England have made one change to the team that beat Fiji for this weekend’s clash against Australia at Twickenham with Chris Ashton replacing Ugo Monye on the wing.
France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made one change to the team that beat Australia for this week’s Test against Argentina with second row Yoann Maestri returning to the starting line up.
Wales have named former Grand Slam winning captain Ryan Jones to captain the team against Samoa at the Millennium Stadium on Friday.
Samoa has rejigged its back division as part of six changes to the starting line-up for Friday’s international against Wales.
Scotland have made two changes from their starting XV and a further four alterations to their bench for Saturday’s EMC Test against South Africa at Murrayfield. Euan Murray, the 32-year-old tighthead prop who was man of the match when the nations clashed at Murrayfield in 2008, is restored at tight-head prop having missed the New Zealand game due to his religious observance, with Geoff Cross moving to the bench.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has stuck with his guns and pretty much as expected gone for continuity, in selecting the same team as last weekend accept for two changes to the starting fifteen and one on the bench.
EP Kings coach and former Sharks, WP / Stormers and Springbok prop, Robbie Kempson has been arrested in the USA for assaulting a player during a rugby match.
While not everybody’s cup of tea, the fact remains that next year established Springbok No 8 and known occasional game-breaker Pierre Spies will return to contention for the national team.
Scotland forward David Denton today looked ahead to the next round of the EMC Autumn Test rugby series and insisted it is a case of “bring on the Boks”.
Undeterred by the fact that Scotland opened their programme with a 51-22 home defeat by New Zealand, the 22-year-old Edinburgh back rower insisted a bucketload of rust has come out of the team’s system.
The 20-team field for the inaugural SARU Community Cup for SA’s top club rugby teams was confirmed by SARU on Tuesday. The competition kicks off in February 2013.
Argentina have made three changes to face France here on Saturday, two enforced by injuries to Felipe Contepomi and Juan Martin Hernandez in last weekend’s win over Wales.
The Cheetahs started their preparations for the 2013 Super 15, with fitness assessments today. All the injured players, and new signings were present, except Cornal Hendricks, who the Cheetahs have contracted, but SARU maintain he is still contracted to them.
Scotland flanker Ross Rennie has been given treatment on his dislocated shoulder suffered in the 22-51 loss to Rugby World Cup champions New Zealand at Murrayfield.
All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams has confirmed his return to Rugby League by agreeing a one-year deal with the Sydney Roosters in Australia’s National Rugby League.
Australia and the South African Proteas did battle in the 1st Test of the Series in Australia at Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane.
The game took place in the middle of the night for South Africans, so live updates was not be given accross the board, but updates were done in the mornings.
On a belter pitch, South Africa posted a good First Innings total of 450, followed by Australia with a massive 565 / 5 declared, before putting South Africa in on the final day to see if Australia could bowl South Africa out cheaply. The South African batsmen hung on and forced a draw, scoring 166 / 5 in 68 overs.
The first double leg amputee to compete at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games has been made an honorary doctor by Strathclyde University.
Oscar Pistorius, 25, was recognised for his outstanding sporting success at the ceremony in Glasgow.
Scotland and France may both have played tests this past weekend and will play again in the coming weekend. However, the two teams are in quite different places at the moment with France pulling off a very good win against Australia while Scotland suffered a big defeat to New Zealand.
Furthermore, Scotland have numerous players on the injury list ahead of their game against South Africa on Saturday which is great concern for head coach Andy Robinson. On the other hand, France’s coach Philippe Saint-Andre was able to announce an unchanged squad for their game against Argentina.
The All Blacks and coach Steve Hansen are anxiously awaiting a decision on whether flanker Adam Thomson will be ruled out of the rest of their European tour for disciplinary reasons.
Private investors have been granted the licences to run two of New Zealand’s Super Rugby teams from 2013, the New Zealand Rugby Union said on Monday, in a move aimed at better exploiting the commercial potential of the franchises.
Australian coach Robbie Deans was left shell-shocked and searching for answers after seeing his team convincingly put to the sword by an aggressive France team that stifled any plan for a width-based Wallaby gameplan.
Wales are sweating on the fitness of two of their marquee players, centre Jamie Roberts and lock Alun Wyn Jones, in the wake of their 26-12 defeat to Argentina at the Millennium Stadium.
Biarritz centre Marcelo Bosch and Montpellier full-back Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino have been included in the Argentina squad to face France next Saturday in Lille, the national federation announced Sunday.
The Springboks may have an alternative captain leading them onto the field for their second tour match against Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh on Saturday.
The Springboks have moved into second spot on the International Rugby Board’s rankings after their 16-12 win over Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
News from the UK is that Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira is returning home due to his recurring heart problem.
A sold out Murrayfield witnessed nine tries as the world champions, New Zealand, saw off the challenge of Scotland in the first of the EMC Tests.
Two tries from Tim Visser and one from Geoff Cross were not enough to hold off the might of the visitors, with head coach Andy Robinson immediately turning to the challenge of South Africa, the second in the November series.
Scotland (17) 22 / 51 (34) All Blacks (Final Score)
Scotland and the New Zealand All Blacks did battle in the End Of Year Tours 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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It’s SuperBru time again, this time for the End Of Year Tours!
This competition’s FIRST matches kick off this coming weekend, in fact on Saturday 10 November 2012.
Get your BUTTS into gear and register!
We have registered a Super Pool with the following details:
Pool Name: Rugby-Talk EOYT 2012
Pool Code: grabgage
What the hell is going on with our beloved Springboks? I believe this is the main question every SA rugby supporter wrestles with at this moment!
Wrong players in key positions, an unbalanced back row, injuries to key players and playing an outdated game plan has all been voiced as probable reasons.
Heyneke has responded to most of these criticisms by making changes to the team but still the team seems to be tentative and almost scared to do anything. They played like a golfer obsessed with his golf swing, so focussed on getting it exactly right that he forgets to hit the damn ball. The ‘Boks in the first half was overly careful, almost scared that they would make mistakes (not getting it exactly right). The result of that –and it has been the case in some of The Rugby Championship test matches as well- was that they became tentative and pedantic when going into contact.
France (16) 33 / 6 (6) Wallabies (Final Score)
France and the Australian Wallabies did battle in the End Of Year Tours at Stade de France, Paris at 22:00 SA Time (21:00 Paris Time, 20:00 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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Ireland (12) 12 / 16 (3) Springboks (Final Score)
Ireland and the South African Springboks did battle in the End Of Year Tours at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin at 19:30 SA Time (17:30 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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Scotland and the World Champions New Zealand clash in the first match of New Zeland’s Northern Hemisphere tour on Sunday at Murrayfield. This is shaping up to be a memorable occasion in spite of the best efforts of a certain journalist from New Zealand’s shameful disrespectful attempt at mocking the hosts in an article earlier this week.
Wales (9) 12 / 26 (6) Pumas (Final Score)
Wales and the Argentinian Pumas did battle in the End Of Year Tours at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff at 16:30 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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Russia (9) 26 / 40 (21) USA (Final Score)
Russia and the USA Eagles did battle in the IRB International Rugby Series at Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay, Wales at 20:00 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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All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has made ten changes to the team that drew with Australia for this weekend’s Test against Scotland with Piri Weepu returning to the starting line up and a new midfield pairing.