The President of the Golden Lions Rugby Union Kevin de Klerk on Friday issued the following statement in the wake of the SARU General Council decision to exclude the MTN Lions from the Super Rugby competition in 2013.
Cheetahs (23) 32 / 18 (10) Blue Bulls (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and Vodacom Blue Bulls did battle in the Currie Cup, Premier Division at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 19:10 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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The Golden Lions Rugby Union announced the MTN Golden Lions team to play The Sharks on Saturday, 18 August 2012 at Mr Price Kings Park, this morning.
The only change to the starting line up who beat the Cheetahs last weekend is Warren Whiteley replacing Derick Minnie at Number Eight due to injury.
The Sharks have named a side showing a number of changes to the victorius side which beat DHL Western Province last week.
South African Rugby officials have confirmed that the Southern Kings will play Super Rugby and that the Lions will sit it out for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
With all the focus the start of the Rugby Championship this weekend, not much thought has been given to another small matter starting today. Cricket. If SA draw or win at Lords they go to No.1 spot in the world. But England, as we all know by now are in turmoil over the KP issue. So on the eve of the match, a lighter look at the KP issue.
Keegan Daniel’s inclusion into the Springbok team at No 8 was one of five changes to the Bok side which last played against England at the end of June.
Daniel comes in for the injured Pierre Spies, and coach Heyneke Meyer said the young player would provide the team with “that X-factor”.
The All Blacks have named their team to face Australia in the opening Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship match at ANZ Stadium in Sydney with Ma’a Nonu coming in for the injured Conrad Smith.
Griquas coach Pote Human has to make do without star fullback Willie le Roux for his side’s Currie Cup encounter against Western Province in Kimberley on Saturday.
Naka Drotske and Hawies Fourie have reshuffled the backline to lend more impetus on attack. The most meaningful change is the return to the flyhalf berth for Sias Ebersohn.
Springbok centre Frans Steyn will on Saturday play in his 50th Test for South Africa when they take on Argentina in the opening round of The Castle Rugby Championship at DHL Newlands in Cape Town.
England Under 18 were outdone by northern hemisphere rivals France in George, South Africa, losing 20-13 at Outeniqua Park Stadium in a bruising encounter, but Head John Fletcher was satisfied that his side “gave their all”.
Springbok No 8 Pierre Spies has been ruled out of The Rugby Championship due to an injury he sustained playing Super Rugby last month.
Prop Rodrigo Roncero will start for Argentina in the Pumas’ four-nations Rugby Championship opener against South Africa in Cape Town.
Although the Springbok side will only be announced on Wednesday, indications are that the composition is the squad is largely decided, bar maybe a tough choice at lock and finalisation of the replacement bench.
The Wallabies have named their team to face the All Blacks in the opening game of The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup clash with Quade Cooper missing out completely.
Newcomers Argentina may be the weakest outfit by IRB ranking in the Castle Rugby Championship, but the novelty of their first match in the competition looks like luring a full house to Newlands on Saturday.
Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar made one enforced change to his line-up for Friday’s Absa Currie Cup match against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs.
DHL Western Province head coach Allister Coetzee has made six changes ahead of Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup meeting with GWK Griquas in Kimberley (14h30).
(See Audio clips at the bottom of the Article)
Herewith some nice short audio clips from the Bok camp, as they prepare for this weekend’s clash at Newlands, Cape Town in the Springboks opener in The Rugby Championship.
Rugby-Talk started on 13 August 2009, and is therefore a naughty 3-Year old upstart, on Monday 13 August 2012.
It has not always been easy or simple, and hard work has gone into making this Rugby Community what it is.
The silly season is truly upon us, with players moving like pieces on a chess board. Promising young Bulls tighthead prop, Rossouw de Klerk will join the Toyota Free State Cheetahs for 2 years, at the end of the current Currie Cup competition. The loss of de Klerk is likely to be offset, by the Bulls signing of young Marcel van der Merwe. Apparently Rayno Gerber was also attempting to get onto the the Cheetahs player list. Naka has signed Ross Geldenhuys, and Pieter Stemmet, to cover the departure of WP Nel, but they have been signed fr the CC only thus far.
The SA Schools selectors have made wholesale changes for the team’s second outing in the Under-18 International Series against Wales at Outeniqua Park in George on Tuesday.
Former UK Sport Performance Director Peter Keen and British and Irish Lions legend Ian McGeechan have joined up to work with the RFU to ensure England’s success at the highest level.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union faces a tough, telling seven days that could well determine the future of the once-proud union in the coming few years.
The regular rugby season officially kicks off in the UK and Ireland in just over two weeks time when the Aviva Premiership and RaboDirect Pro12 league games start. However, the clubs have been busy with their pre-season preparations and a number of friendly matches were played this past weekend.
Loose forward Arno Botha will miss this week’s Absa Currie Cup clash against the Toyota Free State due to a hamstring injury, but midfielder Johann Sadie will be fit for selection.
Western Province had an injury list on Sunday that was as long as coach Allister Coetzee’s arm, but there was at least one bit of good news – influential No 8 Duane Vermeulen will return to action this week.
The Pumas left for South Africa on Sunday ahead of their opening Rugby Championship match against the Springboks at Newlands in Cape Town without Agustín Creevy.
Sonny Bill Williams’ new Japanese club have cleared the Rugby World Cup and Super Rugby winning centre to play for the All Blacks in their opening Four Nations Rugby Championship matches against Australia.
Wallabies halfback Will Genia has backed Berrick Barnes instead of Quade Cooper to start for Australia in the opening match of the Four Nation Rugby Championship this weekend.
Will simply recapturing his metronomic best place-kicking standards against Argentina at Newlands on Saturday be enough to cement Morne Steyn’s ongoing place in the Springbok side?
Herewith the Currie Cup Premier Division Log and Results, as at the end of Week 1 of the 2012 Competition:
WP (13) 23 / 25 (3) Sharks (Final Score)
DHL Western Province and The Sharks did battle in the Currie Cup, Premier Division at Newlands, Cape Town 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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The Vodacom Bulls kicked off their Absa Currie Cup campaign in good fashion by beating GWK Griquas 35-20 at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.