Australia head coach Robbie Deans and Wales head coach Warren Gatland on Wednesday named their teams to play their Bronze Final of Rugby World Cup 2011 at Eden Park, Auckland, on Saturday 22 October at 09:30 SA Time.
The Proteas’ Castle Lager squad came up with a dynamic new approach to limited overs cricket during the 2011 ICC World Cup in India earlier this year.
Now they have a fresh challenge in adapting to the significant changes that have been made to the playing conditions for ODI cricket. That starts with the three-match series against Australia, the first contest of which is at SuperSport Park on Wednesday (2.30pm).
Jaco Peyper and Marius Jonker have been appointed to referee the two Currie Cup semi-finals this weekend.
Popular Kiwi coach Warren Gatland has reaffirmed his commitment to coaching Wales until the end of his contract in 2015, despite speculation that he would return to New Zealand.
Springbok flank forward Schalk Burger was cited for a dangerous tackle in the Currie Cup match between Western Province and the Pumas at Newlands on Saturday evening but he was cleared of foul play.
Australia’s Wallabies have been left with a long injury list after their Rugby World Cup semifinal loss to New Zealand, with at least four players unavailable for Friday’s third-place playoff against Wales.
Wales coach Warren Gatland has named Gethin Jenkins as captain and made three changes to his forwards due to suspension, injury and exhaustion in the pack ahead of Friday’s third-place playoff against Australia at the Rugby World Cup.
From a South African perspective the rugby calendar makes little sense. The way the international fixtures are currently set out does not really allow for any competition to run its course to completion, it has therefor been proposed that there will be a break in the Super Rugby competition next year to allow the June tour window, and then the Super Rugby competition will resume. In between all this, there is a Currie Cup that will now take a further step back to accommodate the Super Rugby and International fixtures.
Wales coach Warren Gatland has admitted that he was so stunned as losing his inspirational captain Sam Warburton to a red card that he considered faking an injury to create uncontested scrums.
Australian Rugby Union Chief executive John O’Neill has revealed that he will stand down in 2013 after the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
Veteran Wales wing Shane Williams admits the lure of one last roar from the Millennium Stadium crowd in Cardiff may cause him to postpone his international retirement for another match.
France have moved up from fifth place in the IRB’s Rugby World rankings to third place knocking South Africa out of the top three making them the first northern hemisphere nation to occupy this position in nearly 16 months.
England also moved up from sixth place to fifth place as a result of Wales dropping from fourth to sixth place after they lost by one point to France.
The Sharks sent out a strong warning that they are not going to let go of their Currie Cup crown without a fight when they comprehensively beat the log-leading Golden Lions to clinch a home semi-final next week.
Western Province booked their tickets to Johannesburg next week with a solid 43-18 victory over the Pumas, ruling the Blue Bulls out of the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
Springbok and Stormers winger Bryan Habana has extended his contract with Western Province for another three years keeping him a Stormers until 2015.
After much debate and investigation, the Golden Lions and the Lions Super Rugby teams, under the guises of the GLRU and Lions Rugby (PTY) LTD have decided that their futures’ remain at their historical home Coca-Cola (Ellis) Park.
The stadium was rebuilt in the early 1980’s and was given another major facelift for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The full media releases from the various parties reads:
This is a satirical look at South african rugby, it is not intended to offend anyone, so please read it with the intent in which it was written.
South African referee Craig Joubert will referee Sunday’s World Cup final between the All Blacks and France. It will be his first World Cup final.
Joubert, who controlled yesterday’s semifinal between the All Blacks and Wallabies at Eden Park, becomes only the second South African to take charge of a final after Andre Watson who has controlled two.
Though long have our Kiwi cousins walked in the shadow of the Valley of Death, through World Cup loss after World Cup loss, as an entire people plumbed the depths of despair, now, nowthe hour is upon them. The promised land is now just up ahead around the bend…
Australia 147/8 (20/20 ov)
South Africa 148/7 (19.1/20 ov)
South Africa won by 3 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
All Blacks (14) 20 / Wallabies (6) 6 (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks and Australian Wallabies did battle in the First Semi-Final of Rugby World Cup 2011 at Eden Park, Auckland 10:00 SA Time (21:00 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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The All Blacks were ruthless and commited and deserve their place in next Sunday’s Final. It was however a brave effort by Australia but Quade Cooper should have clicked earlier for them to have any chance.
It began, again, somewhere around the 70th minute.
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde had just converted a Yannick Jauzion try, scored off a missed forward pass, giving the French a 20-18 lead in their 2007 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against the All Blacks in front of a packed Millenium Stadium in Cardiff.
The All Blacks were the best team in the world. All they needed was a penalty, a drop goal, a try. Momentum, that age-old All Blacks’ drive.
No matter the outcome of tonight’s semi-final match and who eventually win this tournament this 2011 RWC will be remembered as the mother of all referee muck-ups.
If Australia and France where to play in the final I won’t even watch it because neither of those two teams deserve to be there. Roll that into a zoll Paddy O’Brien and smoke it.
A New Zealand victory over Aussie would ensure a pretty one-sided final which should see the All Blacks running away with it.
Controversy due to inconsistent refereeing has somewhat marred a homecoming of the Rugby world cup to its original host of 24 years ago and the home of the most successful rugby side in rugby Union history.
Sharks 53 / Lions 9 (Final score)
The Sharks hosted the MTN Golden Lions at Kings Park, Durban at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The sharks totally outclassed a lethargic and error ridden Lions side to book a home semi final against the Free state Cheetahs next week, where they will certainly carry all of the momentum.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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WP (24) 43 / Pumas (8) 18 ( Final Score)
DHL Western Province hosted the Ford Pumas 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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Cheetahs (20) 49 / Griquas (10) 39 (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs hosted the GWK Griquas at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 15:00 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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Wales (3) 8 / France (6) 9 (Final Score)
Wales and France did battle in the First Semi-Final of Rugby World Cup 2011 at Eden Park, Auckland 10:00 SA Time (21:00 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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France squeeked past a galant Welsch side who had to play for about 60 minutes with only 14 men after their captain, Sam Warburton, was Red Carded.
Tim Noakes has denied accusing anyone of match fixing or any claims that the Springboks’ quarterfinal match against Australia officiated by Bryce Lawrence was either ‘fixed’ or ‘bent’, as has been reported.
In a letter to Sport24, Noakes claimed that his statements had been misconstrued and taken out of context. Continue reading
Blue Bulls (35) 92 / Leopards (21) 21 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Blue Bulls hosted the Platinum Leopards at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 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 Blue Bulls managed their objective of winning by more than 59 points, in fact they won by 71 and it is now all in the hands of Western Province and the Pumas, whether the Blue Bulls go through to the final 4 or not.
At the moment the Blue Bulls temporarily moves into 4th spot on the Log.
The Blue Bulls ran in 14 tries to the 3 from the Leopards.
Wallaby fullback Kurtley Beale has been named to start the Rugby World Cup Semi-final against New Zealand but will be given until l Saturday to prove his fitness.
Peter de Villiers is beskikbaar om die Springbok-rugbyspan vir langer af te rig.
The Russian Rugby Union (RRU) have revealed that they will bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup after making their debut last month in New Zealand.
The All Blacks made three changes in their side and included injured skipper Richie McCaw for this weekend’s World Cup semi-final against Australia at Eden Park.
The Sharks coach, John Plumtree, has named his side to play the MTN Lions at Kings Park, Durban at 19:10 on Saturday.
The Sharks have obviously chosen a very strong side, compared to the Lions who are resting about six players, because the Sharks are still aiming to get a home semi-final, whereas the lions are firmly in first spot, even if they lose this game.
Three teams will fight it out this weekend for the final spot in the Currie Cup Premier Division semi-finals, with Western Province best placed to qualify for the playoffs.The Blue Bulls – at home against the Leopards – and Griquas – away to the Free State Cheetahs – linger in fifth and sixth position on the log and have a mathematical chance of making it through to the semi-finals, but they don’t have their destiny in their own hands.
A bit higher on the log, The Sharks, who take on the first-placed Golden Lions in Durban, and the Free State Cheetahs are in a race to second position on the log.
Semi-final permutations: