Recently I found myself at a cross-road. For years I have made a mockery of the ‘entitlement’ sports fans believed they had over teams and players, only for myself to start believing the same thing… Continue reading
Ikey Tigers blow Shimlas away
FNB UCT produced a sensational first-half performance to put FNB Shimlas away 57-20 in their semifinal meeting in Cape Town, as they booked a place in the 2011 Varsity Cup Final for the third time in four years.
Tuks spoil UJ’s semifinal party
Speaking ahead of the Varsity Cup semifinals, FNB Tuks described their Last Four meeting with FNB UJ as a David v Goliath-type contest. Well, David – once again – felled Goliath as the fourth-placed Tuks beat the top-of-the-log UJ side by 25-11.
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The two Semi-finals of the Varsity Cup was played today, the 1st match at 17:00 and the 2nd match at 19:00. This was the combined match thread for discussion of the Games. The matches were broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
UCT (45) 57 / Shimlas (3) 20 (Final Score)
UJ (6) 11 / Tukkies (14) 25 (Final Score)
The Bulls ended their losing streak when they held on to beat the Lions 30 / 23 at Loftus Versfeld in a tightly contested match.
Another week, another, so close, yet so far result for the Lions. Another analysis showing heaps of missed opportunities, coupled with poor decision making. Because let’s be honest, the Lions aren’t nearly as poor as their results show them to be, they just have a knack for knowing exactly when to self-destruct. In 2010 we blamed the coaches, in 2011 enter a new coach, but the nett result stays the same, the Lions are STILL languishing at the bottom of the log. This begs the question: What on earth is wrong in Johannesburg?
Springbok and Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brussow will miss the next month of Super Rugby after being injured against the Reds.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder warned his Super Rugby rivals his side can get even better after their 44-28 defeat of the Sharks at Twickenham on Sunday.
Dan Carter and league convert Sonny Bill Williams were the inspiration behind a devastating first half performance that put the New Zealanders 34-18 up at the break.
The unbeaten and table-topping Stormers will face the Sharks without one of their key players, flank Pieter Louw.
Coach Allister Coetzee confirmed on Sunday that Louw will miss the trip to Durban, after he sustained what appears to be a serious knee injury in the 51-16 win over the Western Force at the weekend.
Our friends at NewsPOD Media delivers again.
The DHL Stormers triumphed in their 5th match of the Super Rugby tournament with an impressive 51-16 victory over the Western Force.
Crusaders (34) 44 / Sharks (18) 28 (Final Score)
The Crusaders and the Sharks did battle in a game “Hosted” by the Crusaders at Twickenham, London, England at 17:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
What a game!
Scintilating rugby, game of all time in the History of Super Rugby!
5 Tries by the Crusaders, 4 tries by the Sharks.
Herewith the schedule and results for Day 2 of the Tournament in Hong Kong.
Bulls (10) 30 / Lions (6) 23 (Final Score)
The Bulls hosted the Lions at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 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 match started with a lot of errors both ways but gradually go better until late in the 2nd Half when the tries suddenly started raining in.
The Bulls deserved their win.
Stormers (27) 51 / Force (16) 16 (Final Score)
The Stormers hosted the Western Force at Newlands, Cape Town today. The Stormers comprehensively outplayed the Force in every aspect of the game. The Stormers scored 6 tries to the 1 try scored by the Force. Take a bow the Stormers tight 5, they were huge. The Force were basically just a one man show with James O’Conner the only real stand out player.
Brumbies (12) 22 / Waratahs (12) 29 (Final Score)
The Brumbies hosted the Waratahs at Canberra Stadium, Canberra at 10:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
The match was punch and counter-punch for the first 60 odd minutes, when suddenly it came alive and with the Waratahs the hungrier side, finishing it off with a 7 point margin after still being deadlocked at 22 / 22 with time up on the clock. Waratahs winning by 29 / 22.
Chiefs (10) 13 / Blues (6) 16 (Final Score)
The Chiefs hosted the Blues at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton at 08:35 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 very wet condition, a low score was always going to be the result, with the Blues edging the Chiefs by 3 points.
Reds (29) 41 / Cheetahs (3) 8 (Final Score)
The Reds hosted the Cheetahs at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 06:30 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 Cheetahs played stupid rugby, letting the Reds run at them from all over and making a plethera of simple errors.
The Reds were enterprising and red-hot, blasting the Cheetahs away with consumate ease.
Rebels (20) 42 / Hurricanes (20) 25 (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels hosted the Hurricanes at AAMI Stadium, Melbourne at 10:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
After conceeding 3 early tries the Melbourne Rebels rallied and scored 6 tries after conceeding a consolation bonus point try to the Hurricanes, 2 minutes from full time.
The Melbourne Rebels won handsomely by 42 / 25.
New Zealand: 221 / 8 after their 50 overs
South Africa: 172 after 43.1 overs
New Zealand won by 49 runs
Wynand Olivier renewed his contract with the Blue Bulls Company and will be available for the Vodacom Bulls and Blue Bulls till the end of 2013.
With the energy, frequency and sheer number of matches in a competition like the Super 15, you almost never get a moment to sit down and reflect on issues, but I had to make the time to do just that. Continue reading
The Crusaders have moved their remaining “home” Super Rugby matches to Napier, Wellington, Timaru and back to Nelson.
AMI Stadium has been ruled out for the rest of the year so the Crusaders had to move their matches to other grounds.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) made a small operating profit – as per forecast – in a year of depressed revenues, the Union announced on Wednesday.
Jacques-Louis Potgieter has replaced Patrick Lambie in the Sharks team to face the Crusaders at Twickenham on Sunday.
The World Cup is looming, competitions gone by teaches us, that experience wins World Cups, how that is applicable to 1995 is a mystery though, but that is beside the point. Pundits in South Africa and here on Rugby-Talk, says we can’t win without the old guard, being Fourie, Victor, John Smit, Bakkies, Pakslae and the like, all this while Tim Noakes says, the old guard is overplayed and under rested, and therefore unable to live up to their expected form come NZ 2011. This begs the question: “Can we win the World Cup without our Senior Boks?”
Herewith ALL the Super Rugby team sheets as they were announced for week 6 of Super Rugby 2011.
Steve Walsh has been confirmed as the referee for the Super Rugby match between the Crusaders and the Sharks at Twickenham on Sunday.
As a result of the change in the match venue from Christchurch to London, Walsh, who refereed last weekend’s Six Nations clash between Scotland and Italy in Edinburgh, will replace Garratt Williamson.
The Waratahs have named a 24-man squad ahead of Saturday’s round six clash with the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium which includes captain Phil Waugh.
Waugh (biceps) and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau (knee) are both on the comeback from injury and have been named in the squad for the Tahs’ third all-Australian match of the season.
The Hurricanes have named their team for their first ever clash against the Rebels with an unchanged starting line to the one that lost to the Blues.
The Vodacom Bulls were dealt a major setback when it emerged that Springbok prop Gurthro Steenkamp has fractured a bone in his arm and will be out of action for between 6-12 weeks.
South Africa may be maintaining that they don’t care about the identity of their quarter-final opponent at the Cricket World Cup, but New Zealand are delighted that they are crossing swords with the Proteas.
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Sharks coach John Plumtree confirmed that his star flyhalf, Patrick Lambie, will be out of action for three weeks with a finger injury he picked up in their last match on tour against the Chiefs. Continue reading 
Vodacom Bulls lock Bakkies Botha has been cleared on a charge of dangerous play after appearing before a SANZAR Judicial hearing at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Like the legendary song by Don McLean, I believe we all lost something last night and whether or not you want to openly admit it, deep down we all know it. Continue reading
Lions coach John Mitchell has sharpened his axe and will be making some changes in personnel ahead of Saturday’s Super Rugby match against the Bulls in Pretoria.
“There will be some changes to the 22,” said Mitchell.
The young player who made the biggest impression for the Stormers in their 23-13 win over the Bulls last Saturday may be forced to sit out the next match against the Western Force at Newlands.
Lock Rynhardt Elstadt has swelling on his ankle and although he is undergoing treatment, coach Allister Coetzee has listed him as doubtful for the Force match.