Daily Archives: 24 April 2015
Ian Prior
Ian Prior of the Western Force received a Red Card for a tip-tackle on Tim Nanai-Williams during a Super Rugby match against the Chiefs on Friday.
Prior dumped Nanai-Williams in a tackle that saw the Chiefs wing land on his neck and head, in an incident that occurred in the 28th minute of the match at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.
He is alleged to have contravened Law 10.4 (j) Lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst that player’s feet are still off the ground such that the player’s head and / or upper body come into contact with the ground.
The case is to be ruled by SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Nigel Hampton.
Eddie Jones
The Japanese Rugby Football Union (JRFU) has announced that its national coach, Eddie Jones, will also serve as Director of Rugby at the new Super Rugby team that will enter the competition in 2016.
Jones, who has served as head coach of Japan since 2012, will head up rugby operations to create a stretagic plan for the team’s development whilst the JRFU is still to announce its plans for a head coach, or what shape its football department will take.
Following his appointment, Jones said, “Super Rugby is an extremely important challenge for Japan rugby. It will enable us to evolve from the Japan Rugby Top League to the test level through the fierce Super Rugby competition.
“It will bring many Japanese players an opportunity to play international rugby on a regular basis. I feel a big responsibility and a great honor for becoming the first Director of Rugby and, above all, look forward to be able to set up a team with those who represent Japan rugby for both management and players.
Gary Gold
The Sharks Director of Rugby, Gary Gold has selected a 27-member squad that departs, this Saturday, for the Australasian leg of Vodacom Super Rugby tournament.
Commenting on the squad selected and the tour, Gary Gold said: “I have gone for 15 forwards and 12 backs, my selection was based on who is fit and healthy, but the nice thing is that there are a lot of guys who can play in different positions.
“We are looking forward to this tour. Tours are funny things, I’ve seen teams in far worse positions than us fight to get back and we not giving up the fight. I believe in this group of guys and I am keen to work with them in adverse times – that’s when you see true warriors come out.
“That’s our challenge: we are down but we’re not out and now is the time to stand up and fight back. If we come back fighting in the last six games, we’ll salvage a lot of respect”, he added.
Rob Simmons
James Slipper
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has locked away 2 key members of the Wallabies’ forward pack – re-signing the experienced Reds duo James Slipper and Rob Simmons.
The signatures of the 2 talented tight forwards are significant for the future of Australia.
Slipper agreed to a new 3-year deal, through until the end of 2018, while Simmons has also inked a multi-year extension – through until the end of 2017.
Despite his young age of just 25, Slipper and Simmons, 27, have already accumulated a combined 113 Tests between them for Australia.
Both also hold leadership positions at either the Wallabies or Reds.
Slipper and Simmons, who were announced earlier this year as the captain and vice-captain of the Reds, grew up playing together on the Gold Coast at the Southport School.
Brumbies (31) 31 / 18 (6) Highlanders (Final Score)
The Brumbies and Highlanders did battle in Super Rugby at
GIO Stadium, Canberra at 11:55 SA Time (19:55 AEST, 21:55 NZ Time, 09:55 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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Chiefs (23) 35 / 27 (8) Force (Final Score)
The Chiefs and Western Force did battle in Super Rugby at
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 15:35 AWST, 07:35 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 is Round 11 of Super Rugby 2015 this weekend.
There are 2 games on Friday 24 April, 4 games on Saturday 25 April and 1 game on Sunday 26 April.
The Cell C Sharks have a BYE weekend.
There are 2 lip-licking South African derbies on the weekend, between the Emirates Lions vs Toyota Cheetahs as well as between the DHL Stormers vs Vodacom Bulls, and no South African side is on tour at the moment.
There are no more unbeaten sides left in the tournament, since the Hurricanes lost against the Waratahs last weekend.
On Friday, the Chiefs host the Western Force in Hamilton at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 15:35 AWST, 07:35 GMT) before the Brumbies host the Highlanders in a slightly later match than usual due to the Anzac Day Centenary celebrations, in Canberra, at 11:55 SA Time (19:55 AEST, 21:55 NZ Time, 09:55 GMT).
On Saturday morning the Crusaders host the Blues in Christchurch at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT), whereafter the Waratahs host the Melbourne Rebels in Sydney at 11:55 SA Time (19:55 AEST, 09:55 GMT).
Over to South Africa and next up, at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT), the Emirates Lions host the Toyota Cheetahs in Johannesburg, before the DHL Stormers host the Vodacom Bulls in Cape Town at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
On Sunday morning at 08:05 SA Time (16:05 AEST, 18:05 NZ Time, 06:05 GMT) the Reds host the high-flying Hurricanes side in the last game of the Round.
The game between the Chiefs and Western Force should see the Chiefs aesily beating the Force whereas the game between the Brumbies and Highlanders a bit later on Friday is extremely difficult to call.
On Saturday one would suspect that the Crusaders will beat the Blues but the Crusaders seem to be on the downhill slope, whereas the Blues seem to be improving.
The Waratahs should take care of the Melbourne Rebels.
The Emirates Lions should have too much firepower and also too much depth for the struggling Cheetahs side but the duzy of the weekend between the DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls is another difficult one to predict for, however if this year’s prior form is anything to go by, the Stormers should have this one in the bag.
The Hurricanes should beat the struggling Reds in Brisbane on Sunday… and convincingly so, as the Reds have truly been diabollically bad in 2015!