The Sharks problems keep getting worse even though Ruan Pienaar’s return for the start of the Super 14 is now possible, the other injuries makes for bad reading as the backline depth is now being severely tested.
The other problems still up in the air is the Ludick and Alberts issue, there still is no finallity into whether they may play for the Sharks or not .
The article below with compliments to Craig lewis and the Daily News.
Wallaby flank George Smith – one of only four Australians to have reached the milestone of 100 Tests – has announced his retirement from international rugby and will be released from his Australian Rugby Union and Brumbies contract at the end of the 2010 Super 14 season. Continue reading
The Western Force have just realised that they have bought the most expensive injury-prone flyhalf in the world, Continue reading
Preview for tomorrows 1st Test against India in Nagpur.
Loftus Versfeld, home to the Currie Cup and Super 14 champions, home to Wynie Strydom and last but not least, home to probably the greatest mass of copyright infringement agents in South Africa, also doubling as ‘the fans’, and please, if you own a cap that says BULL’S and you don’t know what I am talking about, and you don’t understand what is wrong with a cap saying BULL’S, stop reading now (because you probably already missed the thread of the story), and hand yourself over to the nearest police officer.
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.
Richie McCaw’s work at the breakdown is the text book studied by aspiring flankers, now the teacher is going back to school.
Continue reading
New Zealand come up against International Rugby Board (IRB) sevens champions South Africa on the opening night of the Wellington tournament starting tomorrow. A tournament that has NZ coach Gordon Tietjens on edge but also looking to his team to make it three tournament wins a row.
Continue reading
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.
South African Rugby Union president Mr Oregan Hoskins on Tuesday confirmed that the Springboks’ Test against France on June 12 would take place at Newlands as initially planned. Continue reading
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?
The flanker was one of the big stars in the Bulls pre-season performance in Polokwane over the weekend and is focused on getting his career very much back on track after a few wayward years.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske was smiling from ear to ear with the news that playmaker Meyer Bosman was declared fit for action on Tuesday.
Tuks took on the Pukke in the 4th Varsity Cup 2010 game, at Tuks Rugby Grounds in Pretoria. This is the match thread for discussion of the game.
TUT (Tswane University of Technology) take on UJ (University of Johannesburg) today at Tuks rugby ground in Pretoria at 16:30 local time. This is the game thread for discussion of the game.
NMMU took on Maties in the 2nd Varsity Cup match of 2010 in Port Elizabeth at 16:30 local time. This is the game thread for discussion of the game.
Shimlas take on Ikeys in Port Elizabeth in the 1st Varsity Cup game of 2010, at 14:30 SA Time. This is the game thread for discussion of the game.
Juandre Kruger, who is currently playing in the English Premiership for the Northampton Saints, has signed with the Blue Bulls. Continue reading
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.
The Varsity Cup kicks off tomorrow, Monday 1 February 2010, with 4 games to be played, 2 of them at Port Elizabeth (Xerox NMMU Stadium) and 2 of them at Pretoria (Tuks Rugby Stadium). All 4 matches will be broadcast on TV in South Africa, starting at 14:30 Local Time.
Oh, and remember to join our Varsity Cup SuperBru Pool and make your first picks in time before kick-off!!
Sanzar referees and assistant referees will be focusing on freeing up the ball and creating clarity around rulings at the tackle area and at scrum-time in this year’s Super 14 competition.
The Springboks will play all four of the ‘Home Unions’ in November as part of their end-of-year tour, the South African Rugby Union (Saru) announced on Friday following confirmation of the fixture programme by the International Rugby Board (IRB).
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.
I brought this article back for discussion after the first week of warm up games. Did the refereeing change your minds? Give us your opinions. I know we did not see all the games but from reports you can form a good idea how the Referees are blowing this year.
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.
Ireland’s Grand Slam winning captain Brian O’Driscoll insists that last years great success has only added to his sides ambition ahead of the upcoming Six Nations campaign. Continue reading
Former referee Freek Burger was appointed as South African Rugby Union (SARU) only citing officer in this year’s Super14.
The sharks have named their side to meet the stormers fpr Friday night’s match.
This team again is a good one yet begs for many questions to be asked, forwards to me would seem fine but again the backline leaves a lot of scary questions and could cost the Sharks dearly.
One would have hoped for the best possible lineup to be starting as the Super 14 is just around the corner, It does however seem that the heavier pack is chosen with more mobile reserves in waiting as the game could open upa loy as is probably expected.
The article below is thanks to Jan De koning of Rugby365 site
Ruben Kruger passed away after a long fight with brain cancer. More details will follow. Ruben Kruger was only 39 years old.
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.