In an article in today’s Dominion Post former All Black coach and current Lions coach reasons the All Blacks will need a change of direction if they want to win the WC later this year.
A shift in rule interpretations from last year to this year by referees is playing into South Africa’s hands in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup in Mitchell’s opinion. Continue reading
As the cold of Winter starts to really be felt on the Highveld, Lions Rugby have started a drive to collect blankets for those souls less fortunate than those of us here on Rugby Talk.
The collection will take place in earnest at the Lions – Sharks match this weekend.
Springbok and Bulls scrumhalf Fourie du Preez could make a surprise early comeback for the Bulls clash with the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.
SANZAR have released the match officials for the 17th Round of the 2011 Super Rugby tournament with Steve Walsh returning to action.
The Crusaders have suffered another cruel blow with the loss of Captain Richie McCaw for the rest of the regular Super Rugby season.
Although I have said many times that I do not like the new format of Super Rugby, be it due to the unevenness of not playing all the teams in the Competition and playing local derbies twice, it still does make for interesting reading going into the final two rounds of Competition.
The 15th of August 1992 was South Africa’s official return to first class international rugby after 11 years –since the 1981 tour to NZ- of rugby isolation. The Springboks did play two “Test matches” against a world XV in 1989 (6 years prior to 1992) and 4 “Test matches” against the NZ Cavaliers in 1986 and of course there was the two Test matches against a 1984 touring English side but these matches were in all fairness not the real thing.
The Sharks survived an early scare as they found form in the second half to beat the Cheetahs 18-23 in Bloemfontein keeping them alive for another week.
A decision by the South African officials which was later proved to be incorrect may have helped the Waratahs to a 23-17 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria but the Waratahs left Pretoria with their pride in tact.
The Brumbies shocked the Reds 14-22 in Brisbane for a result which has little impact on the Brumbies but opens up the Super Rugby finals charge.
Stephen Donald kicked a late penalty to seal an 11-16 Super Rugby victory over an unconvincing Blues team that has now lost three matches in a row.
The Stormers scored five tries and collected a valuable bonus point in their final tour match, as they downed the hapless Rebels 40-3 in Melbourne on Friday.
Springbok loose forward Juan Smith says he’s nearing a return to light training after a torn Achilles’ tendon in February threatened his chances of playing at the Rugby World Cup.
Isa Nacewa scored a try in the final minute of the match to hand the Barbarians a 28-31 victory over Wales.
Brumbies number eight Ita Vaea has been suspended for one week after being found guilty of foul play by a SANZAR Judicial Hearing.
Waratahs coach Chris Hickey may be forced to turn to Sydney club rugby again to shore-up his depleted stocks as five players are in doubt for their crunch Super Rugby game with the Highlanders on Saturday.
Brumbies and Wallabies lock Mark Chisholm has been ruled out for the rest of the season including the Rugby World Cup with a knee injury he sustained in Super rugby.
The Reds brutal 14-22 loss to the Brumbies could have a bigger impact than initially thought as half of their backline is in doubt for their match against the Force.
Toulouse scrapped their way to an 18th French league crown on Saturday, justifying by a whisker their favourites’ tag to edge underdogs Montpellier 15-10 at the Stade de France in the Top 14 final.
Cheetahs (11) 18 / Sharks (6) 23 (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs hosted the Sharks at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
It was frenetic, it was hard, it was brutal… and the Sharks finished with 2 players in the sin-bin but they won, by 5 points. 4 Log points for them, mission accomplished, against a game and determined Cheetahs side.
Reds (11) 14 / Brumbies (19) 22 (Final Score)
The Reds hosted the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 11:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The lowly Brumbies toppled the Log-leading Reds, at home… with an 8 point win, denying the Reds even a single Log point.
Blues (6) 11 / Chiefs (7) 16 (Final Score)
The Blues hosted the Chiefs at Eden Park, Auckland at 09:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Blues stumbled for the 3rd time in 4 weeks, the Chiefs finally coming to some kind of form, late in the competition.
Ideal result for the South African challenge on the competition as a whole!
Hurricanes (15) 38 / Lions (20) 27 (Final Score)
The Hurricanes hosted the MTN Lions at Westpac Stadium, Wellington at 07:30 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Hurricanes managed their 5 Log points win to nothing over the MTN Lions.
Bulls (13) 23 / Waratahs (6) 17 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls hosted the Waratahs at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 19:10 SA Time. This was the match Thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Waratahs made quite a game of it and worried the Bulls throughout the match but in the end the Bulls won by 23 / 17, a slender 6-point margin.
Mission accomplished, 4 points in the bag for the Bulls, pity about the one point for the Waratahs.
Rebels (3) 3 / Stormers (16) 40 (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels hosted the DHL Stormers at AAMI Stadium, Melbourne at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Melbourne Time). This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
Mission accomplished for the Stormers, leaving the 4th try very late, but importantly getting it when it mattered.
Highlanders (14) 14 / Force (3) 21 (Final Score)
The Highlanders hosted the Western Force at Carisbrook Stadium, Dunedin at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ local time). This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Highlanders were simply blown off the field in the second half by a very gutsy Western Force side. Ideal result for the sides from South Africa with aspirations for the play-off’s.
Herewith ALL the Super Rugby team sheets as they were announced for week 16 of Super Rugby 2011.
Retention, recruitment, and team culture. This is what success in rugby is built on.
The Sharks have named their team to face the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein with new signing Frederic Michalak being named on the bench.
Springbok and Stormers scrumhalf Ricky Januarie is reportedly considering a move to French Top 14 Rugby club Lyon.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has made two changes to the team that lost to the Bulls last weekend for their match against the Sharks.
Allister Coetzee, head coach of the DHL Stormers, today named his team to take on the Rebels at AAMI Park on Friday 3 June.
The MTN Lions have released their team to face the Hurricanes in Wellington this weekend.
Sharks have confirmed the Signing of mercurial french star Freddy Michalak Who is already in Durban and available for selection with immediate effect.
SANZAR has announced the referees for week 16 of Super Rugby 2011.