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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.
The Cheetahs have opted for a change at flyhalf for their long trip south to take on Western Province in Cape Town for their Currie Cup clash on Friday.
Guildford – The South African women’s rugby team recorded their first World Cup victory with a tenacious 15-10 win over Wales on Tuesday afternoon at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford, England.
Francois Steyn, who has been called up for South Africa’s Tri-Nations match against Australia, is “not ready” for Test rugby, according to his Racing-Metro coach Pierre Berbizier.
The Springboks have made two changes to their starting line-up for the Vodacom Tri-Nations Test against Australia at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
The New Zealand media wasted no time in getting another dig in at South African head coach Peter de Villiers.
The World Cup holders, the Springboks, are not in good health and the South African Rugby Union will be bonkers if Peter de Villiers, the fake coach, should remain in charge.
Flanker Juan Smith is the only injury concern in the Springbok camp following the weekend’s 22-29 loss to the All Blacks at the FNB Stadium.
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.
New Zealand All Blacks’ fly half Dan Carter has been ruled out of the next eight weeks of rugby as he needs surgery.
The doctor caught up in the Harlequins fake blood scandal has reportedly admitted that she cut the lip of Harlequins winger Tom Williams, as she appeared at a General Medical Council misconduct hearing in Manchester.
Springboks (16) 22 / All Blacks (14) 29 (Final Score)
The Springboks hosted the All Blacks in their last Tri-Nations match against one another of 2010 at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was bradcast live on SuperSport 1, SuperSport HD and M-Net.
The All Blacks won, scoring 2 quick tries in the last 3 minutes, to break the Bokke hearts and those of their supporters.
It must be said though that the Springboks showed moments of brilliance during the game though, with the Hougaard experiment working well and Juan Smith and Flip van der Merwe doing their part brilliantly too.
Jean de Vlliers shone at inside centre and Morne Steyn’s boot was as effective as ever.
… but well done Blacks, you came, you saw, you absorbed a shipload of pressure … and you won!
Blue Bulls (14) 39 / Griquas (27) 38 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Blue Bulls hosted the GWK Griquas at Loftus at 19:00 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The game was NOT BROADCAST live on TV in SA.
The Blue Bulls won by a single point, 39 / 38, after Naas Olivier missed the last conversion to win the game for Griquas.
Bulls got out of jail….
Jaco van der Westhuizen nearly cost the Blue Bulls another game this season…..
(Despite what SuperSport and Brenden Nel says that Griquas won, they are wrong… it is official, the Blue Bulls won. Brenden Nel was not even here at the game with us, simple as that! Read What SAPA says, what JJ Harmse says, what Vata Ngobeni of Pretoria News says…. and above all believe me!)
Again 4 games to be played, 3 today, Friday 20 August 2010 and 1 tomorrow, Saturday 21 August 2010.
They are:
- Blue Bulls v Griquas, 20 Aug 19:00 = 20 Aug 19:00
- Cheetahs v Leopards, 20 Aug 19:00 = 20 Aug 19:00
- Pumas v Lions, 20 Aug 19:10 = 20 Aug 19:10 (Broadcast live on SS1 on DSTV)
- Sharks v Western Province, 21 Aug 19:10 = 21 Aug 19:15 (Broadcast live on SS1 on DSTV)
It’s the day before the momentous Test, the best in the World playing one another, in the Tri-Nations.
What more could you want, 90 000 spectators at the Southern Hemisphere’s best Stadium, the All Blacks standing ont the verge of the Tri-Nations crown for 2010 and Springbok captain John Smit due to run out for his 100th Test cap?
Will the Bokke be better at home or will the All Blacks continue their dominant form of 2010?
The following rugby is LIVE on TV today:
| 17:05 – 19:00 | Rugby | IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup New Zealand v South Africa | |
| 19:00 – 21:00 | Rugby | Absa Currie Cup: Barloworld Toyota Pumas v Xerox Lions | |
| 21:00 – 23:00 | Rugby | French Top 14 Round 2 – Biarritz v Toulon |
… but that’s not all folks, we will also cover the Blue Bulls vs Griquas Currie Cup match, with a Live Game Thread, from Fortress Loftus, tonight at 19:10.
There is widespread speculation of exactly who will follow up in SASOL’s place to be the main sponsor of the Springboks from 2011. Will it be ABSA or Castle?
Here are the Currie Cup Teams for the weekend, as they are announced.
Vodacom WP coach Allister Coetzee today announced his team to take on the Sharks at Absa Stadium, Durban, on Saturday 21 August 2010. Kick-off is at 19h15.
I have just returned from collecting my Media Accreditation Card, VIP Parking Ticket and Media Documentation at FNB Stadium (Soccer City).
It is FABULOUS… it is MONSTEROUS… it is WONDERFUL!
The Sharks will be biting their nails about the fitness of steamrolling loose forward Willem Alberts for the next few days.
Free State Cheetahs winger Lionel Mapoe faces an uncertain future after failing to return to Bloemfontein after losing his contractual dispute with his provincial team.
3 Of the Bulls Bokke contingent in the current Springbok squad are injured. Zane Kirchner, Dewald Potgieter and Danie Rossouw did not take part in general training today.
The Cheetahs have snapped up the signature of Emerging Springbok lock Wilhelm Steenkamp from the Blue Bulls.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls will need to find a new captain this week ahead of their tough encounter against Griqualand West in Friday night’s Absa Currie Cup action after Gary Botha was ruled out for four weeks with a medial knee ligament tear.
Both Gary Botha and Derick Kuün are on the injury list after Saturday’s momentous clash against WP. Dewald Potgieter and Zane Kirshner are also injured in addition to being with the Springbok squad.
The Western Force has landed one of rugby’s most exciting young playmakers with New Zealand Maoris representative Willie Ripia heading to Western Australia for the next two Super rugby seasons.
Sydney – Australian dual rugby international Mat Rogers said on Monday he will retire at the end of the National Rugby League season after a 16-year playing career.
South African rugby is exploring the possibility of breaking away from their alliance with New Zealand and Australia as the SANZAR relationship is too strained.
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.
WP (6) 15 / Blue Bulls (3) 12 (Final Score)
Vodacom WP hosted the Blue Bulls at Newlands, Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
In a very hard match, only penalties at goal decided the game, 5 by Willem de Waal and 4 by Jacques-Louis Potgieter.
Wp win by 15 / 12.
Rugby-Talk’s comments section is still open for ALL Visitors and Guests to comment… so go ahead, do your thing!
Commenting will revert back to Registered bloggers only tonight after the WP / Bulls match.
Lions (13) 30 / Cheetahs (9) 26 (Final Score)
The Xerox Lions hosted the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 15:00 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the Game. The game was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Lions fought back hard, from behind, and scored with 2 minutes to go, to take a 4-point lead and win the match by 30 / 26.
Well done Lions.
Leopards (6) 6 / Sharks (32) 51 (Final Score)
The Platinum Leopards hosted the Sharks at Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg at 19:10 SA Time. This is the match htread for discussion of the game. The game was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Sharks won handsomely as expected, scoring 7 tries in the process and keeping the Leopards tryless.
One has to admire the Leopards though, they never lie down.
The Final Score is Sharks 51 / Leopards 6.
Hello friends,
A full year has passed since we started blogging on our home, www.rugby-talk.com
The year flew fast indeed.