Daily Archives: 20 December 2014

Dan Carter & Steve Tew

Dan Carter & Steve Tew

New Zealand and their All Blacks will lose a large number of experienced campaigners and key players after the 2015 Rugby World Cup, next year.

This was highlited due to the announcement this week by Dan Carter that he’ll be joining French Top 14 club Racing Metro after the Rugby World Cup next year, in England and Wales.

Carter, 32, signed a three-year deal with the Paris-based club which will basically mean the end of his All Black career.

However, Carter may not be the only one to leave New Zealand shores.

It appears that captain Richie McCaw, midfielders Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith, veteran front-rowers Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu, loose forwards Jerome Kaino and Liam Messam and even Ben Franks, Cory Jane and Charlie Faumuina could also be considering high-paying, late-career stints overseas.

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Liam Messam - the boxer

Liam Messam – the boxer

Fiery All Black loose forward Liam Messam will return to the growing ranks of Rugby Union players dabbling in boxing as a pre-season pastime.

Messam, known for his abrasive approach to the game, will be on the undercard when superstars Sonny Bill Williams and Quade Cooper headline the action at the inaugural Footy Show Fight Night in Sydney next month.

Rugby League star Paul Gallen and rising Australian boxer Willis Meehan will also feature in the 31 January event.

Messam’s last entry into the square ring was a points defeat to Gallen in December last year, after he had also beaten Wendell Sailor in 2011.

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Cricket BallSouth Africa and the West Indies battled each other in the 1st 5-Day Cricket Test at SuperSport Park, Centurion. The Test was supposed to run from 17 to 21 December 2014, but ended a day and a half early. Play was weather delayed on Day 1 due to a wet outfield, with the Test due to start at 10:30 SA Time (08:30 GMT). The delay was only 30 minutes and play started at 11:00 SA Time on Day 1. The weather was quite overcast in Centurion on Day 1.

The score cards were updated at regular intervals here on Rugby-Talk.com.

The West Indies won the toss and elected to bowl, to exploit the weather conditions.

The South Africans started fast and the first wicket only fell on 57 runs… but then 2 more wickets fell on the same score. At 57 / 3 Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers steadied the ship and batted the whole day, stringing up the runs till close of play on Day 1.

On Day 2 both AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla quickly went over 150 runs each, before AB de Villiers perished on 152. Hashim Amla reached a landmark 208 before being caught in the deep, right near the boundary markers. Stiaan van Zyl started nervously on debut… but then reached his 101 not out, when Captain Amla declared with the Proteas on 552 / 5, after 140.3 Overs. Quinton de Kock ended on 18 not out in the process.

During the Innings Break, Tea was also called… and then rain delayed play from resuming… and further play on Day 2 was eventually abandoned and Stumps was called very early after heavy rains had fallen in Centurion.

On Day 3 the Proteas dismissed the West Indies with ease in their First Innings, still 351 runs behind. The follow-on was enforced. At Stumps on Day 3 the West Indies were already reeling at 76 / 2.

On Day 4, the Proteas did not fool around, dismissing the rest of the West Indies batting lineup, only 3 balls into the 2nd Session of the day, for a measly 131. Dale Steyn took 6 wickets on Day 4 and South Africa easily wins with an Innings and 220 runs.

Seriously back to the drawing board for the West Indies, I suggest!

 

South Africa:

First Innings – 552 / 5 declared (140.3 Overs)

 

West Indies:

First Innings – 201 All Out (60.2 Overs)
Second Innings – 131 All Out (42.3 Overs)

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TrevisoEdinburghSam Hidalgo-Clyne showed his promise in an Edinburgh shirt from minute one as he scored his first Guinness PRO12 try for the club in a thumping 48-0 victory over Treviso.

The 21-year-old, who has featured predominantly off the bench for Edinburgh this season, went over inside a minute, with Mike Coman, WP Nel, Grayson Hart, Roddy Grant and Dave Denton also touching down in the bonus-point win.

Treviso finished the game with 14 men after Romulo Acosta was shown a straight Red Card for punching, while the result means they are still without a win in this season’s competition.

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Zane Kirchner

Zane Kirchner

Zane Kirchener’s late try at the RDS Arena made sure Leinster got revenge for their early season defeat to Connacht with a 21/11 win in the Guinness PRO12 last night.

Leinster – who were beaten 10-9 at the Sportsground on the opening day of the season – were in control from the off but struggled to kill off a spirited Connacht side who made the home team sweat.

The hosts went into the final stages ahead but a late try from George Naoupu moved the visitors to within three points, setting up a nervy finish.

But Kirchner showed quick thinking to steal in and dot down with moments left to ensure Leinster picked up their sixth win of the season.

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