Monthly Archives: December 2011
The Second Cricket Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka took place at Kingsmead, Durban, it was supposed to run between 26 to 30 December 2011, but finished a day early.
This was the Live Discussion Article where we chatted about the match in progress and where the scores were updated regularly.
An era of unprecedented success – a ten-year period where they won five Currie Cup titles (one shared) and three Super Rugby crowns – now gives way to a time of rebuilding.
This is primarily (although not exclusively) due to the crippling effect of departures, mostly of senior players.
When I read this ‘oldish’ article I decided that our resident scrum gurus would love it. Here it is courtesy of the Rugby Site’s Waterboy, Brendon Ratcliffe.
This has nothing to do with rugby, but just another Christmas story. Typical bloke, always in the drink, feigning machinery problems so as to get out of the chores, and eternal girlfriend problems – although in this regard, he sorted that problem pretty quickly! Read on to find out how.
Our sport is more enjoyable to watch than it was in the olden times when I was young, but there are a few things about the modern game I would rather be without. (I read this and posted it, purely because of Lee Grants obvious hatred of our boys, which he mentions on several occasions. What are your thoughts?)
Defending Premiership champions Saracens showed their class on Tuesday with a 19-11 victory over league leaders Harlequins at a sold-out Twickenham.
Hello,
The video says it all really… it says I’ve grown older at a rate of knots (all your fault of course), it says my hair is thinning at the top… and above all it shows I need a rest.
To EVERYBODY who reads Rugby-Talk, who contributes, who blogs, who write Articles on Rugby-Talk and who make this community so special, hearty thanks for yet another year! It is our 3rd Christmas on Rugby-Talk already!
To all of you, if you’re driving a vehicle – do it safely, if you’ll be consuming alcohol – do it responsibly AND do not drive. To those going on holiday or spending some much needed time with family and friends and loved ones over the festive period, may it be a blessed time, a time of joy and celebration, and a time of reflection about what is really important in life.
OK, OK already… here’s the video…
Former French international fly-half Frederic Michalak, who currently plays for the Natal Sharks in Durban South Africa has verbally agreed to join Toulon on a three-year contract.
The Brumbies have been hit with financial issues after their naming rights sponsor Huawei withdrew from a four-year $4 million-plus sponsorship of the Super Rugby club.
Toulouse’s South Africa hooker Gary Botha broke his right leg in Friday’s French Top 14 win over Montpellier and will be ruled out for up to four months.
From left to right: Robbie Barnard; Piet Visagie; Johan Spies and Joggie Jansen
One of the brightest stints in the history of Springbok rugby was in 1970 and 1971. In 1970 South Africa of course won the 4 test series against Brain Lochore super All Black team at home. The 1971 international season started off with two tests at home against a French touring side. The Springboks won the first one on 12 June 1971 in Bloemfontein 22-9 and drew the second one 8 all on 19 June 1971 in Durban.
Former Chiefs Super Rugby Coach Ian Foster has been named as the new assistant coach of the All Blacks and former All Black great flyhalf Grant Fox has become a selector.
The Australian Rugby Union Friday have announced that assistant coach Jim Williams will leave his position after completing his contract term with the Wallabies.
The Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) have confirmed that the cities of Rosario and Mendoza will host Test matches in what will be a bumper home shedule of six games for the Pumas in 2012.
What a year of would-haves, could-haves, should-haves and, ultimately, bitter underachievement for the Springboks in a year when the All Blacks enjoyed the delicious irony of at last winning the World Cup despite being outplayed in the final. After 26 years of being the best team on the planet but failing to land the Webb Ellis Cup because of the wicked vagaries of death-or-glory rugby, the wheel finally turned for the Kiwis at the global showpiece.
It is just a few days till Christmas, or as the little ones would say, just 6 sleeps. I decided to once again do a Christmas Greetings video for all you muppits, moepels and mopkoppe, but also to keep it till a bit later to force you to come back and back to Rugby-Talk till I hit you with the clanger!
So, this is not your merry, merry, happy, happy article, but a precurser to the clanger.
The question is, what are you all up to for the holidays, what are your plans? Who are you happy about seeing over the festive season and who are you dreading to invite or see? Where are you going and when are you coming back from holiday?
Scotland’s most-capped player Chris Paterson has put an end to his 12-year international career, but won’t hang up his boots altogether and will continue playing for Edinburgh.
The Argentina Rugby Union have re-appointed Santiago Phelan on a two year contract after he led the team to the Rugby World Cup quarter finals.
Springbok centre Jaque Fourie has continued his rich form for Japanese side Panasonic Wild Knights, scoring tries and showing his class as the headline foreigner in the Top League this season.
England Rugby World Cup assistant coaches Mike Ford and John Wells have left the Rugby Football Union (RFU) with immediate effect.
The Irish Rugby Football Union has announced a change in the way they will manage Non-Irish qualified players from the 2013/2014 season.
Wales’s four major professional clubs have agreed to operate a salary cap from the start of next season despite seeing several leading players leave for lucrative deals with French teams.
While the All Blacks finish the year as the world champions, the ranks of the refereeing fraternity also boast something of a ‘winner’ with South African official Craig Joubert overseeing the 8-7 win over France.
A medical study claims protective skull caps like those worn by Rugby World Cup winner Victor Vito do nothing to protect against concussion.
SIX years ago, Oregan Hoskins took over the reins as South African Rugby Union (Saru) president, tasked with the huge responsibility of converting the organisation plagued by infighting and back-stabbing into a respectable and ethical body — and there is no doubt he has achieved that.
Former Australia coach Eddie Jones has been chosen to replace All Blacks legend John Kirwan as head coach of the Japan rugby team, media reports said Tuesday.
The threat to boycott the British & Irish Lions tour of 2013 was never put forward formally, but an official was warned in passing as it emerged that the powerful “home unions” of England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland would be broken for the first time.
Former All Black Rugby World Cup winger Jeff Wilson will join Pat Lam and Bryce Woodward as skills coach for the Blues in the 2012 Super Rugby season.
18 July 1956, Fraser Park, Timaru – Springboks 20 / 8 South-Canterbury & North-Otago & Mid-Canterbury Combined
Craven took a week off –resting at Mount Cook- and under instruction of assistant manager Dan de Villiers the Springbok intentions was to run the ball against a team not likely to front any stiff opposition.
A number of factors combined to derail the effort especially in the last quarter of the second half when the match turned into an extremely scrappy affair. These factors being injuries –before and during the match- poor refereeing, and a general sort of holiday or lack of real application attitude amongst the second stringers. Continue reading
This really isn’t a sporty story, no really it isn’t, but I couldn’t ignore it. What a player, what an achievement, and what a legend!
New Chiefs signing Sonny Bill Williams could play his last season of super Rugby in 2012 as he plans to return to playing Rugby League according to reports.
William Small-Smith and Craig Barry, who are both contracted to the Springbok Sevens team, have been included in a squad of 33 players for the South African Under-20 training camp in Stellenbosch in January.
The latest development in the rugby wheel is the evolution of the second row forward – the left lock or enforcer lock in particular. Traditionally a bulky, abrasive character, the enforcer lock does the donkey work in the tight-loose, bashes opposition forwards into submission and beefs up the set pieces.
The First Cricket Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka took place at Centurion Park near Pretoria, it was due to last 5 days (15 – 19 December 2011, but lasted less than 3 days.
This was the Live Discussion Article where we chatted about the match in progress and where the scores was be updated regularly.
Springbok flank Francois Louw has been praised by rugby legend Sir Ian McGeechan for his contribution for Bath over the past two months, and hailed “a Test match animal.”