SA Rugby
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee on Monday told a high-powered delegation that poor refereeing and a high injury toll were big contributing factors to their struggles this year.
Two rounds of relative disappointment were reversed this weekend as three of the four South African teams in action won their Vodacom Super Rugby matches against Australasian opposition.
In the process the Vodacom Bulls moved up to second spot on the overall log, although they made very hard work of recording a try-scoring bonus point in their 35-18 win over the struggling Highlanders in Pretoria on Saturday.
There was a clean bill of health to the Vodacom Bulls squad that conquered the Highlanders on Saturday, but a number of players from that match are recovering from bruises and light strains, team doctor Org Strauss confirmed on Monday.
The return of injured Springboks Bismarck du Plessis and Butch James will bolster The Sharks as they return home from their disasterous tour and as they ready themselves to face the South African Conference Log leaders, the Vodacom Bulls for the tough derby game at Kings Park this Saturday.
Southern Kings flank Jacques “Vleis” Engelbrecht has been cleared for the game against the Cheetahs on Saturday, while Andries Strauss’ shoulder injury has shown remarkable improvement.
Now we are into the business part of the Super Rugby season! Before the TEST Window break each South African team has 2 games left (Sharks have only 1).
It was the Springboks’ best performance of the tour. A real confidence booster after the shock defeat against the University side but at the same time a game that had a negative impact in more than one way. It showed New Zealand the danger of allowing the Springboks space to play the Craven-linking pattern. Not that New Zealand was unaware of the Springbok style but it re-affirmed the necessity of keeping the Springboks on the back foot.
Cheetahs (18) 27 / 13 (6) Reds (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and Reds did battle in Super Rugby at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Bulls (23) 35 / 18 (6) Highlanders (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and Highlanders did battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The long history of South African teams being done in by the incompetence and, let’s be honest, the one-eyed approach of Australasian match officials took another turn for the worse on Friday as the DHL Stormers were beaten 30-21 by the Rebels in a Vodacom Super Rugby match in Melbourne.
Pumas (20) 28 / 42 (23) Golden Lions (Final Score)
The Pumas and MTN Golden Lions did battle in Super Rugby at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit at 19:10 SA Time.
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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Force (10) 13 / 23 (7) Sharks (Final Score)
The Western Force and The Sharks did battle in Super Rugby at NIB Stadium, Perth at 13:45 SA Time (19:45 Perth Time, 11:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Rebels (13) 30 / 21 (14) Stormers (Final Score)
The Melbourne rebels and DHL Stormers did battle in Super Rugby at AAMI Park, Melbourne at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Melbourne Time, 09:40 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Here are the Super Rugby Team Sheets as they were announded for Round 14 of Super Rugby 2013.
With the Stormers experiencing a lukewarm Super Rugby campaign, the news that injured Jaco Taute is considering extending his stay in the Cape will be welcome news to the Cape Town-based franchise.
Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu wants to strengthen his squad with one or two Super Rugby players for the upcoming Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow.
It will be a special day for Vodacom Bulls stalwarts Pierre Spies and Mornè Steyn at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday when their team takes on the Highlanders in a Vodacom Super Rugby clash.
The Stormers were given a slap on the wrist after being found guilty of misconduct and bringing the game into disrepute.
They were fined a total of AU$25,000 (about ZAR228,450) and also ordered to pay SANZAR’s costs.
Allister Coetzee
The DHL Stormers have announced a team showing seven changes for their final Super Rugby match Down Under – against the Rebels at AAMI Park on Friday (kick-off 11h40 SA time).
SANZAR has released the names of the match officials for Round 14 of Super Rugby 2013. Lourens van der Merwe is tasked to start off this weekend’s action in Wellington, New Zealand on Friday.
This weekend sees 7 matches, 3 on Friday and 4 on Saturday.
We bring you the first of a four part series focusing on specific game measures for Super Rugby, that is, how scrums, tackles, work on areas and the referee team have been tracking so far in 2013 Super Rugby, today we bring you the scrum.
I could not put it better, so excuse me but I have to share this article by Ian Smith. I must add that I do not agree with the first paragraph though.
According to most Sport readers, the Kings have justified their inclusion in Super Rugby at the expense of the Lions.
Sharks rugby seems to be in disarray as stories surface regarding issues within the Union and players! Now even though nothing has been confirmed officially, it does seem to make sense as to why the sudden problems the Sharks are having.
The Southern Kings bounced back in fine style in the Vodacom Super Rugby tournament on Saturday to score a four-try bonus point win against the Highlanders at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, beating the New Zealand team 34-27 in what saved the South African conference from being white-washed.
Kings (20) 34 / 27 (17) Highlanders (Final Score)
The Southern Kings and the Highlanders did battle in Super Rugby at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Waratahs (8) 21 / 15 (3) Stormers (Final Score)
The Waratahs and DHL Stormers did battle in Super Rugby at Allianz Stadium, Sydney at 11:40 SA Time (09:40 GMT, 19:40 Sydney Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Cheetahs (12) 34 / 39 (12) Hurricanes (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Reds (29) 32 / 17 (3) Sharks (Final Score)
The Reds and The Sharks did battle in Super Rugby at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 11:40 SA Time (09:40 GMT, 19:40 Brisbane Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Here are the Super Rugby Team Sheets as they are announded for Round 13 of Super Rugby 2013.
The Stormers’ judicial hearing has been postponed for a second time this week in order to ensure the Cape Town-based franchise get a ‘fair’ hearing.
Coach Allister Coetzee has shown faith in his team by making just one enforced change to the DHL Stormers starting line-up for their third tour match of the Super Rugby season
Sharks coach John Plumtree has been able to name a settled side to take on the Reds on Friday, making just four changes to last week’s starting line-up, two of them enforced through injury.
SANZAR has release the names of the match officials for Round 13 of Super Rugby 2013. Glen Jackson will be in charge of the Reds and The Sharks match on Friday.
This weekend has 6 matches, 3 on Friday and 3 on Saturday.
Springbok and Bath loose forward Francois Louw is one of three South Africa players included in the Barbarians squad to take on England and the British and Irish Lions.
The other two South Africans included in the squad are Munster prop BJ Botha and London Wasps lock Marco Wentzel.