All Blacks
The banned substance methylhexaneamine, for which two Springbok rugby players tested positive, is apparently freely available in South African pharmacies.
Coach Peter de Villiers on Tuesday made four changes to the Springbok starting XV and one positional switch for Saturday’s Test against Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh. Zane Kirchner, Francois Hougaard, Lwazi Mvovo and Ryan Kankowski were all promoted to the starting line up while Gio Aplon moves from fullback to wing from the team that defeated Wales 29-25 in Cardiff on Saturday.
South Africa, England and Argentina all rise one place in the latest IRB World Rankings after victories in their respective November internationals on Saturday, although it is Bulgaria who claim the honour as the biggest climbers of the week with an eight-place elevation to 82nd.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers may well unleash some of the young stars in his touring party on Scotland in Saturday’s rugby test at Murrayfield.
The banned stimulant Springboks Bjorn Basson and Chilliboy Ralepelle were tested positive for after the team’s opening Test against Ireland possess a real threat to sports men and women across the world, South African Institute for Drug Free Sport chairperson Dr Shuaid Manjra said on Monday.
Two Springboks are returning home from South Africa’s tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland, having returned positive samples for a banned stimulant.
Bok hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle and wing Bjorn Basson returned positive samples following the Test against Ireland on November 6.
Between the referee, Habana and box kicks the Springboks nearly lost this Test. The score line is certainly flattering to the Welsh and we should be concerned by the fact that we made such hard work to put away a Welsh team that was fairly average on the day. Continue reading
Wales (17) 25 / Springboks (9) 29 (Final Score)
Wales host the Springboks from South Africa at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff at 16:30 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match is broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Southern Kings will play friendly matches against all five of the Super Rugby teams in 2011 as well as top English club Saracens as the latest stage in a plan by the South African Rugby Union (SARU) to prepare the team for Super Rugby entry in 2013.
The Springbok Team for the game against Wales has been announced.
Jean de Villiers continued to be nursed as the Springboks began the buildup to Saturday’s test against Wales in Cardiff on Monday, but the chances are good that the most experienced centre in the squad will take his place at the Millennium Stadium.
The Springboks won – just – with a convincing performance by the forwards pack but the dangers and limitations of our old school style was again ominous.
In fairness, the way the pack dominated we should have won this match by at least 17 points, but lack of structure when we play the ball wide /down the line culminated in a comedy of errors and some frustrating decisions by the referee which almost cost us the match.
Ireland (6) 21 / Springboks (13) 23 (Final Score)
Ireland hosted the Springboks at Aviva Stadium, Landsdowne Road, Dublin at 19:30 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 and M-Net on TV in SA.
The Springboks forwards were monsterous and they dominated the first half and most of the set pieces.
The Irish came back strongly in the last 20 minutes and a comedy off errors by Sppringbok players nearly made the Irish comeback complete.
Well done to the Springboks though, a win I did not foresee!
3 / 0 for the Southern Hemisphere on the day.
Ireland hosts the Springboks at Aviva Stadium, Landsdowne Road, Dublin at 19:30 SA Time.
What is in stock for the embattled Springboks, from the lands up North?
South Africa received a boost on Friday ahead of their Grand Slam tour opener against Ireland when Jean de Villiers was passed fit to take his place in the world champions’ midfield.
Springbok captain Victor Matfield, speaking to reporters at Lansdowne Road on Friday, said the 63-time capped former Munster centre had “pulled through” following a groin problem and would start on Saturday. Kick-off is at 19:30 SA time.
Springbok centre Jean de Villiers has been cleared to win his 64th cap for South Africa on Saturday after passing a late fitness test in Dublin on Friday morning.
He takes his place in the centre alongside Zane Kirchner for the first test of the Springboks’ four-Test tour of Britain and Ireland and will go up against the formidable Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’ Driscoll.
OK, now that we all have been very negative and taken out the canes to castigate Peter de Villiers from every angle, let’s look at the realities.
In effect there is ONLY ONE real controvertial selection, playing Zane Kirchner at Outside Center (No 13).
What would you have done given the injury situation?
Deon Stegmann will make his Test debut in a much-changed Springbok line-up against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday. Uncapped Sharks utility back Patrick Lambie could also make his debut if Jean de Villiers fails a late fitness test. The bench will also include two uncapped players.
South Africa’s Springboks will be sweating on the fitness of back Jean de Villiers and forward Willem Alberts when they arrive two days ahead of their clash with Ireland.
The Springboks have been hit hard with injuries to their centres for this tour and now De Villiers threatens to make matters worse.
The absence of the Springboks’ star players will not be an excuse when the national team kick-off their five week tour in Ireland, captain Victor Matfield said on Tuesday.
The Springboks will leave South Africa will leave South Africa in high spirits even though they will be missing 13 of their first choice players for the five week rugby tour of Britain and Ireland.
The Ireland team to play South Africa in the opening game of the 2010 Autumn Internationals shows the return of several players who missed the summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.
After a long season of blood, sweat and tears, it’s time for individual brilliance to be awarded.
Broadcast is live from 8pm to 10pm on SS1 and SS1A.
Sharks (23) 30 / WP (10) 10 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted WP in the Currie Cup Final held at ABSA Park, Durban at 17:30 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on M-Net, SuperSport 1 and SuperSport HD on TV in SA.
The Sharks won with passion, commitment and super defence!
Bok coach Pieter De Villiers has, once again, put his foot in his mouth. Continue reading
Facts on the 2010 Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Final:
Victor Matfield has been named as captain of the Springbok end-of-year tour on the first day of a preliminary training squad get together.
The Eastern Province Kings’ bid at becoming a force in South African rugby has been boosted by the acquisition of more Shimlas.
Continue reading
A recent article by Dan Retief on Frik du Preez and what the game of rugby means, or meant to some folks, have prompted me to ask if rugby as a professional sport, has crossed the line. Continue reading
Front page allegations of racism at the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union have clouded the Sharks’ build-up to the Currie Cup semi-final against their perennial rivals, the resurgent Blue Bulls, on Saturday.
The recent acquisition of just about half of the Golden Lions Rugby Union’s commercial arm is a move long overdue. Continue reading
Here are the Teams as anoounced.
Jurie Roux the new CEO of SARU, has been emailing a survey to subscribers of Bok supporters. Let us see if he can sweep clean as a new broom.
30 June 1976 – Border &North-Eastern Cape 0 / All Blacks 24
The match was played in perfect weather conditions at the Buller Rugby Union Ground in East Londen and attended by a crowd of 10 000 people. Continue reading
The South African Rugby Union announced on Friday the outcome of deliberations regarding the placement of logos and emblems on the playing jersey of South African teams at IRB World Cup events.
Several months of discussions took place with the relevant regulatory authorities before the Executive Council ruled on the management of the placing of the Springbok logo on team jerseys.