World Cup
You know you’re getting close to a Super 14 grudge match when the words “physical”, “outmuscle” and forward “war” start getting bandied about.
I was fortunate enough to have been invited to the GLRU media launch for the Super 14 at the Lion park in Muldersdrift. The goal of the day was to give the media and press the opportunity to mingle with the players and coaching staff as well as the GLRU management.
Allister Coetzee, head coach of the Vodacom Stormers, today announced his team to play a Boland Invitational IV at the new Cape Town Stadium on Saturday 6 February.
Over the last couple of weeks we’ve had numerous discussions about what the Lions’ expectations should be for 2010. Expecting a semi-final or final in the Super 14 is great, and you can’t be blamed for a lack of optimism, but is it realistic?
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske was smiling from ear to ear with the news that playmaker Meyer Bosman was declared fit for action on Tuesday.
The talk prior to the start of the Super 14 is the breakdown, and after all is said and done, from what I have seen I believe we are moving in the right direction. Continue reading
The coach of the Vodacom Bulls, Frans Ludeke, is satisfied with his team’s performance against the Lions in Polokwane and he is delighted that they did not pick up any injuries.
With both sides taking the ball wide from the outset, the Bulls’ Blue team – in effect their A-side – beat a plucky Lions Red team 42-12 on Saturday, scoring five tries to two in a warm-up match ahead of the Super 14 competition.
The Bulls and Lions went head to head in 2 warm-up matches today at Polokwane (Pietersburg). The Bulls Teams won both encounters, the 1st match ending in the Bulls favour at 25 / 3 and the 2nd match between the better sides ending in the Bulls favour at 42 / 12.
The Stormers took on the Sharks tonight in Cape Town in a warm-up game in preparation for the Super 14, which starts in 2 short weeks. This is the match thread for discussion of the game.
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A minute of silence will be observed on Saturday before the kick-off of the Vodacom Super 14 warm-up match between the Vodacom Bulls and the Auto & General Lions in the new Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, in honour of the former Blue Bulls and Springbok player, Ruben Kruger who passed away during the past week.
The GLRU does very little to cover themselves with glory in recent times, and Manie Reynecke is fast becoming notorious as a moaning myrtle. The GLRU has lodged an official complaint with SARU regarding the Sharks making use of Willem Alberts in the game they so spectacularly lost against the Force on Tuesday evening.
The Stormers have selected what appears to be close to their absolute best starting 15 for the match against the Sharks at Newlands on Friday.
The coach of the Vodacom Bulls, Frans Ludeke, has selected his strongest available team for Saturday’s warm-up fixture in Polokwane.
The Sharks took on the Western Force in a warm-up match at Newlands, Cape Town tonight. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. See match summary below.
The Bulls play the Lions in Polokwane this weekend in both their 1st warm-up games for the Super 14 this year. This thread looks at the Lions Squads and gives a bit of insight into how the Lions feel about the upcoming game.
Remember folks, we’ll have the Sharks playing the Western Force tonight in Cape Town in a Super 14 warm-up match. This is not the match thread for discussion of the game, the actual game thread will come later…
Springbok number 8 Pierre Spies has been ruled out of the Vodacom Bulls Super 14 squad for Saturday’s warm-up match against the Lions in Polokwane. Continue reading
Sometimes it is hard to tell which is worse? Finding out that the cute chick that you just played tonsil hockey with, is actually a dude, or coming to the end of yet another rugby season, with no trophies, no honour and still maintaining that the Stormers is the best team in SA. Continue reading
Ewen McKenzie got his stint as Reds coach off to a winning start, by getting one over on his former franchise, the Waratahs – the Queensland outfit edging their New South Wales rivals 26-24 in a Super 14 pre-season trial Oakes Oval, Lismore, on Saturday.
Eastern Province gave the Cheetahs a hefty scare as they held them to a 13-9 scoreline in their pre-season friendly at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The Stormers played the Western Force at Newlands today in their 1st warm-up match for the 2010 Super 14. This is the thread for discussion of the game and gives you the match summary and some photo’s from the event.
Highlanders vs Chiefs and Blues against Hurricanes played their first games earlier this morning. Although the reports are short here it is. Seems like everyone is playing 4 quarters and no real urgency is showed. Will wait and see how the Stormers approach their game later today.
Sharks coach John Plumtree has named a 28-man traveling squad who will make the trip down to Cape Town this weekend ahead of the Neo Africa Tri Series.
There were smiles all round Loftus Versfeld on Thursday when the injury cloud hanging over the Vodacom Bulls finally started to lift.
The Team of the Stormers to play the Western Force in the 1st match of the Tri-Series, the warm-up matches for the Stormers has been announced.
The South African Rugby Union (Saru) is currently busy with a comprehensive research survey and the aim is to ultimately understand the rugby supporters better and to deliver a better product in a tightly contested sports entertainment arena. Continue reading
Pedrie Wannenburg will have to step out of controversy to play a key role for the Bulls in the Super14 following the news that Dewald Potgieter will miss at least the first two weeks of the tournament with a knee injury. Continue reading
The Sharks will consider loose forward acquisition Willem Alberts for their friendly matches next week and challenge SA Rugby to change the regulation prohibiting this.
I sat reading through so many articles in different newspapers and web sites, and the more I read the more I found myself wondering who is to blame.
The Bulls were dealt another injury blow in the build-up to the defence of their Super 14 crown with the news that Emerging Springbok captain and Bok loose forward Dewald Potgieter has been sidelined through a training ground injury. Continue reading
The Sharks coach, John Plumtree has announced that he has appointed John Smit as captain of The Sharks for 2010 season.
Johannesburg, 18 January 2010… The Golden Lions Rugby Union announced this morning that Wikus van Heerden, former Lions captain, has signed with the Lions from 1 July 2010 – 31 October 2012.
(Courtesy from iAfrica.com)
Fully fit at the start of a season for the first time in years and with nothing to prove, World Cup-winning Springbok flyhalf André Pretorius is looking forward to his stint at the Western Force. Continue reading
The Sharks’ annual Midlands preseason camp finished Friday the 15th of January following a week of intensive training mixed with a few fun physical activities designed to provide some variety to the hard work. Continue reading