European Rugby
Stuart Hogg has been switched to flyhalf as one of three British and Irish Lions to play their second consecutive tour match in four days against a Combined Queensland-New South Wales Country team on Tuesday.
Ireland’s Simon Zebo will become the third reinforcement to join the British and Irish Lions as cover for injured winger Tommy Bowe, team officials said on Sunday.
Pumas (3) 3 / 32 (25) England (Final Score)
The Argentinian Pumas and England did battle in the June Internationals at El Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta at 21:10 SA Time (16:10 Arg Time, 19:10 GMT, 20:10 BST).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Springboks (20) 44 / 10 (0) Italy (Final Score)
The South African Springboks and Azzurri from Italy did battle in the castle Incoming Series in South Africa at Kings Park at 17:15 SA Time (15:15 GMT).
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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Scotland (9) 17 / 27 (14) Samoa (Final Score)
Scotland and Samoa did battle in the Castle Incoming Tours series in South Africa at Kings Park, Durban at 14:15 SA Time (12:15 GMT, 13:15 BST).
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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Reds (7) 12 / 22 (16) Lions (Final Score)
The Reds and British & Irish Lions did battle in the British & Iriah Lions tour of 2013 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
at 11:30 SA Time (19:30 Brisbane Time, 10:30 BST, 09:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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All Blacks (17) 23 / 13 (10) France (Final Score)
New Zealand and France did battle in the June Internationals at Eden Park, Auckland at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Scotland prop Ryan Grant has been called into the British and Irish Lions squad ahead of the clash with Queensland Reds. The Glasgow loose-head had been in South Africa with Scotland for a quadrangular tournament.
Uncapped loose forward Arno Botha has been called into the Springbok starting team in the place of the injured Willem Alberts for Saturday’s Castle Lager Incoming Series opener against Italy at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban.
The draw for the pools for the group stage of the 2013/14 Heineken Cup took place on Wednesday. Reigning champions Toulon will be in Pool Two along with RaboDirect Pro12 semifinalists Glasgow Warriors, as well as Cardiff Blues and Exeter.
English champions Leicester are in Pool Five with Ulster and Montpellier.
The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd announced on Thursday that Vodacom Bulls and Vodacom Blue Bulls hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle did not accept an offer to extend his contract past October 31st, 2013. The hooker indicated that he will instead take up an offer with the French club Toulouse.
Italian coach Jacques Brunel has benched veteran prop Martin Castrogiovanni for Saturday’s Test against South Africa in Durban.
The encounter, in a four-nations tournaments that also features Samoa and Scotland, will feature an Azzurri team that shows seven changes for the side that beat Ireland in their last outing – a Six Nations match in Rome back in March.
Sam Warburton is all set to become the 800th player to wear the British & Irish Lions jersey in a competitive fixture when he finally makes his debut on the 2013 tour against the Reds at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
The Cardiff Blues and Wales flank will become the last of the original squad who left London on 27 May to make his Lions debut and to add to the sense of occasion he will be leading the side for the first time as well.
Both the French and New Zealand have named their teams for face off on the weekend. The 1st Test of 3 between these two proud rugby nations takes place on Saturday at Eden Park, Auckland at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time).
On the French side, there is the rookie at flyhalf, Camille Lopez, whereas on the All Blacks side Dan Carter, who is injured, is out of the team as expected and replaced by Aaron Cruden.
Herewith two parts, firstly a discussion on the All Blacks and thereafter the same for the French:
Mixed news for the British and Irish Lions of 2013 for this week, with the injured Cian Healy cited for biting whereas his replacement for the Tour has been named and called up, Alex Corbisiero.
Not only is Cian Healy injured, having injured his ankle against the Western Force, bit there is the serious allegation that he has bitten Brett Sheehan in the same match.
What needs clarification is how the British and Irish Lions can call up a replacement for Healy if he is going to be banned after facing the Judicial Hearing, yet Alex Corbisiero has been called up as a replacement for Healy already.
France (3) 6 / 30 (13) England (Final Score)
France Under 20 and England Under 20 did battle in the IRB Junior World Championship of 2013 at Stade Henri Desgrange at 18:45 SA Time (16:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Force (3) 17 / 69 (27) Lions (Final Score)
The Western Force and British & Irish Lions did battle as part of the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia in 2013 at Patersons Stadium, Perth
at 12:00 SA Time (18:00 Perth Time, 11:00 BST, 10:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Some very good rugby right througout the week this week… clear your schedules!
Scotland will field three new caps in their team for Saturday’s international against Samoa in Durban, the first of their three games in the Castle Lager Incoming Series. The debutants are 24-year-old Edinburgh Rugby full-back Greig Tonks and the Glasgow Warriors duo, centre Alex Dunbar, 23 and hooker Pat MacArthur, 26.
Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll will captain the British and Irish Lions in their first tour game in Australia, against Western Force in Perth on Wednesday.
The 23-man team contains eight new Lions.
Dan Carter heads a string of injured All Blacks less than a week from the first Test against France, with coach Steve Hansen unable to confirm Monday if his star playmaker would take the field.
X-rays have revealed Carter cracked a bone in his right hand during the Crusaders’ 23-22 win over the Waratahs in a Super Rugby match last Friday.
Chiefs scrumhalf Brendon Leonard will head off shore at the end of the Super Rugby season to continue his rugby career in Italy.
Billy Vunipola scored a six-minute hat-trick as England completed their preparations for the Test series against Argentina with 41-21 victory over a South American XV.
Saracens and Barbarians hooker Schalk Brits has been slapped with a three week ban for punching his Saracens team mate Owen Farrell in the British & Irish Lions’ tour opener in Hong Kong.
Lions (23) 59 / 8 (3) Barbarians (Final Score)
The British & Irish Lions and Barbarians did battle in the 1st game of the B & I Lions Tour 2013 at Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
at 13:30 SA Time (19:30 Hong Kong Time, 12:30 UK Time, 11:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 5 & SHD 3 on TV in SA.
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Seven players will make their first senior starts for England against the Sudamerica XV in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Sunday (19:30 BST – British Summer Time; 20:30 South African Time).
All Black Hosea Gear has signed with French side Toulouse, New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chief Steve Tew said on Friday, playing down fears cashed-up overseas clubs are luring the country’s top talent.
Griquas pivot Burton Francis is set to leave Kimberley after signing a deal with French club Agen.
A well-prepared South Africa Under-20 team leave for France on Thursday where they will defend their Junior World Championship title.
After six months’ planning and three weeks’ training, coach Warren Gatland finally begins his British and Irish Lions adventure in earnest on Saturday with what should be a gentle opening match against the Barbarians to open the 125th anniversary tour.
French club Montpellier have snapped up the signatures of two top SA midfielders – Vodacom Bulls veteran Wynand Olivier and DHL Western Province centre JP Du Plessis among their acquisitions ahead of the new European season.
Warren Gatland has named 17 new British & Irish Lions in his 23 strong matchday squad to tackle the Barbarians in the opening game of the 125th anniversary tour in Hong Kong on Saturday.
Italy captain Sergio Parisse said he wanted to give the British and Irish Lions an early taste of pressure after being named to lead the Barbarians side in Saturday’s encounter in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
Heyneke Meyer feared he had ruined Tom Youngs’ career when he persuaded the Englishman to switch from centre to hooker. The Springbok coach can probably rest easy now.