grootblousmile
Ireland (10) 23 / Barbarians (21) 29 (Final Score)
Ireland hosted the Barbarians at Thomond Park at 20:45 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Barbarians beat a decidedly ordinary Irish team, by going ahead early on and piling on the pressure and points, whereafter it was catch-up rugby for the Irish, who although clawing their way back, just could not haul the Barbarians in.
The opposition may only be Fiji, but the Canberra Stadium on Saturday will provide a glimpse of the future of Australian rugby.
Following the impressive, and much-improved, form of the exciting Reds, the at times dour determination of the Waratahs, the glimpses of brilliance from the Brumbies and the individual flashes from the Western Force, there is no doubt the Wallabies have enough talent to make a real fist of it at next year’s World Cup.
Ireland will use the clash with the Barbarians as a warm up before their tough tour to New Zealand, with Irish coach Declan Kidney experimenting with some new combinations.
After a disappointing Six Nations campaign, Ireland will want to come away with some good results during the mid-year Test schedule, with a Barbarians match a good way to test the depth of the squad.
Three players with Super 14 experience and two who feature in the Springbok 7’s team were included in the South African U20 squad that will play Tonga in their opening Pool B clash of the IRB Junior World Championship in Parana on Saturday. In addition there are 4 players with Vodacom Cup experience.
Wales take on the Springboks at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday at 15:30 SA Time.
This weekend sees the start of the Southern Hemisphere Test season and with the Super 14 having taken place just last weekend the Bokke are not at full strenght due to the fact that it is wise to rest a few weary players.
We look at the match and the Welsch squad who also does not appear to be at full strengh.
Juan De Jongh has been named at inside centre in the Bok team to face Wales in a one-off Test in Cardiff on Saturday. He replaces Butch James, who has been withdrawn because of protracted club-versus-country dispute that raged this week.
The 21-year-old was named in the No.12 jersey when Springbok coach Peter de Villiers confirmed the team at a media conference in Cardiff on Thursday.
Rugby365 also reports as follows
Being the innovaters that they are, Bulls fans have found and mastered the true and correct way to use the instrument of noise…. during the last 2 weeks in Orlando!!
Never say they don’t learn fast!
Here’s how….
It may be World Cup football time, but don’t try telling that to rugby lovers.
Between Friday, June 4 and June 26, there will be 15 full-blooded internationals broadcast on SuperSport, in addition to the IRB junior world championships, two New Zealand Maori fixtures, the Coca Cola Craven Week, the Safaricom Sevens and a series of FNB Classic Clashes.
Victor Matfield and Zane Kirchner will join the Springbok rugby squad in Cardiff on Thursday as replacements for Andries Bekker and Butch James.
Here is the historic and epic Super 14 Final, in Orlando on 29 May 2010 in Pictures…
Just CLICK on the 1st picture in every series and scroll through by using your Arrow-Keys!
Johannesburg – In the immediate aftermath of Samoa’s dramatic first IRB Sevens World Series victory, the International Rugby Board has moved quickly to announce the dates for the eight events in the 2010/11 World Series, starting once again with the two events in Dubai and George, South Africa, in December 2010.
Rugby365 reports as follows:
James Hook will start for Wales against South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday after making a last minute plea to the coaches to let him play.
Hook will undergo surgery on a shoulder problem after Wales face the world champion Springboks and will not travel for the two-Test tour of New Zealand with the rest of the squad later in June.
Twitter Blanket Drive (#TBD) events ran as planned countrywide in Joburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Knysna and the Overberg on Saturday, 29 May 2010. Various charities will benefit from these events; Kids Haven, Roundtable, Rotary, Animal Welfare, P.E.N., and PASSOP.
Over 100 ‘Tweeters’ braved the cold on Saturday evening to join in the events around the country.
Rugby-Talk hosted it’s own premium competitions for the Super 14, one at SportsPool Club and one at SuperBru.
The winner of our SportsPool Club is Scrumsaam.
The winner of our Rugby-Talk SuperBru is Durban Bulle, with the exceptional qualification that he also managed to achieve NO 3 position Overall on SuperBru, amongst 73 208 participants.
On Saturday evening, during halftime, I went to go smoke a Traditional GBS little Camel, and I ran into a facinating story.. a typical supporter to the last story…
The story of Brenda & Kevin from Lonehill in Johannesburg, who took a little Bulls Mascot Doll with them to Orlando….
Bulls (16) 25 / Stormers (3) 17 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls hosted the Vodacom Stormers in an EPIC Final at the Orlando Stadium, Soweto, South Africa at 17:00 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Bulls won a thriller in Soweto….
Bulls retain the much sought after trophy, what a champion team!
Final score Bulls 25 / 17.
One day to go before the Super 14 Final… and all rugby News is bland compared to the expectations we all hold for the Final.
One feels that tension is mounting but that many are too closed-lipped for fear of having too much egg on their faces after the Final.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and captain John Smit have presented their soccer counterparts, Carlos Alberto Perreira and Aaron Mokoena, with a special jersey to wish them luck for the forthcoming FIFA 2010 World Cup. The global soccer showpiece kicks off on June 11.
The Bok duo met with the Bafana Bafana coach and captain at a jersey-swapping ceremony in Johannesburg on Thursday. Mokoena reciprocated by handing Smit a Bafana Bafana shirt and wishing the Boks well for the coming international season.
Fans are reaching out to Soweto…. Morné sent me a link to a web site http://www.melanie-minnaar.blogspot.com
Since then, it appears that Orlando Stadium have approved the initiative. Victor Matfield also added a TWEET on TWITTER, as follows:
“Hi everyone. Let’s support the bring a blanket campaign to Soweto on Saturday”
Here’s the contents of the above link:
Finally, the EPIC Final South Africans have been waiting for! North vs South, Good vs Evil, Bulls vs Stormers!
To make predictions for this final is not easy, here’s how I approach the subject….
The Daily Telegraph reports as follows:
COACH Robbie Deans has chosen five uncapped frontrowers in his 30-man Wallabies squad for next month’s inbound Tests against Fiji, England and Ireland.
The squad includes Queensland Reds props Laurie Weeks and Ben Daley and Brumbies prop Salesi Ma’afu, all yet to play a Test.
These are the historic two teams who will contest the battle royal, for the last crown of the Super 14, as we know it.
Allister Coetzee, head coach of the Vodacom Stormers, today announced his team to play the Vodacom Bulls in the Vodacom Super 14 Final at Orlando Stadium, Soweto, on Saturday 29 May. Kick-off is at 17h00.
As a handy alternative travel arrangement, why not take the train to Orlando in Soweto for the Super 14 Final?
Here are the Official arrangements…
Leading Vodacom Bulls try scorer, Gerhard van den Heever, is back in the side that will take on the Stormers in the final of the Super 14 competition in Soweto on Saturday.
Van den Heever served a two week suspension due to a dangerous tackle and missed the semi-final clash against the Crusaders at the same venue last week and is the only change in the team from that game.
These are scenes from the Bulls vs Crusaders semi-final match held at Orlando Stadium, Soweto.
Click on any of the pictures to enlarge it, then scroll by means of right and left arrows:
[cincopa 10615367]
The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd would like to announce that the tickets for the Vodacom Super 14 final at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on 29 May 2010 at 17:00 will be available on 25 May 2010. The cost per ticket will be R 350.
The Bulls beat the Crusaders at Orlando Stadium in Soweto by 39 points to 24 for the right to host the 2010 Super 14 final next week again in Orlando.
Here are some highlights…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaSWTxucwCU[/youtube]
The Bulls will now face the Stormers in a much awaited South African Super 14 Final.
Ticket information with regards to the Vodacom Super 14 final at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on 29 May 2010 at 17:00 will be made available soon. Ticket prices will be R 350 per ticket. Please note that no tickets will be available on Monday, 24 May 2010.
Bulls (23) 39 / Crusaders (10) 24 (Final Score)
The Bulls hosted the Crusaders in the 1st of the 2 semi-finals of the Super 14 this year, at Orlando Stadium, Soweto, South Africa, at 17:00. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The game was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
This time round the Bulls simply had far too much fire power for the Crusaders, the Bulls won comfortably, by 39 / 24.
The Super 14 final WILL BE at Orlando Stadium, Soweto, South Africa.
Well done Bulls…. and well done Crusaders, you were worthy opponents!
We finally get to the semi-finals in this, the world’s greatest Franchise Competition in Rugby Union.
The matches are as follows:
| 22 | Vodacom Bulls | v | Crusaders | Orlando Stadium, Soweto | 17:00 |
| 22 | Vodacom Stormers | v | Waratahs | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 19:10 |
Waratahs halfback Luke Burgess will use the Super 14 semi-final to convince the Test selectors he is worthy of regaining his starting spot at a time when Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has been swamped by injuries in almost every position.
Deans yesterday revealed he had lost 15 players for the opening international, against Fiji in Canberra on June 5, with one of the most pressing areas to fill being halfback, as Will Genia is expected to be sidelined until the end of next month because of a knee injury suffered in the Queensland Reds’ final-round match on Saturday night.
The Crusaders coaches have made one change to their 22-man squad for the Super 14 semi-final match against the Bulls at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
Halfback Kahn Fotuali’i comes on to the reserves bench instead of Willi Heinz in the only adjustment to the team which beat the Brumbies 40-22 at AMI Stadium last weekend.
Super 14 drew an overall 1,832,867 bums on seats at an average of 20,141 per game, with South Africa leading at just under 26,000 per game (despite the low crowds at Coca-Cola Park.)
Country records and breakdowns:
1. South Africa: 856,930 (46% capacity) at 25,967 per game
2. Australia: 513,852 (28%) at 19,763 per game.
3. New Zealand: New Zealand total 462,085 (25%) at 14,440 per game.
The Springboks will play home three-Test series against England (twice), France and Ireland in the six years either side of the 2015 Rugby World Cup as a result of an International Rugby Board decision to return to ‘old-style’ rugby touring.