The Australian way: get the best talent, however young into a Test jersey, writes Sunday Telegraph columnist Paul Ackford
There aren’t many people who have given Colin Meads a telling-off, but the newly minted Sir Fred Allen is one of them.
The clever bloggers on Rugby-Talk picked the players’ performances as follows. The Survey stopped early this week at 18:00 Sunday.
Pool A
New Zealand 44 – 11 Fiji , Wales 22 – 13 Samoa
Pool B
Argentina 22 – 48 England , France 25 – 22 Ireland
Pool C
South Africa 40 – 14 Tonga , Australia 58 – 13 Scotland
With thanks to the IRB
The best players in the Super 14 came through stronger in this test against Wales in Cardiff. Form and understanding made the local players outshine the European contingent. The players who made the difference for South Africa was , Victor Matfield, Dewald Potgieter, Danie Roussouw, Ruan Pienaar John Smit and Juan de Jongh.
Rate your players in the poll below.
The Poll closed at 18:00 on Sunday 6 June.
| 19:00 – 20:55 | SS1 | IRB Junior World Championship France v Ireland |  |
| 20:55 – 22:55 | SS1 | IRB Junior World Championship Argentina v England | |
On Supersport 1
Continue reading
The Springbok selectors have been instructed by the South African Rugby Union not to select Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira – or any other non-South African passport holder – for the national team, following communication from the department of Sport and Recreation.
The FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International will expand its
involvement in South African university rugby, with the creation of a new second tier competition from 2011 onwards.
As a result, five ‘B-Section’ universities will compete against each other in a double round competition starting next year, called the Varsity Shield – a decision that was officially ratified at the special general meeting of the Varsity Cup (Pty) Ltd in Sandton on Friday.
Wales (16) 31 / Springboks (14) 34 (Final Score)
Wales hsted the Springboks at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff at 15:30 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
Wales started the match fast, racing into an early lead and after an intercept try by James Hook from a wayward John Smit pass, went into a 16 / 3 lead. The Springboks fought back and some of the new combinations started to gel and by halftime the score was Wales 16 / Bokke 14.
After halftime the Springboks continues their mid match dominance, adding another converted try and grabbing the lead, now leading by 21 / 16. It was Wales next to score from a penalty, drawing the SA lead back to only 2 points.
Frans Steyn then slotted a long penalty from near halfway, causing the Springboks to lead by 24 / 19. Next it was the try by Juan de Jongh, which carved the Welsch fedence to ribbons, for the Bokke to sail into a lead of 31 / 19.
The Welsch were not finished though and capitalised on some hurried Springbok replacements, adding 1 unconverted try and 1 converted try to the lone penalty by the Springboks, bringing the final score to Springboks 34 / Wales 31.
Australia (14) 49 / Fiji (3) 3 (Final Score)
The Wallabies hosted Fiji at Canberra Stadium, Canberra at 11:40 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The game was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Wallabies won, like expected, by 49 / 3, scoring 7 tries in he process.
I saw this article on Rugby Heaven, NZ. We discussed something similar earlier this week in the article by Morne, “Protecting our Brands”
There is no doubting the sport of rugby can these days line young New Zealanders’ pockets in a very healthy manner. However, Logan Savory talks to a former Super 14 player who is warning those youngsters not to rely entirely on the world of professional rugby.
Steyn confirmed on Friday that he had extended his contract with the Blue Bulls Company till October 2013.
Ireland (10) 23 / Barbarians (21) 29 (Final Score)
Ireland hosted the Barbarians at Thomond Park at 20:45 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Barbarians beat a decidedly ordinary Irish team, by going ahead early on and piling on the pressure and points, whereafter it was catch-up rugby for the Irish, who although clawing their way back, just could not haul the Barbarians in.
The opposition may only be Fiji, but the Canberra Stadium on Saturday will provide a glimpse of the future of Australian rugby.
Following the impressive, and much-improved, form of the exciting Reds, the at times dour determination of the Waratahs, the glimpses of brilliance from the Brumbies and the individual flashes from the Western Force, there is no doubt the Wallabies have enough talent to make a real fist of it at next year’s World Cup.
Ireland will use the clash with the Barbarians as a warm up before their tough tour to New Zealand, with Irish coach Declan Kidney experimenting with some new combinations.
After a disappointing Six Nations campaign, Ireland will want to come away with some good results during the mid-year Test schedule, with a Barbarians match a good way to test the depth of the squad.
Three players with Super 14 experience and two who feature in the Springbok 7’s team were included in the South African U20 squad that will play Tonga in their opening Pool B clash of the IRB Junior World Championship in Parana on Saturday. In addition there are 4 players with Vodacom Cup experience.
Wales take on the Springboks at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday at 15:30 SA Time.
This weekend sees the start of the Southern Hemisphere Test season and with the Super 14 having taken place just last weekend the Bokke are not at full strenght due to the fact that it is wise to rest a few weary players.
We look at the match and the Welsch squad who also does not appear to be at full strengh.
His business interests and pride in the Cheetahs jersey made it easy for Juan Smith to renew his contract with the Free State Rugby Union.
Article By Hendrik Cronjé and Jóhann Thormählen
Juan De Jongh has been named at inside centre in the Bok team to face Wales in a one-off Test in Cardiff on Saturday. He replaces Butch James, who has been withdrawn because of protracted club-versus-country dispute that raged this week.
The 21-year-old was named in the No.12 jersey when Springbok coach Peter de Villiers confirmed the team at a media conference in Cardiff on Thursday.
Rugby365 also reports as follows
Being the innovaters that they are, Bulls fans have found and mastered the true and correct way to use the instrument of noise…. during the last 2 weeks in Orlando!!
Never say they don’t learn fast!
Here’s how….
Fourie du Preez is lost to Springbok rugby for now.
The Bulls scrumhalf will undergo a shoulder operation on Tuesday, which could render him out of action for the rest of the season.
Cape Town – Joe Pietersen will not be part of Western Province’s Currie Cup campaign.
Stephen Nell , News24
It may be World Cup football time, but don’t try telling that to rugby lovers.
Between Friday, June 4 and June 26, there will be 15 full-blooded internationals broadcast on SuperSport, in addition to the IRB junior world championships, two New Zealand Maori fixtures, the Coca Cola Craven Week, the Safaricom Sevens and a series of FNB Classic Clashes.
Victor Matfield and Zane Kirchner will join the Springbok rugby squad in Cardiff on Thursday as replacements for Andries Bekker and Butch James.
Here is the historic and epic Super 14 Final, in Orlando on 29 May 2010 in Pictures…
Just CLICK on the 1st picture in every series and scroll through by using your Arrow-Keys!
It seems as if Andries Bekker is following in the footsteps of Joost Van Der Westhuizen. And may have been withdrawn from the Bok squad for reasons other than the “injury”. Continue reading
There has been a lot of debate on South Africa’s policy around the selection of foreign based players of late, but Peter de Villiers may just have it spot on. Continue reading
Only time will tell whether the Golden Lions have pulled off a major coup or made another giant mistake, but the appointment of John Mitchell to coach the side in the Currie Cup is nothing short of bizarre.
By Jacques van der Westhuyzen
Bath flyhalf Butch James. An apparent oversight by South African Rugby Union officials may well cost Butch James his chance of pressing for a place in next year’s Springbok World Cup squad. James has been named at inside centre in the South African team to play Wales in a one-off Test in Cardiff on Saturday. However, SARU and James’s club, Bath, are now in a stand-off over the World Cup-winning Bok’s availability – the sticking point being whether this match falls inside or outside the International Rugby Board’s window for June Test matches.
The Article thanks to Louis De Villiers and Rugby365
Johannesburg – In the immediate aftermath of Samoa’s dramatic first IRB Sevens World Series victory, the International Rugby Board has moved quickly to announce the dates for the eight events in the 2010/11 World Series, starting once again with the two events in Dubai and George, South Africa, in December 2010.
Rugby365 reports as follows:
James Hook will start for Wales against South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday after making a last minute plea to the coaches to let him play.
Hook will undergo surgery on a shoulder problem after Wales face the world champion Springboks and will not travel for the two-Test tour of New Zealand with the rest of the squad later in June.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers was happy with his team’s first training session in Cardiff today ahead of the clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
One of the most anoying things in NZ is the tendency to doggedly bring people in high positions down if they made a mistake. They (the media) will just keep at it until the person (whether a coach, politician, ex-all black or any other type of executive) get’s sacked. Continue reading
Sydney – Quade Cooper has displaced Matt Giteau at flyhalf in the starting line-up for Australia’s opening Test of the season against Fiji. Continue reading