Internationals
If Ireland were hoping Steve Hansen’s reign as All Blacks coach would start with a vulnerable new-look side, they will be disappointed by the one named today.
Three rookies in wing Julian Savea, halfback Aaron Smith and lock Brodie Retallick will be pitched into action at Eden Park on Saturday.
OK, the shouting AT Heyneke Meyer & Co is done for his broader Squad selection of 32 players, some real bolters in and some surprising omissions… which did not exactly go down quietly and without a fight.
Now the 22-Man team for the first England Test and the first Test with Heyneke Meyer in charge has been announced too and generally there should be more or almost complete agreement for the run-on 15 chosen.
Coach Heyneke Meyer has named his team to take on England in the first of their three-Test series at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday. Kick-off is at 17:00.
The team contains three new caps in Eben Etzebeth, Marcel Coetzee and Juandre Kruger.
England are braced for a physical onslaught when they take on South Africa in the first Test of a three-match series, England prop Dan Cole said on Tuesday.
South Africa will not use their lack of preparation time as an excuse before their three-Test home series against England, wing Bryan Habana said on Tuesday.
Wallabies (3) 6 / (6) 9 Scotland (Final Score)
The Wallabies and Scotland did battle in the Winter Tours International season at Ausgrid Stadium, Newcastle, New South Wales at 11:30 SA Time (19:30 Australian Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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The IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2012 gets underway on Tuesday, June 5 at Nagoya’s Mizuho Park Rugby Ground, one of three venues for this year’s tournament.
Samoa play Tonga in the opening game of the double-header match day, followed by hosts Japan who start their title defence against Fiji.
Bokkies (3) 19 / (13) 23 Ireland (Final Score)
South Africa and Ireland did battle in the IRB Junior World Championships at Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch at 16:45 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Scotland will be playing the first of their test matches on this years summer tour tomorrow, Tuesday 5th June, against Australia. The game will be played at Newcastle, seemingly this is the heart of rugby league country in Australia. Kick off is at 11.30 South African time.
The England tour of South Africa has already been given a considerable amount of ‘air time’ on this site, and no doubt will continue to feature heavily in the coverage over the coming weeks. This article provides some information on the tours down south of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
New Zealand (36) 63 / (0) 0 Samoa (Final Score)
New Zealand and Samoa did battle in the IRB Junior World Championships at Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch at 16:45 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Wales (3) 44 / (12) 18 Fiji (Final Score)
Wales and Fiji did battle in th IRB Junior World Championships at Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch at 14:45 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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At a media briefing at 12.30 in Durban today, Heyneke Meyer confirmed that Jean de Villiers will lead the Springboks against England in the upcoming series.
Well whoever said rugby was boring. In one fell swoop, the Sharks were left washed up on some beach on the Jukskei, the Bulls were humbled at home, Heyneke Meyer attempts to fark with our heads and Keo is up for a bit of sex and coke. And that is all before the Queen steps onto her barge!
Nine uncapped players have been included in the Springbok squad of 32 for the Castle Incoming Tour against England, named on Saturday in Pretoria by SARU CEO Jurie Roux and Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
Wales (13) 30 / (14) 21 Barbarians (Final Score)
Wales and the Barbarians did battle at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff at 15:00 SA Time (14:00 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 on TV in SA.
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Hold onto your hats, saddle the horses, grab the Sannas… the English have landed!
Lock your daughters up, dig in, defend the homeland… Gooooooo Bokke!
Sport24
A 42-man England squad skippered by flank Chris Robshaw arrived on Thursday in crisp, clear conditions to start a five-match, three-Test tour of South Africa.
France coach Philippe Saint-Andre will, as expected, leave captain Thierry Dusautoir at home after ringing the changes for ‘Les Bleus’ mid-year tour of Argentina next month.
In one of the surprise selections Frederic Michalak has been offered the chance for a 55th cap for France.
Wales have named three debutants in their team to face the Barbarians and have also named veteran flanker Martyn Williams on the bench wherehe is set to win his 100th cap at Millennium Stadium.
A tug-of-war over Steven Kitshoff and the Stormers and the Baby Boks has intensified ahead of the Stormers crunch Super Rugby clash at Loftus.
Veteran Ronan O’Gara will captain an Ireland XV that plays a non-cap match against the Barbarians in Gloucester on Tuesday.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer expressed his excitement at the upcoming international season as the national planning camp concluded in Durban today (Monday), with less than two weeks to go before the first Test of the Castle Incoming Tour 2012 against England,
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is reported to have offered Fourie du Preez the Springbok captaincy for South Africa’s three match Test Series against England next month.
England (22) 57 / (7) 26 Barbarians (Final Score)
England and the Barbarians did battle in Super Rugby at Twickenham, London at 15:30 SA Time (14:30 UK Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Peter de Villiers was smeared, his family were put under intolerable political pressure and his one-time closest friends became his arch-foes, but he doesn’t regret a moment he spent coaching the Springboks.
Sydney – Waratahs skipper Rocky Elsom has been cut from the Wallabies by coach Robbie Deans less than a year after being stripped of the national captaincy.
Wellington – Dumped Samoa captain Mahonri Schwalger has called for the Pacific nation’s prime minister to be replaced as chairperson of the Samoa Rugby Union (SRU) and hit out at “arrogant” rugby administrators.
John Smit has not minced his words in commenting on the ‘special attention’ he expects England’s South African born players to receive on their upcoming tour of South Africa.
World rugby’s most experienced Test captain, former Springbok hooker John Smit, will skipper the Barbarians in their match against England on Sunday. Kick-off is at 15:30 SA time.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer will hold a fourth and final Planning Camp in Durban from Sunday, with 42 players across all five Vodacom Super Rugby franchises invited to attend.
A new list of the proposed law changes has been released by the IRB. These will be trailed later this year.
The Barbarians Summer Series proper begins this weekend with the Killik Cup against England at Twickenham, and not much has been spoken about it here.
New Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer finally put to bed months of media speculation over the possible return of retired lock Victor Matfield.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has welcomed a compromise agreement on the kick off date for the 2015 Rugby World Cup tournament as well on a new funding model to recognise impacts on unions in Rugby World Cup years.
The IRB Council on Tuesday reached agreement that the 2015 tournament will kick off on September 18, which represented a compromise between the organiser’s preferred date and that of the SANZAR nations, who will be engaged in the Castle Rugby Championship until shortly before Rugby World Cup kick off.