Proteas
Quake-ravaged Christchurch will lose its Rugby World Cup hosting rights on the back of a new report showing the city’s stadium is unfit for games, British media is reporting.
London’s Daily Telegraph newspaper says it has confirmation from a senior International Rugby Board (IRB) source that the engineers’ structural report will end the city’s hosting chances.
Os du Randt has been axed as the Springboks’ scrumming consultant.Os du Randt confirmed to Sport24 on Tuesday that he had been informed in writing by the South African Rugby Union (SARU) that his contract as scrumming consultant will not be renewed and that he will therefore not be part of the Boks’ World Cup management team.
Amateur Test selectors rejoice. In a World Cup year – with its truncated Tri Nations tournament – every Super weekend has an influence on a certain tournament in New Zealand later in the year. So discard the ‘one week at a time cliches’ pedalled by the coaches join RugbyHeaven as we track the form, injuries and talking points among the Super sides with one eye on firmly on World Cup fortunes.
The Cheetahs’ inspirational captain JUan Smith is set to miss South Africa’s defence of the World Cup, after he tore an Achilles tendon.
International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Bernard Lapasset has said that South Africa have a “real chance” of hosting the 2023 rugby World Cup.
“Because of the soccer World Cup (in 2010) there is now a new possibility for South Africa to organise big events like the rugby World Cup and there’s a real chance that in 2023 they can organise it,” he told Reuters.
There is no guarantee that Os du Randt will be the Springboks’ scrum coach during this year’s World Cup in New Zealand.
The words “World Cup” are stamped on page one of every New Zealand Super 15 handbook with the series overshadowed by All Blacks’ coach Graham Henry charged with producing a world champion side.
It seems the powers that be in Rugby just can’t let sleeping dogs lie. New interpretations, definitions, and clarifications on the Rules of the game were recently distributed by IRB via the South African Rugby Referees Association.
Some you may have previously seen or been aware of, some not. The full list is under. Continue reading
Namibia joined Fiji as a nation in doubt for participation at the Rugby world cup later this year due to administrative trouble so bad the IRB has been forced to take over the union.
Roger Federer will be closely following this year’s Rugby World Cup – just don’t ask him to support the All Blacks.
With focus on the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in September, former Springbok coach Jake White says incumbent Bok coach Peter de Villiers faces a difficult task in deciding when to rest his key players in this year’s Tri-Nations.
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A national lottery organised to fund Fiji’s participation at this year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand could instead deepen its financial problems as it faces a fine of F$125,000 (US$82,500) for discounting tickets.
James broke back into the Springbok squad last season but was injured playing for them in the TriNations.
Now that he is back in the fold for South Africa he stands a chance of playing in the Rugby world cup next year.
After the All Blacks’ astounding successes in 2010 which has left them well and truly perched on the top of the world, their coach Graham Henry fears burn-out as they prepare for the 2011 World Cup.
Henry told the media: “Our biggest challenge is that they’ve got to be reasonably sharp mentally coming into the World Cup and the Tri-Nations prior.
South Africa fell between chairs with their tactics in the early stages of Saturday’s defeat to the Barbarians, but that does not have to be a concern ahead of next year’s World Cup.
The disharmony between Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and his assistants Dick Muir and Gary Gold has reached a crescendo with De Villiers seemingly in a desperate search for new assistants before the Springboks embark on their end-of-year Grand Slam tour.
After the umpteenth “review” on Pieter de Villiers it is clear the coaching panel is now cast in stone for the upcoming World Cup in New Zealand. It is therefor imperative that we now find within ourselves the passion and patriotism in our character to support our Springbok team and the coaching staff. Our personal feelings in this matter must be set aside as we look towards next year as the Springboks will need our positivity more than ever before and any negativity towards either Pieter de Villiers or anyone else involved will only deter them on focusing on the job at hand. Continue reading
It looks like Joe Rokocoko has sewn up one of the wing spots for next year’s Rugby World Cup, with the Aucklander on Friday committing to stay in New Zealand until the end of next year.
Springbok rugby fans can look forward to a mid-morning World Cup after the International Rugby Board released the kick-off times for next year’s World Cup in New Zealand.
The Boks will need to get used to playing night games, as most of their pool matches have been scheduled for a late (in South African terms) 8:30pm kick-off.
The Super 15 can be tantamount to a SANZAR suicide if players from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia are not managed carefully to enable them to perform optimally at next year’s World Cup.
It is clear that SARU is using window dressing to appease Springbok supporters. The next instalment of a “review” with PDV is most likely to add more frustration and disillusionment to loyal Springbok supporters. Continue reading
Reports are rife this morning that some contracted players are revolting against their conditioning programme and that certain agreements reached between them and SARU is being breached. Continue reading
John Smit was answering fan questions in the Springbok E-zine and was asked how long he still feels he can play at this level.
Despite consistent criticism throughout this year’s Vodacom Tri-Nations campaign, and a mediocre showing in his 100th Test match, where his fitness and form was consistently questioned, Smit still believes he can soldier on until the World Cup.
The captain was visibly irritated last week by questions about him retiring and a rumour that went around that he would call it a day after the 100th cap. After missing the tackle that cost the Boks the game against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium, he has returned this week more determined than ever to make up for his mistake.
At the end of this year’s Tri-Nations the Springbok management will have to stand objectively and clinically look at the difference between blind loyalty and blind faith as opposed to reward in selecting the best Bokke to lead them into next year’s Rugby World Cup.
This is not their only poser, they have to decide whether Assistant Staff has the ability and afinity to take it competently from here as well as how to adapt or fine-tune game plans for the World Cup.
Today I look at player selection only, the game plan strategies and coaching staff will have to wait for another time.
After 4 Springbok losses in a row in a Tournament, the Tri-Nations, which lies very close to the hearts of South Africans and with the Rugby World Cup now exactly a year from now, the temptation is there to insist on taking the knives out and to cut some dead wood from the Springbok team and management.
… but we’ve been there before, remembering so well how we, me included, shouted from the rooftops that Jake White needed the axe.
Quade Cooper is to be offered a record deal to leave Rugby Union by NRL club Parramatta but it will mean that he will miss the 2011 Rugby World cup.
Cooper would also miss the upcoming Super 15 if he takes NRL offer.
Article courtesy of SA Rugby
It’s been 13 long years since the Springboks last scored a try at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane against the Wallabies – a record they are keen to change in Saturday’s third Vodacom Tri-Nations Test of 2010.
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.
You might ask what do the Springboks and Stuart Tinner have in common on the 17th November 2009? If your answer is £250,000 you would be right.
TV channels have started the chase for old rugger b*ggers & even those who can balance working a microphone while sounding reasonably intelligent when discussing the “state of play” … Rucks & Mauls, Lineouts & Scrums, Long versus Short Arm Penalties et al …
Now that 2009 is in the bag for the Boks winning just about every title imaginable, focus shifted to the World Cup in 2011. Continue reading