Interpreting some games of rugby is akin to interpreting a Rorschach inkblot. The Rorschach Test was developed by Swiss psychologist Hermann Rorschach in 1921 to give insights into personality characteristics. It asks subjects to describe what they see in 10 symmetrical inkblots and the tester will make various assumptions about their personality according to the interpretation. – by John Eales
Samoan stalwart Seilala Mapusua has vowed his side will throw everything at the Springboks on Friday after winning the battle of the islands yesterday to keep their World Cup quarterfinals hopes alive.
Argentina (3) 13 / Scotland (6) 12 (Final Score)
Argentina and Scotland did battle in Wellington at 09:30 SA Time (20:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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This was not a pretty, airy-fairie match, but hard and unrelenting rugby.
The Argentinians came back from being 12 / 6 down to score a marvelous try and a cool conversion, and then hanging on with everything they had to keep brave Scotland away.
Ireland (36) 62 / Russia (0) 12 (Final Score)
Ireland and Russia did battle in Rotorua at 07:00 SA Time (18:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Ireland scored 9 tries to 2 and comfortably took the match, as expected.
The world’s rugby media have been rich in their praise for the All Blacks’ impressive win over France with former England lock Paul Ackford declaring: “The World Cup is as good as theirs”.
Fiji (0) 7 / Samoa (12) 27 (Final Score)
Fiji and Samoa did battle in Auckland at 04:30 SA Time (15:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Samoa just suffocated Fiji out of the game from the word go.
Very late in the second half, the game sprung alive after the first try of the match, with 2 more tries scored, one from each side.
WP (6) 20 Cheetahs (24) 34 (Final Score)
DHL Western Province hosted the Toyota Free State Cheetahs at Newlands, Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The Free State Cheetahs took the game by the scruff of the neck early on and by Halftime were leading by 18.
DHL Western Province refused to lie down and came back hard at the Free State Cheetahs, to only concede a late try by Coenie Oosthuizen, and resulting in a 14-point loss for the Home side.
DHL Western Province now face the Sharks and then the MTN Lions in successive weeks.
Lions (6) 18 / Blue Bulls (18) 21 (Final Score)
The MTN Golden Lions hosted the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 15:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The Blue Bulls desperately held on, with superb defence to win this cliff-hanger by 3 points.
All Blacks (19) 37 / France (3) 17 (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks hosted France at Eden Park, Auckland at 10:30 SA Time (20:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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After a strong France start, the All Blacks had a purple patch, where they scored 3 quick tries and from then on France was always just chasing the game.
5 Tries to 2 for the All Blacks.
Peter de Villiers surely did put the attention back on the Haka with his remark that over-performing it will impact on its effect.
The other side of the coin is that the more it is performed in the streets the more it connects the people to the tribe/nation.
I often get the impression that New Zealanders –especially the Islanders- have difficulty understanding that the rest of the world just don’t have the same romantic obsession with the Haka than them.
As an outsider one can feel that they just don’t get it namely that outsiders tolerate it and are not in awe of it. That outsiders are being polite and not overwhelmed by it when they make compliments and positive remarks about it.
For outsiders it is hard to understand how the Haka connects the individual to the Soul of the nation. For the kiwis the Haka is a serious war dance.
England (34) 67 / Romania (3) 3 (Final score)
England and Romania did battle in Dunedin at 08:00 SA Time (18:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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There was ALWAYS only going to be one winner, and so it was, England winning by 10 tries to none.
Sharks (14) 29 / Griquas (10) 18 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted GWK Griquas as Kings Park, Durban at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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The Sharks scored their 4 tries for a bonus point win, but the Griquas gave them a torrid time and in the end lost by only 8 points.
I was sent these facts, figures and stats, by our friend and fellow-blogger, 4man. Thanks Ou-Ballie!
It is truly remarkable how many of the players in Rugby World Cup 2011, playing for their different countries, were born in another country, not the one they are playing for.
The Blue Bulls have a tough task if they want to keep alive their Currie Cup semi-final hopes when they travel to Johannesburg on Saturday to face the table-topping Golden Lions.
On Friday in Cape Town, Western Province host the resurgent Free State Cheetahs in a tricky encounter for the home team, after the side from Bloemfontein crushed The Sharks last weekend.
In the two other games of the weekend, Griquas travel to Durban to face The Sharks, still hurting from their defeat in Bloemfontein last week, while both the Pumas and the Platinum Leopards will be aiming for their second victory of the season in Nelspruit.
Wallabies (22) 67 / USA (5) 5 (Final Score)
The Australian Wallabies did battle with the USA Eagles in Wellington at 10:30 SA Time (20:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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The Wallabies scored 11 tries to a solitary try by the USA.
The injury toll on the Wallaby side will be worrysome for them, though.
DHL WP Coach Allister Coetzee named his team to take on the Toyota Freestate Cheetahs at DHL Newlands on Saturday 24 September at 17h05.
New Zealand rugby Coach Graham Henry has strengthened his All Blacks team with the return of skipper Richie McCaw and Dan Carter among four changes for Saturday’s big World Cup Pool A game with France at Eden Park.
Springboks (31) 87 / Namibia (0) 0 (Final Score)
The South African Springboks did battle with Namibia in Albany at 10:00 SA Time (20:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The First half was not convincing at all by the Springboks, too many lapses in concentration and too many forced and unforced errors riddled this period. Despite not being clinical enough the Springboks scored 4 converted tries and a penalty in the First Half.
The Springboks started the Second Half in much the same vein, but then suddenly all gears clicked into place, and the tries rained on the poor Namibians. The Springboks scored 56 points in the Second Half.
Altogether, the Springboks scored 12 tries, hell make that 12 converted tries, as the 2 Springbok kickers had a flawless night with the boot as well.
At this juncture in Rugby World Cup 2011, this is the biggest win of the Tournament, surpassing the 83 / 7 score by the All Blacks whilst at the same time keeping the score sheet squeeky clean for the Springboks on the day.
Scrum-half Will Genia will captain an Australian side showing six changes from the one that lost to Ireland in Friday’s Pool C World Cup match against the United States.
Scrumhalf Ross Cronje and hooker Kyle Cooper have been included in the Sharks team for Friday’s Currie Cup clash against Griquas in Durban.
Lions coach John Mitchell has made two changes and two positional changes as he named his side to face the Vodacom Blue Bulls on Saturday.
Regular Vodacom Bulls Super Rugby wing Gerhard van den Heever has been included in the Vodacom Blue Bulls team to play the Lions at Coca Cola Park in a Currie Cup match on Saturday.
Van den Heever will replace the injured Akona Ndungane in the only change to the side that beat Western Province last weekend.
Tonga (18) 31 / Japan (13) 18 (Final Score)
Tonga and Japan did battle in Whangarei at 09:30 SA Time (19:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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What a good action-packed match!
The sides went hammer and tongs from the word go, no standing back!
It was thrust and parry, defend and run… brutal but honest rugby.
A Maori leader has backed Springbok coach Peter de Villiers’ comments on the haka being overused, saying it has been “hijacked by rugby people” for commercial purposes.
PETER LOVE: “The haka in our culture is something which is regarded as special and should not be bastardised by sport.”
De Villiers’ comments attracted over 270 responses on Stuff.co.nz yesterday, with opinion split on whether the haka was overused.
Coach Naka Drotske has announced a team showing two changes from the team that so comprehensively beat the Sharks. Continue reading
All Blacks were taken by surprise when told Springbok coach Peter de Villiers feels their famous pre-match haka, an indigenous Maori war dance, is over-used.
France coach Marc Lievremont has named his team to face New Zealand’s All Blacks in the crucial Pool A match at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
I know it is RWC time and I have written before (read here) about the fairy tale Curry Cup win of Griqualand West against the mighty Blue Bulls in 1970. This week I received this wonderfully written account by Michael Kokkinn about that historic match. Micheal’s father was not only one of the selectors of the Griquas team but also a sort of mentor to coach Ian Kirkpatrick. Michael actually attended the match in 1970 and here is his first hand personal recollection of the match.
My personal thanks to Michael for this personal first hand and historical recollection of that match. You can feel the passion for the game as you read his story. This is heartland South African rugby and it is people like him that make South African rugby what it is.
1970 Griquas Team - Currie Cup winners
Wallaby winger James O’Connor has been ruled out of Australia’s Rugby World Cup match against the USA with a strained hamstring.
Fiji backrower Dominiko Waqaniburotu will almost certainly miss the rest of the Rugby World Cup after being suspended for three weeks.
Italy (38) 53 / Russia (7) 17 (Final Score)
Italy and Russia did battle in Nelson at 09:30 SA Time (19:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Italy scored 9 tries to 3 by Russia.
It was good rugby though, nice running and full-on dominance by Italy in the scrums.
The Springboks on Tuesday made five changes to the starting line-up for their Rugby World Cup Pool D match against southern African neighbours Namibia at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, on Thursday.
South Africa v Namibia, 22 September 2011, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
In an official press release the Blue Bulls Company Pty (Ltd), have announced the signing from DHL Western Province of promising youngster and flyhalf, Lionel Cronje.
Western Province No 8 Duane Vermeulen has confirmed he won’t be available for selection for the remainder of the 2011 season.
South Africa are focusing on their upcoming Rugby World Cup match against Namibia even though they are now on track to face Australia in the quarter finals.