Daily Archives: 6 November 2014
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer on Wednesday named the same starting line-up that beat New Zealand a month ago to face Ireland in the opening Test of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour on Dublin on Saturday.
The only change to the match-day squad is at replacement prop, where the injured Marcel van der Merwe is replaced by Coenie Oosthuizen.
“Although Julian Redelinghuys was also considered, he’s still new in the team and not familiar with our patterns of play and especially the line-out calls, while Coenie knows the way we play well,” said Meyer.
“Coenie is also in great shape and we know what he can do, especially if he has to make an impact off the bench. It’s good to have him back.”
Fijian-born winger Semesa Rokoduguni was named in the England team on Thursday and will make his international debut in Saturday’s test against New Zealand at Twickenham.
Kyle Eastmond and Brad Barritt form a new-look centre partnership, while Dave Attwood replaces the injured Joe Launchbury in the second row after returning to the squad following the birth of his first child.
“I am delighted for Roko,” England coach Stuart Lancaster said on the RFU website of the 27-year-old soldier.
“Wing is an extremely competitive position but he has pushed himself forward with his form this season and it’s great to be able to give him this opportunity.”
Sonny Bill Williams and Aaron Cruden have been reunited, this time in the New Zealand team to play Sonny Bill Williams England at Twickenham on Saturday.
The former Chiefs teammates are the major selection decisions made by All Black coach Steve Hansen, who named an extremely experienced team for the second match on their year-end tour.
As expected there are a number of changes, after Hansen gave the less experienced squad members an opportunity against the United States last week – with 13 of the squad from that matchday 23 boosted by the return of some experienced players.
The matchday squad that takes the field against England has 1,029 Test caps between them and an average age of 27 years.
No 8 Kieran Read, flyhalf Cruden, inside centre Williams and fullback Israel Dagg retain their starting spots from the US Test.
Two reserves, lock Brodie Retallick and wing Julian Savea, are back in the starting XV.
Flying Fijians coach John McKee named a powerful side to take on France in their first Test match for the November tour, when the two sides meet in Marseille on Saturday.
McKee said they selected the strongest team possible and that the players understand the challenge ahead.
“The forward pack from the June Tests is boosted by the addition of Masi Matadigo, who has been in very good form for Lyon in France Top 14.”
“Lepani Botia comes in at inside centre he is also playing Top 14 and can mix the direct game with the passing game. Nemani Nadolo has only joined the team this week due to some injury issues delaying his arrival. Expect him to have big impact when he enters the game from the reserves.
“For the players they understand the challenge ahead. The important thing for us is to have very good knowledge of our game plan and be able to stick to it under immense pressure.
Centre Juan Martin Hernandez, who as flyhalf steered Argentina to third place at 2007 World Cup, is set to win his 50th Pumas cap against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Hernandez will again be at inside centre in a team with five changes from the side that gave Argentina their maiden southern hemisphere Rugby Championship victory, 21-17 over Australia in Mendoza a month ago.
Coach Daniel Hourcade has made two changes in the backs and three in the forwards having been deprived of several players through injury or illness.
Marcelo Bosch returns to partner Hernandez in midfield after being rested against the Wallabies and Manuel Montero comes in for Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino on the left wing.
Phil Davies
Two former Welsh internationals have been drafted into the Namibian backroom staff as support on their Northern Hemisphere tour.
Former Welsh captain Phil Davies has been appointed as a technical advisor with Wayne Proctor being brought in as a strength and condition consultant.
The pair recently visited Windhoek where they assisted Namibia in their preparations for the international against Germany.
South African referees Craig Joubert, Stuart Berry and Jaco Peyper will be on international duty this weekend as the northern hemisphere rugby season takes centre stage.
Joubert, who took charge of the Currie Cup final two weekends ago as well as the USA v All Blacks Test last weekend, will officiate the Test between Wales and Australia at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, with Peyper serving as an assistant referee, while Berry has been tasked with refereeing the clash between Canada and Namibia at Parc Eiras Stadium in Wales on Friday.
Frenchman Romain Poite will referee the Test between Ireland and the Springboks in Dublin on Saturday.
Laurent Labit
Racing Metro backline coach Laurent Labit has been handed a 15-week ban for his disparaging comments against the referee in his side’s loss against Stade Francais.
Labit will be banned from all access to grounds, dressing-rooms and entry areas in all Top 14 and European Cup games up until February 15, the French Rugby League Union announced.
Racing Metro were also hit with a 50,000 euros fine for his words which were seen as tainting the reputation and integrity of South African referee Jacob van Heerden.
Sports medicine experts, school heads and sports administrators are hailing a breakthrough week in their battle against school pupils using steroids and illegal performance enhancing drugs after Parliament discussed key draft amendments that will pave the way for improved testing and sanctions.
Representatives from the Basic Education Department joined forces with the Department of Sport and Recreation to brief Parliament on draft changes to the South African Schools Act that will facilitate random drug testing at schools, with recommended sanctions for those caught using steroids and banned stimulants.
South Africa will become the first country in the world where random steroids testing of minors in schools is allowed.
“These proposed changes to the current legislation are essential,” said Glen Hagemann, the director of the Discovery SharkSmart program that has driven a strong anti-steroid message into its 23 partner high schools in KwaZulu-Natal for more than a decade, under the mantra ‘Play Safe Play Fair’.
Saracens have named a powerful 23-man squad for the north-south clash against Western Province at Allianz Park on Sunday.
Alistair Hargreaves will lead the side, as Saracens face the recently crowned South African Currie Cup champions.
“Western Province are one of the strongest sides in South Africa, and we’re really looking forward to the challenge,” Sarries Director of Rugby Mark McCall said.
“We will field our strongest possible side.”
The Eastern Province Kings have announced their pre-season training squad following their return to training after a lackluster 2014 Currie Cup campaign.
They have managed to retain a number of their current senior players, as well as seeing numerous younger players making the step-up from the junior competitions.
EP Rugby CEO, Charl Crous, said he was positive about the season ahead.
South African-born fullback Scott Spedding will make his international debut when he runs out for France against Fiji in Marseille on Saturday.
The Bayonne player represented South Africa Under-21 in the 2006 World Championship and will be joined by fellow South African Rory Kockott, who starts the match on the bench.
The 28-year-old, who joined Bayonne from Brive in 2012, was brought into the squad on Wednesday for the November Test series by coach Philippe Saint-Andre following an injury to first-choice fullback Brice Dulin.
Sean McMahon
Melbourne Rebels flanker Sean McMahon will make his senior Australia debut against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
The 20-year- old replaces injured Scott Fardy and is one of two changes to the side that lost 29-28 to New Zealand in October.
Number 8, Ben McCalman, takes over from Scott Higginbotham, who is also sidelined through injury.
Quade Cooper and Will Genia are among the replacements after starting in the win over Barbarians at Twickenham.
McMahon featured in the Baa-baas game and has been rewarded for a strong performance with a starting place against Wales.
The Ireland Coaching team have selected a strong side to face the Springboks at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday for the first game of the 2014 Guinness Series.
There is one new cap in the match day 23, with Ulster’s Jared Payne set to make his debut alongside Robbie Henshaw in an exciting new centre partnership.
Paul O’Connell captains the side and is joined in the engine room by Devin Toner. The backrow is made up of Jamie Heaslip, Chris Henry and Peter O’Mahony while the front row sees Jack McGrath and Mike Ross pack down either side of their provincial teammate Sean Cronin.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton are re-united at half-back and Tommy Bowe returns to the back three for the first time since last year’s Guinness Series and lines out alongside Simon Zebo and Rob Kearney.
Jonny and big brother Richie Gray
Second-row brothers Richie and Jonny Gray will play their first international game of rugby together this Saturday, following their selection to start for Scotland against Argentina at BT Murrayfield Stadium (8 November, kick-off 17:30 BST & GMT, 19:30 SA Time).
Selection represents a second start for the younger Gray, 20, who will make his sixth appearance for his country alongside his 39-times capped, 25-year-old, British & Irish Lions sibling.
Gray is not the only promising young player to earn the right to start the nation’s opening viagogo Autumn Test, with 21-year-old Glasgow Warriors Mark Bennett and Adam Ashe set to make their first and second appearances at outside-centre and number 8 respectively.
An exciting package of pace and guile, Bennett – a product of St Joseph’s Academy in Kilmarnock, Cumnock RFC and Ayr RFC – has been in fine form for the Warriors and Scotland 7s this year, and will be Scotland’s 1062nd capped internationalist when he crosses the paint for his debut at BT Murrayfeld.