Super Rugby
Doubts surrounding the availability of Tiaan Liebenberg and Scarra Ntubeni has forced the Stormers management to urgently search for a back-up to Deon Fourie for the start of the Super Rugby campaign.
Naka Drotske has reason to smile, as it is reported that Springboks Coenie Oosthuizen (back) and Johan Goosen (knee) are progressing well. Willie le Roux (groin), Phillip van der Walt (knee), Lappies Labuschagne (ankle) and Springbok Heinrich Brüssow (shoulder) are all on track for early participation in this years Super Rugby Competition.
Following on our series of articles about the player pedigrees, it was suggested we do the same for the coaching teams. To do the entire spectrum of a Super Rugby Coaching personnel would be too encompassing (the research was hard enough), so I am going to focus only on the people responsible for the main portfolios of Head, Backline, Forwards and Defence coaches.
We all have our predictions and gut feelings, this is what the International top betting sites have to say:
Bellville – Stormers Coach Alistair Coetzee has named a 36 man training squad for for next week’s pre-season camp in Hermanus.
Allister Coetzee
DHL Stormers coach Allister Coetzee wore a broad smile on his face after the second day of training at the squad’s High Performance Centre base in Bellville on Tuesday.
Schalk Burger looks to be the likely Stormers Captain this year despite Jean deVilliers being the current Springbok Captain.
Super Rugby News is now starting to come thick and fast!
Below you can read about the Super Rugby HALFTIME BREAKS being extended to 12 minutes, about Ben Mowen who remains Brumbies Captain, about the Super Rugby Draw for 2013, about Bismarck du Plessis’ injury and Frans Steyn gearing up for the 2013 season and about Wynand Olivier who is still in Japan. Tamati Ellison will miss the majority of the Competition for the Highlanders, due to injury.
And then, if a sub-standard squad was not enough, the Southern Kings lose two key forwards due to injury.
The 8th Article in the set discussing the Southern Kings.
In this Article we look at the contenders for BACK THREE (Wings & Fullbacks) in the Southern Kings 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 8th and last Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.
In this Article we look at the contenders for the BACK THREE (Wings & Fullbacks) in the Vodacom Bulls 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The Cheetahs have assembled some real speed merchants in their wider training squad, and the competition will be fierce for starting spots. With players like Piet van Zyl, Johan Goosen, Robert Ebersohn and Johann Sadie, one can expect the pace men to get plenty of opportunity to stretch the hamstrings.
In this Article we look at the contenders for WINGS AND FULLBACKS at the Sharks 2013 Super Rugby group.
The Sharks will have a very solid backline in 2013 with all positions having sufficient depth and with the Back Three the same can be said. In JP Pietersen, Lwazi Mvovo, Odwa Ndugane and Sibusiso Sithole they have four good wings with the likes of Paul Jordaan, Louis Ludik and Gouws Prinsloo who can all also cover the position if need be.
Finally, we come to the back three, the wings and fullback. The Cape has always produced a plethora of gifted wingbacks and this year it is no exception. Add to the mix the precocious talent of a young Mr Taute, and we have the making of a sublime back three.
The Sharks have returned to Mr Price KINGS PARK on Monday after their Christmas break and will continue building a fitness and conditioning platform from which to launch and sustain their 2013 Vodacom Super Rugby challenge.
While Sunday offers some fun in the form of the cricket match against the Sunfoil Dolphins at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, the Durban weather at this time of the year coupled with the watchful eyes of the conditioning and coaching staff means that this is always the hardest time of the year for Sharks players.
Fiery Cheetahs flanker, Frans Viljoen, has no contract with the Cheetahs but has asked coach Naka Drotské for a chance to prove his mettle. He is willing to play without a contract and just earn match fees. Viljoen showed in only a handful of matches in the Currie Cup, the value of his physical presence in the Cheetahs team. He will get a chance to prove his fitness in the warm up matches versus the Lions (26 January) or versus the Bulls (9 February).
The 7th Article in the set discussing the Southern Kings.
In this Article we look at the contenders for CENTRES in the Southern Kings 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The Southern Kings have announced a 40-man squad ahead of their Super Rugby debut season, with some experienced players falling by the wayside.
The Eastern Cape franchise will make their Super Rugby entry without stalwarts Tiger Mangweni and Wayne van Heerden who failed to make the cut when the revised squad was announced this week.
The Western Force have completed the overhaul of their Super Rugby backline for the 2013 season with the signing of Waikato flyhalf Sam Christie who claimed the final Extended Playing Squad contract for 2013.
Sparring for his professional boxing debut has given controversial Australia flyhalf Quade Cooper a confidence boost ahead of the upcoming Super Rugby season, Reds coach Ewan McKenzie said on Tuesday.
Springboks and Stormers lock Andries Bekker could leave South Africa after the 2013 Super Rugby season and take up a contract in Europe.
With the 2013 Super Rugby season just around the corner the fixture list of all warm up games has been released.
Some teams have opted for tougher opponents and some less so, much of course depending on their requirements and strategies they have planned for. The tournament itself kicks off on the 15 February 2013.
With most of the pre-season fitness programmes out of the way, the next few weeks will be vital as each side starts to focus on honing their game ahead of another grueling season. Teams will be trying to get their best combinations together as to find cohesion, coaches of course will hope not to pick up injuries as some teams are starting the season with numerous injured stars.
The 7th Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.
In this Article we look at the contenders for CENTRES in the Vodacom Bulls 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The departure of Andries Strauss to the Kings, and the arrival of Johann Sadie, will ensure a new midfield combination. There is talk of Robert Ebersohn reverting back to inside centre where he played at school level, and using Johann Sadie at outside centre. This could be an enticing option, but there are however other possibilities.
In this Article we look at the contenders for CENTRES at the Sharks 2013 Super Rugby group.
The Sharks for the first time in a long time have a solid midfield, and to top it they have more than one option, the secret though is going to be which combination would suit the team’s dynamics the best.
I would like to try and explain the two centre position as many seem to get confused between the two, for example,“ What kind of player would you want at inside centre or outside centre” contrary to many beliefs in my opinion the center combination should be 2 players with different skill sets.
South Africa is blessed with some wonderful centres at the moment, and the lads in the Stormers squad are no exception. Springbok Captain Jean de Villiers again wears the Captains band for the Stormers, even though Schalk Burger is expected back from a long injury lay-off a couple of weeks into the season.
The 6th Article in the set discussing the Southern Kings.
In this Article we look at the contenders for FLYHALVES in the Southern Kings 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 6th Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.
In this Article we look at the contenders for FLYHALVES in the Vodacom Bulls 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
Looking at the pivotal position of flyhalf, the Cheetahs were derailed last year, by the long term injury to Johan Goosen, and the sudden loss of confidence by replacement Sias Ebersohn. The knock on effect for the Cheetahs was debilitating, to say the least. A repeat must be prevented.
In this Article we look at the contenders for FLYHALVES at the Sharks 2013 Super Rugby group.
FLYHALF – this is the position the Sharks now have the most depth they have had in a long time, even with the departure of the French general, Freddy Michalak.
The Sharks are in a position where they at least always have parity at scrum time and for the most part should win the breakdown clashes! This allows for their halfbacks to be more involved in games and they are also able to set up running lines and control games more effectively.
Coaches Naka Drotske and Hawies Fourie, seem to be pretty clear of who they envisage in their final Super Rugby squad for 2013. Griquas players Justin Downey, Leon Karemaker, Steph Roberts, Edwin Hewitt, Marnus Hugo and Jean Stemmet have been released to Griquas to prepare for the Vodacom Cup.
It is speculated, that the possible return of Juan Smith may have been the primary motivation as Phillip van der Walt, Heinrich Brüssow, Lappies Labuschagne, Juan Smith, and Boom Prinsloo all have still to prove their fitness. This could indicate that Juan’s progress is in line with the coaches’ expectations.
Last year, this is where I expected the bloggers have a good giggle. This year, we all know the coup pulled off by Allister Coetzee and Co which has, with the signing of one player, completely changed the face of the Stormers flyhalf dilemma of the past.
A final decision regarding the playing future of Springbok flank Juan Smith will now only be made at the end of January.
According to the Beeld website it has been confirmed that the Sharks will play two friendly warm-up games against two local sides as part of their preparations for Super Rugby.
Keegan Daniel’s men will play the Leopards on 8 February at the Woodburn stadium in Pietermaritzburg and a week later (15 February) they will face the Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
Morne van der Merwe, ex WP and Stormers prop, has only days to live.
He was diagnosed with a brain tumor two years ago and his wife, Cindy, is hurriedly putting together mementoes of his life to keep for the couple.s two young boys.
The 5th Article in the set discussing the Southern Kings.
In this Article we look at the contenders for SCRUMHALVES in the Southern Kings 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.