Heyneke Meyer’s first year as Springbok coach is over. Having lost only 3 games out of 12 somehow makes it look better than how his real winning percentage reflects. Yes the two draws robbed him of a real satisfactory start, in fact one of the best starts of any recent coach.
We now suddenly find more positive articles in the media. The 16-15 win against England not only changed the whole perception of Heyneke Meyer in our minds, but it also seems to have changed some of the more experienced rugby scribes in this country’s minds regarding how they now perceive Heyneke Meyer. Here is some excerpts from 3 articles yesterday by Jacques van der Westhuizen, – “Boks’ three out of three aint bad”, Zelim Nel, – “New Zealand looms large in Boks’ sights” and Gavin Rich – with “Boks’ will flourish in 2013”
I suspect that more important offenses are missed in rugby than any other sport. But don’t blame the refs – or not too much, wouldn’t want to spoil all the fun. The problem is so many things are happening at the same time on and off the ball, it is almost impossible for one man to pick up.
The Lions have finally announced their proposed fixtures to be played in lieu of Super Rugby participation in 2013.
The fixtures include matches from the “Lions Challenge”, as well as some friendlies against Super Rugby opposition as well as a number of international, American and European club sides.
The full media release from the Lions follows:
The Southern Kings will have two New Zealand coaches at the helm during next year’s Super Rugby competition.
Australian second row forward Sitaleki Timani has been cited to appear before the International Rugby Board disciplinary commission.
Going through articles on various web sites I came across one where Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer explains some of his selections, where he sometimes got it wrong and sometimes got it right.
It was a try. The referee awarded the try and the referee is ‘the sole judge of fact and Law during a match’. But was his judgement right.
He did take advice from the TMO whose scripted advice was: ‘You may award the try.’
But should it have been awarded? Was the judgement right? Was the Law correctly applied? It is an interesting situation.
New Zealand hooker Andrew Hore has been cited by the IRB’s independent Citing Commissioner for allegedly striking an opponent during the match between Wales and New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Wallaby flyhalf Quade Cooper on Monday said he was putting his Rugby Union career on hold, as he prepares to make his debut in the boxing ring early next year.
Jean de Villiers is likely to continue as the Springbok captain into 2013 after impressing Heyneke Meyer with both his leadership and ambassadorial skills during a difficult first season for the new national coach.
Australia and the South African Proteas do battle in the 2nd Test of the Series in Australia at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide.
The game takes place mostly in the middle of the night for South Africans, so live updates will not be given accross the board, but updates will be done in the mornings.
On a belter pitch, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. After a massive start by Australia with the bat on Day 1, hitting close to 500 runs, South Africa was always going to be on the back foot. A super fight back followed by South Africa and on Day 5 of the Test South Africa’s Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers still had a mountain to climb to save the match with South Africa on 77 / 4, still 355 runs short and only 6 wickets in hand. Each batsman pitched in, dug deep, and Faf du Plessis (playing in his maiden Test) held out right until the end, seeing 4 wickets fall around him.
The match ended in a draw, well saved by South Africa.
Andy Robinson has ended his three-and-a-half year reign as Scotland’s head coach after a disappointing run of results. He was clearly stung by Scotland’s 21-15 defeat by Tonga on Saturday when he warned there would be “consequences”.
Ireland produced a brilliant seven-try display to hammer Argentina and guarantee a crucial top-eight ranking ahead of the 2015 World Cup draw.
Scotland slumped to a third defeat in the EMC Tests as Tonga turned over the hosts in Aberdeen, recording a shock 15-21 victory in the North East.
In front of a near capacity crowd at Pittodrie, Greig Laidlaw slotted five penalties from six but it was two tries from the visitors from the southern hemisphere that sealed the win and left Scotland to answer some very difficult questions about their performance.
Wales (0) 10 / 33 (23) All Blacks (Final Score)
Wales and the New Zealand All Blacks did battle in the End Of Year Tours at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff at 19:15 SA Time (17:15 GMT, 06:15 Sunday 25 Nov NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
England (6) 15 / 16 (9) Springboks (Final Score)
England and the South African Springboks did battle in the End Of Year Tours at Twickenham, London at 16:30 SA Time (14:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
All Black flyhalf Dan Carter has been ruled out of Saturday’s clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium due to a leg injury.
The Wallabies have been forced to make a late change to their side for Saturday’s Test against Italy in Florence.
Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau comes off the bench, to be replaced by James Hanson, who is involved in the matchday squad on tour for the first time after making his debut during last month’s drawn Bledisloe Cup Test in Brisbane.
The Western Cape health department must pay compensation to a paralysed rugby player, the province’s High Court has ruled, the Times reported on Friday.
Springbok captain Jean de Villiers has made himself available this week to answer readers’ questions.
The Springboks are hard at work preparing for this weekend’s clash against England at Twickenham, but Jean was kind enough to put aside some time for this Q & A session.
We selected a number of questions to cover the main themes and Jean answered on subjects ranging from the Springboks’ gameplan through to what it feels like playing in front of the passionate European crowds.
Below are his answers.
Scotland have made a late change to their team for tomorrow’s EMC Test against Tonga at Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen.
The Official Media Release of the Golden Lions Rugby Union, reads as follows regarding former head coach, John Mitchell, who has been redeployed as a technical advisor to the Union, and Johan Ackermann has been appointed as head coach. I hope this long and drawn out saga has finally been resloved and the Lions can concentrate on the Lions Challenge and Currie Cup in their quest to regain Super Rugby status.
George North & Liam Williams
Wales have suffered a big blow ahead of their Test match at the Millennium stadium with New Zealand’s All Blacks as winger George North has been replaced by Liam Williams.
Ireland have named their team to play Argentina at Aviva Stadium with Jamie Heaslip retaining the captaincy for the third straight Test match .
Injuries to key players have forced four changes in the Samoa XV to take on France in a rugby union test match at the Stade de France on Saturday.
Italy coach Jacques Brunel made two changes to the side which suffered a 42-10 defeat to New Zealand ahead of Saturday’s third and final November test against Australia in Florence.
Morgan Parra will start at scrumhalf against Samoa at the Stade de France on Saturday in one of three changes to Philippe Saint Andre’s team who beat Argentina.
Scotland play the last of their three end of year tests on Saturday against Tonga at Pittodrie Football Stadium in Aberdeen. Both teams were announced yesterday with various changes being made by Scotland from the team that played the Springboks while Tonga only made one change to their team that beat the United States last weekend.
Joe Launchbury will make his first Test start as England make six changes for Saturday’s Test against South Africa. The lock, 21, replaces Wasps team-mate Tom Palmer, who drops out of the 23, as one of four changes to the pack.
I am even though I have tried to see this in a positive light, of the opinion that Lambie is being set up here to fail.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer continues to prove his doubters wrong, especially those who brand him as a dour, one-dimensional coach.
All Black coach Steve Hansen pulled out the big guns for New Zealand’s encounter with Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
Hansen named a hugely experienced and in-form All Black side, with 745 caps in the starting XV and 140 on the eight-man bench.
Australia’s Wallabies have named thirty-three-year-old Western Force halfback Brett Sheehan to make Test starting debut against Italy in Florence on Saturday.
The ARU will appeal Wallabies lock Rob Simmons’s eight-week suspension for a lifting tackle on French forward Yannick Nyanga in Paris two weeks ago.
Argentina tighthead Juan Figallo has been suspended for three weeks for head-butting France captain Pascal Pape.