General
No this question is not for Frans Steyn. It is for teams like the Crusaders and it might even apply to others right here in South Africa.
Has the New Zealand Rugby Union opened a can of worms with its Super 15 selection policy, and are the Crusaders getting greedy?
Referees have been much under scrutiny lately, only rarely under amiable scrutiny. Many, many people have definite feelings about referees, both individually and collectively, and are happy to shout their opinions mostly to say what referees they do not want.
This Article was mailed to me by a fellow blogger a year ago. It is interesting to read what people outside of South Africa think about the Springboks.
Continue reading
When did rugby stop being a contest? Or why do we have laws in place to effectively end a contest between two teams where the spectators and fans feel the effect of a yellow or red card more than the players? Continue reading
If you are going to win the war, it is a good idea to understand that one has been declared. Otherwise you might find yourself in the position the Australian Rugby Union once did. Sitting at the desk back at headquarters, blithely assuming the sound of gunfire was just backfiring cars. ”Another cup of tea, colonel?”
When a team loses as badly as the Springboks have done in recent weeks there are millions of theories around to try and answer why. I have my own, but it is very different from what has been suggested so far… Continue reading
The line between calling something as you see it and whining seems to be very fine, so call me a whiner if you like, but I am getting tired of being politically correct when criticising referees. Continue reading
The South African U18s on Friday kicked off their 2010 High Performance programme to the perfect start after they recorded a convincing 25-5 victory over the France U18s at the Buffalo City Stadium.
The hosts scored two tries which were added by fullback Craig Barry in the second half but were always in control of this international friendly after they managed to build up a solid 15-0 half time lead.
Nine players from South Africa’s previous IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign are amongst the final squad of 26 confirmed by SARU on Friday for the 2010 event in England.
The more I think about it, the more I believe that it is one of Springbok rugby’s greatest injustices that a man and player of this calibre had to wait so long to reach such an important milestone in his rugby career. Continue reading
This Tri-Nations will see one of its closest finishes where amazingly, all three teams will be looking to get something different out of the game as we start looking to the Rugby World Cup in 2011. Continue reading
The South African Schools Association on Saturday announced the SA Schools team for 2010 after the Free State Cheetahs defeated Western Province 42-21in the final game at the Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week in Welkom.
Free State Cheetahs and Western Province will once again play compete in the finale at the Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week following their 30-20 victory over Kwazulu Natal in Welkom on Thursday.
WP defeated the Bloemfontein side 19-17 during last year’s Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week in East London.
The yearly U/18 Craven Week is underway from Monday 28 June 2010.
With this Article we look at RESULTS, LOGS & FIXTURES.
Results:
| 3 | Free State | 42 | – | 21 | WP | North West Stadium, Welkom | Info |
| 3 | Border CD | 5 | – | 65 | Leopards | Welkom THS | Info |
| 3 | Namibia | 21 | – | 30 | Zimbabwe | North West Stadium B | Info |
| 3 | Griquas | 29 | – | 7 | Griffons | North West Stadium, Welkom | Info |
| 3 | EP | 34 | – | 20 | Border | Welkom THS | Info |
| 3 | Blue Bulls | 38 | – | 15 | Valke | North West Stadium B | Info |
| 3 | Lions | 28 | – | 11 | Pumas | North West Stadium, Welkom | Info |
The All Blacks have been offered big cash bonuses if they can win the Rugby World Cup which is to be held in New Zealand next year.
The All Blacks have consistently been rated as one of the world’s top teams but have failed to win the World Cup since the inaugural event in New Zealand in 1987.
The South African duo of Nick Mallett and Alan Solomons will once again take charge of the Barbarian squad’s preparation for the fixture against South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday 4th December 2010.
Wallaby wing Lachie Turner will join the Australian Sevens squad in camp on Sunday, as preparations get underway for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October.
Coach Michael O’Connor has selected a 14-man training squad which will assemble at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from July 4 to 7 and has bolstered his side with the inclusion of the Wallaby wing, Turner, and also 2009 tourist Luke Morahan.
Australian Rugby Boss John O’Neill will demand that the Wallabies become more ruthless when he meets Wallaby coach Robbie Deans.
The Wallabies have promised much under Deans but delivered little and Deans’ success with the Crusaders in Super Rugby has raised expectation.
All Blacks hooker Corey Flynn has been given the all-clear to assemble with the All Blacks after a medical check–up with medical staff in Christchurch.
Wallabies and Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper has been fined and disqualified from driving after he pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while on a suspended license.
The All Blacks have named their squad for the TriNations which is made up of 15 forwards and 13 backs with the return of 2009 All Blacks John Afoa, Corey Flynn, Liam Messam and Ma’a Nonu the key feature of the 28 – strong squad.
Captain Felipe Contepomi scored 31 points as Argentina gave France a record 41-13 hiding for the Six Nations champions France in a one-off rugby test at Jose Alamfitani Stadium on Saturday.
A humiliating 41-13 defeat by Argentina has left France’s players unable to explain how they could have fallen from Six Nations heros to touring zeros.
Wallabies (16) 22 / Ireland (15) 15 (Final Score)
The Wallabies hosted Ireland at the Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 12:05 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
In a frustrating game to watch, the Wallabies ground out a win against an off-beat Irish side, winning 22 / 15.
All Blacks (13) 29 / Wales (3) 10 (Final Score)
The All Blacks hosted Wales at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton at 09:35 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The All Blacks victory was never in doubt but many penalties given away by Wales disturbed the running rhytm of the game and scores mostly came from penalties taken. In the end the All Blacks scored 2 converted tries to 1 converted try.
All Blacks won 29 / 10
The wobbling Wallabies are taking on Ireland at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 12:05 SA Time.
What will happen this week… will the Wobblies front row crumble again in front of different opponents? Will the Wobblies potent backline save them against a far more potent Irish backline than England could muster?
Saturday morning sees the All Blacks ready to deal Wales a 2nd humiliating defeat at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton. Both teams are showing quite a few changes from the teams who met last week.
Kick at your peril. It’s a message the All Blacks have beamed out to the world in the opening two rugby tests of the season.
One would not be surprised if South Africa had been CC’d on the memo.
By TOBY ROBSON – The Dominion Post
All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter threw a scare into his camp on Thursday as he laboured with a calf strain ahead of Saturday’s second rugby Test against Wales.
Although Carter remained on the team sheet following a training session late in the day, the All Blacks selectors have taken the precaution of calling up Luke McAlister as cover if he does pull out.
England finished their June tour of Australasia with a 35-28 loss against the New Zealand Maori in Napier on Wednesday.
Wing Hosea Gear scored three of the New Zealand Maori’s four tries. Gear touched down once in the first half, and then twice in the first five minutes of the second half giving the lead the the Maori’s which they never conceded.
The All Blacks have made seven changes to their starting line-up for the second Test against Wales in Hamilton on Saturday and star flyhalf Dan Carter remains in doubt.
Ronan O’Gara has been dropped ot the bench for what could be his 100th Test cap in Ireland’s final game of the season against Australia.
Chris Henry will win his first cap for Ireland when he lines out at No.8 in the team to play Australia in Brisbane this Saturday.
Ex Shark and South African Ex-pat, Brad Barrit has been selected for England against the New Zealand Maori team.
Chris Ashton is the only player from the England starting team that beat Australia to be named to face the New Zealand Maori rugby team at Napier.
New Zealand remain the only side to lift the IRB Junior World Championship trophy after producing a dominant display to beat Australia 62-17 at the Estadio El Coloso del Parque in Rosario on Monday.
Nick Mallett, Ex Springbok and Ex Springbok coach and also now the coach of the Azuri made a promise to his Azuri charges that he’d shave his head if the Azuri loses with less than 20 points this past Saturday, so we can expect to see a “New Mallett” for this coming weekend’s clash.
After the 29-13 win by the Springboks against Italy in Witbank on Saturday, Nick said he would stick to his promise to shave off his hair if Italy lost by less than 20 points.
Saturday’s 16 points difference beat the 19 (score 40-21) in 1995 and last year’s 22 (score 32-10).
Mallett indicated that he’s probably sport a beanie on the head when next we see him.