Daily Archives: 23 April 2015
All eyes will be on Diamantveld High School in Kimberley on Saturday afternoon when the only 2 unbeaten teams left in the South Section of the Vodacom Cup clash in a replay of the 2012 final.
GWK Griquas, the defending champions, host DHL Western Province in a highly-anticipated clash at Diamantveld.
Both these sides are unbeaten after 4 matches and their performances have been very similar thus far, with a points’ difference of 69 for the visitors from Cape Town and 70 for the home team. DHL Western Province top the South Section log on 19 points though, with GWK Griquas 2nd on 18.
The high-flying SWD Eagles will be looking for their 1st away win of the season after already beating the Cell C Sharks XV and Toyota Free State XV in George, when they travel up the N2 to take on the EP Kings at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Meanwhile, the Cell C Sharks XV, at home in Empangeni to the Boland Cavaliers on Saturday afternoon, will be looking to reverse a 3-match losing streak when they travel north up the coast.
In the North Section, the Xerox Golden Lions will retake the lead at the top of the standings if they can beat the Leopards XV at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon.
Current log leaders, the Vodacom Blue Bulls, have a BYE and can slip back to 3rd position if the Steval Pumas record a convincing victory over the Hino Valke at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday evening.
This week, we’re looking at former SA Under 20 speedster Sergeal Petersen, who is now with the Toyota Free State XV, after making his mark for the EP Kings. We also look at Xerox Golden Lions loose forward Ruaan Lerm.
Piet van Zyl
Jan Serfontein
Springbok halfback Piet van Zyl will earn a 3rd start for the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday when the Pretoria franchise play the DHL Stormers in Cape Town in a crucial Vodacom Super Rugby clash.
Van Zyl, who started against the coastal side in the season’s opener in February, comes in for injured Rudy Paige, while coach Frans Ludeke added another Springbok, midfielder Jan Serfontein, to his starting team at DHL Newlands.
The incumbent Springbok centre is fit again after a hip flexor injury and will start in place of Burger Odendaal, who deputised for Serfontein the last 4 Rounds.
The rest of the match day squad is the same one which conquered the Cell C Sharks in Durban last weekend, bar Akona Ndungane, who will take up Van Zyl’s spot on the bench.
The centurion winger will make a 1st appearance in this year’s competition if called into action from the bench. He earned his last and 108th cap in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition in the final pool match of the 2014 competition against the same opponent and at the same venue.
Ludeke is well aware of the massive challenge that awaits his side against the Stormers, who are just 2 points behind the Vodacom Bulls on the Combined Log and South African Conference Points Log.
Duane Vermeulen
Springbok No 8 Duane Vermeulen returns to lead the DHL Stormers in Saturday’s tantalising derby clash against the Vodacom Bulls, at DHL Newlands, Cape Town.
Vermeulen missed the final 2 weeks of the Stormers’ Super Rugby tour as part of the SA franchises’ rest agreement with SA Rugby, but his return marks 1 of 4 changes to the starting line-up that defeated the Western Force in Perth last Saturday.
2 Of the 4 changes are injury enforced, with Johnny Kotze and Pat Howard replacing the injured wing duo of Kobus van Wyk (knee – 6 weeks) and Dillyn Leyds (shoulder – 1 week), respectively. Howard will make his Super Rugby debut, with Kotze set to win his 6th cap.
Nizaam Carr moves to the bench to make way for Vermeulen’s expected return to action, whilst the 4th and final change sees Nic Groom take over at scrumhalf from Louis Schreuder, who, like Carr, reverts to the bench.
Joining Carr and Schreuder amongst the replacements is prop Oli Kebble, with Alistair Vermaak and Sikhumbuzo Notshe out of the matchday 23 and back to doing duty for the Western Province Vodacom Cup team this weekend.
Emirates Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has announced his team for Saturday’s clash against the Toyota Cheetahs at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg.
Ackermann has made just 3 changes to the starting side which beat the Cell C Sharks a fortnight ago.
In the forwards, Armand “Akker” van der Merwe will start at hooker while Ruan Dreyer has been drafted in at tighthead prop.
The backline sees just 1 change, with Courtnall Skosan starting at left wing, having recovered from injury.
On the bench, MB Lusaseni also moves into the match day 23, having recovered from his long-term injury. This is his 1st inclusion in the 2015 competition.
Unfortunately Derick Minnie drops out of the match day 23 as a result of an injury he sustained during Tuesday’s training session. Minnie has undergone surgery on his knee and will unfortunately be out of action for the remainder of the season.
Matt Hodgson
Wallaby flank, and inspirational captain, Matt Hodgson will make his long awaited return to Super Rugby for the Western Force when he runs out against the Chiefs on Friday.
Hodgson, a massive part of the Force’s successful season last year, has not made an appearance in 2015 due to a hamstring injury suffered in a pre-season fixture against the Asia Pacific Dragons.
The Force skipper will return to his familiar openside flank position and join No 8 Ben McCalman and blindside flank Angus Cottrell in a loose forward combination that started in 11 of 16 matches during the 2014 season.
A foot injury to interim captain Sam Wykes sees Steve Mafi shift from side of the scrum into the second row.
In the backline, Ian Prior will start his 1st match of 2015, replacing scrumhalf Alby Mathewson, who has been sidelined with a knee injury.
On the bench, Cottelsoe scrumhalf Ryan Louwrens is in line to make his Super Rugby debut after a knee injury – requiring a reconstruction – scuppered his 2014 season.
Flank Kane Koteka makes his return after being rested against the Stormers following concussion, while big lock Wilhelm Steenkamp will also start from the Western Force reserves list.
Prop Pek Cowan is also set to become the 2nd player to play 100 Super Rugby matches for the Western Force, when he runs out against the Chiefs.
Ryan Crotty
Crudsaders Head coach Todd Blackadder has made 4 changes to last week’s starting line-up, including a return for All Black centre Ryan Crotty.
In the forward pack, Codie Taylor and Ben Funnell have rotated so that Taylor starts at hooker this week, as have Owen Franks and Nepo Laulala, with Franks starting at tighthead.
Mitchell Drummond will start at scrumhalf with Andy Ellis moving to the bench.
Crotty has recovered from a head knock and will start at outside centre, with Kieron Fonotia ready to provide some impact from the bench.
Blackadder says the overall squad is largely unchanged from last week, in a showing of faith from the coaches that these players can do the job.
James Marshall
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd won’t be resting any All Blacks ahead of his team’s clash with the Reds in Brisbane this Sunday.
Boyd has kept the line-up almost identical to that which faced the Waratahs last week, however, a calf injury to Nehe Milner-Skudder has left him out of selection contention, making way for James Marshall at fullback.
Matt Proctor also comes back into the starting line-up, with Cory Jane moving to the bench.
Victor Vito (calf), Dane Coles (elbow), and Blade Thomson (concussion), remain on the injury list.
Hurricanes’ flyhalf Beauden Barrett needs 2 points to surpass David Holwell’s record of 676, and become the team’s all-time leading point-scorer.
Dave Dennis
Head coach Michael Cheika has made a number of changes to the Waratahs team to take on the Melbourne Rebels at ANZ Stadium on Anzac Day.
Captain Dave Dennis moves to the No 8 role, while Wycliff Palu will start on the bench.
Mitchell Chapman moves into his role at lock and Tatafu Polota-Nau returns to the starting line-up.
Peter Betham keeps his place on the right wing ahead of Taqele Naiyaravoro, after this week announcing his move to England to join Leicester Tigers.
Adam Ashley-Cooper makes his 2nd start since returning from injury at outside centre.
Dom Shipperley
Melbourne Rebels head coach Tony McGahan has re-introduced Sam Jeffries and Dom Shipperley into the squad, as he named his team to face the Waratahs at ANZ Stadium on Saturday in a clash which will commemorate the centenary of the Anzac landing.
Wallaby Shipperley returns to the starting line-up, while his Melbourne University teammate in second rower Sam Jeffries replacing Luke Jones in the squad, with Cadeyrn Neville elevated to start.
Jones developed concussion symptoms after the win in Canberra against the Brumbies last weekend, and the Rebels have opted to leave him out of the team as a precautionary method.
McGahan said that it was pleasing to be able to draw upon players with match fitness and form when changes were made.
Keven Mealamu
Keven Mealamu has been handed the Blues’ captaincy in the absence of regular skipper Jerome Kaino.
The veteran hooker, Mealamu, will lead the team out against the Crusaders in a Super Rugby Round 11 clash in Christchurch on Saturday.
Kaino has been given time out, as part of an agreement with the All Black management, after playing in 8 of the Blues’ 9 games.
He will be joined on the sidelines by fellow All Blacks James Parsons and Charles Piutau, who get their 1st break.
On the flipside props Tony Woodcock and Charlie Faumuina will join Mealamu in an all-All Black front row – boasting 260 Test caps and 383 Super Rugby games collectively between them.
Steven Luatua returns to play at No 8, with teenager Akira Ioane given a 2nd game after his impressive debut last week.
Jimmy Cowan returns to start at scrumhalf, with Lolagi Visinia at fullback.
Richard Graham
Reds Head coach Richard Graham has made 4 changes to his starting side, with injuries playing their part in a backline shuffle for when the Reds take on the Hurricanes at Suncorp Stadium.
Injury has forced 2 of the changes, with Curtis Browning (knee) and Karmichael Hunt (adductor) ruled out of the match after suffering injuries against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last weekend.
3 Of the 4 changes come in the backs, the injury to Hunt has forced veteran utility Lachie Turner from wing to fullback.
Chris Feauai-Sautia goes from outside centre to wing and Anthony Fainga’a is brought back into the starting side at inside centre.
In the forwards, recent debutant Adam Korczyk will make his starting debut at blindside flank, in place of the injured Browning.
Sam Carter
Brumbies lock Sam Carter will miss this weekend’s clash with the Highlanders following the death of a close family friend who tragically passed away last weekend playing for the Quirindi Lions.
The Wallaby lock’s family are still based in Quirindi and he will be allowed to return home for the funeral and for as long as he needs.
“At a time like this, rugby takes a back seat. From our point of view family is extremely important,” said Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham told the Canberra Times.
“Player welfare is extremely important and it’s right for Sam and his family to be up there with the current situation.”
Blake Enever will replace Carter in the second row in Canberra.
2 South African brothers start for the Brumbies on the weekend, JP & Ruan Smith.
Steve Tew
The New Zealand Rugby Union said Thursday they had no plans to emulate Australia and relax eligibility rules so overseas-based players can represent the All Blacks.
The Australian Rugby Union announced the move on Wednesday in response to a host of top players taking up lucrative club contracts after this year’s September and October World Cup in England.
Defending World Cup champions New Zealand face a similar post-tournament exodus, with at least 10 All Blacks heading offshore – including Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Colin Slade.
But NZRU Chief Executive Steve Tew said his organisation still believed that the only players allowed to pull on the hallowed All Black jersey should be based in New Zealand.
Lee Byrne
Newport Gwent Dragons’ former Wales fullback Lee Byrne has been forced to retire due to a shoulder injury, the 34-year-old announced on Thursday.
The former British and Irish Lion, who also played for Scarlets, Ospreys and Clermont, made his international debut in 2005 and went on to make 46 appearances for Wales, with whom he won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2008.
He joined the Dragons last year and was subsequently appointed captain, but after undergoing shoulder surgery in November, he has been obliged to call time on his career.
Brad Barritt
Saracens and England centre Brad Barritt has committed his future to the club signing a long-term deal at Allianz Park.
The 28-year old is the latest Saracen to commit his future to the north Londoners, following the likes of Marcelo Bosch, Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and George Kruis in signing contract extensions.
On signing his new deal, Barritt said: “I’m absolutely delighted to stay a part of the Saracens family. I consider this place home and I’m really looking forward to the years ahead with this fantastic club.