See the happy faces?
A major All Blacks sponsor on Thursday cancelled a campaign urging New Zealand sports fans give up sex to support their team during the World Cup, after a public backlash.
The Cheetahs have named their Currie Cup Rugby team to face the Pumas at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
This may shed some light on what is going on behind the scenes at SARU. Source Parliamentary Monitoring Group. A delegation of SARU presented a report of the preparation of the Springboks for the RWC.
James Horwill has replaced Rocky Elsom as Australia’s captain in a shock move before next month’s Rugby World Cup.
Queensland Reds skipper Horwill was surprised when coach Robbie Deans today named him to lead the 30-man Wallabies squad to the tournament, kicking off in New Zealand on September 9.
Smith has not sufficiently recovered from an injured Achilles and have therefore withdrawn himself from the South Africa’s World Cup squad.
“I am not 100%,” an emotional Smith told the Volksblad newspaper.
Flank Jacques Burger from English Premiership club Saracens will captain rank outsiders Namibia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next month.
The south-west Africa nation make their Group D debut on September 10 against Fiji in Rotorua and then tackle Samoa at the same venue four days later, title holders South Africa in North Shore on September 22 and Wales in New Plymouth after a three-day break.
The Pumas will have a new captain as they look for their first win of the Currie Cup season, when they tackle the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Regular captain Corné Steenkamp has been ruled out with a knee injury and midfielder JW Jonker taking over the leadership of the team.
Griquas tackle the Blue Bulls at Loftus on Friday with their king-pin scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius back in action, after missing the first five founds of the Currie Cup competition.
The New Zealand Rugby Union has supported a campaign encouraging All Black fans to abstain from sex in support of the All Blacks.
The Sharks have a brand new centre pairing for their home clash with the Leopards on Friday, with Meyer Bosman and Marius Joubert starting in the midfield.
Lessons from the past should provide the Lions rugby union with the vision needed to get them out of their current administrative crisis.
Chiliboy Ralepelle has been released for provincial duty by the Springboks and will play off the bench against Griquas on Friday.
Springbok loose forward Juan Smith needs to pass a fitness test before he will be considered to play for the Free State Cheetahs against the Pumas on Saturday.
Springboks Gio Aplon and Juan de Jongh have been named on the Western Province bench for their match against the Lions in Cape Town this weekend.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has signed a two year extension with the Australian Rugby Union which will keep him in Australia until 2013 at least.
Argentina coach Santiago Phelan selected his strongest line-up on Tuesday for the World Cup warm-up match with Wales on Saturday.
Wales however, have made 9 changes to the side which beat England on the weekend.
Wallabies stalwart Matt Giteau has given every indication he has controversially missed Rugby World Cup selection.
The MTN Golden Lions will be playing DHL Western Province this Friday, 19 August 2011 in Cape Town. Kick off is at 19:10.
It seems that with the good form the MTN Golden Lions have showed so far in the Currie Cup, that finally coach John Mitchell is able to settle on virtually the same team week after week now, which should greatly assist the Lions in maintaining their unbeaten form in the Currie Cup and also their top of the log status.
Coach Peter De Villiers has dropped Springbok Captain John Smit to the bench for this weekend’s clash against the All Blacks. Continue reading
A common trend in South African rugby is the emphasis on short term gains rather than long term vision. Continue reading
Can you believe it, it is our birthday here at Rugby-talk!
Rugby-Talk now stands a full 2 years old…. naughty as hell and more fiddly than the average 2-year old.
I think a hearty congratulations is in order!
Springbok captain John Smit has not yet been ruled out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, a South African Rugby Union (Saru) spokesperson confirmed on Sunday.
The Wallabies achieved one of their most courageous overseas Test victories against the Springboks at the weekend to push their World Cup claims, Australian newspapers said on Monday.
Toby Flood has slammed England’s inability to score tries in their 19-9 defeat against Wales as “embarrassing” and “shameful”.
It is often said class is permanent , but form is temporary.
In relationships we often find ourselves in a situation where we are hanging on to something we know has been over for a quite some time.
How much stil makes sense in South African Rugby? Is it maybe a way for Peter and his coaching team to confuse all? How serious is our challenge? Who is not laughing? Is it not the perfect chance to let the politicians get their way and pick that 60% black team? Who would care if we send a brand new politically correct team to the World Cup? Most serious rugby supporters gave up anyway on our chances to win this year.
Springbok captain John Smit and fullback Frans Steyn are in doubt for the World Cup after they were both injured in South Africa’s 9-14 loss to Australia in the Tri-Nations.
Lions (8) 17 / Cheetahs (3) 10 (Final Score)
The MTN Lions host the Toyota Free State Cheetahs at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 19:10 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match is broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
In a hard fought match and exciting end to the match, the Lions were victorius.
Springboks (6) 9 / Wallabies (0) 14 (Final Score)
The South African Springboks hosted the Australian Wallabies at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Wallabies mounted a massive second half fight back to beat the Springboks by 5 points, all their points coming in the second half.
Wales (6) 19 / England (6) 9 (Final Score)
Wales hosted England at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff at 15:30 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 6 on TV in SA.
Many years ago I read a book written by Org Mandino, called “The greatest salesman on earth”.
South Africa’s Springboks take on Australia’s Wallabies in a Tri Nations 4th round match 
Date: Saturday, August 13
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17:05 (15:05 GMT)
WP (3) 19 / Sharks (9) 21 (Final Score)
DHL Western Province hosted The Sharks at Newlands, Cape Town at 19:10 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
In terrible weather conditions, the Sharks just had enough in the tank to beat DHL Western Province, by only 2 points.
Pumas (0) 12 / Blue Bulls (10) 16 (Final Score)
The Ford Pumas hosted the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit at 17:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.