New Zealand Rugby
SANZAR has announced the names of the match officials for Round 18 of Super Rugby 2013, with Garratt Williamson starting off the action on Friday.
This weekend we only have 5 Super Rugby matches, seeing as the Australian sides do not play this weekend due to the British & Irish Lions tour in Australia. This is the first of 2 weekends in a row where South Africa and New Zealand catch up on the 2 extra weekends where only Australian sides played in the tournament.
There is 1 match on Friday and 4 matches on Saturday.
Resting All Black captain Richie McCaw has returned to the side for the first Rugby Championship Test against Australia in August, but not necessarily as openside flank.
Bokkies (21) 41 / 34 (26) Baby Blacks (Final Score)
South Africa Under 20 and New Zealand Under 20 did battle in the 3rd place play-off of the IRB Junior World Championship
of 2013 at Stade de la Rabine, Vannes at 15:15 SA Time (13:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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All Blacks (8) 24 / 9 (6) France (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks and France did battle in the June Internationals at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 09:35 French Time, 07:35 GMT).
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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France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has replaced more than half the side that caved in against the All Blacks (0-30) last week, in a desperate attempt to avoid a series whitewash in the final Test in New Plymouth on Saturday.
All Black wing Rene Ranger confirmed he was quitting his international career and would head to France at the end of the year on a lucrative contract with Montpellier.
New Zealand have recalled fit-again flyhalf Daniel Carter and scrumhalf Piri Weepu for the third and final test against France in New Plymouth on Saturday.
Blues head coach Sir John Kirwan has named a 26-man squad that will travel to South Africa for matches against the Sharks and Cheetahs.
The Blues squad will leave for South Africa this Friday in the afternoon as they play the Sharks in Durban on June the 29th before heading to Bloemfontein to face the Cheetahs on July the 6th.
Baby Blacks (8) 21 / 33 (20) England (Final Score)
New Zealand Under 20 and England Under 20 did battle in the IRB Junior World Championship of 2013 at Stade de la Rabine, Vannes at 20:45 SA Time (18:45 GMT, 19:45 BST).
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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Ace All Black flyhalf Dan Carter has been cleared to play in next week’s third Test against France, while Les Bleus have lost two key players.
All Blacks (10) 30 / 0 (0) France (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks and France did battle in the June Internationals at AMI Stadium, Christchurch at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
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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Injury forced the The All Blacks into a late reshuffle on Friday as they prepared to mark their 500th Test, with coach Steve Hansen warning his side to lift their game against a rejuvenated France.
Lock Brodie Retallick was ruled out of Saturday’s second Test in Christchurch with a hamstring strain, meaning a call up for seasoned middlerower Sam Whitelock, who had sat out the first match because of a fractured finger.
South African-born flanker Bernard Le Roux has been named to make debut, at number eight, as one of four changes to the France line up that will play the All Blacks in Christchurch on Saturday.
Baby Blacks (14) 31 / 26 (11) Ireland (Final Score)
New Zealand Under 20 and Ireland Under 20 did battle in the IRB Junior World Championship of 2013 at Stade de la Rabine, Vannes at 18:45 SA Time (16:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 & SHD3 on TV in SA.
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Eighthman Kieran Read will reach 50 Test caps when he leads the All Blacks out in their 500th Test against France in Christchurch on Saturday.
All Black head coach Steve Hansen has named the same starting XV that played in last week’s 23-13 first up victory over the French at Eden Park for the milestone match.
June is a busy time for rugby, and therefore a busy time here on Rugby-Talk. Of course, like has become custom, Rugby-Talk (the premier LIVE GAME RUGBY website) will broadcast and update live scores and up to date commentary on almost all the games, except where some of the Junior World Championship games overlap in their respective time slots and of course on Saturday morning at sparrow-fart (06:50) I will take the indulgence of sleeping through the bore between a Wales “B” side and Japan. Rugby-Talk will have 3 Live Games on Thursday afternoon and evening, 1 on Friday evening and 5 Tests throughout Saturday. This will bring the week’s Live Game Articles on Rugby-Talk to an impressive 11 matches (including the 2 matches already done this past Tuesday).
Here’s the Rugby you can look forward to the rest of this week, till and including the weekend. Rugby starts tomorrow late afternoon when there is a series of IRB Junior World Championship 2013 matches, including a late game between hosts France and South Africa’s Under 20 teams.
World Cup winning captain Richie McCaw will return to rugby in early-to-mid July by playing for his local club in Christchurch, though was unsure as to whether he would play Super Rugby for the Canterbury Crusaders.
Blues (3) 15 / 38 (12) France (Final Score)
The Blues and France did battle in the French Tour to New Zealand at North Harbour Stadium, Albany at 09:05 SA Time (19:05 NZ Time, 07:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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All Blacks (17) 23 / 13 (10) France (Final Score)
New Zealand and France did battle in the June Internationals at Eden Park, Auckland at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
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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Both the French and New Zealand have named their teams for face off on the weekend. The 1st Test of 3 between these two proud rugby nations takes place on Saturday at Eden Park, Auckland at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time).
On the French side, there is the rookie at flyhalf, Camille Lopez, whereas on the All Blacks side Dan Carter, who is injured, is out of the team as expected and replaced by Aaron Cruden.
Herewith two parts, firstly a discussion on the All Blacks and thereafter the same for the French:
Dan Carter heads a string of injured All Blacks less than a week from the first Test against France, with coach Steve Hansen unable to confirm Monday if his star playmaker would take the field.
X-rays have revealed Carter cracked a bone in his right hand during the Crusaders’ 23-22 win over the Waratahs in a Super Rugby match last Friday.
Chiefs scrumhalf Brendon Leonard will head off shore at the end of the Super Rugby season to continue his rugby career in Italy.
The Vodacom Bulls firmed their grip on the top position of the South African conference on Saturday by beating closet rivals, the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday, while the DHL Stormers kept their outside change of a play-off spot alive with a bruising win over the Southern Kings on a drenched DHL Newlands pitch in Cape Town.
The other South African team, The Sharks, enjoyed a bye.
Kieran Read was named as the captain of a 32-man All Blacks squad including six new faces to face France in the upcoming series.
Highlanders (29) 38 / 28 (7) Blues (Final Score)
The Highlanders and Blues did battle in Super Rugby at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
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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All Black Hosea Gear has signed with French side Toulouse, New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chief Steve Tew said on Friday, playing down fears cashed-up overseas clubs are luring the country’s top talent.
Brumbies (14) 30 / 23 (10) Hurricanes (Final Score)
The Brumbies and Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at Canberra Stadium, Canberra at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Canberra Time, 09:40 GMT).
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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Crusaders (10) 23 / 22 (15) Waratahs (Final Score)
The Crusaders and Waratahs did battle in Super Rugby at AMI Stadium, Christchurch at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
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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Here are the Super Rugby Team Sheets as they are announded for Round 16 of Super Rugby 2013.
SANZAR has released the names of the match officials for Round 16 of Super Rugby 2013. Glen Jackson once again starts the action between the Crusaders and Waratahs on Friday.
This weekend sees 6 matches, with 2 on Friday and 4 on Saturday.
All Blacks centre Conrad Smith has revealed that he will miss New Zealand’s European tour in November and take a sabbatical after the Rugby Championship.
How will Heyneke Meyer fare in 2013?
The Vodacom Bulls and Toyota Cheetahs are now firmly in playoff contention with the June break looming after crucial away victories on an exciting weekend of Vodacom Super Rugby.
The All Blacks suffered a blow for their Test series next month against France as senior lock Sam Whitelock has been ruled out due to injury.
Former All Blacks coach Graham Henry escaped serious punishment for criticising Super Rugby officials after pleading guilty to a misconduct charge.