing a new one-year deal to play on for Ireland and Leinster, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) revealed on Thursday.
With the Stormers experiencing a lukewarm Super Rugby campaign, the news that injured Jaco Taute is considering extending his stay in the Cape will be welcome news to the Cape Town-based franchise.
Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu wants to strengthen his squad with one or two Super Rugby players for the upcoming Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow.
Cricket Scotland announced on Tuesday that Kyle Coetzer has been appointed as the new Scotland cricket captain. He will take charge for the first time this Friday when Scotland play Pakistan in the first of two One Day Internationals.
Saracens and former Springbok hooker Schalk Brits has been included in the Barbarians squad to face the British and Irish Lions.
It will be a special day for Vodacom Bulls stalwarts Pierre Spies and Mornè Steyn at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday when their team takes on the Highlanders in a Vodacom Super Rugby clash.
The Stormers were given a slap on the wrist after being found guilty of misconduct and bringing the game into disrepute.
They were fined a total of AU$25,000 (about ZAR228,450) and also ordered to pay SANZAR’s costs.
The Chiefs suffered a cruel blow with the news that star All Black Sam Cane has been ruled out of their Super Rugby crunch match with the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday.
The Rebels have turned to Rugby League convert Bryce Hegarty to solve their flyhalf problem in the wake of injuries to James O’Connor and Angus Roberts, as well as the absence of suspended Kurtley Beale.
Scotland international centre Joe Ansbro has announced his retirement from rugby today following the neck injury he sustained at the start of this season. The 11-times-capped London Irish back suffered a C1 fracture in his club’s pre-season friendly with Munster in Cork last August.
Allister Coetzee
The DHL Stormers have announced a team showing seven changes for their final Super Rugby match Down Under – against the Rebels at AAMI Park on Friday (kick-off 11h40 SA time).
France coach Philippe Saint-Andre on Tuesday called up eight uncapped players for his 35-man squad to tour New Zealand tour next month.
Munster have announced that current squad captain Doug Howlett will retire from professional rugby at the end of this season.
The Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) have announced that will be raising funds for former player, Tinus Linee at next week’s Super Rugby match between the Stormers and the Reds at Newlands.
SANZAR has released the names of the match officials for Round 14 of Super Rugby 2013. Lourens van der Merwe is tasked to start off this weekend’s action in Wellington, New Zealand on Friday.
This weekend sees 7 matches, 3 on Friday and 4 on Saturday.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has named 10 uncapped players in a 38-man training squad ahead of New Zealand’s Test series against France.
Hansen says that he has called up an enlarged squad at first as he wants to assess emerging talent in New Zealand Rugby.
We bring you the first of a four part series focusing on specific game measures for Super Rugby, that is, how scrums, tackles, work on areas and the referee team have been tracking so far in 2013 Super Rugby, today we bring you the scrum.
I could not put it better, so excuse me but I have to share this article by Ian Smith. I must add that I do not agree with the first paragraph though.
According to most Sport readers, the Kings have justified their inclusion in Super Rugby at the expense of the Lions.
Sharks rugby seems to be in disarray as stories surface regarding issues within the Union and players! Now even though nothing has been confirmed officially, it does seem to make sense as to why the sudden problems the Sharks are having.