World Cup
Ryan Kankowski has a broken thumb and will be out for the rest of the Super14
Oh no! Big Naka Drotske said it. In the space of just 10 seconds, the Cheetahs coach may have brought down the Waratahs for another season.
Only 10 points separate the log-leading Waratahs and the ninth placed Hurricanes at the conclusion of round eight in the Vodacom Super 14 after South Africa’s Vodacom Bulls and Vodacom Stormers both conceded defeats this weekend.
The sharks must surely now have turned the corner after their poor start to this years Super 14 competition, After 3 good wins in a row they now have a week off to recover from their hard trip down under.
There are quite a few injury concerns and this layoff could not have come at a better time. Continue reading
Sharks (9) 30 / Reds (14) 28 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Reds at ABSA Stadium, Durban at 17:05 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 Sharks won a nail-biter 30 / 28, not scoring 4 tries in the process but allowing the Reds to score 4 tries.
Waratahs (23) 40 / Cheetahs (3) 17 (Final Score)
The Waratahs hosted the Cheetahs in Sydney at 10:40 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 Waratahs won comfortably by 40 / 17, scoring their bonus point for tries in the process and suddenly moving top of the Log… yes, that’s right, they are now in No 1 spot.
Chiefs (10) 27 / Highlanders (15) 21 (Final Score)
The Chiefs hosted the Highlanders at Mt Manganui, Bay of Plenty at 08:35 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 Chiefs won the match by 27 / 21, not scoring their bonus point for tries in the process.
Blues (16) 32 / Bulls (11) 17 (Final Score)
The Blues hosted the Bulls at Eden Park, Auckland at 06:30 SA Time on Saturday. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA. The Blues brought their A-Game to the match and won 32 / 17.
Crusaders 26 Hurricanes 26
Surely the South African referee Johnatan Kaplan was the central villain in a 26-26 draw that may have all but ended the Canes’ playoff hopes.
Force (7) 16 / Stormers (6) 15 (Final Score)
The Western Force hosted the Stormers in Perth at 12:05 SA Time. This is the match Thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA. The Force won the match 16 / 15 with a drop goal from David Hill well after the hooter had gone. This was a scrappy and dour game of rugby to suffer through.
Hurricanes (14) 26 / Crusaders (18) 26 (Final Score)
The Hurricanes hosted the Crusaders today and the teams battled one another in a very tight game, eventually drawing 26 / 26.
Man oh man, I had a good chuckle just now… I found this pearl on Rugby365. I just had to laugh, even though to hardened Lions supporters this might not sound so funny.
This is what Rugby365 reports:
The long-awaited appointment of a defensive coach at the Lions Super 14 franchise was announced by Kevin de Klerk, president of the Johannesburg-based outfit, on Thursday.
Round 8 is one of the more difficult weeks as far as predictions go, we have 4 South African Teams taking part and the Lions, bless their dismal souls, have a rest week to lick some wounds.
The Games for the weekend are:
| 2 | Hurricanes | v | Crusaders | Wellington | 08:35 |
| 2 | Western Force | v | Vodacom Stormers | Perth | 12:05 |
| 3 | Blues | v | Vodacom Bulls | Auckland | 06:30 |
| 3 | Chiefs | v | Highlanders | Mt Maunganui | 08:35 |
| 3 | Waratahs | v | Vodacom Cheetahs | Sydney | 10:40 |
| 3 | The Sharks | v | Reds | The Absa Stadium Durban | 17:05 |
The Sharks have managed to resolve England flyhalf Andy Goode’s work permit issues and the veteran No.10 will start in the Super 14 Round Eight match against the Reds in Durban on Saturday. Continue reading
The Bulls have never won in Auckland in Super Rugby… Will all of that change this weekend? Continue reading
A lot of debate has been doing the rounds in terms of whom the more successful team in Super Rugby is… Continue reading
Here are ALL the Teams announced, to play in week 8 of the Super 14.
Allister Coetzee, head coach of the Vodacom Stormers, today announced his team to play the Western Force in Perth on Friday 2 April. Kick-off is at 12h05 (SA time). Continue reading
The Bulls may not want to know it, but they are the Stormers’ biggest allies on their Super 14 tour of Australia and New Zealand.
After a day off to overcome their travel weariness, the Sharks returned to training in earnest on Tuesday morning as they set their sights on Saturday’s game against the Reds, with coach John Plumtree identifying the visitors’ 9-10 combination as a major threat.
By Craig Lewis
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has confirmed that he is aiming to deploy his best team against the last-placed Western Force in Perth on Friday, but question marks over the readiness of key players may limit his options.
This is one to read. Written by JJ Harmse, take the good, take the bad its up to you. Put it in your pipe and smoke it.
News24
SANZAR has announced the match official for Week 8. Continue reading
The Sharks will be happy to be back home in Durban and the Absa Stadium, as 5 weeks away from home must very hard on the players for so many different reasons, One can only hope that playing this weekend after their long flight does not take it’s toll.
Also one is not sure what injuries there are, that being besides the injury to Adriaan Jacobs and Johann Muller that is already known, On the plus side is being back at home their is far more players to choose from as back-up is at hand.
It does seem that the Sharks have turned to corner and one expects a good performance from them this comming weekend against the Queensland Reds who themselves are on a upward curve. Continue reading
19 May 2007 saw the first Super 14 final contested by two South African teams, the Bulls from the North of Gauteng, and the Sharks from the East Coast of KZN, held at Absa Park, Durban, home of the log leading Sharks, who was indomitable for the whole competition. Shortly before the final whistle, the Sharks were leading, they had victory secured. Amongst themselves, it seems, they started discussing who would say what at the awards ceremony, how wasted they were going to get afterwards and probably the merits of the Sharks’ Flashing Girls. While this discussion was going on, one Bryan Habana slipped over the tryline, almost unnoticed, and beat the final buzzer, to clinch it for the Bulls.
Blues coach Pat Lam has fired up over what he believes was unfair officiating in his side’s 32-39 Super 14 defeat to the NSW Waratahs in Sydney.
Reading trough all the web sites, News blogs and Sports Blogs, I started to feel uncomfortable. I am not used to the “we all stand behind the Bulls” as well as “we support the Bulls”, it is making me uneasy.Where are you Saint, we need someone to chop us down to size a bit.
The words of the song “Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble”, by Mac Davis, started ringing in my ears.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoRPohOA8WI&feature=related[/youtube]
(I thought this might fit in well here, seeing as it is usually me and a lot of muppits here)
Ruan Pienaar kicked an extra time penalty for the Sharks to snatch a 26-29 victory for the Sharks in Wellington earning his team their second win of the season. Continue reading
Western Force (12) 15 / Bulls (10) 28 (Final Score)
The Force hosted the Bulls at ME Stadium, Perth at 13:10 on Saturday. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA. The Bulls won a very hard-fought match 28 / 15 and continue their unbeaten run.
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Waratahs (21) 39 / Blues (19) 32 (Final Score)
The Waratahs hosted the Blues at Sydney Football Ground, Sydney at 10:40 SA Time on Saturday. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA. The Waratahs won the match 39 / 32 and both teams earned their bonus points for tries scored.
Hurricanes (6) 26 / Sharks (13) 29 (final score)
The Hurricanes hosted the Sharks at Westpac Stadium, Wellington at 08:35 SA Time on Saturday. This is the match thread for discussion of the match. The match was broadcast on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA. The Sharks won after the hooter had gone with a Ruan Pienaar Penalty from halfway, 29 / 26.
Cheetahs (10) 10 / Reds (11) 31 (Final Score)
The Cheetahs hosted the Reds at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein at 19:10 SA Time on Friday. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA. The Reds won 31 / 10 but neither team managed to score a bonus point for tries scored.
I hate referees, bloodsuckers each and every one of them. They give me the shivers, from their cold staring fish-like eyes, their cruel salmonella induced twitchy mouths, their scaly exoskeleton, with its slug-like grey-bluish tinted qualities, sometimes called a skin, their limp-wristed, cold clammy hands, down to their sweat drenched, vomit inducing, skinny legs, ending in their silly verucca encrusted feet.
Brumbies (17) 30 / Chiefs (16) 23 (final score)
The Brumbies hosted the Chiefs at Canberra Stadium, Canberra at 10:40 SA Time on Friday. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The game was broadcast on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA. The Brumbies won by 30 / 23, neither team getting a bonus point for tries.