Ireland (0) 6 / 12 (6) England (Final Score)
Ireland and England did battle in the Six Nations tournament at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin at 17:00 SA Time (15:00 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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The Vodacom Bulls sounded a stern warning ahead of their Super Rugby campaign as they demolished the Toyota Cheetahs 32-10 in their pre-season friendly at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
With the news this week that Springbok great, Jan Ellis, passed away at the age of 71, I just had to write this tribute to Jan.
Jan Ellis personifies Springbok rugby for me. It has been said that as humans we think in pictures. When we think of something we see a picture of some sorts and this picture can differ from one person to the next, which is why we sometimes voice the same words but come up with different understanding or meaning. The best communicators are those who can create clear and vivid pictures in the mind of his listeners.
When I think of Springbok rugby I see Jan Ellis. Hard, uncompromising, fast with a touch of artistic moodiness and flair but with relentless motivation to succeed based on a staunch work ethic and absolute conviction of what is right and wrong – that is Jan Ellis in a nutshell, for me.
So, I don’t see all that, I just see pictures of Jan Ellis flashing through my mind.
(see the photo gallery I’ve created of Jan Ellis here).
The analogy between the Springboks and Jan Ellis, for me, came along probably because I had so many pictures of Jan Ellis when I started with my sampling of rugby pictures in 1970. I was born in Windhoek, South West Africa (now Namibia) and Jan was SWA’s second Springbok, the first being Sias Swart.
France (3) 6 / 16 (3) Wales (Final Score)
France and Wales did battle in the Six Nations Competition at Stade de France, Paris at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 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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Scotland (13) 34 / 10 (3) Italy (Final Score)
Scotland and Italy did battle in the Six Nations Competition at Murrayfield, Edinburgh at 16:30 SA Time (14:30 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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Stormers (17) 57 / 0 (0) Boland (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers beat the Boland Kavaliers in their warm-up match in preparation for Super Rugby at Cape Town Stadium. Match report to follow.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 2 on TV in SA.
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South Africa made a solid start on day one of the USA Sevens in Las Vegas on Saturday morning (SA time) by winning both of their pool matches against Uruguay and Canada to qualify for the Cup quarterfinals with a match to spare.
The Sharks scored 11 tries on their way to beating the Leopards 71-8 in a Super Rugby warm up match at Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Friday.
The Sharks ooutscored the Leopards by 11 tries to one but the victory may have come at a cost as captain Keegan Daniel injured his knee while Tim Whitehead has a suspected broken arm.
A try to Peter Saili in extra time snatched a thrilling 40-36 victory for the Blues over the Waratahs in their pre-season match in Whangarei on Saturday.
Lions (22) 41 / 31 (7) Kings (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and Southern Kings did battle in the MTN Lions Challenge at Ellis Park, Johannesburg at 14:15 SA 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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With an exciting weekend of Premiership rugby the focus seems to be on the clash between table-topping Harlequins and fourth placed London Wasps.
The South African Rugby Union on Friday expressed its deep sadness at the passing of legendary former Springbok looseforward, Jan Ellis.
The one-time joint record holder for the number of Springbok caps succumbed to cancer at a hospice in Pretoria after suffering from the disease for some time. He celebrated his 71st birthday in January.
While most of the attention up north should be on the internationals with this being weekend two of the 2013 RBS 6 Nations let us not forget that we also have round fourteen of the RaboDirect Pro12 competition to look forward to.
The Ireland team to play England in the RBS 6 Nations Championship on Sunday has been named with Ireland head coach Declan Kidney naming an unchanged side from the one that beat Wales in Cardiff last week.
Billy Twelvetrees has kept his place in England’s starting XV for Sunday’s match against Ireland in Dublin, while James Haskell makes his first start in the Six Nations since 2011.
The Cheetahs have announced their group of 35 players for this year’s Super Rugby tournament. It differs substantially from last year’s squad, with numerous players having pursued careers overseas. Considering that ten of last year’s squad’s names don’t appear, one could be forgiven for expecting a weaker squad but it looks like a good squad overall.
Wales have made three changes to their starting line-up for their RBS 6 Nations clash against France with Ryan Jones returning to lead the side.
Italy coach Jacques Brunel made only one change from the side that started in the 23-18 triumph over France last week for the Azzurri’s second Six Nations challenge against Scotland on Saturday.
Gonzalo Canale, who plays club rugby for La Rochelle in France, replaces Alberto Sgarbi at inside centre after the latter picked up an injury knock.
Let’s laugh a bit, it’s good for the soul.
The Kings revealed that they will wear an all black strip when playing at home in this year’s Super Rugby competition.
MTN Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has announced the following team to take on the Southern Kings this Saturday at Ellis Park.
The match kicks off at 14:15 but gates open at 10:30 for the Oostelikes versus Alberton curtain raiser.
France on Thursday announced two changes as they prepare to take on Grand Slam champions Wales in Saturday’s Six Nations showdown in Paris.
Scans of Johan Goosen’s troublesome left heel have shown that there is no damage other than bruising.
The teams for Saturday 9 February’s warm up match between the Vodacom Bulls and the Toyota Cheetahs in Polokwane, have been announced. Springboks will captain both sides, with Pierre Spies making a return for the Bulls, and Adriaan Strauss leading the Cheetahs charge.
Springbok captain Jean de Villiers will lead the DHL Stormers into battle in their second pre-season friendly of 2013, when the men from the Cape take on neighbours, the Regent Boland Cavaliers, at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday (14:45).
The 1974 Tour of the Lions to South Africa was undoubtedly the most unsettling tour ever for Springbok rugby. Touring unbeaten through South Africa superior in every aspect in virtually every single match including the test matches it was a massive wake-up call for South African rugby.
I was 12 years old when this tour eventuated. In my mind at that time the Springboks had an aura of invincibility. I was too young to know about the 1956 and 1965 tours as the patriotic Afrikaans media did not write much about it. The country was still in euphoria after the 1970 victory over Lochore’s All Blacks and the unbeaten 1971 tour to Australia. It was never said in so many words but generally the 1972 loss against England was seen as just a hiccup; a fleeting glitch due to team selections and underestimation of the opposition.
Robert Harley, the 22-year-old Glasgow Warriors forward, will make his first start at Murrayfield and in the RBS 6 Nations Championship, in the Scotland team to play Italy on Saturday.
The Sharks have announced their 24 man team for their pre-season match at the Woodburn stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Friday night.
The first weekend of Six Nations 2013 has come and gone with two of the results as expected by many as Ireland and England claimed victories over Wales and Scotland respectively. The final match of the weekend saw Italy score what was seen as a surprise victory over France in Rome.
The intensity of the games took their toll though with various injuries incurred by the teams. We bring some of the news from the various squads regarding the injuries and player availability.
Despite a wet conditions, courtesy of a late downpour, the Shimla’s still put Varsity Cup newcomers Wits to the sword. Wits the 2012 Varsity Shield winners were hammered 61 – 8, and by eight tries to one.
Toyota Cheetahs flyhalf sensation Johan Goosen is still under wraps! According to Hawies Fourie, the knee that was operated on last year is fine, but that Goosen is still experiencing discomfort with his left heel when kicking at goal. He will undergo a scan to determine if a hairline fracture of the heel may be the cause. If that is the case, he may only be out for an extra week.
Alister Coetzee has confirmed that Schalk Burger and Juan De Jongh have been sidelined with injury and will miss the opening match against the Bulls.
Pukke (24) 26 / 23 (0) Tuks (Final Score)
North West University – Pukke and University Of Pretoria – Tuks did battle in the Varsity Cup at Fanie du Toit Sportsground, Potchefstroom 19:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Maties (8) 29 / 8 (0) UJ (Final Score)
FNB Maties and FNB UJ did battle in the Varsity Cup at the Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch at 16:45 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD4 on TV in SA.
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South Africa and Pakistan did battle in the 1st 5-Day Test at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg which started at 10:30 SA Time on Friday 1 February and which was supposed to run till Tuesday 5 February 2013.
This was the Live Game Article for the Match.
South Africa won the toss and batted first on a difficult wicket, getting 253 in the First Innings, then dismissing Pakistan for a poultry 49 runs. South Africa had the choice to ask Pakistan to follow-on but chose to bat again, amassing 275 / 3 before declaring in their Second Innings, a lead of 479.
Pakistan put up a brave performance in their Second Innings, only losing 4 wickets on Day 3, but with South Africa taking the New Ball early on Day 4, they bundled Pakistan out for 268.
South Africa win comfortably with a Day and a Half spare, before Lunch on Day 4 and win by 211 runs.