With the Six Nations looming large it might be time to have a look at what we can expect from the tournament the players, coaches and of course the referees.
The 7th Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.
In this Article we look at the contenders for CENTRES in the Vodacom Bulls 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
Former Springbok captain Victor Matfield this week joined 17 other coaches from the Blue Bulls in becoming certified on the BokSmart national rugby safety programme.
Wales have suffered a further injury blow with the news that hooker Matthew Rees will miss the Six Nations opener away to Ireland and next week’s home match against Scotland.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney has made three changes to the team that played Wales in Ireland’s final 2011 Rugby World Cup match for this weekend’s Six Nations opener.
New Italy coach Jacques Brunel has changed nearly half of Italy’s squad for his Six Nations debut against his home nation France on Saturday.
Wales record try scoring winger Shane Williams will hang up his rugby boots and retire from all rugby at the end of this season.
It’s being regarded as a trial and will be contested over four chukkas so no teams have been announced, but the Sharks’ pre-season clash with the Boland Cavaliers on Friday night will nonetheless provide some areas of intense focus for both coaches and spectators alike.
Namibia’s Welwitschias have pulled out of this year’s Vodacom Cup competition due to financial constraints.
And as expected some of what he says make no sense whatsoever.
Allister Coetzee has named the Stormers team to face Toyota Cheetahs on Saturday at Newlands:
Canberra – Brumbies coach Jake White wants to use a new alliance with the University of Canberra as the extra bait to lure South Africa’s most talented juniors to the capital.
I read this yesterday, and wasn’t going to post it, but on reflection, decided to, for no greater reason than he asked to do so. No one knew the hardships he went through, and it just goes to show, that we shouldn’t be too quick to ‘judge a book by it’s cover’, it could happen to anyone. Read this honest account in his own words.
The Cheetahs played with fits and starts vs the Griffons. According to Jóhann Thormählen of Volksblad. Riaan Smit was one of the few players that impressed. Tries were scored by Phillip Snyman, Rayno Benjamin, and Jean Stemmet, scored in the first half, and Hercu Liebenberg, and Sias Ebersohn (2) in the second half.
The breakdowns were again a problem, as promising Cheetahs attacks were thwarted, when the ball was pilfered by the Griffons. The question of depth, particularly in the backline was answered, with all of the backline fringe players playing well.
Hopefully the next few weeks will bring clarity as to the composition of the SA Super 15 teams, as injuries to several frontline players already having a profound impact!
Go Cheeeetahs!!!!!!
The 6th Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.
In this Article we look at the contenders for FLYHALVES in the Vodacom Bulls 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
South Africa’s top referees scrummed against each and were given master classes from top coaches as part of a recently completed four-day training camp prior to the start of the 2012 rugby season.
Lock Wilhelm Steenkamp will lead a young and dynamic Bulls team in their first outing of 2012 when they take on the Kings in their compulsory friendly in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The 5th Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.
In this Article we look at the contenders for SCRUMHALVES in the Vodacom Bulls 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
Scotland coach Andy Robinson is to hand uncapped Edinburgh winger Lee Jones a debut against England in the RBS Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The 4th Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOOSEFORWARDS in the Vodacom Bulls 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
I have had a look at the Article dealing with whether Heyneke Meyer’s proposed ‘Unified SA Style’ is realistic or not.
Meyer said on Monday that his ultimate aim would be for all the teams in South Africa to adopt a similar style of rugby.
“In future I would like to install a national style of play and defence and all the attributes that go with it, and everybody should buy in,” Meyer said.
“I am realistic and know you can’t force people to play the same, but there should at least be a common goal and places where you can touch base.”
This brought me to the question is this possible at all and what is the typical South African style? I think what most SA teams have in common is the idea of dominating the set piece (scrum and line-out). Soften them up in the forwards before you spread it to the backs type of philosophy. Continue reading
The 3rd Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOCKS in the Vodacom Bulls 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
Wales came from nowhere to win it in 2008 with a Grand Slam to boot. Ireland emulated them twelve months later, France followed suit in 2010 and last year England made it to the top of the pile before their World Cup implosion.
There is nothing to beat the RBS 6 Nations and not merely because of its capacity to spread the title around. Four different champions in successive years had last happened long before the Five became Six, a sequence completed in 1982 when Ollie Campbell’s fusillade of seven goals swamped a lone Scottish try to guarantee Ireland the Triple Crown and, ultimately, the championship.
Newly appointed Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer says one of his greatest challenges will be to have the country’s Super Rugby franchises on the same page.
The Sharks are in the market for a world class prop, following the injury setback suffered by Springbok Tendai Mtawarira.
New South Africa coach Heyneke Meyerwill make finding common ground with Super Rugby franchises and northern hemisphere clubs over conditioning of their Springbok players his priority, he said on Monday.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney picked five uncapped players on Monday in his final 32-man squad for his team’s Six Nations opener against Wales.
The last in the Stormers squad instalments, these two make up the back line.
The Speedsters, and this is where the Bully boys have helped the Stormers out a bit.
Not a shabby bunch of wingers to boot.
The main centre pairing for the Stormers have heaps of experience, but thereafter it wears a bit thin pretty quickly.
This is where I expect the debate to really get down and dirty, c’mon fella’s, give it your best shot!
Aaah, the scrummies. Those sniping, yapping little chuahuas amongst the pack of hounds. Potential here? I think so.
This is where the debate starts to get interesting. So much conjecture around Burger, his role and where he should play. With Flo gone, is the fetching role going to be an area of contention?
The All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry has described England as “world champions at wasting talent” and as playing a game based on fear.
Rocky Elsom will be unveiled as the captain of the Waratahs on Tuesday, capping off a spectacular return to the NSW franchise where he started his Super Rugby career and first captained the side in 2007.