World Cup
Los Pumas (28) 28 / 12 (7) Tonga (Final Score)
The Argentinian Los Pumas and Tonga did battle in a Rugby World Cup 2019 International at
the Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiosaka City, Japan on 28 September 2019 at 06:45 SA Time (13:45 Japan Time, 01:45 Arg Time, 17:45 Tonga Time, 04:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Springboks (3) 13 / 23 (17) All Blacks (Final Score)
The South African Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks did battle in a Rugby World Cup 2019 International at
International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan on 21 September 2019 at 11:45 SA Time (18:45 Japan Time, 21:45 NZ Time, 09:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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France (20) 23 / 21 (3) Los Pumas (Final Score)
France and the Argentinian Los Pumas did battle in a Rugby World Cup 2019 International at
Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo, Japan on 21 September 2019 at 09:15 SA Time (16:15 Japan Time, 09:15 French Time, 04:15 Arg Time, 07:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Wallabies (12) 39 / 21 (14) Fiji (Final Score)
The Australian Wallabies and Fiji did battle in a Rugby World Cup 2019 International at
Sapporo Drome, Sapporo, Japan on 21 September 2019 at 06:45 SA Time (13:45 Japan Time, 14:45 AEST, 16:45 Fiji Time, 04:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Russia coach Lyn Jones said he had a cunning plan to ambush hosts Japan in the tournament opener, revealing only that it involves a little mayhem.
The Russians, known as the Bears, will tower over their opposite numbers when they line up in Tokyo on Friday, but few people are giving them much chance of springing an upset against the world’s 10th-ranked side.
“With structured and organised sides like Japan you need to create chaos to get them to think for themselves,” Jones told AFP after naming a full-strength side led by his skipper Vasily Artemyev.
“I don’t know if they’re educated to do that, but it’s all theory anyway.
“We do have a plan,” added the former Wales international.
“We have got a formula and we think we can take Japan on and make life as difficult as possible for them.”
Russia gave Japan a fright the last times the teams met in November, the Brave Blossoms scraping a 32-27 victory in Gloucester.
Preparations are in full swing and happening in all earnest for the Rugby World Cup 2019, happening in just more than a month, in Japan.
Teams are positioning themselves, showing their hands, building their squads…
Having had a full Sunday und another half day to ponder the past weekend’s Test results, the following:
The Rugby Championship 2019:
Springboks:
Rassie seems to be building nicely for the Rugby World Cup and the Springboks are in a far better place now than a month ago. Depth in positions are fine, combinations seem more sorted… still little errors but a huge improvement overall.
Head Coach Gregor Townsend today named the Scotland team to face France in the opening Summer Test match at the Allianz Riviera in Nice this Saturday (kick-off 9pm SA time, 8pm UK time).
The match will be the first of four Test matches for the national team in the coming weeks – Scotland host France in the return fixture next Saturday at BT Murrayfield, before away and home Tests against Georgia – all of which are designed to refine the selection decisions of Head Coach Gregor Townsend, who will name his final squad for Rugby World Cup 2019 next month.
Townsend said: “A huge amount of work has gone in throughout the past two months in order to deliver our best level of performance in the Rugby World Cup.
“These four Tests are a vital part of that process in terms of testing our systems and combinations but also in seeing which players put their best foot forward when it comes to selection for the final 31-man group going to Japan next month.”
Hosts South Africa and Kenya are now just one win away from securing the region’s qualification ticket to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand after maintaining their winning records on Tuesday in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Brakpan.
Played under blue skies at the Bosman Stadium, Kenya kicked off the second round of the inaugural competition with a seven-try, 37-5 victory over a Ugandan side that battled hard in a tight first half before succumbing to the Lionesses’ attacking prowess.
South Africa knew they would do well to match their 89-5 win over Uganda in round one and they came up against a Madagascan side that showed plenty of promises in what was only their second test. The Springbok Women, however, showed no mercy and ran in tries at regular intervals as well as keeping opponents scoreless for the first time in more than nine years.
Rugby World Cup 2019 – Rugby-Talk RWC 2019
The Rugby Championship 2019 – Rugby-Talk TRC 2019
Currie Cup Premier Division 2019 – Rugby-Talk Currie Cup 2019
Hi,
We have 3 BRAND NEW SuperBru Pools for all to join!
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- The Rugby World Cup 2019 starts in 74 days, so join up early for the competition;
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As of 2016 we have been doing it a bit differently and opened our Pools up to all readers of Rugby-Talk.com, but we encourage you to register as a subsciber on Rugby-Talk.com anyway, as our banter and commenting about our Pools will mostly take place here on the website and not on the SuperBru banter boards! It is so easy to register and such fun to discuss rugby here.
Jaguares (20) 39 / 7 (7) Brumbies (Final Score)
Los Jaguares and the Brumbies did battle in a Semi Final of Super Rugby 2019 at
Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires, Argentina at 20:05 Arg Time (23:05 GMT, Saturday 01:05 SA Time, Saturday 09:05 AEST).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Under 20 World Championship 2019 – Rugby-Talk U20 World Cup 2019
Hi,
We have a NEW SuperBru Pool for all to join!
- The Under 20 World Championship 2019 starts in 5 days, so hurry up and join up for the competition.
As of 2016 we have been doing it a bit differently and opened our Pools up to all readers of Rugby-Talk.com, but we encourage you to register as a subsciber on Rugby-Talk.com anyway, as our banter and commenting about our Pools will mostly take place here on the website and not on the SuperBru banter boards! It is so easy to register and such fun to discuss rugby here.
Under 20 Rugby World Championship 2018 – Rugby-Talk U20 World Cup 2018
June Internationals 2018 – Rugby-Talk June Tests 2018
Hi,
We have 2 NEW SuperBru Pools for all to join!
- The Under 20 Rugby World Championship 2018 starts in only 2 days, on 30 May 2018, so hurry up and join up for the competition. I have left Pool creation slightly late again… what’s new!!
- The June Internationals 2018 starts in 5 days, with the Test between the South African Springboks vs Wales in the United States of America on Saturday 2 June 2018, so join up and make your first pick.
Immediately also make your picks for Round 1 of both Tournaments!
As of 2016 we have been doing it a bit differently and opened our Pools up to all readers of Rugby-Talk.com, but we encourage you to register as a subsciber on Rugby-Talk.com anyway, as our banter and commenting about our Pools will mostly take place here on the website and not on the SuperBru banter boards! It is so easy to register and such fun to discuss rugby here.
The shadow sports minister has urged the Rugby Football Union to reconsider its decision not to renew the contracts of England’s women’s XV players.
In a letter Dr Rosena Allin-Khan tells chief executive Ian Ritchie of her “deep concern”.
Despite England preparing to defend the World Cup next month, the RFU said its focus will switch to the sevens game after the tournament.
“To make this decision is deeply disappointing,” wrote Allin-Khan.
“Asking players to pause and resume their professions every two years puts their futures at considerable risk.”
The RFU, which announced record revenues last year of more than £400m, said its priorities shift between the XVs and sevens programmes, with the World Cup Sevens and Commonwealth Games taking place next year.
It said the England XV side will continue to take part in competitions, and that it has invested millions of pounds in the women’s game, including £800,000 annually on a new domestic competition aimed at increasing and improving the talent pool available for selection for England.
Nigel Owens
Rugby union referee Nigel Owens reveals his struggle with eating disorder bulimia nervosa is not over and remains an ongoing battle.
There have been a number of ‘firsts’ in my life.
As a referee in world-class rugby, one of the most macho sports on the planet, I was the first in the sport to come out as being gay.
In the hope of reaching out to other young people struggling with mental health, I was also one of the first sportsmen to speak openly about the biggest regret of my life – a suicide attempt.
Early one morning at the age of 26, I left a note for my mum and dad, both of whom had been hugely supportive of me, explaining I couldn’t carry on, that I desperately wanted to bring it all to an end.
I took an overdose, laid down on a Welsh mountainside and waited to die. Doctors later told me I was just 20 minutes from death when I was airlifted to hospital by a police helicopter.
So I got a second chance. I was determined not to waste it and using my experience to help someone else is a pretty good way of ensuring that.
Which brings me onto another ‘first’; I’ve spoken about dealing with bulimia in the past but have never before revealed that to this day I continue to struggle with an eating disorder.
Kings (12) 26 / 39 (19) Jaguares (Final Score)
The Southern Kings and Jaguares did battle in Super Rugby 2017 at
Nelson mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa at 17:15 SA Time (12:15 ARG Time, 15:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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France (11) 23 / 25 (13) Wallabies (Final Score)
France and the Australian Wallabies did battle in the End Of Year Tours 2016 Internationals at
Stade de France, Paris, France, at 17:00 SA Time (15:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Holders England will face the USA, Italy and either Scotland or Spain in their opening pool at next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland.
Scotland will book their spot at next August’s tournament if they beat Spain in this month’s play-off over two legs.
Ireland are joined in Pool C by fellow 2014 semi-finalists France, Australia and either Fiji, Hong Kong or Japan.
New Zealand won four successive World Cups between 1998 and 2010 but were knocked out in the pool stage in France two years ago after suffering a surprise defeat by Ireland.
The winners of the Asia/Oceania qualifier between Fiji, Hong Kong and Japan will join 2013 and 2015 Six Nations champions Ireland, plus top seeds France and Australia in Pool C.
The Asia/Oceania runners-up will play in Pool A alongside Canada, New Zealand and Wales.
Former South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins (Photo by Luke Walker/Gallo Images)
Mr Oregan Hoskins announced on Wednesday that he was stepping down as president of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) after a decade of service and achievement.
Mr Hoskins advised the membership of SA Rugby at a meeting of the General Council in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
“I have enjoyed a remarkable ten and a half years in one of the most high-profile roles in South African sport and have enjoyed some incredible highs,” said Mr Hoskins. “It has been a pleasure and a privilege and I want to thank everyone involved in South African rugby for the fantastic journey we have shared.
“There have also been plenty of challenges to confront but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way – it’s an indication of how much our sport matters in this country.
England U20 (31) 39 / 17 (3) Junior Springboks U20 (Final Score)
England Under 20 and South Africa’s Junior Springboks Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 (semifinals) at Manchester, at 20:45 SA Time (18:45 GMT, 19:45 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Ireland U20 (21) 37 / 7 (7) Argentina U20 (Final Score)
Ireland Under 20 and Argentina Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 (semifinals) at Manchester, at 18:30 SA Time (16:30 GMT, 17:30 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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New Zealand U20 (35) 71 / 12 (5) Wales U20 (Final Score)
New Zealand Under 20 and Wales Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 (5yh Place Play-off) at Manchester, at 16:15 SA Time (14:15 GMT, 15:15 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Junior Springboks (18) 40 / 31 (24) France U20 (Final Score)
South Africa’s Junior Springbok Under 20 and France Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Salford, at 20:45 SA Time (18:45 GMT, 19:45 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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England U20 (6) 17 / 13 (13) Australia U20 (Final Score)
England Under 20 and Australia Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Manchester, at 20:45 SA Time (18:45 GMT, 19:45 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 on TV in SA.
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Ireland U20 (20) 35 / 7 (7) Georgia U20 (Final Score)
Ireland Under 20 and Georgia Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Manchester, at 18:30 SA Time (16:30 GMT, 17:30 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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New Zealand U20 (10) 18 / 17 (14) Wales U20 (Final Score)
France Under 20 and Japan Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Salford, at 18:30 SA Time (16:30 GMT, 17:30 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 on TV in SA.
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Scotland U20 (5) 27 / 19 (7) Italy U20 (Final Score)
Scotland Under 20 and Italy Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Manchester, at 16:30 SA Time (14:30 GMT, 15:30 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Argentina U20 (15) 39 / 20 (13) Japan U20 (Final Score)
Argentina Under 20 and Japan Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Salford, at 16:30 SA Time (14:30 GMT, 15:30 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 on TV in SA.
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Junior Springboks (6) 13 / 19 (13) Argentina U20 (Final Score)
South Africa’s Junior Springbok Under 20 and Argentina Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Salford, at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT, 18:00 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 on TV in SA.
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England U20 (13) 44 / 0 (0) Scotland U20 (Final Score)
England Under 20 and Scotland Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Manchester, at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT, 18:00 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was not broadcast LIVE on TV in SA.
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Wales U20 (7) 10 / 9 (6) Georgia U20 (Final Score)
Wales Under 20 and Georgia Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Manchester, at 16:45 SA Time (14:45 GMT, 15:45 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was not broadcast LIVE on TV in SA.
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France U20 (17) 46 / 14 (7) Japan U20 (Final Score)
France Under 20 and Japan Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Salford, at 16:45 SA Time (14:45 GMT, 15:45 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 on TV in SA.
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Australia U20 (7) 38 / 10 (10) Italy U20 (Final Score)
Australia Under 20 and Italy Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Manchester, at 14:30 SA Time (12:30 GMT, 13:30 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 on TV in SA.
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New Zealand U20 (14) 24 / 33 (20) Ireland U20 (Final Score)
New Zealand Under 20 and Ireland Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Salford, at 14:30 SA Time (12:30 GMT, 13:30 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was not broadcast LIVE on TV in SA.
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Hi,
We have 2 NEW SuperBru Pools for all to join!
- The World Rugby Under 20 Championship (Junior World Cup) 2016 starts on 7 June 2016 (today), so hurry up and do not delay to register for it!
- The June Internationals 2016 starts on 11 June 2016, register for it too, whilst the iron is hot!
This year we are doing it a bit differently and opened our Pools up to all readers of Rugby-Talk.com, but we encourage you to register as a subsciber on Rugby-Talk.com anyway, as our banter and commenting about our Pools will mostly take place here on the website and not on the SuperBru banter boards! It is so easy to register and such fun to discuss rugby here.
Junior Springboks (14) 59 / 19 (19) Japan U20 (Final Score)
South Africa’s Junior Springbok Under 20 and Japan Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Manchester, at 16:15 SA Time (14:15 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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France U20 (8) 15 / 24 (6) Argentina U20 (Final Score)
France Under 20 and Argentina Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Salford, at 16:15 SA Time (14:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 on TV in SA.
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Wales U20 (17) 25 / 26 (15) Ireland U20 (Final Score)
Wales Under 20 and Ireland Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Manchester, at 18:30 SA Time (16:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Australia U20 (7) 10 / 15 (3) Scotland U20 (Final Score)
Australia Under 20 and Scotland Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Salford, at 18:30 SA Time (16:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 on TV in SA.
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England U20 (17) 48 / 10 (3) Italy U20 (Final Score)
England Under 20 and Italy Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Manchester, at 20:45 SA Time (18:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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New Zealand U20 (31) 55 / 0 (0) Georgia U20 (Final Score)
New Zealand Under 20 and Georgia Under 20 did battle in the World Rugby Under
20 Championship 2016 at Salford, at 20:45 SA Time (14:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 on TV in SA.
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Rory Lamont: On-field treatment following Fibula fracture against France in 2012
The relationship between Rory Lamont and rugby has always been uneasy. When it was good, it was really good: 29 Scotland caps, two World Cups, and stints in Europe’s top leagues with Toulon, Sale and Glasgow.
When it was bad, it was really bad: whispering campaigns about his attitude, 16 operations, “double figure” concussions. By the time the game ran out of uses for him, the feeling was entirely mutual.
Three years ago this week, Lamont announced his retirement. The last of his many injuries, a lower leg fracture from the previous year, hadn’t properly healed and the end came as a relief.
“I was thinking, ‘finally it’s over’. I felt like an animal being put out of its misery. I’d had a miserable year, people questioning my integrity, and I couldn’t wait to crack on with my life and all the amazing things I was going to do.”
Never did he picture becoming a recluse, battling severe depression and suicidal thoughts. Nowhere in the retirement brochure did it say he’d lose 25kg in four months and be unable to stomach solids for a further five. The bit about being so low he hoped he’d be run over by a bus? Not what he’d signed up for either.
Fourie du Preez
Springbok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez called time on his illustrious rugby career today (Thursday).
The 34-year-old Du Preez represented South Africa in 76 Tests between 2004 and 2015, captaining the Springboks in 4 Tests at the World Cup in England last year. He also won 164 caps for the Bulls and Blue Bulls from 2001 to 2011, and played 55 times for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan.
Du Preez played his last match in the green and gold in last year’s World Cup semifinal against New Zealand, where he picked up an injury which ruled him out of the 3rd-place play-off. He has subsequently finished his career with Suntory.
“Fourie du Preez will go down in the annals of South African rugby as one of the most decorated players ever,” said SA Rugby President Oregan Hoskins.
Ayumu Goromaru
Japan is looking to cash in on the rugby fever that swept the nation in recent weeks by unveiling a life-size bronze statue of Rugby World Cup star Ayumu Goromaru.
However, fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the golden-coloured figure – crouching with its fingers clasped together in the player’s trademark kick routine – will have to be quick.
After being unveiled by Goromaru himself on Monday it will be part of the decorations for Tokyo’s Christmas illuminations for a month only and be removed again afterwards.
Eddie Jones
England’s new rugby coach Eddie Jones has been hired as an adviser by Goldman Sachs in Japan in the hope he can reproduce the Midas touch he showed at the Rugby World Cup.
The 55-year-old Australian, who recently led Japan’s Brave Blossoms to 3 victories in 4 games at the Rugby World Cup, will join a 9-member advisory board at the start of next year, a spokesman said Friday.
“(Jones) has achieved the impossible by bringing the Japanese team to a level on par with the best in world rugby,” Goldman Sachs Japan president Masanori Mochida said in a statement.
“Goldman Sachs will benefit from his unrivalled leadership and his ability to bring together a multi-cultural team, set clear goals and pull an entire team toward a shared vision.”
Eddie Jones
Eddie Jones will most likely not be coming back to Cape Town to assist the DHL Stormers in their pre-season preparation work, but he will be in Los Angelos this week.
Newly appointed England coach Jones will be addressing a World Rugby workshop on the success of the Japan team at the Rugby World Cup, who won 3 games despite failing to make the play-offs under his guidance.
Jones was unveiled as the new DHL Stormers coach earlier this month, before being made an offer he could not refuse by the English RFU which saw him leave Cape Town after just 2 weeks.
Stormers director of rugby, Gert Smal, claimed that Jones would return to Cape Town in December to assist with the planning for next season, explaining that the experienced coach felt bad for the way things had transpired with the Stormers.
R.I.P. Jonah Lomu
New Zealand rugby union great Jonah Lomu has died aged 40.
Lomu, who scored 43 tries in 73 matches for New Zealand between 1994 and 2002, had been diagnosed with a rare and serious kidney condition.
It forced him to quit the game and he had a kidney transplant in 2004, but the organ stopped functioning in 2011.
“Jonah was a legend of our game and loved by his many fans both here and around the world,” said New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew.
“We’re lost for words and our heartfelt sympathies go out to Jonah’s family.”
Family spokesman John Mayhew told New Zealand television that Lomu’s death was “totally unexpected” and that he had only arrived back from the UK on Tuesday, after spending time there for the Rugby World Cup.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said: “The thoughts of the entire country are with his family.”
Richie McCaw
Double Rugby World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw is expected to confirm his decision to retire from rugby this week, New Zealand media reported on Sunday.
McCaw, who turns 35 on 31 December, led the All Blacks to their 3rd Rugby World Cup triumph 2 weeks ago when his side beat trans-Tasman rivals Australia 34 / 17 in the final at a packed Twickenham stadium in London.
The All Blacks were the 1st team to retain the trophy, after the openside flanker led the team to victory in 2011 while playing with a broken foot.
McCaw had done little to dampen expectations that he would retire after this year’s Rugby World Cup, though never explicitly said he would, preferring to state he would not make up his mind until the global showpiece ended.
He was not named last month in the Canterbury Super Rugby squad for 2016 though New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the Crusaders said there was space for him if he chose to play on.
When he took to the field as Scotland cap number 1 073, Josh Strauss became the 50th player to make his debut for the national side since the last Rugby World Cup in 2011. This is by far the highest number of new players for Scotland in any Rugby World Cup cycle – more, in fact, than the previous 2 combined (48 new caps). It requires going back to the 1950s to find a greater number of 1st caps in a 4 year period.
Despite having the smallest player base of any of the Six Nations, Scotland has had more debutants than any of their rivals:
- England – 41
- France – 40
- Ireland – 37
- Italy – 31
- Wales – 37
In fact only 1 side who competed at this year’s Rugby World Cup awarded more new caps in the last 4 years. By a quirk of the global calendar Argentina didn’t have access to many of their 1st (or even 2nd) choice players when the South American Championship takes place and 54 of their 67 new caps (including 24 in the space of 5 days in 2013, the last year they appeared in it!) debuted in the annual iterations of this tournament.
England Rugby Football Union Chief Executive Ian Ritchie said that England were determined to appoint a coach of “proven international experience”.
The search for this new coach – to replace Stuart Lancaster – will continue, however long it takes.
England’s dismal Rugby World Cup campaign set the seal on Lancaster’s 3-and-a-half years in charge, with the RFU announcing earlier on Wednesday he had left his post by “mutual consent”.
Under Lancaster – who had little prior elite rugby experience – England became the 1st host nation to fail to get out of the group phase at the recent Rugby World Cup.
RFU Chief Executive Ritchie said the decision to replace Lancaster had been “unanimously accepted” by the governing body’s board.
England’s next match is their Six Nations opener away to Scotland on 6 February, with the squad due to be announced in January.
Strange as it may seem considering the hype beforehand over “emotional Springbok swansongs” in the bronze playoff match at Rugby World Cup 2015, only 1 member of the squad at the tournament, captain Jean de Villiers, has officially confirmed his Test retirement.
Several younger Springboks spoke beforehand of their desire to beat Argentina – a task duly achieved – as a fitting send-off for senior players bidding farewell to the green-and-gold cause.
Almost 2 weeks on from the end of the Rugby World Cup, however, it is still only the luckless Jean de Villiers, injured again in just the 2nd Rugby World Cup match against Samoa, who has definitely bowed out after 109 appearances since 2002.
Perhaps influenced by the state of flux surrounding embattled coach Heyneke Meyer, the likes of Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez, Schalk Burger and Bryan Habana intriguingly haven’t yet pulled the plug publicly on their illustrious Springbok careers.
The majority of “older” Springboks who took part in their hot-and-cold Rugby World Cup 2015 campaign are now exclusively foreign-based and there have been some pleas back home for only locally-stationed players to be chosen for South Africa henceforth – a tricky matter considering the ever-shrinking strength of the Rand against other currencies, which hardly helps keeps the best players rooted here.
Stuart Lancaster and Ian Richie
The England Rugby Football Union revealed that Stuart Lancaster has, by mutual consent, stepped down as England coach.
The decision follows England’s recent Rugby World Cup campaign, which saw the team knocked out of the tournament at the Pool stages – after defeats to Wales and Australia.
Lancaster was appointed full time in April 2012 and guided England to 2nd place in all of the past 4 Six Nations Championships, with 1 of his notable victories coming against the All Blacks in 2012, 1 of 28 wins in the 46 Test matches during which he was in charge of England.
“I am obviously extremely saddened to finish the way we did in this World Cup and to step down from the role,” Lancaster said.
“As I have always said, I ultimately accept and take responsibility for the team’s performance and we have not delivered the results we all hoped for during this tournament.
“I did, however, want to take part in the review to ensure I understood the views of others before making a decision.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has delayed its General Council meeting by a week.
The meeting was originally due to take place on 4 December and is understood to have a major influence on whether or not Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s contract is extended following the Springboks semifinal exit at this year’s Rugby World Cup.
The meeting will now take place on 11 December and will follow a meeting of the Executive Council on 9 December.