It seems at the moment as if we are reaching saturation point with the amount of knockout rugby that we have had of late on these shores. This coming weekend is no exception as we look forward to the finals of the Aviva Premiership and RaboDirect Pro 12 as well as the Barbarians game against England.
A new list of the proposed law changes has been released by the IRB. These will be trailed later this year.
The Barbarians Summer Series proper begins this weekend with the Killik Cup against England at Twickenham, and not much has been spoken about it here.
New Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer finally put to bed months of media speculation over the possible return of retired lock Victor Matfield.
At this stage of the season, things are starting to click into place on the Logs, with teams starting to know that they are out or left with a mathematical chance to make the play-offs of the competition.
Realistically there are only 9 teams still able to qualify for the 2012 Super Rugby play-off’s, but with the Hurricanes and Reds right on the edge and needing almost a miracle to reach the play-off’s.
Cape Town – The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport was reassured on Tuesday that the Southern Kings would participate in the 2013 Super Rugby competition.
Before anybody gets the heebie-jeebies, the following Article is an official Media Release of figures and statistics, compiled and sent out by the Vodacom Bulls marketing machine… but it makes for interesting reading nonetheless.
Topping the South African conference is evidence that the Vodacom Bulls are performing on the field. According to leading sports researchers BMI, the boys in blue lead off the field too in terms of being the most watched Super Rugby team this year. Add to that a 300% growth in Facebook followers as well as over 10 000 Twitter fans and it’s safe to say that the Pretoria based side is having the season of their lives.
SANZAR have named the match officials for Week 14 of Super Rugby 2012.
Mark Lawrence starts the weekend action on Friday in the game between the Chiefs and Vodacom Bulls in Hamilton, with six matches to follow on Saturday.
This weekend the Crusaders have the bye.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee says they won’t continue their search for further loose forward reinforcements.
It looks likely that the Cheetahs will remain a Super Rugby team next year, with the Lions dropping out at the expense of the Southern Kings.
Sharks centre Tim Whitehead may have to wait until next year before feeling what it is like to play against his former Stormers teammates at Vodacom Super Rugby level.
Wallabies and Western Force fullback and wing Cameron Shepherd has agreed to join Aviva Premiership Rugby club Northampton Saints.
Ireland and Leinster fullback Rob Kearney has been named as the 2011/12 European Player of the Year after helping Leinster to win the Heineken Cup on the weekend.
Just when we thought that the Bulls would have played their last away game in PINK against the Highlanders the past weekend, they throw us a curveball…
Herewith the full Vodacom Bulls media release, dreadedly received just now:
Cheetahs lock George Earle will head to the Scarlets in July in the hope of representing Wales at the 2015 World Cup.
Last week we reported that the meeting between the Super Rugby participating SA Franchises and SARU was to be continued on Monday.
Well today was Monday and SARU has the following to report:
Former Springbok flyhalf Naas Botha has called for harsher punishments against fighting during school rugby matches, Beeld reported on Monday.
With 10 wins from 11 starts in Vodacom Super Rugby this season and top position in both the South African conference and the overall log, the Stormers don’t have much to complain about as they start to head towards the business end of the competition.
A succession of head injuries have cast a shadow over the playing future of the Blues’ French-bound utility back Benson Stanley.
Die Vodacom Bulls se twee losvoorspelers CJ Stander (Heup) en Dewald Potgieter (Skouer) wat beide teen die Highlanders beseer is in Dunedin, sal waarskynlik beide oorweeg kan oorweeg word vir insluiting in die span vir die laaste toerwedstryd teen die Chiefs.
Remarkable team the Highlanders. Just when you think you can count on counting them out, you can’t.
That was the case on Saturday night when they humbled a Bulls team which had started the weekend as Super Rugby’s competition front-runners but ended it with a 16-11 loss. They will be re-evaluating their form ahead of this weekend’s game against the Chiefs.
With the exception of the Highlanders gritty victory against the Bulls, every winner in Week 13 was higher on the competition log table than their vanquished rivals, meaning that the title hopefuls tightened their grip on potential Super Rugby Final’s Series qualification.
What, you may well ask has the headline got to do with this match. Let me explain.
Force (15) 31 / Rebels (26) 32 (Final Score)
The Western Force and Melbourne Rebels did battle in Super Rugby at nib Stadium, Perth at 08:35 SA Time (14:35 Perth 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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Stormers (16) 19 / Waratahs (3) 13 (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers and Waratahs did battle in Super Rugby at Newlands, Cape Town 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 Heineken Cup Final, to be played later today at Twickenham, will be Pedrie Wannenburg’s last game for Ulster, as reported on this site yesterday.
Cheetahs (14) 20 / Sharks (21) 34 (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and The Sharks did battle in Super Rugby at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 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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Reds (13) 34 / Lions (6) 20 (Final Score)
The Reds and MTN Lions did battle in Super Rugby at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Brisbane 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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Crusaders (31) 59 / Blues (0) 12 (Final Score)
The Crusaders and Blues did battle in Super Rugby at Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ 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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Highlanders (3) 16 / Bulls (6) 11 (Final Score)
The Highlanders and Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin at 07:30 SA Time (17:30 NZ 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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The Lions may be fighting a survival battle on several fronts, but they remain firm in their resolve to retain their Super Rugby status.
Brian O’Driscoll handed Leinster a major boost after declaring himself fit for the all-Irish European Cup final against Ulster at Twickenham on Saturday.
Griquas (13) 18 / WP (10) 20 (Final Score)
GWK Griquas and DHL Western Province did battle in the Final of the Vodacom Cup at GWK Park, Kimberley at 19:10 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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The Heineken Cup Final takes place at Twickenham this Saturday between Leinster and Ulster, kick off 18.00 SA time. Both teams have now been announced.
Wallabies and Reds flanker Scott Higginbotham has signed a two year contract with the Melbourne Rebels starting in the 2013 Super Rugby season.