Wallaby coach Robbie Deans has some tough decisions to make when deciding on his test fly-half.
Matt Giteau is the incumbent, Quade Cooper the heir apparent and Berrick Barnes when fit, the team vice-captain.
England – A plan to end the round of increasingly meaningless end-of-season international rugby tours in which top countries try out second and third string players has met with a mixed reception.
The International Rugby Board on Monday unveiled a new 10-year rotational playing calendar for June which pitches the cream of international world rugby on a rotational basis from 2012.
Stormers fans in search of tickets for Saturday’s Super 14 semifinal showdown with the Waratahs were left fuming on Tuesday morning after the Computicket system crashed.
Irate fans called into radio stations and posted messages on social networking site Twitter, complaining that they had been unable to buy tickets for the Stormers’ crunch match against the ‘Tahs at Newlands Stadium.
The Vodacom Bulls will face the Crusaders in Saturday’s semi-final of the Super 14 in Orlando Stadium with their most experienced team yet.
Additional tickets will be released to Computicket tomorrow during the course of the day, 19 May 2010, due to the season ticket holders not taking up their tickets.
A four week suspension is what Bakkies received after his hearing as we all read on a previous thread. Is it fair ? Look at the footage and read further on the rule that was applicable… Continue reading
Veteran Springbok and Bulls lock Bakkies Botha has been banned for four weeks.
Gio Aplon is small of stature at 74kg, but Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is delighted that he can bank on the right wing’s big heart for Saturday’s Super 14 semi-final against the Waratahs.
Italy captain Sergio Parisse was welcomed back into the squad Monday as coach Nick Mallett unveiled his 26-man squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa.
Nerves will be shot. Use this thread to break tension. Make Jokes. Laugh. Moan. Complain. Do anything. Be witty. Paste the best quotes. Share you jokes. Just do not try Nonu,s language.
To break away from the serious stuff surrounding the Semi-Finals this article will start with surveys to determine various sought after titles and some not so glamorous titles in this years Super 14 Competition.
We will cover South African awards and International ones too. The list of categories follow below.
Second Survey – Nominations start Tomorrow
Plonker of the year(rugby) closing date after Semi finals
Plonker of the year(media) closing date after Semi finals
First Survey – Most exciting Team – REDS
Is this what Grootblousmile meant? Well this story wont go away. And heaven forbid us the Bulls lose this semi-final. Then we will hear it another 10 years or longer.
SPECULATION
ASSUMPTION
CONJECTURE
These are probably the three ugliest words in the rugby world today!
What a momentous day, Rugby-Talk passed the 100 000 Comments mark this morning at 11:43.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtgsltBM0LI[/youtube]
Tickets for the Vodacom Super 14 semi-final at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on 22 May 2010 has been sold out.
The residents of Soweto will welcome the Bulls with open arms
This is the opinion of Brumies coach Andy Friend on how the reainder of the S14 games will go down.. Continue reading
If the Crusaders players can persuade their jumbled body clocks to forgive them the tortuous regime of the last few weeks, the New Zealanders have a famous victory within their grasp in Soweto this weekend.
THE Stormers have wasted little time in engaging the Waratahs in psychological warfare before this weekend’s Super 14 semi-final in Cape Town.
Bulls lock Bakkies Botha was cited for a charging into a ruck during his team’s Super 14 match against the Stormers at Newlands Stadium, in Cape Town. Continue reading
Just as well the Crusaders Captain Richie McCaw can think on his feet !
Continue reading
The latest updated rankings after the last round of the league stages of the S14… Continue reading
England won by 7 wickets (18 balls remaining)
Australia 147/6(20 overs)
England 148/3 (17/20 overs)
The 2 Semi-Finals in this year’s Super 14 will take place on Saturday 22 May 2010, as follows:
Bulls vs Crusaders, Orlando Stadium, Soweto at 17:05 SA Time
Stormers vs Waratahs, Newlands, Cape Town at 19:10 SA Time
Details about travel arrangement and ticketing follws hereafter in the Article.
The Stormers, who enjoyed the luxury of facing the a second-string Bulls outfit, scored a comprehensive 38-10 victory at Newlands on Saturday evening to secure a home Super 14 semifinal at Newlands next week. Continue reading
A secret meeting has handed the All Blacks and their Southern Hemisphere neighbours a big on-field advantage before the Rugby World Cup is staged in New Zealand next year.
Stormers (28) 38 / Bulls (3) 10 (Final Score)
The Stormers hosted the Bulls at Newlands, Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Stormers won the encounter by 38 / 10 and earned a bonus point in the process, elevating them to No 2 on the Log and also earning them a Home semi-final.
It was clear that the many changes the Bulls made, fielding a B-side made their cohesion less whereas the Stormers appeared to be a well oiled machine.
The Bulls B-side was not disgraced though and showed better form than at least 2 or 3 of the Super 14 teams who occupy the 12th, 13th and 14th spots on the Log.
Cheetahs (38) 59 / Lions (3) 10 (Final Score)
The Cheetahs hosted the Lions at Welkom in the Free State at 15:00 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Cheetahs beat the Lions by 59 / 10, scoring 9 tries in the process and just managing to surpass the Chiefs on the Super 14 Log.
Well done to the Cheetahs for finishing the Super 14 so strong!
Reds (24) 38 / Highlanders (3) 36 (Final Score)
The Reds hosted the Highlanders in Brisbane, Australia at 11:40 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Reds beat the Highlanders in a thrilling match by 38 / 36 but it was’nt without drama as Israel Dagg lined up for a long distance match winning penalty, which fell short.
The Reds end their season in 5th spot on the Log.
Yes, the Waratahs do deserve to be in the Super 14 finals. They’ve certainly had their lucky moments and dead spots over the past three months, but showed against the Hurricanes they have the qualities to be a finals side.
Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper says his eight-year tenure will be tinged with regret that his sides did not deliver on their true potential in big matches.
Blues (12) 30 / Chiefs (6) 20 (Final Score)
The Blues hosted the Chiefs in Auckland, New Zealand at 09:35 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Blues scored 5 tries to the Chiefs 2 to win by 30 / 20.
Both teams now silently exit the competition.
Sharks (17) 27 / Force (15) 22 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Western Force at ABSA Stadium, Durban at 19:10 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Sharks struggled to put the Force away, did not score 4 tries but won 27 / 22.
End of the Super 14 season for these 2 teams.
Waratahs (18) 32 / Hurricanes (9) 16 (Final Score)
The Waratahs hosted the Hurricanes at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney at 11:40 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Waratahs scored 4 tries and beat the Hurricanes convincingly, by 32 / 16.
The Waratahs earns a semi-final and moves up to temporary 2nd spot on the Log, on 43 Points, whilst the Hurricanes silently exits the tournament.