John Smit was born on 3 April 1978 in Pietersburg, he went to Pretoria Boys High where he was head prefect and played for the first XV from 1996 to 1998. As natural born leader he was destined to become captain of the Springbok team and was identified at a very young age by Jake White, making his debut for South Africa against Canada at the tender age of 22. Since his debut in 2000 John Smit has played 111 test matches for South Africa, captaining his country on 83 occasions. South Africa won 69 of the 111 tests in which John Smit represented his country, he captained South Africa 83 times winning 54 tests.
All Blacks (12) 33 / Pumas (7) 10 (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks and the Argentianian Pumas did battle in the Fourth Quarter Final in Auckland at 09:30 SA Time (20:30 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 All Blacks progress through to the semi-finals, but only after the galant Argentinians gave them a bloody good go in the process.
The final four are now decided, they are Wales vs France and All Blacks vs Wallabies.
Dit was Frans Steyn se heel laaste minuut in die Wêreldbeker.
Springboks (3) 9 / Wallabies (8) 11 (Final Score)
The South African Springboks and the Australian Wallabies did battle in the Third Quarter Final in Wellington at 07:00 SA Time (18:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & 4, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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And so, the Springboks exit Rugby World Cup 2011….
The Wallabies will have to prove they are outstanding all-weather footballers as the anticipated wet and windy conditions during today’s quarter-final against the Springboks will play a major role in determining whether they stay at the World Cup or head home tomorrow.
A Wales side playing “without fear” defended their way to a Rugby World Cup semi-final by standing up to a muscular Ireland to win the first quarter-final 22-10 on Saturday.
Imanol Harinordoquy gave a barnstorming display to earn the man-of-the-match award as France reached the Rugby World Cup semi-finals with a 19-12 win against England on Saturday.
Leopards (0) 14 / Sharks (15) 41 (Final Score)
The Platinum Leopards hosted The Sharks in Rustenburg 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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What a dreary game!
The Sharks scrored twice right at the end, making it look as if the won handsomely, but that would be untrue.
The match was marred by a plethera of errors, from both sides but none more so than the Leopards, when the tryline was begging for them to score.
Job done for the Sharks though, 5 Log points in the bag.
Lions (20) 42 / WP (9) 25 (Final Score)
The MTN Golden Lions host DHL Western Province at Coka-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
This is the live match discussion Article.
The match is broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The Lions were full value for their 5 tries to 1 win over a Western Province side who had to try and stay in touch via the solid boot of Demetri Catrakilis.
Griquas (27) 48 / Blue Bulls (22) 44 (Final Score)
GWK Griquas and the Vodacom Blue Bulls did battle at GWK Park, Kimberley 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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The Griquas effectively ended the Blue Bulls aspirations to make the final four in the race for the Currie Cup, with this 4-point win.
England (0) 12 / France (16) 19 (Final Score)
England and France did battle in the Second Quarter Final in Auckland at 09:30 SA Time (20:30 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 started like a house on fire and by halftime led by 16 / 0.
England did not give up though, and came back hard at France, but France prevailed.
England go home and France marches on.
Ireland (3) 10 / Wales (10) 22 (Final Score)
Ireland and Wales did battle in the First Quarter Final in Wellington at 07:00 SA Time (18:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & 4, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Excellent defence and an excellent match overall!
Wales knock out Ireland and is the first side to advance to the semi-finals.
When England and France line up against each other in Saturday’s quarter-final Martin Johnson’s men will take confidence from a record of three victories in four Rugby World Cup matches against their cross-Channel rivals.
In an exclusive column for the official Rugby World Cup 2011 match programme, South Africa’s RWC 2007 winning coach Jake White analyses this weekend’s epic quarter-finals.
Pumas (13) 23 / Cheetahs (7) 29 (Final Score)
The Ford Pumas and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in Witbank 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 Toyota Free State Cheetahs trailed for most of the match, with the Ford Pumas rising to the occasion. In the final minutes the Cheetahs scored 2 tries to eventually win by 6 points, earning their bonus point in the process.
Australia have all but restored the lineup they started the Rugby World Cup with for their Quarter final against South Africa.
Injuries have forced the All Blacks into making six changes to their starting side for their Rugby World Cup quarter final against Argentina on Sunday.
Argentina front row rock Rodrigo Roncero has been cleared to start in the World Cup quarter-final clash with New Zealand, enabling the South Americans to field their strongest available team on Sunday.
At quarter-final time you play the game with your bags packed.
If you lose, you’re on the next flight out. It’s simple motivation to make sure you keep going for at least one more week.
Griquas will be playing for Currie Cup survival while the Blue Bulls will not want to lose touch with the top four teams on the log when these two sides clash in Kimberley on Saturday.
Sharks coach John Plumtree announced four changes to the side that will play the Leopards in Saturday’s Currie Cup rugby match in Phokeng, near Rustenburg.
Springboks lock Bakkies Botha has been ruled out of the rugby world cup due to an Achilles tendon injury and will return to South Africa on Friday.
Wales coach Warren Gatland has made five changes to the team that beat Fiji 66-0 with Rhys Priestland keeping Stephen Jones out of the squad entirely and James Hook on the bench.
Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood will start for in England in one of four changes to Martin Johnson’s side for the Rugby World Cup quarter final against France at Eden Park on Saturday.
JP Pietersen trained with the Springboks as they continued their build-up to the World Cup quarterfinal in Wellington on Thursday morning.
Samoa’s controversial midfielder Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu may be facing a life ban from the game, but he refuses to go quietly.
The Blue Bulls Copany have made a short statement regarding the outcome of the Diciplinary Hearing of Bees Roux.
It reads as follows:
Rugby’s equivalent of Hollywood’s famous “Brat Pack” went on show before a packed media contingent in downtown Wellington this morning, and while best mates James O’Connor, Kurtley Beale and Tatafu Polota-Nau attracted their share of interest, the spotlight was drawn to Quade Cooper, arguably the biggest gun in the World Cup west and certainly the Most Wanted.
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen says Richie McCaw will play against Argentina this weekend, despite fears that a troublesome foot injury could keep the New Zealand captain on the sidelines for the quarter-final at Eden Park.
“He’s great,” Hansen told a press conference at the team hotel. “He’s going to play on Sunday.”
South Africa on Thursday in New Zealand named the most experienced team in Springbok history for their Rugby World Cup 2011 quarterfinal against Australia in Wellington on Sunday.
Griquas named their team on Wednesday to square up against the Blue Bulls in a Currie Cup encounter in Kimberley on Saturday.
Saracens have been given permission to move their Heineken Cup match against Biarritz Olympique in Cape Town South Africa on Saturday January 14th, 2012.
Springboks Akona Ndungane, Deon Stegmann and Dean Greyling are back in the Vodacom Blue Bulls team to play Griquas in an Absa Currie Cup match in Kimberley on Saturday.
Allister Coetzee today named his team to take on the Lions at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday (17:05).
MTN Golden Lions coach, John Mitchell has made one injury enforced changed to his line up to Face DHL Western Province on Saturday.