It is Round 17 of Super Rugby 2015 this weekend.
There are 2 games on Friday 5 June and 5 games on Saturday 6 June.
The Cell C Sharks have a BYE weekend.
The action is kicked off by the Hurricanes and Highlanders who do battle in Napier at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT)
Thereafter and after a couple of hours break, also on Friday – the Western Force play the Brumbies in Perth at 13:00 SA Time ((19:00 AWST, 21:00 AEST, 23:00 NZ Time, 11:00 GMT)
Early on Saturday the Melbourne Rebels host the Vodacom Bulls in Melbourne at 07:30 SA Time (15:30 AEST, 17:30 NZ Time, 05:30 GMT). It is the Vodacom Bulls’ last game on tour.
Thereafter the Blues host the Crusaders in Auckland at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT), whereafter the Reds host the Chiefs in Brisbane at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 AEST, 21:40 NZ Time, 09:40 GMT).
In South Africa, the Toyota Cheetahs host the Waratahs in Bloemfontein at 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT, 23:00 AEST, Sunday 01:00 NZ Time). Thereafter the DHL Stormers host the Emirates Lions in Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT, Sunday 01:05 AEST, Sunday 03:05 NZ Time).
The Hurricanes vs Highlanders match should be a cracker, as these are the 2 teams who have already qualified for the Top 6, it is anybody’s guess who will be victorious in this doozie!
The Brumbies should be too much for the Western Force in Perth, as the Brumbies are aiming at Top spot in the Australian Conference, whilst the Force is already out of the race for the playoffs.
The Vodacom Bulls have one final chance on tour to come good against the Melbourne Rebels, and so keep their playoff aspirations alive, but the Bulls play predictable and stale rugby and they will have to get a bonus point, if they were to have any semblance of a chance at the playoffs and still some other teams would have to do them favours in order to reach the playoffs.
The Crusaders are also close to playoff contention and will attempt to put the Blues to the sword in Auckland and they might well achieve that feat.
In Brisbane, the Chiefs will attemp to ressurrect their season, after some poor form in the last few Rounds and thus qualify for the playoffs, whereas a resurgent Reds team will try to salvage some pride after a dismal season. My guess is that the Chiefs will get their needed win.
The Waratahs should put Franco Smith’s new team to the sword and earn their bonus point in Bloemfontein. My expectation is that the Cheetahs midfield will be brittle and let through a few of the tries on the day.
The last game of the weekend is one I am particularly looking forward to, where No 1 and No 2 in the SA Conference do battle in Cape Town. The Lions chances of making the playoffs are very, very slim and only really a mathematical consideration, but the men from Joburg play passionalte and intense rugby, if not somewhat “Run-at-all-costs” and naiive rugby, but they make for a grand spectacle and the Stormers defences will be tested all afternoon in Cape Town. The Stormers on the other hand can sow up the SA Conference and will go hell-for-leather at the Lions to achieve that. I predict a relatively good win for the Stormers.
With only 2 Rounds of action left before the Top 6 teams in Super Rugby start fighting it out for the grand prize, there is still a lot that happen before the final positions on the Log are secured.
What we do know is that the Hurricanes and Highlanders, opponents in Napier this weekend, have already booked their places in the Top 6 and that none of the Melbourne Rebels, Cell C Sharks, Reds, Toyota Cheetahs, Blues or Western Force can make the playoffs anymore.
But the DHL Stormers, Waratahs, Chiefs, Brumbies, Emirates Lions, Crusaders and Vodacom Bulls still have a lot to play for – the final 4 spots in the playoffs.
The Vodacom Bulls still have a mathematical chance of reaching the playoffs, which means their match against the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday is a must-win, preferably with a try-scoring bonus point. It would be their 1st win in Australia in almost 3 years.
The only local derby on the roster this weekend is in Cape Town, where the DHL Stormers can put an end to the Emirates Lions’ hopes of reaching the playoffs, while at the same time securing the South African Conference title for a 3rd time.
The Emirates Lions have never beaten the DHL Stormers at DHL Newlands – in fact, they’ve only won once in 12 encounters against the Capetonians and will have to be at their very best on Saturday afternoon to keep alive their slim chance of making the Top 6 for the 1st time ever.
The other match involving a South African team on SA soil is also on Saturday afternoon, when the Toyota Cheetahs will be playing under new coach Franco Smith for the 1st time, against the Waratahs in Bloemfontein. A 5th win over the New South Welshmen for the team from Central South Africa would have a big impact on the Australian Conference.
The Cell C Sharks have a BYE this weekend.
Willie le Roux
Springbok fullback Willie Le Roux has been included in the Cheetahs matchday 23 to face the Waratahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Le Roux was a standout omission from new coach Franco Smith’s team announced earlier in the week but has now been included by taking the place of outgoing utility back Joe Pietersen on the bench.
This is the 2nd late change from the initial team after Varsity Cup star Gerhard Olivier was brought in for a potential debut off the bench as he replaces Willie Britz.
Smith decided to add a further 3 Varsity Cup players – 2 of which in the starting 15 – to the matchday team as he looks to rebuild the struggling franchise following a lacklustre 2015 campaign.
No 8 Niell Jordaan and flyhalf Neil Marais will make their Super Rugby debuts in the Cheetahs final home game of the campaign with prop Elandré Hugget starting the match on the bench.
In the forwards, Burrie Uys moves off the bench in a swap with Danie Mienie, while Tinie Burger and Johannes Prinsloo switch positions at the side of the scrum. Jordaan replaces Henco Venter at No 8 as the latter takes his place among the replacements.
Marais will be partnered with Sarel Pretorius as the halfback pairing while Springbok flyer Cornal Hendricks replaces the injured Raymond Rhule at left wing while Ryno Benjamin moves off the bench to take his place at inside centre, replacing Michael van der Spuy while Coenie van Wyk replaces Clayton Blommetjies, who misses the match altogether, at fullback.
Jerry Collins and his partner Alana tragically died in a car crash this morning… R.I.P.
Hurricanes and All Blacks legend Jerry Collins and his partner Alana Madill have tragically passed away following a car accident in France on Friday morning.
The duo were Beziers when their car was apparently struck by a bus.
The couple sadly passed away while their three-month-old daughter was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Collins joined Wellington in 1999, earning 85 Super Rugby caps and first receiving a call-up to the All Blacks in 2001. He went on to play 48 Tests before retiring after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
He subsequently joined French club Toulon and Ospreys in Wales before a stint in Japan.
He was 34 years of age.
Tributes have started flowing in from around the rugby world and a moment’s silence will be observed before kick-off between the Hurricanes and Highlanders in Napier on Friday evening.
Force (21) 33 / 20 (6) Brumbies
The Western Force and Brumbies did battle in Super Rugby at
nib Stadium, Perth at 13:00 SA Time (19:00 AWST, 21:00 AEST, 11:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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The new ASICS-designed and manufactured Springbok jersey for the Rugby World Cup was launched at a glittering event in Cape Town on Thursday, with the 100 day mark to the start of the global showpiece fast approaching.
The launch of the iconic jersey is the culmination of months of hard work by scientists at the ASICS Institute of Sport Science in Kobe, Japan, in collaboration with the South African Rugby Union (SARU).
Jean de Villiers, Tendai Mtawarira, Eben Etzebeth, Bismarck du Plessis, Duane Vermeulen, Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks and Pat Lambie took part in an extensive testing programme in Japan to fine tune the final product. They were accompanied by Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer and other members of the management team.
The main aims in the design of the Springboks’ apparel were to reduce weight without compromising on strength. The jersey for the 2015 Rugby World Cup will be the lightest ever worn by South Africa, at 70 grams lighter than any previous jersey.
It also has smooth surface making it harder than ever before to keep hold of in the tackle, while an area which has seen significant development after player insight is the Super-Grip silicone which features on the chest of the jersey.
Heyneke Meyer
There is a method to the apparent ‘madness’ of Heyneke Meyer’s approach to the Springboks’ 2015 World Cup campaign.
Spending some time with the Bok mentor at a training camp in Cape Town this week, it became abundantly clear just how much preparation has already gone into South Africa’s campaign.
In fact the Bok coach even investigated the hotel beds the players will encounter during their stay in England in September and October – prompting media banter that the ‘Bok coach is sleeping on the job’.
However, even the massive 40-odd players at the 2 training camps – in Johannesburg last month and Cape Town this week – are part of a carefully orchestrated plan to ensure the Boks have the best possible chance of becoming the 1st country to win the Webb Ellis Cup for a 3rd time.
Meyer said the large squads are all part of his long-term plan, with a lot of the younger players that he can take forward.
Alwyn Hollenbach
Emirates Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has named his side to face the DHL Stormers at Newlands Stadium on Saturday.
Ackermann has opted for consistency for the clash, making just 2 forced changes to the Emirates Lions match day 23.
In the midfield, Alwyn Hollenbach will start at inside centre after Lionel Mapoe was unable to pass a late fitness test following a knock to his knee during last weekend’s win over the Waratahs. As a result, Harold Vorster will shift to outside centre for the match.
On the bench, Howard Mnisi will come in for Stokkies Hanekom, who also sustained a minor knee injury in last weekend’s game.
Damian de Allende
DHL Stormers and Springbok centre Damian de Allende will also play rugby in Japan later this year.
Good news for Stormers fans though is that the 23-year-old will return to play Super Rugby for the Cape franchise next year – as is the case with many South African Super Rugby players plying their trade in Japan.
It’s still unsure what team De Allende would be joining but the possibility exists that he could join Stormers coach Allister Coetzee at the Kobe Kobelco Steelers.
Derick Hougaard
Brain scans done on Derick Hougaard have revealed good news for the former Springbok and Bulls flyhalf.
The former star No 10 underwent tests in a Johannesburg hospital last week after he complained he was forgetting things, as well as suffering from headaches.
He quipped more tests were done on him than “Richie McCaw played Tests for the All Blacks”.
“Luckily, it was all good news. It showed there was minor damage and confirmed I have problems with my short-term memory, but in time it could recover 100%,” said Hougaard.
A young Canterbury club player has been banned from all rugby for 2 years for possessing a human growth hormone.
Finn Hart-Strawbridge pleaded guilty to possessing the drug, GHRP-6, in a case heard by New Zealand Rugby’s Judicial Committee. .
The peptide stimulates the production of human growth hormone and has been found in nutritional supplements.
A 5mg vial of the peptide that the Canterbury Under 19 had in his possession was seized by NZ Customs in October last year.
The substance is prohibited in and out of competition under World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby Anti-Doping Regulations. Hart-Strawbridge said he had ordered the peptide online as a “joke” after reading a series of articles in the New Zealand Herald last year about a reporter who experimented with the drug.
He told the committee he didn’t realise that importing the substance breached the regulations and quickly realised he had made a mistake after attending a DFSNZ education seminar.
Hurricanes (30) 56 / 20 (13) Highlanders (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Highlanders did battle in Super Rugby at
McLean Park, Napier at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
SANZAR has announced the names of the Match Officials for Round 17 of the 2015 Super Rugby season.
This weekend sees 7 matches in Super Rugby.
The Cell C Sharks have a BYE Weekend.
The weekend’s action is kicked off by Jaco Peyper in the Friday match between the Hurricanes vs Highlanders in Napier at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT), whereafter we have a little break before the Western Force host the Brumbies in Perth at 13:00 SA Time (19:00 AWST, 21:00 AEST, 23:00 NZ Time, 11:00 GMT), where Angus Gardner will officiate the game.
On Saturday the action starts earlier than normal when the Melbourne Rebels host the Vodacom Bulls in Melbourne at 07:30 SA Time (15:30 AEST, 17:30 NZ Time, 05:30 GMT), with Nick Briant the referee. We then go back accross the pond to New Zealand where the Blues play the Crusaders in Auckland at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT) and where Chris Pollock will be in charge of the whistle. Once again we cross the Tasman, back to Australia, where the Reds host the Chiefs in Brisbane where Mike Fraser wields the power, at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 AEST, 21:40 NZ Time, 09:40 GMT).
Over to South Africa and we have 2 matches on SA soil for the Round, first the Toyota Cheetahs play the Waratahs in Bloemfontein at 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT, 23:00 AEST, Sunday 01:00 NZ Time), with Glen Jackson in charge.
The last match of the Round takes place in Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT, Sunday 01:05 AEST, Sunday 03:05 NZ Time) when the DHL Stormers host the Emirates Lions and with Stuart Berry as referee.
Hello fellas & flatties,
This Pool was opened POST HASTE, as I nearly forgot to do it.
Here are the details of our latest SuperBru Pool, but I’ve left it rather late, so please hurry joining up and doing your first picks, the TOURNAMENT starts TODAY!
Pool Name: Rugby-Talk JWC 2015
Pool Code: examrags
Remember, as per usual, the Pool is open to all REGISTERED Rugby-Talkers, so if you are not subscribed yet, do so and enjoy the Pool with us!
But grant me the opportunity to also explain why you need to do it quickly and at the same time excuse my oversight for only doing it now… let me tell you the story!
Hi rugby friends,
Quite a landmark was hit somewhere today… we went over 15 Million Page Impressions!!!
I never thought, 5 years, 9 months and 20 days ago that Rugby-Talk.com would develop into the beast it has become, not in my wildest dreams!
As of writing this newsletter, we stand on 15 001 740 Page Impressions (since measurement started on 31 October 2009), with 12 520 News Articles PLUS 242 other live Pages and 409 195 Comments. It is a fenominal feat, I am totally gobsmacked feel like jumping over the moon about it.
It takes hard work and dedication and a very real love for Rugby Union to keep the portal going and it takes a loyal en fervent readership, who also love the sport to make it the success it has been for a long time and will continue to be long into the future.
To every author, contributor, user and reader of Rugby-Talk.com, a sincere word of thanks and appreciation, it is deeply felt!
Keep reading, keep commenting and keep supporting not only this website, but the sport we enjoy so much.
Schalk Burger
The DHL Stormers have announced just 3 changes to their starting line-up, with 2 new faces on the bench, for Saturday’s all-South African Super Rugby meeting with the Emirates Lions at DHL Newlands (Kick-Off 17:05 SA Time).
The DHL Stormers can secure a 3rd South African Conference title with a victory against the in-form Lions and the return of Schalk Burger, from a week’s rest – as per the SA Rugby rest agreement with the SA Franchises, will boost the home side significantly.
Duane Vermeulen
Duane Vermeulen’s reported move to France appears all the more likely after the Springbok and Stormers No 8 rejected a contract offer from the South African Rugby Union (SARU).
Vermeulen would have been the highest earning Springbok had he accepted SARU’s offer.
His decision to reject the offer from SARU adds fire to reports earlier this year that linked him with a move to French club Toulon.
Andries Bekker
Andries Bekker’s Springbok future appears to be in the hands of his Japanese club, the Kobelco Steelers.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer on Tuesday had a 1-on-1 with the tall lock to gauge his interest in and suitability to returning to green-and-gold duty this year.
Bekker, 31, had made himself unavailable for Springbok selection when he moved to Japan in 2013.
The Junior Springboks came through with a clean bill of health on Wednesday after completing their post-match medical and conditioning examinations following their 33 / 5 win over hosts Italy on Tuesday at the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Calvisano.
Apart from a few bumps and bruises, the match squad who did duty against the Italians completed the game without injury. Lock RG Snyman (pictured), however, suffered a cut above the eyebrow in the 1st half and played on after receiving the necessary medical attention.
On Wednesday the Junior Boks had recovery sessions, which included a gym session for the non-playing squad members and the customary massages for those who were in action in the opening match. Later on the squad analysed their performance in a lengthy video session.
Hawies Fourie
Andre Markgraaff
Hawies Fourie has been appointed as the new head coach of Maties, Stellenbosch University’s 1st rugby team. Fourie will start in his new role on 1 November this year.
He is the current head coach of GWK Griquas and also served as backline coach to the Toyota Cheetahs in Super Rugby.
Fourie will replace Chris Rossouw as head coach, with the latter remaining part of the coaching team.
After winning the 1st 3 editions of the Varsity Cup (2008, 2009 and 2010), Maties have struggled to stamp their authority on the competition in recent years, and Fourie’s job will be to make them a powerhouse once more.
Former Springbok coach Andre Markgraaff has been appointed in an advisory capacity at the Maties Rugby Club. Part of Markgraaff’s roles will be to look after coaching, player development and recruitment.
Warren Whiteley
Loose forward Warren Whiteley says there’s plenty of excitement in the Springbok squad following the team’s training camp in Cape Town.
The national squad gathered here this week for their 2nd training camp of the year.
While there were plenty of familiar faces running through the drills, head coach Heyneke Meyer called up several new players, who have shown great form during Super Rugby this season.
Whiteley, who made his Test debut for South Africa last year, enjoyed the experience.
“It’s always a massive honour and great experience being part of the national squad,” Whiteley said.
“One gets to catch up with the guys after months of Super Rugby, and start the preparations for what will be an exciting year ahead, including The Rugby Championship and World Cup.
“The World Cup is a massive occasion, which every player wants to be part of. So you can imagine the excitement among the players, especially guys like Cheslin Kolbe and Faf de Klerk, who have shown great form this season and I’m glad they’ve received reward for their hard work.
Niel Marais
New Yoyota Cheetahs head coach, Franco Smith, has named his team to tackle the Waratahs in a Super Rugby clash in Bloemfontein on Saturday (15:00 SA Time).
It will be Smith’s 1st game in charge following the departure of Naka Drotske.
Smith has made several changes to the team that lost 42 / 12 to the DHL Stormers at Newlands last weekend.
In the backline, Niel Marais replaces Joe Pietersen at flyhalf. Marais was a star player for Shimlas in this year’s Varsity Cup, which they won under the coaching tutelage of Smith.
Sarel Pretorius is also back at scrumhalf, while Cornal Hendricks will start on the left wing, replacing Raymond Rhule who has a knee injury.
Rayno Benjamin also moves up from the bench, replacing Michael van der Spuy to start at inside centre this week, while Coenie van Wyk replaces Clayton Blommetjies at fullback.
Up front, BG Uys starts at loosehead prop, with Danie Mienie moving to the bench, while Tienie Burger and Boom Prinsloo swap places in the loose trio.
Francois Hougaard
Both Francois Hougaard and Willie Le Roux have concluded deals with the same Japanes team, the Canon Eagles.
The club announced on Wednesday the pair had been signed for the coming season at the Japanese club, but both are set to return to play in Vodacom Super Rugby next season.
While Hougaard is still negotiating a return to Loftus – he has 3 offers from Europe, including English clubs Leceister Tigers and Exeter Chiefs – he will be a massive signing for the Japanese club with his versatility to play either at scrumhalf or wing.
The duo will be able to continue their Springbok partnership although the 2 foreigner rule in Japanese rugby may see both playing a lot less than they would in South Africa.
The Eagles have just said goodbye to their 2 foreign players – flanker Adam Thomson and Callum Bruce – and have signed the duo to replace them.
Hougaard told the club in typically public-relations friendly quotes he was happy to be joining their ranks.
Willie le Roux
Cornal Hendricks
With the player transfer window in South Africa looming large from 1 July, there is a lot of movement already in player signings.
Willie le Roux has opted not to renew with the Cheetahs and will in stead go to Japan for the remainder of the year after Super Rugby and International committments, whereafter he will return to South Africa but join the Cell C Sharks for the 2016 Super Rugby season.
Cornal Hendricks has also asked for permission to start negotiating with other interested parties, although the transfer window for negotiations will only be open from 1 July.
But the Cheetahs are not the only Franchise hit hard, at the Bulls, Francois Hougaard has signed in Japan for the Canon Eagles, the same Club which Willie le Roux has signed for and has not re-committed to the Bulls for Super Rugby in 2016.
Also at the Bulls, William Small-Smith has requested permission to also start early negotiations with 3rd parties, earlier than the 1 July Transfer Window’s opening.
Adriaan Strauss
Handré Pollard
Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made 7 changes to his starting team to face the Melbourne Rebels in a Super Rugby clash in Melbourne on Saturday. There are 3 changes in the backline that faced the Brumbies last weekend and 4 in the pack.
Jesse Kriel, Travis Ismaiel and Jacques-Louis Potgieter all move into starting positions off the bench, replacing Jurgen Visser, Bjorn Basson and Handré Pollard respectively. Visser and Basson will play off the bench, but Pollard will be rested for this clash.
Instead, Tian Schoeman, who joined the touring party on Tuesday, will be the back-up flyhalf on the bench.
In the pack, injured Deon Stegmann is replaced by Lappies Labuschagne, with Grant Hattingh moving to the bench to make way for Victor Matfield. The veteran lock will play in his 148th match at this level. In a straight swop, Jacques du Plessis starts at No 7 and Arno Botha moves to the bench.
Adriaan Strauss was only not considered due to the resting agreement with SARU, resulting in Callie Visagie running onto the field for his 50th match for the Vodacom Bulls in the No 2 jersey. Jaco Visagie will be on the bench.
According to Ludeke this is do or die for the team.
Italy (5) 5 / 33 (21) Springboks (Final Score)
Italy Under 20 and South Africa Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Chamionship at Stadio San Michele, Calvisano, Italy at 20:30 SA Time (20:30 Italy Time, 18:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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It was a weekend of Super Rugby 1ts and doubles as the DHL Stormers consolidated their place at the Top of the South African Conference, while the Emirates Lions and Cell C Sharks both got one over their Australian opponents.
The weekend started on a false note for the Vodacom Bulls on Friday though, as they came up short by 22 / 16 in their 3rd tour match, in Canberra against the Brumbies.
The Cell C Sharks won their 2nd consecutive match against Aussie opposition when they beat the Melbourne Rebels by 25 / 21 in Durban on Friday evening. It was the KwaZulu-Natalians’ 4th win over the side from Melbourne, who is still winless after 5 seasons of coming to South Africa.
Saturday’s derby in Cape Town between the DHL Stormers and Toyota Cheetahs ended in a rather one-sided 42 / 12 win for the home team as the visitors from Bloemfontein bid farewell to their coach, Naka Drotské, after 8 seasons and 118 matches in charge of the men from Central South Africa.
Only 3 coaches – Frans Ludeke of the Cats and Vodacom Bulls, Ewen McKenzie (Waratahs, Reds) Robbie Deans (Crusaders) coached in more matches than Drotské, who guided the Toyota Cheetahs to a spot in the Top 6, 2 seasons ago.
The final match of the weekend was a real humdinger as the Emirates Lions got their 1st-ever win as a franchise over the defending champion Waratahs, by 27 / 22 in Johannesburg, their 9th victory of the season.
No fewer than 6 players – 2 South Africans and 4 Aussies – scored a brace of tries this weekend. They are Seabelo Senatla (DHL Stormers), Ruan Combrinck (Emirates Lions), Henry Speight (Brumbies), Scott Higginbotham (Rebels), Quade Cooper (Reds) and Lachie Turner (Reds).
Blitzbok star Senatla scored his 1st try at Super Rugby level, as did his DHL Stormers team-mate Vincent Koch and Heimar Williams from the Cell C Sharks.
Laurie Weeks
Melbourne Rebels prop Laurie Weeks has been suspended for 3 weeks after he was found guilty for punching Cell C Sharks prop Jannie du Plessis in their Round 16 encounter.
The sanction means that Weeks will play no further part in this year’s competion as his team only has 2 games left.
Weeks was found guilty under Law 10.4 (a): Punching or striking, after he was sent off during a Super Rugby match at the weekend.
The incident occurred in the 29th minute of the match with footage showing Weekes throwing a flurry of punches to Du Plessis’ head.
Weeks has been suspended from all forms of the game for 3 weeks up to and including 20 June 2015.
Willie le Roux
It was announced yesterday that Willie le Roux has signed for the Cell C Sharks for the 2016 season of Super Rugby, after agreeing to a deal that the Cheetahs were reportedly unable to match. Le Roux will play a short stint in Japan after the World Cup but will join the Sharks after.
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A new Vodacom Cup champion was crowned in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon when the Steval Pumas lifted the coveted trophy for the 1st time ever. The Lowvelders, coached by former Springbok Sevens player MJ Mentz, became the 8th team to win this competition since its inception in 1998.
The Steval Pumas completed a remarkable run in their 3 playoff matches – they beat the Vodacom Cup champions of 2012, 2013 and 2014 on 3 consecutive weekends away from home.
On Saturday, they upset the odds yet again by beating DHL Western Province, the only unbeaten team left in the competition, in the final. The scoreline of 24 / 7 suggests it was a walk in the park for the Steval Pumas, but they had to dig deep and showed the value of playing knock-out rugby with experienced players.
And as they did in the semi-final last weekend, big lock Rudi Mathee scored a try for the visitors and livewire flanker Marnus Schoeman added a brace of 5-pointers.
Although he could only add 4 points to his overall tally, Steval Pumas flyhalf JC Roos finished the season as the top points scorer with 115 – the only player in 2015 to surpass 100 competition points – while SWD Eagles speedster Alshaun Bock scored the most tries, with 8.
Schoeman, courtesy of his 4 tries in the last 2 matches, ended 2nd on the list of try scorers with 7, while DHL WP’s Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Kefentse Mahlo of the Vodacom Blue Bulls, Martin Sithole of the Down Touch Griffons and the Hino Valke duo of Riaan Arends and Anrich Richter all scored 6 tries.
Hanro Liebenberg
Junior Springbok coach Dawie Theron stuck mainly to the combinations that earned him a 2 – 0 series win in Argentina as he announced his team to start against Italy on Tuesday.
No 8 Hanro Liebenberg will lead out a Junior Springbok match-23 sprinkled with several players who also took part in last year’s event in New Zealand, where they lost by a single point against defending champions England.
Sharks prop Thomas du Toit will anchor the scrum and is 1 of the players that will participate in his 2nd successive tournament, as well as lock Abongile Nonkontwana (Blue Bulls) and Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks). Another survivor from last year, Joseph Dweba (hooker, Cheetahs), will play off the bench.
Theron opted for a strong forward pack while the backline has a settled look.
Warrick Gelant is also returning for his 2nd tournament in a row and the Springbok Sevens international starts in the No 15 jersey. Much is expected of the centre pairing of JT Jackson (Blue Bulls) and Daniel du Plessis (Western Province), in particular.
Laurie Weeks
Melbourne Rebel prop Laurie Weeks is facing a lengthy ban in the wake of his brain explosion against the Cell C Sharks at the weekend.
Weeks was handed a Red Card in his team’s 21 / 25 loss to the Sharks in Durban on Friday.
The Rebels prop launched a flurry of punches on Sharks rival Jannie du Plessis, after the latter had slapped him with an open hand against the back of the head.
Du Plessis was Yellow-Carded for his part in the ensuing fracas, which happened just short of the half-hour mark, while Weeks was shown a Red Card for landing about 10 punches on various parts of Du Plessis’ head.
Weeks will be have to appear before a judicial officer and will be charged with having contravened Law 10.4 (a): Punching or striking.
Rob Horne
The SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Adam Casselden has accepted a guilty plea from Rob Horne of the Waratahs for contravening Law 10.4 (j) Lifting Tackle, after he was cited following a Super Rugby match at the weekend.
Horne has been suspended from all forms of the game for 3 weeks up to and including Saturday 20 June 2015.
The incident occurred in the 27th minute of the Super Rugby match between the Emirates Lions and Waratahs at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on 30 May 2015.
SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Adam Casselden assessed the case.
Sam Carter
The Brumbies’ Sam Carter’s Super Rugby season is over and his Rugby World Cup dream is in doubt after suffering a grade 3 medial injury in Friday night’s clash against the Vodacom Bulls.
“It’s a significant tear in the medial ligament and he’s got a fracture where the bones banged together on impact, so up to 3 months with that one,” Brumbies’ head coach Stephen Larkham said.
“We knew it was bad, the fact he couldn’t play on was pretty telling and then you look at the replay and you can see it was a significant injury.
“We were hoping for good and the good news we were hoping for was 6 weeks anyway.
The Highlanders picked apart a poor Chiefs side with a convincing 36 / 9 victory down at Rugby Park, Invercargill, in Southland.
Tries from in-form wingers Patrick Osborne and Waisake Naholo either side of halftime and late efforts from Richard Buckman and Ben Smith ensured they took away maximum points, as Lima Sopoaga punished the Chiefs with the boot.
Victory means the Highlanders strengthen their position in the wildcard spots for now with a 10th win of the season, a franchise Super Rugby record.
They were once again inspired by a moment of magic from Naholo, whose future now seems set to be in New Zealand rather than with Clermont in France. His 9th try of the season moves him within 1 of Jeff Wilson’s Highlanders record of 10 in a campaign.
For maybe the 1st time this season the number of Chiefs absentees through injury really shone through, with no Brodie Retallick, Liam Messam, Aaron Cruden, Sonny Bill Williams or James Lowe to call upon.
There were simply too many errors from the Chiefs for them to be truly competitive with a high number of missed tackles and handling errors.
This was accentuated by the aggression from the Highlanders at the breakdown, as they constantly forced errors out of their opponents.