Super Rugby
The Lions held a media conference to launch their Super Rugby campaign this afternoon, where the team to face the Cheetahs at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday was announced.
Kick Off is at 19h10 local time.
Although we have seven games and only the Melbourne Rebels have a bye, my personal three Big games involve the top teams of each Conference. Crusaders vs Blues, Bulls vs Sharks and Waratahs vs Reds. Continue reading
Naka Drotske has named his team to take on the Lions at Coca-Cola Park, in the Cheetahs season opener on Saturday at 19h00.
Naka has really raised the eyebrows with his team selections, and bold he certainly is!
Part two into Tony O’Sullivan’s insight into the Super Rugby Series, this time, he jumps the pond to Australia.
The Second installment therefore deals with the Teams from the Land where they call each other “Mate” in stead of friend, Australia.
They are the Reds, Melbourne Rebels, Waratahs, Western Force and Brumbies.
Following on the theme of other ‘experts’ insights,Tony O’Sullivan from rugbydump has put together his thoughts on the teams competing in the upcoming Super Rugby series.
I will post them per country, as he has done.
The First installment deals with the Teams from the Land of the Long White Cloud, New Zealand.
They are the Crusaders, Blues, Highlanders, Hurricanes and Chiefs.
Sharks coach, John Plumtree, has chosen his best available side to take on the Bulls on Friday night at Loftus Versveld at 19:10 in thier opener for Super Rugby 2012.
In todays edition of the Lions Super Rugby contenders we look at the Rugby equivalent of the hyena and jackal, the Loose Frowards.
The men who have to get low down and dirty, and win the ball wherever it’s available, but mostly on the ground.
I’ll kick off with the stalwarts of the 2011 season.
Here is the Vocacom Bulls team to face the Sharks on Friday night (19:10 SA Time) at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
We are including the English and Afrikaans versions of the Official Vodacom Bulls Media Release.
Bulls centre Johann Sadie says he is a “stronger, fitter and mentally tougher” player since joining the Bulls from the Stormers.
Picked up this piece on the net at a website called sportbilly.co.za
The man is some kind of biased New Zealand supporter of sorts… and obviously oblivious of what is really happening here in South Africa at present.
This Article of course does not necessarily reflect my own views or that of Rugby-Talk, but at least someone was willing to nail his beliefs to the wall!
Here it is:
Super Rugby previews are more numerous than Whitney Houston tributes at the moment. In both cases time is wasted. There seems to be a reluctance amongst sports writers in general to spare one’s balls from the impending pain and climb down off the fence. So lets now seperate the poop from the champagne when it comes to the teams.
I am not going to bore you with in depth analysis of the no-hopers. I’m looking at potential champions here. To win this thing you have got to finish top of your conference. Bottom line. The ‘extended playoff’ scenario gives the ‘also rans’ a cruel illusion of hope but their chances remain slimmer than a Somalian hunger striker.
Here is how I see it.
Cheetahs prop Coenie Oosthuizen, has allegedly been involved in another scuffle at a club, Barba’s in Bloemfontein.
In this the 3rd instalment of the Lions contenders, we look at the big men who perform in the engine room of the forward pack, the lock forwards.
Providing the grunt in the heart of the scrum, as well as the means to win ball in the line-outs, this group of BIG men are responsible for ensuring a continuous supply of quality first phase ball for the team.
Let’s open with the players who did the hard yards in last years campaign.
The next instalment will look at the ever improving and exciting loose forwards.
The second Article highlighting the Lions Super Rugby players likely to bear the majority of the playing time in the upcoming Super Rugbycompetition.
Today we look at the men in the middle of the front row, the HOOKERS.
The next Article in the Series will be about the Lions Locks.
After a runner-up spot in the South African conference and a bruising defeat to the Crusaders in the play offs, the Sharks will be hoping to put a bit more bite into the 2012 season.
After an aging side failed to the defend the Super Rugby title last year, the Bulls have entered a rebuilding phase that is unlikely to bring any silverware in the immediate future.
The 8th and last Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for the BACK THREE (WINGS & FULLBACKS) in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 7th and Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for CENTRES in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 6th and Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for FLYHALVES in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 5th and Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for SCRUMHALVES in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 4th and Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOOSEFORWARDS in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 3rd and Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOCKS in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union has given Rugby-Talk 10 match day tickets for every Super Rugby home game of the Lions for 2012.
Firstly I have to thank Krystle Geach at the Lions for this kind gesture and consideration, it is appreciated, and we’ll put the tickets to good use.
This set me thinking… in addition to the Lions tickets, maybe I should approach the other 4 Super Rugby Franchises for match day tickets as well, and here’s why!
The 2nd and Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for HOOKERS in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The New Zealand television audience has the most potential for growth based on numbers last season in Super Rugby, and local officials and SANZAR chief executive Greg Peters said a brilliant Rugby World Cup last year could provide impetus for some increased viewing.
The chance to tap into the massive economies and population of North America and Asia, primarily US and Japanese markets, is something SANZAR will explore, with the former American broadcasting landscape boggling the mind with astronomical numbers.
It is a simple edict – aim to have at least 70 percent of ball available out of the ruck within three seconds – and this will be one of the crucial areas where referees will turn their attention to in the 2012 Super Rugby season.
Folks, it can be that big time Rugby may no longer be played at Newlands
Cheetahs tighthead prop WP Nel has signed a three-year contract with Scottish Pro12 outfit Edinburgh and will join the capital club at the end of the Super Rugby season.
The Southern Kings may not exactly be the flavour of the month in South Africa, but coach Alan Solomons is forging ahead – determined to make them a competitive Super Rugby outfit in 2013.
Vodacom Bulls midfielder Wynand Olivier is in a race against time to be fit for his side’s Vodacom Super Rugby tournament’s season opener against the Sharks on February 24th.
Sharks coach John Plumtree has been forced to make changes to his team to face the Southern Kings this Friday evening at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Former Springbok prop Robbie Kempson is worried that the Stormers’ front row doesn’t instil enough fear into opponents ahead of the Super Rugby tournament.
I looked at the SuperSport TV schedules and I could not see any significant live rugby this weekend. So it seems we have one last break to do this…
But then our lives will be annexed by our beloved game RUGBY.
Every Super Rugby team has its SANZAR judicial atrocity story, writes Rugby Heaven’s Greg Growden.
Hooker Deon Fourie broke a bone in his hand in the Stormers’ pre-season warm-up fixture against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth and will be out for longer than it was initially expected.