South Africa are focusing on their upcoming Rugby World Cup match against Namibia even though they are now on track to face Australia in the quarter finals.
All Black Captain Richie McCaw and key players Dan Carter, Mils Muliaina and Israel Dagg all look set top play in New Zealand’s crunch Rugby World Cup pool A match against France in Auckland on Saturday.
The match is set to decide the runner up of the pool and therefore who will face the winner of Pool B which includes England, Argentina and Scotland.
A simulated rugby field at Loftus Versfeld was filled to capacity with bags of clothing and bedding collected by Clothing4Children from Pretoria Schools. Vodacom Blue Bulls, DHL Western Province and Sharks players in the under 19, under 21 and senior teams, fans, sponsors and suite owners in the Pretoria region also collected for the Clothing4Children Campaign. Prior to Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup clash between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and DHL Western Province, all the players walked on to the field with their bags to show their support for the inspiring campaign, started by Burger brothers Schalk and Wim.
All Blacks wing Zac Guildford admitted he had an alcohol problem on Monday and publicly apologised for breaking an agreement with management by drinking “excessively” after a game last month.
The Free State Cheetahs sent out a strong warning that even though they are lingering in fourth position on the Currie Cup log, they have what it takes to run with the front runners.And the Blue Bulls showed that they are not to be written off, yet.
South African brothers Marius and Neels Botha have been having a blast touring New Zealand with their idol and namesake Bakkies Botha.
But Springboks fans need not fear the star back row has defected from camp – the Botha brothers are carrying a cardboard cut-out of their hero as they trek across the nation and take in their team’s Rugby World Cup 2011 pool matches.
Bok coach, Peter de Villiers will have a selection headache at loosehead prop on his hands as the RWC reaches the business-end of the tournament.
So, we are halfway through the Pool stages and already the tournament has been turned on its head. There are still a few important and path-changing matches left.
Fiji flanker Dominiko Waqaniburotu has been cited for making a dangerous tip tackle during the World Cup Pool D match against South Africa on Saturday, organisers said today.
Ireland’s upset over the Wallabies really has put the cat among the pigeons at this World Cup..in more ways than one.
You don’t have to draw too long a bow from the best match of the tournament so far to realise the result, potentially, has serious implications for the All Blacks.
I’m really interested now – and concerned in the same breath – to see how the French react to this result.
The haka is in danger of losing respect because it is performed too often, Springboks coach Peter de Villiers says.
What a big difference a week in rugby makes! But like last week when the Boks played badly I find myself in a strange but familiar position this week where I call on fans to calm down a bit following the Boks walloping of the Fijians on Saturday. Continue reading
Well this was much better. The Springboks were innovative and clearly made some adjustments to how they play the game. Probably because of the change in game plan, most of the players played well. A few played exceptionally well like Frans Steyn, Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow, Gurthro Steenkamp and Bismarck du Plessis, when he came on.
Danie ‘Pakslae’ Rossouw was outstanding in everything he did and maintained a high work rate on defence and on attack. Out wide he showed some deft touches, good decision making and a surprising turn of speed.
The most pleasing aspect of the whole match was the fact that they kept the ball in hand.
France (19) 46 / Canada (10) 19 (Final Score)
France and Canada did battle in Napier at 10:30 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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Brave Canada gave France a torrent time till the 70th minute, then the French machine clicked into gear with a few quick tries, earning France the bonus point for tries after full time.
England (17) 41 / Georgia (10) 10 (Final Score)
England and Georgia did battle in Dunedin at 08:00 SA Time (18:00 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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Despite a 31-point winning margin and 6 tries, England will not feel at all happy about this match and you can bet your bottom dollar that Martin Johnson must be secretly fuming at the ill-dicipline and overall incompetance of the England side.
If Georgia had a kicker who could slot the penalties, the score would have been very different.
That said, it’s 5 Log points in the bag for England.
Wales (6) 17 / Samoa (10) 10 (Final Score)
Wales and Samoa did battle in Hamilton at 05:30 SA Time (15:30 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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It was a brutal match, Samoa not relenting and Wales had to fight hard and right to the end to ensure their win.
One loss to Wales in Pool D, one loss to Samoa…. now the Springboks do not want to lose against Samoa, because it would mean one loss to them then as well, leaving the Pool wide open, and somebody will go Home!
Rampant Pierre Spies
When it comes to results in pool matches during the rugby world cup, I for one rather look at how and what teams have done and what has been effective.
Blue Bulls (20) 28 / WP (3) 20 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Blue Bulls hosted DHL Western Province 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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The Vodacom Blue Bulls won the match against DHL Western Province but failed to get a 4-try bonus point, which ultimately almost certainly means the end of their Currie Cup aspirations for 2011.
Cheetahs (23) 53 / Sharks (18) 32 (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs hosted The Sharks 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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This was a 9-try festival of running rugby, won by the Toyota Free State Cheetahs with 5 tries to 4.
In the process the Toyota Free State Cheetahs bag 5 Log points and The Sharks only 1.
Wallabies (6) 6 / Ireland (6) 15 (Final Score)
The Australian Wallabies did battle against Ireland at Eden Park, Auckland at 10:30 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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In the first real upset in Rugby World Cup 2011, Ireland upset the apple cart and beat the Australian Wallabies.
No tries in the match, just hard, uncompromising rugby!
Springboks (21) 49 / Fiji (3) 3 (Final Score)
The Springboks and Fiji did battle in POOL D in Wellington at 08:00 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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A very well balanced Springbok performance!
The Springboks scored 6 tries, 5 of them converted, plus 3 penalties to a lone Fiji penalty.
Job done, mission accomplished, 5 points in the bag!
Argentina (26) 43 / Romania (8) 8 (Final Score)
Argentina did battle with Romania in Invercargill at 05:30 SA Time (15:30 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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Consumate performance by Argentina, 6 tries to 1.
Argentina was just too strong from the word go.
Leopards (9) 23 / Lions (21) 43 (Final Score)
The Platinum Leopards hosted the MTN Lions at Profert Olen Park, Potchefstroom at 19:10 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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Mission accomplished for the Lions, 6 tries to 2. Full haul of 5 Log points for the MTN fellas.
Toby Flood has been preferred at flyhalf for Sunday’s game against Georgia. Continue reading
All Blacks (38) 83 / Japan (0) 7 (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks hosted Japan in Hamilton at 10:00 SA Time (20:00 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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The All Blacks scored 13 tries to 1 and ran riot!
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has reiterated that his plan to treat every game at this World Cup as a final and not to mix and match combinations to give everyone a run.
Call them stubborn, label them stupid, but it certainly seems Graham Henry and his fellow selectors are struggling to learn the harsh lessons of their last World Cup failings.
Rugby authorities are doing themselves no favours in dispelling the belief that rugby still is an elitist sport which only caters for the traditional powerhouses of the game.
In a surprising move the Sharks have actually named their team to play the Cheetahs within the suggested time frame.
I’ve found myself pondering more and more about the amount of injuries during this year’s RWC. Is it just my imagination or are there more injuries this year than previous times?
In run-up to this year’s RWC we had constant injuries to Springbok and All Black players to the extent that everyone was starting to label it as ‘resting’ or ‘cotton wool’ procedures.
South Africa have players like Bekker, Vermeulen, Potgieter, Juan Smit (to name but the few I can now remember) who was not even considered for the RWC squad due to injury.
At the moment Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Jean de Villiers, Johan Muller, Flip van der Merwe, and Habana are all injured. In the All Black camp McCaw, Carter, Dagg and Mills Muliaina are all injured and can’t play on the weekend. Continue reading
Russia (3) 6 / USA (10) 13 (Final Score)
Russia and USA did battle in New Plymouth at 09:30 SA Time (19:30 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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USA was in control of most of the match, holding on to the ball well, but struggling to break resolute Russian defences.
Samoan custom frowns upon chest-beating, but there is a strong self belief this World Cup squad can claim another historic victory over Wales on Sunday.
Warren Gatland’s Welshmen face an emotionally-charged and buoyant Samoan side in Hamilton, where World Cup aspirations will be defined.
Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina are both out of tomorrow’s test against Japan.
Both players have been ruled out of the All Blacks’ second game of the World Cup because of injury, while Israel Dagg has also picked up an injury, following a training session at St Peter’s College in Cambridge late yesterday afternoon.
The Springboks made four changes to their starting line-up and two more on the bench when they named the team to meet Fiji in their Pool D World Cup 2011 match in Wellington on Saturday.
Following a racially charged altercation with a fellow colleague of Jacaranda 94.2, the FM radio station, DJ and sports presenter Darren Scott resigned from the station and was subsequently given an indefinite leave of absence from SuperSport.
The sports broadcaster has today announced that the 2 parties (Scott and SuperSport) parted ways.