Vodacom Blue Bulls No 8, Gerrit-Jan Van Velze, has signed to play for the Northampton Saint’s.
Toyota Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has made three changes to his pack for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) reported a pre-tax profit of R24m in 2011 – a year during which participation at the IRB Rugby World Cup traditionally increases costs, while depressing the earning capacity of international rugby federations.
The Vodacom Bulls openside flanker and prime fetcher, who had to withdraw from the Bulls lineup the day before the Blues clash 2 weeks ago, due to a hamstring injury, still won’t be risked this weekend against the Reds.
Dr Org Strauss and his medical team have deemed it wiser for Stegmann to rest one more week, to be ready for the Bulls clash at Newlands against the Stormers, rather than cause further damage this week against the Reds.
The Sharks received a timely boost with the news that lock Steven Sykes will join up with his teammates in Sydney later this week – ahead of their Super Rugby encounter with the Waratahs.
England hooker Dylan Hartley has been cited for allegedly biting Stephen Ferris in his team’s Six Nations victory over Ireland at Twickenham.
Blues flanker Luke Braid has been suspended for three weeks of Super Rugby after he pleaded guilty to striking a Stormers play in his team’s 27-17 loss.
The Blues could be dealt a double blow this week as they have already lost flanker Luke Braid and might lose captain Keven Mealamu to injury.
English Premiership Rugby club Sale Sharks have announced that 24 year old Melbourne Rebels fly half Danny Cipriani has signed a three year deal with the club.
Queensland winger Digby Ioane has been suspended for five weeks (four matches) for a tip tackle on Sharks flanker Marcell Coetzee.
UJ (0) 10 / Maties (2) 10 (Final Score)
UJ and Maties did battle in the Varsity Cup at UJ Stadium, Johannesburg at 19:00 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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UCT (16) 18 / Tuks (8) 29 (Final Score)
UCT and Tuks did battle in the Varsity Cup at the UCT Rugby Grounds, Cape Town at 17:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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The Bulls and their supporters have certainly copped massive derision about the Pink jerseys the Vodacom Bulls will be wearing in away games where their normal Blue strip clashes with the colours of the Home side.
But here’s one back at you… so, Stormers supporters and those of the other franchises, I’d think TWICE about scoffing at those jerseys again!
…. and here’s the reason why….
The semifinalists in the 2012 Varsity Cup have been confirmed, but there is a lot at stake in Monday’s Round Seven fixtures as any one of the top three teams can still claim home-ground advantage in the last four.
Going into the final week of fixtures, the unbeaten Maties are on top of the log with 27 points from six matches, followed by FNB UP-Tuks on 25 points, FNB UJ on 22 and FNB NWU-Pukke on 19 points.
The Reds were thrown into crisis at fly half after their fourth round loss to the Sharks as Ben Lucas and Mike Harris have been forced out of the tour leaving the current champions without a fly half.
Former Sharks and Springbok captain John Smit will be returning to Kings Park for one final swansong when he leads a World Invitational XV against his former team, the Sharks.
Rugby’s most most-capped player and former Wallaby captain George Gregan will join the Board of the Australian Rugby Union.
The Six Nations has run it’s course with an impressive Grand Slam for Wales, worthy champions who beat all comers!
In our first SuperBru Competion to complete for 2012, we now proudly crown our CHAMPION in the Rugby-Talk SIX Nations pool.
I was pleasantly surprised and much impressed with the Stormers this weekend. The Blues showed just how dangerous they can be against the Bulls last week. They confirmed that for about 10 minutes in the second half when the Stormers got a bit complacent and took the foot of the pedal after establishing a 17 point lead.
That sense of complacency as result of feeling secure with their 17 point lead saw the Stormers deviating from their success formula and they paid for it by getting two tries scored against them in seven minutes. Credit to them for rectifying the neglect and going back to the formula.
The Stormers used a well-established formula to beat NZ but added some new dimensions to the pattern. These new strategies employed by the Stormers countered the typical offensive measures NZ sides have been using over the last couple of years to overcome the proven South African recipe to beat them.
Reds winger Digby Ioane could spend some time on the sidelines after he was cited for a dangerous lifting tackle during his teams 27-22 loss to the Sharks.
Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris has accused an England player of biting his finger in the hosts’ 30-9 Six Nations win at Twickenham on Saturday.
Rebels (10) 26 / Cheetahs (20) 33 (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels and Toyota Cheetahs did battle in Super Rugby at AAMI Stadium, Melbourne at 07:10 SA Time (16:10 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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England (9) 30 / Ireland (6) 9 (Final Score)
England and Ireland did battle in the Six Nations at Twickenham, London 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 2 on TV in SA.
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Three things struck me about yesterday’s game – The Stormers didn’t succumb to the Blues mind games, the tight five finally seemed to strike a chord, and the manners of the Newlands crowd are despicable.
Sharks (10) 27 / Reds (17) 22 (Final Score)
The Sharks and Reds did battle in Super Rugby at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban 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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Waratahs (14) 20 / Force (13) 21 (Final Score)
The Waratahs and Western Force did battle in Super Rugby at Allianz Stadium, Sydney at 10:40 SA Time (19:40 Sydney 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 (14) 17 / Highlanders (13) 19 (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Highlanders did battle in Super Rugby at Westpac Stadium, Wellington at 08:35 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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Stormers (17) 27 / Blues (3) 17 (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers and Blues did battle in Super Rugby at Newlands, Cape Town at 19:10 SA 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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Growing up as a Durban boy my only sporting interest and great passion as a school boy was surfing.
What I didn’t fully realize was that I was born with the body of a prop, and so rugby entered my life as a prop forward at Under 13 level and soon thereafter rugby had relegated surfing to second place, and I played my first game at first division level against the then current Springbok tight head at the tender age of Nineteen!!
15 Years later I played my last game at first division level and happily bear the cauliflower ear and aches and pains of being lucky enough to scrum down in this great game with and against the most interesting men I could ever wish to meet.
Scrumming had become a practical education in the skill of a contest that only a few get to experience, and the enjoyment of watching and appreciating the contest between props based on their know how and technique has kept me close to the game that gave me so much enjoyment.
SO WHO HAS STOLEN THE SCRUM FROM RUGBY IN 2012?
Chiefs (9) 29 / Brumbies (9) 22 (Final Score)
The Chiefs and Brumbies did battle in Super Rugby at Bay Park Stadium, Tauranga at 08:35 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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Here are the Super Rugby Team Sheets as they are announced for Week 4 of Super Rugby 2012.
The Team sheets are all up and can also be found under the Main menu, under SUPER RUGBY, 2012, Weekend Teams.
The latest news on the INJURY front in Super Rugby (apart from those reported already) is as follows:
The Western Province Rugby Union and the City of Cape Town have enter into “formal talks” about the possibility of the WPRFU moving base from Newlands to the city’s new stadium in Greenpoint.
The South African Rugby Union has written to its Sanzar partners, Australia and New Zealand, requesting a re-scheduling of a planned presentation on an expansion of Super Rugby to 16 teams in 2013.
• Recovery package to ensure long term future for union
• New financial arrangements, including lower overall player spend and NZRU loan
• Constitutional review to ensure best practice governance
Agreement has been reached on a recovery package which aims to put the Otago Rugby Football Union (ORFU) on a sustainable long term footing, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) announced today.
Final agreement was reached this evening between the key parties – the NZRU, Dunedin City Council (DCC), Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML), New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) and the Bank of New Zealand.