European Rugby
The regular rugby season officially kicks off in the UK and Ireland in just over two weeks time when the Aviva Premiership and RaboDirect Pro12 league games start. However, the clubs have been busy with their pre-season preparations and a number of friendly matches were played this past weekend.
Today sees the start of the RBS 2012 Rugby Force weekend which is yet another good initiative by the Scottish Rugby Union to assist grassroots development of the game. Current international players will be heading out to various rugby clubs across the country, from Stornoway in the Hebrides to Dumfries in the far south, to make a valuable contribution to the club game in a practical way.
England Prop Matt Stevens has announced that he has decided to stand down from International Rugby with immediate effect.
Pretorius in Walliese klubspan se toergroep teen Vrystaat.
Al is hy eintlik ‘n Suid-Afrikaner, pronk sy gesig nie verniet as een van die Cardiff Blues se sterre op die Walliese spog-rugby-klub se amptelike webtuiste nie.
Die agtsteman Andries Pretorius sal een van die groot trekpleisters wees wanneer die Blues die naweek hier teen die Vrystaat Toyota Cheetahs in n vertoonwedstryd uitdraf.
Early last month Edinburgh Rugby announced they had acquired the services of former England and Lions star flanker Neil Back; as forwards coach.
Yesterday, Edinburgh indicated they had bolstered their hooking options by signing another former Lions player, and one time Sale Sharks stalwart, hooker Andy Titterrell.
Toulon’s England international flanker Steffon Armitage has tested positive for a product on the World Doping Agency’s banned list, albeit one which could be construed as having therapeutic qualities.
We should all be familiar with that old saying ‘ crime doesn’t pay’. I have found an instance, with a rugby connection, in which it does. Thanks to the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities initiative, Scottish rugby clubs have already and will receive further much needed ‘donations’ courtesy of the criminals.
A few weeks ago I heard some of what the latest targets were that the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) had set itself but was unable to share this at the time on this website. At the time I did think hats off and good luck guys but also that they were really lofty ambitions. These targets for the next four years include winning a Six Nations Grand Slam and the next World Cup.
England head coach has named his revised Senior and England Saxons Elite Player Squads with sevens changes to the senior squad.
Aviva Premiership Rugby newcomers have been given a tough draw as they face nine-time English champions Leicester Tigers at home on the opening weekend.
Andy Farrell, who coached the England backline on an interim basis during this year’s Six Nations but missed out on England’s tour of South Africa, has been re-appointed to the England coaching team.
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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All Blacks (29) 60 / (0) 0 Ireland (Final Score)
New Zealand and Ireland did battle in the 3rd Test of their series at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ 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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Wallabies (12) 20 / (9) 19 Wales (Final Score)
Australia and Wales did battle in the 3rd Test of the series at Akianz Stadium, Sydney at 07:00 SA Time (15:00 Sydney 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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Argentina (0) 17 / (19) 25 Wales (Final Score)
Argentina and Wales did battle in the IRB Junior World Championships, 3rd Place Play-off, at Newlands, Cape Town at 16:30 SA Time.
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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Ireland (6) 18 / (0) 7 France (Final Score)
Ireland and France did battle in the IRB Junior World Championships, 5th Place Play-off, at Newlands, Cape Town at 14:15 SA Time.
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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Australia and Wales play each other in the 3rd test match of the current series in at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday, 23rd June. Kick off is at 07.00 SA time.
There are few changes to the teams following the 2nd test last week that Wales agonizingly lost following a last minute Australian penalty. Wales outscored the Wallabies by two tries to one in that game.
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.
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.
SA Barbarians (10) 31 / (31) 58 England (Final Score)
The SA Northern Barbarians and England did battle in a midweek match at Profert Olën Park, Potchestroom at 19:10 SA Time.
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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This is the third article in our series looking at players from the northern hemisphere who may be lesser known on the international stage. Previously we looked at two wingers, Harry Robinson and Tim Visser, who at that time had yet to start an official test for their country.
We now feature a forward, England flanker Tom Johnson. The other difference is that by now Johnson has actually played two tests for England, against South Africa.
England Captain Chris Robshaw has been ruled out of England’s final Test match against South Africa in Port Elizabeth with a broken thumb.
Wales have questioned the legitimacy of the Wallabies breakdown tactics and want a meeting with the referee before this weekend’s third Test in Sydney, assistant coach Shaun Edwards said on Monday.
Wellington – World champions New Zealand will play Tests against Scotland, Italy, Wales and England on their tour of Europe in November, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) said on Monday.
The apparent closing of the gap between the northern and southern hemisphere rugby teams evident at the weekend is in part the result of a change in scheduling, according to Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards.
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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Wallabies (13) 25 / (7) 23 Wales (Final Score)
Australia and Wales did battle in the second Test at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne at 12:00 SA Time (20:00 Melbourne 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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All Blacks (9) 22 / (10) 19 Ireland (Final Score)
New Zealand and and Ireland did battle in the second Test at AMI Stadium, Christchurch at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ 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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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.
England scored eight tries on their way to a 54-26 victory over a determined South African Barbarians team in Kimberley on Wednesady.
The Springboks have made three changes to their team for the second Test match against England at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg.