The completed weekend of action saw the Highlanders dethroned at home, which meant the Chiefs headed to the top of the New Zealand Conference table courtesy of winning their first match on the road in Perth.
Most even of battlegrounds?
One aspect that has been touted since Super Rugby introduced the Conference system was that some countries may have easier routes to glory within their own borders.
Coenraad Victor Oosthuizen is so much more than just your average prop. Coenie, or Shrek, as he is affectionately known by his teammates, has the ability to excel in whatever sport he competes in.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has revealed that he will start Sias Ebersohn at flyhalf against the Chiefs this weekend regardless of whether Johan Goosen recovers from a shoulder injury or not.
The match officials for Week 8 of Super Rugby 2012 was released by SANZAR.
There are only 6 matched scheduled for this week, with the first two matches on Friday 13 April and 4 matches on Saturday 14 April 2012.
Steve Walsh kicks off with the match between the battling Blues and embattled Sharks at 09:35 SA Time Friday morning, whilst 3 teams have a bye weekend, namely the Highlanders, Hurricanes and the Reds.
Veteran Springbok World Cup winner Juan Smith, who has decided to take the entire year off, will decide in November if he will return to the playing field or retire permanently.
Tuks (13) 29 / Maties (13) 21 (Final Score)
The University of Pretoria – Tuks and University of Stellenbosch – Maties did battle in the Varsity Cup Final of 2012 at Tuks Sports Grounds, Pretoria at 19:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & SCN on TV in SA.
Our proud champions for Varsity Cup 2012 are Tuks…. it’s Tuks or niks!
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South Africa 36 / 16 Wanganui-King Country (8 August 1956 – Spriggenspark, Wanganui)
Terry Mclean wrote an entertaining piece about this game in his book ‘Battle for the rugby crown’. His pivotal story line is the fact that the Springboks for the first time on tour had some fun and approached the match in a more than usual relaxed manner. Craven actually took two days ‘holiday’ going with his wife to Mount Edmont –he only re-joined the players only the day before the Wanganui match– which might explain the relaxed and abundant behaviour of the players. Almost like kids who have at last escaped the scrutiny of their parents. Continue reading
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder backed his team against charges of eye-gouging against the Bulls during their 32-30 Super Rugby loss on Saturday, saying he was concerned the new white card system could be manipulated.
It’s North versus South in the Varsity Cup Final on Easter Monday, as FNB UP-Tuks and the FNB Maties go head-to-head at the Tuks Rugby Stadium for the right to lift the trophy in 2012.
The Stormers have shown yet again exactly how to beat New Zealand sides.
The Highlanders play classic New Zealand rugby; a style of rugby that is almost entirely focussed on the breakdowns. Personally, I’ve been much impressed by the Highlanders structure, commitment and tidiness at the breakdowns since Jamie Joseph took over as coach in 2011.
Bulls (9) 32 / Crusaders (13) 30 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and Crusaders did battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 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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Cheetahs (23) 26 / Lions (0) 5 (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and MTN Lions did battle in Super Rugby at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 15:00 SA Time.
The home side were too good for the upcountry visitors, and 23 unanswered points in the 2nd quarter of the game, coupled with excellent second half defence was enough to give the home side the 4 log points, taking them up to 3rd in the SA conference, and 8th in the combined log.
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 Sharks surely had their chances but a lack of intensity on attack and defence saw them slump to a humiliating defeat.
I would venture that the travel factor -after weeks on the road- played a significant role in this lacklustre performance. They started off well in terms of holding onto the ball but there was never intensity as they took the ball up. They looked flat; no speed onto the ball; sort of just going through the steps right from the start and got even flatter as the match evolved. None of that never say die attitude that the Cheetahs enthralled us with last week against the same opposition.
Sharks prop Jannie du Plessis has been issued an off-field yellow card for his open-handed slap to the face of Hurricanes loose forward Carl Lowe during yesterday’s game.
Highlanders (6) 6 / Stormers (15) 21 (Final Score)
The Highlanders and DHL Stormers did battle in Super Rugby at Forsyth-Barr Stadium, Dunedin 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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Force (6) 12 / Chiefs (7) 20 (Final Score)
The Western Force and Chiefs did battle in Super Rugby at nib Stadium, Perth at 13:40 SA Time (19:40 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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Reds (14) 20 / Brumbies (0) 13 (Final Score)
The Reds and Brumbies did battle in Super Rugby at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 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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Hurricanes (25) 42 / Sharks (3) 18 (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Sharks did battle in Super Rugby at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth 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 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Johannesburg – Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s appointment of his management team is at an impasse after the Blue Bulls Company demanded a big fee to release several of their coaching staff to the national union.
Rebels (11) 34 / Blues (9) 23 (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels and Blues did battle in Super Rugby at AAMI Park, Melbourne at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Melbourne Time).
This was a live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Here are the Super Rugby Team Sheets as they were announced for Week 7 of Super Rugby 2012.
All the teams finally announced – Bring it on, and make it a happy Easter!!
In an exclusive interview with Volksblad’s Hendrik Cronjé, Juan Smith has announced his immediate withdrawal from all rugby for 2012, to fully recover from the injury that has sidelined him since the beginning of 2011. Juan has indicated that he hoped to return to the field of play vs the Lions on Saturday, but after 4 operations, he has still not recovered sufficiently!
Big prop Coenie Oosthuizen says, he aspires to trounce team mate Heinrich Brüssow, in terms of pilfering balls, at the rucks, and tackles.
This weekend that was I went to a coaching course with a group of players. The course was generally speaking very informative. We rotated through different stations doing basic handling, rucking, tackling and kicking drills with lots of feedback to players and coaches.
At the end we played a game (10 players on each side) called touch and ruck. It is a really nice way to enforce some basic skills at the young age groups. Players learn about maintaining the offside line, to go up in a line on defence and on attack, to touch with both hands (essential to learn that you need to punch through with the arms when you tackle), to rip and place and to clean-out at the rucks.
A while back I wrote an article on martial arts in rugby (see here). The focus of that article was more on the tactical side of things; strategic approaches in martial arts which can also be used (and are as a matter of fact) in other sports like rugby.
An interesting development in New Zealand rugby over the last two years has been the increasing use of martial arts techniques and training methods in rugby. One of my colleagues was heavily involved with the Manawatu Turbos last year playing under Dave Rennie. Rennie of course is now coaching the Chiefs and one can clearly see some of these techniques now being used by the Chiefs. According to my colleague, Rennie has acquired the services of a martial arts expert in Hamilton who is now working with the Chiefs.
Western Force lock Phoenix Battye was cited for a dangerous tackle on Reds star Will Genia. The good news is he was found not guilty and let off the hook.
The Brumbies have suffered a major blow as Matt Toomua has been ruled out for the rest of the Super Rugby season after he re-injured his knee playing against the Sharks.
Former Sharks centre, Francois Steyn, is reported to be headed back to South Africa after he chose not to extend his contract with Top 14 Rugby club Racing Metro 92.
Melbourne Rebels wing Cooper Vuna has been banned for two weeks, after being found guilty of a spear tackle in his side’s 12-43 Super Rugby loss to the Highlanders.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke does not regard it as a crisis yet, but he is certainly keen to have a look at the reasons for his team’s ongoing scrum issues.
I found this article written by Ben Karpinski from www.thebounce.co.za , and thought I would post it ad verbatim. I post it not because I want to continue the daft pink debate, but rather to end it. Thank you Ben, good article
It wasn’t the stronger team that won this match, there wasn’t one. It was a little bit of perhaps slightly better planning by the Stormers, and a little bit of luck.
Stormers (14) 20 / Bulls (0) 17 (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls 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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Lions (13) 13 / Crusaders (10) 23 (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and Crusaders did battle in Super Rugby at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg 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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