Springbok Rugby
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
Defence was the order of the day in the last five minutes at the Millenium Stadium as South Africa held on to beat Wales 29-25 on Saturday.
After winning a World Cup, the Tri-Nations, repeated Super 14 titles and a series against the British and Irish Lions, scoring a try on his national-record 103rd appearance for South Africa was just another day in the office for Victor Matfield.
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.
Warren Gatland knows Wales must show “ruthlessness and concentration” for the full 80 minutes if they are to claim the rare scalp of South Africa at Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Saturday’s test match will be the 25th between Wales and South Africa. The Springboks were unbeaten in 12 consecutive tests in this fixture between 1906 and 1998 with 11 wins and one draw (in 1970).
With all the fuss over Zane Kirchner’s selection out of position at outside centre for last week’s opening tour match against Ireland, another quite interesting selection wasn’t really properly questioned.
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Read some of the questions made and answers given by Peter on the Official SA Rugby website.
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.
Relief was clearly etched into the face of Peter de Villiers on Saturday night after his team had hung on to beat Ireland 23-21.
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.
Deon Stegmann will make his Test debut in a much-changed Springbok line-up against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
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.
Schalk Burger and Juan de Jongh have been withdrawn from the Springbok squad as a result of injuries suffered in Saturday’s Currie Cup final.
Continue reading
There are a number of rugby supporters who don’t hold much hope of the Springboks winning the World Cup in New Zealand next year. The criticism of coach Peter de Villiers and several players has been harsh, to say the least, but it has also been justified: The Boks have not enjoyed a good 2010 season, losing five of their six matches in the Tri-Nations.
By Jacques van der Westhuyzen Continue reading
Bok coach Pieter De Villiers has, once again, put his foot in his mouth. Continue reading
Craven – always “Doc” – and the Union were both born in 1910 and the centenaries of these two South African institutions have passed almost without comment.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers couldn’t put it more plainly. Despite all the talk of resting players and the World Cup next year, the only focus on the upcoming Grand Slam tour next month is winning.
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.
Some tough decisions await Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and his management team when they assemble with their wider training group in Johannesburg on Friday.
Continue reading
Peter de Villiers has no option, Peter Grant is a must for the Grand Slam Tour. Continue reading
10 July 1976 – SA Invitation XV 24 / All Blacks 31
Newlands, Cape Town. Weather, fine, dry, cool in the shade. Crowd 35 000.
The referee: Steve Strydom (Orange Free State).
The SA invitation XV side was assembled or finalized just two days before the match and was a blend of formidable players eight of which would later become Springboks. Continue reading
A recent report suggested that following the contracted Springboks’ conditioning program, Peter de Villiers might reconsider his plans to rest some senior Springboks and include them on the End of the Year tour in November.
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.