Monthly Archives: November 2014
Steve Hansen
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen blasted the use of television replays after his world champions beat England 24-21, claiming TV producers were threatening to have a damagingly decisive say at Test level.
The All Blacks were rocked when they fell behind in just the fourth minute at Twickenham on Saturday to England wing Jonny May’s first international try.
But with flyhalf Aaron Cruden crossing they were just 14-11 behind at half-time.
They then stepped up the pace in the second half with skipper Richie McCaw scoring a try before replacement forward Charlie Faumuina went over nine minutes from time.
England’s late penalty try could not disguise a fifth straight defeat by the All Blacks.
Stuart Lancaster
Although his side suffered their fifth consecutive defeat to the All Blacks, coach Stuart Lancaster feels his side is not far off the world’s best team.
Having been whitewashed in New Zealand earlier this year, England pushed New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday but found themselves coming up short once again.
But Lancaster, without seven British and Irish Lions, was encouraged by the way his injury-hit side performed.
Wales captain Sam Warburton insists that it is just a question of when, and not if, they beat a leading southern hemisphere side.
Wales outscored the Wallabies by four tries to three, but faultless flyhalf Bernard Foley kicked 18 points to guide Australia to a 10th consecutive victory over the Welsh.
Since taking charge of Wales in 2007, coach Warren Gatland has won only one of 26 matches against the three southern hemisphere giants, a 21-18 victory over Australia in 2008.
But he and Warburton were keen to focus on the positives following a ninth successive defeat by the Wallabies in single figures.
“It’s the best game we’ve started in November internationals or Six Nations in a quite a long while,” Warburton said after Rhys Webb opened the scoring in just the second minute of a first-half that saw each team notch up three converted tries.
Nine International Test matches as well as the cross-hemisphere club / provincial match between Saracens and DHL Western Province, took place this weekend.
Well, it was not a good weekend for South African interests in these games, as both the Springboks and Western Province were compprehensively beaten in the space of 2 days.
In addition South African neighbours, Namibia, probably put up the best fight amongst the Southern African sides, but still going down to Canada, by 17 / 13.
On Saturday the Springboks came tumbling down to earth after a few weeks ago beating the New Zealand All Blacks, when they fell havily against Ireland, by 29 / 15 and on Sunday the Currie Cup champions, DHL Western Province was outplayed and put to the sword by Saracens in Londen, badly beaten by 6 tries to 3 and a total score of 46 / 22.
It appears that the Northern Hemisphere rugby countries have all crept closer to the Southern Hemisphere rivals, as the Wallabies barely won against Wales and the All Blacks only scraped home against England by a measly 3 points.
Scotland beat Argentina and France romped over Fiji, whilst Italy beat Samoa.
The results of the weekend are as follows:
Shane Williams
Wales great Shane Williams has announced he will retire from all forms of rugby at the end of this season.
Williams, 37, played the last of his 87 Tests for Wales against Australia in 2011, scoring his 58th international try with his last touch of the game – a Welsh record.
The former World Player of the Year is also a four-time capped British and Irish Lion, and even made a fleeting appearance on the victorious 2013 tour of Australia for a midweek game against the Brumbies.
After his retirement from international rugby in November 2012, the diminutive winger, standing just 1.70m (5ft 7in) high and weighing 80kg (12st 8lb), signed a contract with Japanese club Mitsubishi Dynaboars.
Stephan Coetzee
Michael van der Spuy
Griquas have secured the services of two promising Western Province players for next season.
Centre Michael van der Spuy and hooker Stephan Coetzee – who both showed promise for WP this season – have signed with Griquas until the end of the 2015 season.
It will also be a boost for the men from Kimberley who recently lost the services of hooker Ryno Barnes (Free State) and centres Howards Mnisi (Lions) and Doppies la Grange (retirement).
Siyabonga “Scarra” Ntubeni
Western Province hooker Siyabonga “Scarra” Ntubeni has been called up to the South African touring squad in place of the injured Robbie Coetzee.
It will be Ntubeni’s second stint withy the natiobnal team, as he was a Springbok tourist in November last year – without getting a cap.
Ntubeni, who is currently in London with Province, will join the Bok squad in the English capital after their match against Saracens on Sunday.
Coetzee will return to South Africa in the coming days.
Ahead of this match, head coach Vern Cotter asked his players to play with a smile on their collective face and the entire BT Murrayfield crowd was sporting one at the conclusion of the Kiwi coach’s home debut. His side saw off Argentina in a five-try romp and the manner in which they did so will create real belief in the Scotland camp and among their tartan-clad fans.
Scotland were cohesive, tough, inventive and played with pace throughout. The forwards produced quick ball and the Glasgow back line demonstrated that they could reproduce their club form at the next level. At times, the home side were inspirational. They rarely dropped below the efficient. All they lacked on occasion was the clinical finishing required or this match could have been over by half time.
Instead, it was six minutes into the second half before Scotland scored their fourth try, which finally killed off any hopes of an Argentine revival. The crowd was understandably wowed; what a pity the stadium wasn’t full.
The two Gray boys were a huge presence, grabbing a try each and, while it is insidious to separate them, Jonny was utterly outstanding, carrying the fight to the Pumas relentlessly and winning one important turnover.
Saracens (26) 46 / 22 (8) WP (Final Score)
Saracens and DHL Western Province did battle in the England at
Allianz Park, North London at 15:00 SA Time (13:00 BST & GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Ireland (6) 29 / 15 (3) Springboks (Final Score)
Ireland and the South African Springboks did battle in the End Of Year Tours Division at
Aviva Stadium, Dublin at 19:30 SA Time (17:30 GMT & BST).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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England (14) 21 / 24 (11) All Blacks (Final Score)
England and the New Zealand All Blacks did battle in the End Of Year Tours at
Twickenham, London at 16:30 SA Time (14:30 GMT, 03:30 Sunday NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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For England to beat New Zealand on Saturday, they must not just defeat 15 men but also logic, precedent and expectation.
You think that’s hyperbole or a cruel lack of faith? The men in black have lost only twice in 46 Tests since the start of the last World Cup. They have 1,023 caps in their match-day squad to England’s 437.
The men in white are missing six British Lions from their pack, have a debutant on one wing and a centre partnership that has never played together before.
Under Stuart Lancaster, England have only won two of their 11 matches against the three southern hemisphere heavyweights of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. Since the beginning of 2012 the All Blacks have scored an average of 31.5 points per game; England 24.
Intimidating? Maybe. But maybe, just maybe, self-belief and raw promise and some unholy coming together of atmosphere and occasion and ability can surmount it all. Maybe.
Canada Head Coach Kieran Crowley has released his 23-man roster to face fellow Rugby World Cup 2015 qualifier Namibia on Friday at Parc Eirias in the second game of the year-end tour.
Captaining the side for the second consecutive game will be loose-head prop Hubert Buydens, who will be joined by Ray Barkwill and Jason Marshall in the front row. Marshall, along with winger Sean Duke, returns to the Canadian team having recently defeated Leicester Tigers 59-26 on Tuesday night as part of the historic Barbarians RC team.
London Irish forward Jebb Sinclair makes his return to the second row alongside Tyler Hotson, and the trio of Kyle Gilmour, Nanyak Dala and John Moonlight remain as Canada’s loose forwards.
Scrum half Gord McRorie, who scored two tries in last weekend’s 28-23 loss to Championship XV in Worcester, will provide service to the backs through Connor Braid at flyhalf.
In the centres, Canada Sevens stalwarts Ciaran Hearn and Conor Trainor will inject an exciting level of pace and skill through the midfield. Joining Duke on the wing will be Ospreys’ Jeff Hassler, who has five tries this season for the Ospreys, and DTH van der Merwe of the Glasgow Warriors.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer on Wednesday named the same starting line-up that beat New Zealand a month ago to face Ireland in the opening Test of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour on Dublin on Saturday.
The only change to the match-day squad is at replacement prop, where the injured Marcel van der Merwe is replaced by Coenie Oosthuizen.
“Although Julian Redelinghuys was also considered, he’s still new in the team and not familiar with our patterns of play and especially the line-out calls, while Coenie knows the way we play well,” said Meyer.
“Coenie is also in great shape and we know what he can do, especially if he has to make an impact off the bench. It’s good to have him back.”
Fijian-born winger Semesa Rokoduguni was named in the England team on Thursday and will make his international debut in Saturday’s test against New Zealand at Twickenham.
Kyle Eastmond and Brad Barritt form a new-look centre partnership, while Dave Attwood replaces the injured Joe Launchbury in the second row after returning to the squad following the birth of his first child.
“I am delighted for Roko,” England coach Stuart Lancaster said on the RFU website of the 27-year-old soldier.
“Wing is an extremely competitive position but he has pushed himself forward with his form this season and it’s great to be able to give him this opportunity.”
Sonny Bill Williams and Aaron Cruden have been reunited, this time in the New Zealand team to play Sonny Bill Williams England at Twickenham on Saturday.
The former Chiefs teammates are the major selection decisions made by All Black coach Steve Hansen, who named an extremely experienced team for the second match on their year-end tour.
As expected there are a number of changes, after Hansen gave the less experienced squad members an opportunity against the United States last week – with 13 of the squad from that matchday 23 boosted by the return of some experienced players.
The matchday squad that takes the field against England has 1,029 Test caps between them and an average age of 27 years.
No 8 Kieran Read, flyhalf Cruden, inside centre Williams and fullback Israel Dagg retain their starting spots from the US Test.
Two reserves, lock Brodie Retallick and wing Julian Savea, are back in the starting XV.
Flying Fijians coach John McKee named a powerful side to take on France in their first Test match for the November tour, when the two sides meet in Marseille on Saturday.
McKee said they selected the strongest team possible and that the players understand the challenge ahead.
“The forward pack from the June Tests is boosted by the addition of Masi Matadigo, who has been in very good form for Lyon in France Top 14.”
“Lepani Botia comes in at inside centre he is also playing Top 14 and can mix the direct game with the passing game. Nemani Nadolo has only joined the team this week due to some injury issues delaying his arrival. Expect him to have big impact when he enters the game from the reserves.
“For the players they understand the challenge ahead. The important thing for us is to have very good knowledge of our game plan and be able to stick to it under immense pressure.
Centre Juan Martin Hernandez, who as flyhalf steered Argentina to third place at 2007 World Cup, is set to win his 50th Pumas cap against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Hernandez will again be at inside centre in a team with five changes from the side that gave Argentina their maiden southern hemisphere Rugby Championship victory, 21-17 over Australia in Mendoza a month ago.
Coach Daniel Hourcade has made two changes in the backs and three in the forwards having been deprived of several players through injury or illness.
Marcelo Bosch returns to partner Hernandez in midfield after being rested against the Wallabies and Manuel Montero comes in for Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino on the left wing.
Phil Davies
Two former Welsh internationals have been drafted into the Namibian backroom staff as support on their Northern Hemisphere tour.
Former Welsh captain Phil Davies has been appointed as a technical advisor with Wayne Proctor being brought in as a strength and condition consultant.
The pair recently visited Windhoek where they assisted Namibia in their preparations for the international against Germany.
South African referees Craig Joubert, Stuart Berry and Jaco Peyper will be on international duty this weekend as the northern hemisphere rugby season takes centre stage.
Joubert, who took charge of the Currie Cup final two weekends ago as well as the USA v All Blacks Test last weekend, will officiate the Test between Wales and Australia at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, with Peyper serving as an assistant referee, while Berry has been tasked with refereeing the clash between Canada and Namibia at Parc Eiras Stadium in Wales on Friday.
Frenchman Romain Poite will referee the Test between Ireland and the Springboks in Dublin on Saturday.
Laurent Labit
Racing Metro backline coach Laurent Labit has been handed a 15-week ban for his disparaging comments against the referee in his side’s loss against Stade Francais.
Labit will be banned from all access to grounds, dressing-rooms and entry areas in all Top 14 and European Cup games up until February 15, the French Rugby League Union announced.
Racing Metro were also hit with a 50,000 euros fine for his words which were seen as tainting the reputation and integrity of South African referee Jacob van Heerden.
Sports medicine experts, school heads and sports administrators are hailing a breakthrough week in their battle against school pupils using steroids and illegal performance enhancing drugs after Parliament discussed key draft amendments that will pave the way for improved testing and sanctions.
Representatives from the Basic Education Department joined forces with the Department of Sport and Recreation to brief Parliament on draft changes to the South African Schools Act that will facilitate random drug testing at schools, with recommended sanctions for those caught using steroids and banned stimulants.
South Africa will become the first country in the world where random steroids testing of minors in schools is allowed.
“These proposed changes to the current legislation are essential,” said Glen Hagemann, the director of the Discovery SharkSmart program that has driven a strong anti-steroid message into its 23 partner high schools in KwaZulu-Natal for more than a decade, under the mantra ‘Play Safe Play Fair’.
Saracens have named a powerful 23-man squad for the north-south clash against Western Province at Allianz Park on Sunday.
Alistair Hargreaves will lead the side, as Saracens face the recently crowned South African Currie Cup champions.
“Western Province are one of the strongest sides in South Africa, and we’re really looking forward to the challenge,” Sarries Director of Rugby Mark McCall said.
“We will field our strongest possible side.”
The Eastern Province Kings have announced their pre-season training squad following their return to training after a lackluster 2014 Currie Cup campaign.
They have managed to retain a number of their current senior players, as well as seeing numerous younger players making the step-up from the junior competitions.
EP Rugby CEO, Charl Crous, said he was positive about the season ahead.
South African-born fullback Scott Spedding will make his international debut when he runs out for France against Fiji in Marseille on Saturday.
The Bayonne player represented South Africa Under-21 in the 2006 World Championship and will be joined by fellow South African Rory Kockott, who starts the match on the bench.
The 28-year-old, who joined Bayonne from Brive in 2012, was brought into the squad on Wednesday for the November Test series by coach Philippe Saint-Andre following an injury to first-choice fullback Brice Dulin.
Sean McMahon
Melbourne Rebels flanker Sean McMahon will make his senior Australia debut against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
The 20-year- old replaces injured Scott Fardy and is one of two changes to the side that lost 29-28 to New Zealand in October.
Number 8, Ben McCalman, takes over from Scott Higginbotham, who is also sidelined through injury.
Quade Cooper and Will Genia are among the replacements after starting in the win over Barbarians at Twickenham.
McMahon featured in the Baa-baas game and has been rewarded for a strong performance with a starting place against Wales.
The Ireland Coaching team have selected a strong side to face the Springboks at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday for the first game of the 2014 Guinness Series.
There is one new cap in the match day 23, with Ulster’s Jared Payne set to make his debut alongside Robbie Henshaw in an exciting new centre partnership.
Paul O’Connell captains the side and is joined in the engine room by Devin Toner. The backrow is made up of Jamie Heaslip, Chris Henry and Peter O’Mahony while the front row sees Jack McGrath and Mike Ross pack down either side of their provincial teammate Sean Cronin.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton are re-united at half-back and Tommy Bowe returns to the back three for the first time since last year’s Guinness Series and lines out alongside Simon Zebo and Rob Kearney.
Jonny and big brother Richie Gray
Second-row brothers Richie and Jonny Gray will play their first international game of rugby together this Saturday, following their selection to start for Scotland against Argentina at BT Murrayfield Stadium (8 November, kick-off 17:30 BST & GMT, 19:30 SA Time).
Selection represents a second start for the younger Gray, 20, who will make his sixth appearance for his country alongside his 39-times capped, 25-year-old, British & Irish Lions sibling.
Gray is not the only promising young player to earn the right to start the nation’s opening viagogo Autumn Test, with 21-year-old Glasgow Warriors Mark Bennett and Adam Ashe set to make their first and second appearances at outside-centre and number 8 respectively.
An exciting package of pace and guile, Bennett – a product of St Joseph’s Academy in Kilmarnock, Cumnock RFC and Ayr RFC – has been in fine form for the Warriors and Scotland 7s this year, and will be Scotland’s 1062nd capped internationalist when he crosses the paint for his debut at BT Murrayfeld.
Victor Matfield
Francois Hougaard
Handré Pollard
With the first game of the Springboks End Of Year Tour (Castle Lager Outgoing Tour as it is also known as) looming large this weekend against the Northern Hemisphere’s SIX Nations champions, Ireland, at 19:30 SA Time on Saturday, the war of words are now surfacing.
Victor Matfield describes Paul O’Connell as his toughest lock opponent out there and says O’Connell knows how Matfield runs the lineouts.
From the Irish side, Ireland’s scrumhalf, Conor Murray, believes the Springboks are better than in previous years and is weary of the threat Handré Pollard and Francois Hougaard presents on the weekend.
George North is set to start at centre when Wales face Australia in the first of their November internationals at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
The dynamic Northampton wing was named at outside centre by Wales coach Warren Gatland on Tuesday after injuries deprived him of regular midfield backs Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams.
Now North will partner fellow British and Irish Lion Jamie Roberts in midfield, with his usual left wing berth taken by Scarlets’ Liam Williams.
However, North does have experience of playing in midfield, having started there when Wales beat France during last season’s Six Nations and he has also started there for English champions Northampton.
At scrum-half, Kiwi boss Gatland has chosen Rhys Webb ahead of 87-times capped Mike Phillips.
Sam Cane
New Zealand’s build-up to their Test encounter with England on Saturday has not gone as smoothly as they would have hoped.
Flank Sam Cane has become the latest injury concern in a camp already scrambling to cover some setbacks.
Cane took a heavy knock in a body on body collision at training on Tuesday and received assistance on what looked to be his back or shoulder.
Cane started in last Saturday’s 74-6 win over the United States, but is unlikely to feature in the match against England this weekend.
Wyatt Crockett and Jerome Kaino, who are recovering from shin and foot injuries respectively, both came through training unscathed.
The latest setback comes after both wing Cory Jane and hooker Nathan Harris were ruled out of the tour after being injured against the US Eagles.
Hostility in France towards the number of foreign-born players lining up to play for Les Bleus is “deeply troubling”, French Federation President Pierre Camou said.
Bayonne’s 28-year-old South African-born fullback Scott Spedding became the latest foreigner to join up with the France squad ahead of their November international Tests, replacing the injured Brice Dulin.
Also in the 30-strong squad are already-capped flank Bernard Le Roux and scrumhalf Rory Kockott, both also born in South Africa, as well as New Zealand-born prop Uini Atonio.
Kockott’s inclusion in particular comes at the expense of veteran Morgan Parra and the promising Maxime Machenaud.
“I find it deeply troubling,” Camou said, with France due to play Fiji in Marseille on Saturday before going on to play Australia and Argentina.
Semesa Rokoduguni
Uncapped Semesa Rokoduguni is among 23 players retained by England coach Stuart Lancaster to prepare for Saturday’s Test against New Zealand at Twickenham Stadium.
The Fijian-born tank soldier is one of four Bath backs included after sparkling Premiership form, with Anthony Watson also being included in a matchday squad for the first time – alongside Kyle Eastmond and George Ford.
In the forwards, uncapped Saracens lock George Kruis is included for the first time after Joe Launchbury was ruled out of the 2014 Internationals with a neck injury.
Front row duo Joe Marler and David Wilson have trained fully this week after minor injuries and take their slots to face the All Blacks.
Meanwhile the injury-hit England squad were faced with the prospect of having to re-jig their side once more ahead of their clash with the World Cup champions, New Zealand, after lock Dave Attwood left their training camp to attend the birth of his first child.
However, England hope to have Attwood back in time for their opening November international.
England have the resources to ride out a raft of injuries to key players ahead of this month’s Tests against the might of the Southern Hemisphere, coach Stuart Lancaster said.
In the latest blow for Lancaster, lock Joe Launchbury has been ruled out of all four internationals at Twickenham, including Saturday’s opener against New Zealand, because of a neck problem.
His absence follows that of Geoff Parling, Alex Corbisiero, Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Ed Slater, Tom Croft and Manu Tuilagi, all also ruled out of the entire series.
Dave Attwood of Bath is set to start in Launchbury’s place – Lancaster described his form for Bath this season as “exceptional” – as England attempt to end a four-match losing sequence against the All Blacks.
The Springbok Sevens’ preparation plans for the next two rounds of the HSBC Sevens World Series have received a boost with the news that Springbok centre JJ Engelbrecht and Junior Springbok fullback Cheslin Kolbe will join the training group from Monday in Stellenbosch.
Successful talks between SARU and several provincial unions have paved the way for a number of Absa Currie Cup players to be released for Springbok Sevens training duty.
Engelbrecht, a contracted Springbok with 12 Test caps, played for the Vodacom Blue Bulls during the recently concluded Absa Currie Cup while Kolbe starred for the DHL Western Province during their successful campaign.
Three more Vodacom Blue Bulls players, Jesse Kriel, Warrick Gelant and Duncan Matthews (all utility backs), will join the training on Monday.