Springboks
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has said he takes full responsibility for out-of-form flyhalf Morné Steyn and believes the No.10 will soon be back to his brilliant best.
He wasn’t selected into the 30-man Springbok squad for the Argentina leg that starts the competition, but Ryan Kankowski might yet get to play in The Castle Rugby Championship.
Two new faces in the form of Siya Kolisi and Pat Cilliers make up a squad including 5 uncapped players – the others being JJ Engelbrecht, Elton Jantjies and Jano Vermaak. The full squad is:
Although he would have learned a lot in recent weeks, how many changes can we expect to see in Heyneke Meyer’s Rugby Championship squad?
The Bok coach will reveal his squad on Saturday after the Super Rugby Final, and faces some big selection decisions in key positions given the differing fortunes of the major contenders in the last few weeks.
Bulls wing Bjorn Basson has undergone surgery in New Zealand after he sustained a tear to his intestines during his side’s loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch.
The Southern Hemisphere tours of the Home nations and Ireland are well and truly over by now with almost all of the players from these teams now able to put their feet up for a bit of rest and recuperation after what has been a very long season.
For what it’s worth I thought it would be interesting to see which team had the best tour.
This could be difficult as each team faced different opponents and some had midweek games while others didn’t. To try and take away any bias and subjectivity we have a look at the results as well as the comparative rankings of the teams according to the IRB.
Brian O’Driscoll said after the 3rd New Zealand/Ireland test match that speed at the ruck is what matters most and that the scoreboard reflect (60-0 for the All Blacks) in essence what happened at the breakdowns.
McCaw on questioned what did the AB’s rectify, after the second test, to produce the marked improvement in the All Blacks game said: “We kept our line better and were more successful (as compared to the second test) to create forward momentum at the rucks”.
Springboks (9) 14 / (8) 14 England (Final Score)
South Africa and England did battle in the 3rd Test of their series at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa at 17:05 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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Port Elizabeth – Alex Goode and Thomas Waldrom will make their first starts for England in the third and final Test against South Africa after coach Stuart Lancaster named a side containing six changes on Thursday.
Heyneke Meyer has been in office a little more than 140 days, so to say he was relieved after his team banked a series victory over England would be fair, but does that mean he’s a relaxed man? Hardly!
Bulls flank Jacques Potgieter will make his debut for South Africa when they take on England at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Scotland’s opponents for this year’s Autmun International Test matches have been known for some time now. However, the venue of the final game, to be played against Tonga, was only confirmed yesterday. Scotland will also play against the All Blacks in the first of the tests and against the Springboks in the second test match.
Western Province and Stormers fullback Joe Pietersen has been called up to the Springbok squad in Port Elizabeth as cover for Frans Steyn who will miss the third and final Test against England.
Willem Alberts remains a doubtful starter for Saturday’s final test against England but the Springbok training session at Grey’s High on Monday brought some much needed tidings of joy for coach Heyneke Meyer.
Lock Juandre Kruger was assumed to be in doubt for the Nelson Mandela Stadium game here in Port Elizabeth after being carried off the field during the second test in Johannesburg with what was assumed to be a serious neck injury.
Johannesburg – An improved performance at the breakdowns contributed to Francois Hougaard looking more comfortable at scrumhalf in the Springboks’ 36-27 victory over England at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday.
There may be an upside in that the depth of his squad will now be tested in a dead-rubber test, but Heyneke Meyer’s plans to use the final match against England at Nelson Mandela Stadium as a build-up or dress-rehearsal for The Rugby Championship look set to be disrupted.
England head coach Stuart Lancaster is confident his side can bounce back to winning ways in Saturday’s third and final Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth.
Springboks 36 / 27 England (Final score)
South Africa and England did battle in the Second Test at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
An effervescent Springbok side built up enough of a lead with 3 first half tries to keep the English winless in the series, which SA have now secured.
Man Of The match: JP Pietersen
The English can take heart from a spirited comeback that got them within 4 points of the Boks with less than 10 minutes to play. Their forwards particularly took the game to the Bokke in the second stanza who seemed to be somewhat disrupted by the substitution, both forced and tactical.
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England head coach Stuart Lancaster does not believe powerful centre Manu Tuilagi will be less of a threat in the No.12 jersey.
Johannesburg – South Africa will be better prepared and have an altitude advantage when they seek a series-clinching second Test win over England at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday.
Johannesburg – Coach Heyneke Meyer’s proactive use of his substitutes was one of the essential reasons that the Springboks lifted their second-half game to win the first Test against England in Durban.
Rugby fans are funny things. Passionate and strong willed, opinionated and with a love of the game that is seldom matched by other sports in this country.
A tough tour suddenly got a whole lot tougher. This was the game England had to win because South Africa were undercooked and because England had to build on the momentum and confidence gained from the Six Nations. But it did not go to plan. Not remotely.
The Springboks have made three changes to their team for the second Test match against England at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg.
The Springboks have lost Cheetahs prop Coenie Oosthuizen for the rest of the June International series against England due to injury.
Bokkies (0) 28 / (3) 15 England (Final Score)
South Africa and England do battle in the IRB Junior World Championships at Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town at 18:45 SA Time.
This is the live match discussion Article.
The match is broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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The Springboks have called up Stormers flyer Gio Aplon and Bulls forward Dean Greyling to the national squad as injury cover for Zane Kirchner and Coenie Oosthuizen.
English coach Stuart Lancaster said there were plenty of positives to take from their 22-17 defeat to the Springboks in Durban, with the first half a tight affair that saw both teams head to the sheds levelled at 6-6 all.
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer reserved special praise for his giant forward pack after their 22-17 first Test victory over England on Saturday.
Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer opened his account as South Africa’s newest test rugby coach with a hard fought win against England, but said his team needed to strive for higher standards if they were to defeat the Red Rose in the upcoming test in Johannesburg.
Durban – Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has lauded the impact captain Jean de Villiers had in steering the Boks to a win over England at Kings Park here on Saturday.
Springboks (6) 22 / (6) 17 England (Final Score)
The South African Springboks and England did battle in a Test at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban at 17:05 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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Bokkies (19) 52 / (3) 3 Italy (Final Score)
South Africa and Italy did battle in the IRB Junior World Championships at Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch at 18:45 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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There have been various references made to the inexperience of the Springbok lock pairing for this Saturday’s test match in Durban against England since the announcement of the team.
Junior Springbok coach Dawie Theron made 11 changes to his side to play Italy on Friday at the UWC Stadium in their second 2012 IRB Junior World Championship encounter. Kick-off is at 18:45.