Super Rugby
The Sharks have named their leaders for the Super Rugby Tournament of 2012.
The Sonny Bill Williams camp, have announced that Sonny Bill Williams will fight Clarence Tillman III in Hamilton on 8 February – two weeks before Super Rugby starts.
Morning Webmonster, minions, and my fellow Cheetah supporters. Now that we have the ground forces sorted, lets focus on the guys, that have to do something with the “pill” that has been fought for tooth and nail. Now last year, the Cheetahs cut loose, and ran many a team ragged. Can they continue in similiar vein, and simultaneously close the “revolving door” that they dished up as their defence at times. To lose 7 matches, in last years Super 15, by 7 points or less, makes one wonder what could have been, had the defence been 20% better?
Today we look at the scrumhalf contenders. A position where the Cheetahs have had some colourful characters. Like Werner “Smiley” Swanepoel, and Michael Claasens.
Time for the Cheetahs to look the part! Watch out boys, we can bite! Ha ha.
This edition looks at the selection of loose forwards. One area where the Boks, and in particular the Cheetahs have been strong.
This one is lengthy, as a few players have announced themselves during the injury crisis last year. No doubt there will be hot debate, but what is sure is that the Cheetahs have options aplenty, and may just have the most balanced and exciting backrow in SA, and will be one of the best in the tournament!
Let’s hope in the interests of Cheetahs and Bok rugby, that Juan, and Ratel will stay relatively injury free in 2012.
Sharks coach John Plumtree has made it public knowledge that he will select his captain for the season next week sometime, and this got me thinking as to who the candidates could be. My 2 minute self debate ended quite simply with another year under Keegan Daniel. But then I had a few beers with a good mate of mine, and this is what we decided would be best for the Black and White.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has hinted at using the services of their former Springbok scrumhalf Bolla Conradie in the Super Rugby tournament.
The Lions have given the Pumas duo of Doppies le Roux and Marius Coetzer a chance to book a place in the Lions Super Rugby squad after they were added to the Lions wider Super Rugby group.
Lions fly half Elton Jantjies will miss his team’s Super Rugby warm up matches due to a broken hand but should be fit by the start of the Super Rugby season.
The Stormers duo of Andries Bekker and Duane Vermeulen are in a race against time to be fit for the upcoming Super Rugby season which starts next month.
Most of the pre-season rounds of matches have now been confirmed after a bit of two-ing and fro-ing and the line-up looks like this:
Hallo all rugby addicts! It’s good to see the blogging intensifying, as prep for the 2012 Super 15 has started in earnest at all the franchises. Rassie’s antics has stolen my thunder momentarily, but I’M BACK!
Anyway, back to my series of articles on contenders for the Cheetahs 2012 Super squad. Tall Timber is next. An area where the Cheetahs have not had dominance since David de Villiers’ departure. We have had some good locks, guys like Braam Els, Flippie, Rory Duncan, and Barend Pieterse, but we need some staunch players to really get the powerful Cheetahs scrum to become destroyers!
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke says Springbok utility back Francois Hougaard will mainly play at scrumhalf in this year’s Super Rugby tournament.
Injured Springbok flank Juan Smith should be ready for the start of the Cheetahs’ Super Rugby campaign and could also feature in a warm-up match.
I have put up two articles on the Rassie affair together, as both are linked
.
The Sharks might be without two of their most bruising forwards, back row stars Willem Alberts and Jean Deysel, when their Super Rugby season gets underway next month.
The Western Force have dumped their New Zealand import Willie Ripia, despite a full year remaining on his contract, because of a ‘serious breach of team protocols’.
Vodacom Bulls vice-captain Wynand Olivier suffered a slight setback in his comeback from injury when he broke a small bone in his wrist at the weekend.
In my second edition, in the series of articles, looking at the contenders for the Toyota Cheetahs Super rugby Squad for 2012, I am going to look at the Happy Hookers. Enjoy people, and feel free to add value. Goooooo Cheeethas!
Cape Town – Rassie Erasmus has shocked the Western Province Rugby Union (WPRU) by resigning from his position as director of coaching.
Hello all, I have been coerced into being a contributing author on Rugby-Talk, providing a Cheetah perspective on all things rugby! This is new territory for me, but in the interests of Cheetahs supporters, and the growth of Rugby-Talk, I will give it a good old whirl.
In today’s Article, I will look at the possible contenders for props in the Cheetahs 2012 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention. I encourage all to differ from me, as that is what we all blog for. However, let’s avoid the personal diatribes.
The Cheetahs will face 3 Super Rugby sides as well as the Kings in their preparations for Super Rugby 2012, between 28 January and 11 February 2012.
Vodacom Bulls lock Fudge Mabeta will miss the 2012 Super Rugby campaign after being injured in a car accident.
New Western Force recruit Toby Lynn says that he is stoked about his move from the Chiefs to Perth due to an unusual connection.
Wayward and capricious Wallaby star Quade Cooper has landed in hot water again, but the Queensland Rugby Union moved swiftly to dispel rumours that other Reds players were involved in the latest incident.
An era of unprecedented success – a ten-year period where they won five Currie Cup titles (one shared) and three Super Rugby crowns – now gives way to a time of rebuilding.
This is primarily (although not exclusively) due to the crippling effect of departures, mostly of senior players.
The Brumbies have been hit with financial issues after their naming rights sponsor Huawei withdrew from a four-year $4 million-plus sponsorship of the Super Rugby club.
SIX years ago, Oregan Hoskins took over the reins as South African Rugby Union (Saru) president, tasked with the huge responsibility of converting the organisation plagued by infighting and back-stabbing into a respectable and ethical body — and there is no doubt he has achieved that.
Former All Black Rugby World Cup winger Jeff Wilson will join Pat Lam and Bryce Woodward as skills coach for the Blues in the 2012 Super Rugby season.
New Chiefs signing Sonny Bill Williams could play his last season of super Rugby in 2012 as he plans to return to playing Rugby League according to reports.
The latest development in the rugby wheel is the evolution of the second row forward – the left lock or enforcer lock in particular. Traditionally a bulky, abrasive character, the enforcer lock does the donkey work in the tight-loose, bashes opposition forwards into submission and beefs up the set pieces.
Rob Houwing imagines what the country’s five Super Rugby Franchises may wish for as main presents in their stockings on December 25 …
Add your wish list in the comments.
The Highlanders have suffered a blow for the first two months of Super Rugby with the loss of lock Jarrad Hoeata.
Former Blue Bulls flyhalf Francois Brummer is searching for a new rugby team after he failed to obtain a contract at the Eastern Province Kings.
The Crusaders new temporary home ground at Rugby League Park may not be ready in time for the Crusaders first home match in the 2012 Super Rugby season.
While Pat McCabe may have finished the Rugby World Cup as the Wallaby No.12 he may be overlooked in Super Rugby by new Brumbies coach in favour of Christian Lealiifano.