His brief was just to complete his 30 minutes of rugby and walk off the field uninjured. However his time on the field showed why his return has been so keenly anticipated, not only by the Cheetahs fans but by most rugby lovers. He hardly looked as if he had been away from the game for two years.
Today sees the start of the Varsity Cup Competition, with exciting rugby awaiting us from all the Premier Universities and Tertiary Institutions.
This year Wits replace TUT, TUT having been relegated to the Varsity Shield Competition.
Four matches are played late afternoon and this evening, 1 at 17:00 and 3 at 19:00, of course, only 2 matches are televised live, here are the details:
- Maties v UJ – 17:00, Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch (LIVE ON TV)
- Pukke v Tuks – 19:00, Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom (LIVE ON TV)
- UCT v NMMU – 19:00, Groote Schuur Rugby Field, Cape Town
- Wits v Shimlas – 19:00, Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg
Ireland held off a stirring second-half Wales comeback to launch their Six Nations campaign with a thrilling win and condemn the champions to an eighth successive Test defeat.
Italy (13) 23 / 18 (15) France (Final Score)
Italy and France did battle in the Six Nations tournament at Stadio Olimpico, Rome at 17:00 SA Time (15:00 GMT, 16:00 Rome 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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Let’s start with the good news.
Scotland, a disorganised and calamity-prone shambles against Tonga in November, rejoined the international community with a display that was impressive in parts, effective in critical areas and well organised throughout.
And the bad news? They were up against England. New England. England on fire.
England (19) 38 / 18 (11) Scotland (Final Score)
England and Scotland did battle in the Six Nations tournament 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 6 & SHD4 on TV in SA.
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Cheetahs (0) 27 / 26 (11) Stormers (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and DHL Stormers did battle in the Free State Reconciliation Challenge at X at 17:05 SA Time.
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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Wales (3) 22 / 30 (23) Ireland (Final Score)
Wales and Ireland did battle in the Six Nations tournament at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff at 15:30 SA Time (13:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 & SHD4 on TV in SA.
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Bulls (22) 38 / 32 (17) Lions (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and MTN Lions did battle in the Gauteng Rugby Cup at Orlando Stadium, Soweto at 15:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Francesco Minto will make his RBS 6 Nations debut for Italy after being named in head coach Jacques Brunel’s starting XV for their opening clash with France at the Stadio Olimpico.
Thierry Dusautoir will make his long-awaited return to France’s starting line-up after being named in the side to face Italy on Sunday.
Doctor Louis Luyt, a big man and bigger figure in Rugby Circles in South African Rugby, passed away ealier today, 1 February 2013.
Wales interim head coach Rob Howley has named Dragons second rower Andrew Coombs to make his debut in the Wales starting team to face Ireland on Saturday.
Coombs will partner Ospreys’ Ian Evans in the second row who returns from injury to start the fixture.
MTN Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has announced the following team to take on the Vodacom Bulls in the Gauteng Cup, taking place this Saturday at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
Kick-off is at 15:00.
Gloucester centre Billy Twelvetrees will make his England debut in Saturday’s Six Nations match against Scotland at Twickenham. Twelvetrees, 24, replaces Manu Tuilagi and forms a midfield partnership with Brad Barritt of Saracens.
The only other change from the starting XV that beat New Zealand 38-21 in December is Joe Marler in for Alex Corbisiero at loose-head prop.
PUMA has designed a “vintage” commemorative and limited edition jersey to mark the 75th Anniversary celebrations of the Bulls.
The snow is deep and crisp and dangerously uneven by health and safety standards, and Jim Telfer is barking out instructions like a rugby regimental sergeant major.
‘Cookie’s a big b*****d,’ Telfer bellows. ‘He thinks he’s tough, OK. Drive him back into the bloody Tweed.’
His young charges do their best to obey against the accompaniment of the coach, who is now transported into a state of quasi-psychotic frenzy, shouting the mantra ‘low, low, low’.
Stormers team to face the Cheetahs has been announced with Duane Vermeulen as captain of the side.
Die baljagter-flank Deon Stegmann lei Saterdag die Vodacom Bulls in hul voorseisoense wedstryd teen die MTN Lions in die Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
It’s shaping up to be a big week for Graeme Smith. On Monday, he announced his wife is expecting the couple’s second child later this year. On Friday, he will turn 32 and also become the first person to captain a team in 100 Tests, when he leads South Africa against Pakistan in Johannesburg.
For the first year since 1983, one of Free State Rugby’s most loyal servants won’t be directly involved with Free State Rugby. I think it is fitting to pay tribute to a man that offered so much. A humble man, Helgard was a fine player and then played various roles in Free State Rugby. He holds the South African record for the most Currie Cup matches played (142) as well as the Free State record for the most matches played in Free State colours (245). He is still the Sports Manager for the Central University of Technology (SUT) a post he has held for the past 21 years.
This year, the International Rugby Board has introduced 11 law trials that will be implemented from the start of the 2013 season.
The impact of record-breaking retired Springbok Victor Matfield as a coach is already being felt by the Bulls.
England have suffered another injury blow ahead of their Six Nations Championship opener as centre Manu Tuilagi will miss the match due to an ankle injury.
New wing signing Michael Killian has been ruled out of the Southern Kings opening Super Rugby match against the Western Force in Port Elizabeth.
Ireland great Brian O’Driscoll was among several senior players restored by Declan Kidney to the starting XV for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Wales in Cardiff.
Richmond centre Abigail Chamberlain will make her England Women’s debut in their Six Nations opener against Scotland on Saturday.
Chamberlain, who has played for England A and captained England Sevens, is part of an entirely different backline from the autumn Tests against New Zealand.
Scotland award a debut to wing Sean Maitland, give a first start in six years to his Glasgow Warriors team-mate Dougie Hall at hooker and recall No 8 Johnnie Beattie in their team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against England at Twickenham.
Scottish Rugby announced on Thursday that it had secured the biggest sponsorship deal in its history.
New kit partner, Macron, will come on board in the summer to become official kit supplier for all Scotland representative teams and the professional clubs, Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors.
The RBS Six Nations Championship is due to kick off this weekend. The first game of this year’s tournament sees current holder Wales playing at home against Ireland this Saturday afternoon.
Southern Kings captain Luke Watson has said that SARU’s decision to relegate the Lions was unfair and expressed sadness at the Lions’ Super Rugby exit.
Speaking to SportsTalk in a radio interview, Watson sympathised with the Lions’ plight, and said fans had every right to feel aggrieved.
The Vodacom Bulls could unleash a new dream midfield pairing ahead of their Gauteng Challenge game against the MTN Lions in Soweto on Saturday as they begin their preparations for a tough Vodacom Super Rugby season ahead.
Any expansion of Super Rugby in the near future is likely to leave the Pacific Islands out in the cold in favour of the United States or Canada.
SANZAR chief executive Greg Peters stated earlier this month that they are looking at United States and Canada after they were included in the Pacific Nations Cup.
Veteran Springbok flank Juan Smith could be the bolter in the Cheetahs team when they face the Stormers in a pre-season match in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Promising Junior Springbok and Sharks Under 21 tighthead prop, Nick Schonert was advised by Springbok Jannie du Plessis to get as much game time as possible at tighthead, in order to develop his potential. This influenced his decision to move to Bloemfontein, and join the Shimlas. The fact that Kwazulu Natal only have a side in the Varsity Shield probably added impetus to his decision to move.