World Cup
No-one can wait any longer, the nerves are on a knife’s edge. The camps are going through their preparations. The new recruits are fitting well into the teams. They feel ready. Let the games begin. But there is still 26 days left before the games begin.The fans are getting nervous.
Read what some supporters had to say.
First there is the small matter of taking on the Cape Cobras in a cricket match at Newlands on Sunday. But that doesnt mean the Vodacom Stormers do not have their eyes firmly fixed on succes in this year’s Vodacom Super 14. Continue reading
This year the referees plan a massive crackdown on the breakdown. Over the years this is the most hotly debated and controversial part of Rugby. It boils down to interpretation by the referee. How quick do you blow? How consistent can the Referee be? Expect a lot of penalties early in the season. Eventually we might see less penalties but the first few weeks teams must make sure that their kickers are on form.
Speculation is rife in EP rugby circles that a Bulls and Bok looseforward will be loaned to them for the upcoming season. Continue reading
Just yesterday I posted an article about the Reds where Will Genia said that the success of the team will greatly depends on the mindset of the players. Low and behold, today I came across a similar statement, this one from yet another perennial cellar dweller, the Cheetahs. Continue reading
With his reputation in rugby assured and his multimillion-dollar business no longer needing his daily attention, Rod Macqueen could afford to start relaxing. But only a fortnight after his 60th birthday – and almost a decade of rebuffing any coaching offer that came his way – the World Cup-winning coach will instead plunge back into coaching for elite rugby’s newest team, the Melbourne Rebels.
The world’s most experienced referee, Jonathan Kaplan, has been awarded the Vodacom Super 14 opener between the Bulls and the Cheetahs on February 11.
Having lived around this part of the world for a while now and having spoken to a number of people close to the Reds, I think the best way to describe them is a mix of the Lions and Cheetahs. Continue reading
A flyhalf crisis in the City of Roses may see the young Sias Ebersohn run out for the Cheetahs’ Super14 team, albeit only in the warm-up game against Eastern Province in a couple of weeks time. Continue reading
The Sharks are probably the team in World Rugby that made the most of the game going professional, for one thing with the help of Mr. Price they sure sell a hell of a lot of T-Shirts. Continue reading
Former Bulls winger Bryan Habana is looking forward to the challenge of playing a more central leadership role with the Stormers as they continue their pre-season training in the build up to the 2010 Super 14 competition.
By Zelim Nel
Our friends at the Lions made an interesting signing with news that former All Black flyhalf Carlos Spencer have joined the Lions. They are tight lipped about it all but it is understood it is also one of the biggest contracts ever in South African rugby. Continue reading
In Africa, few creatures inspire such lore and legend as the majestic king of the beasts and this is why they symbolize power and respect all through the continent, and even across the world. The masai , a nomadic warrior people from Tanzania and Kenia, believes that killing a lion with your bare hands is the single greatest achievement a man can accomplish in his lifetime (short as it may be).
Both Juan Smith and Heinrich Brussouw trained with the Cheetahs S14 Squad yesterday Continue reading
The Bulls will play one warm-up fixture against the Lions on January 30 in Polokwane before their Super 14 campaign kicks off on February 12 in Bloemfontein against the Cheetahs. Continue reading
After months of dispute about the financing and structure of the fifth Australian side – the first privately owned franchise – a major development is expected that will enable the club to start recruiting players and coaches. Continue reading
This is the first of a series of articles on the SA Franchises that I am going to place in preparation for the 2010 Super 14 competition, being the last of its kind before the evil conference system takes over in 2011.
Obviously everyone posting here is an expert. Whether that expertise lies in rugby we will find out during the course of the season, so I have taken it upon myself to give everyone a breakdown of the contenders, unbiased of course, a reminder of who’s who in the showpiece of Southern Hemisphere rugby, especially for my esteemed light-blue colleagues in the Pretoria-Clan, yes boys, there are other teams competing in the Super 14 as well. Continue reading
This is a bit old, seeing it was announced on the 15th, but I would like GBS,s and other Blue Bull supporters comments on this. The rest can debate or attack our view with pleasure, just remember Bulls supporters have memories like elephants. What you say might be held against you in a “stadium of reality” like Loftus.
Care of http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/
WHEN the Waratahs first spoke to second-rower Hendrik Roodt about the possibility of playing for NSW, one of the first things they asked was how he would feel about facing former Bulls teammates Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield in Pretoria; his response: “I is happy to play in Australia”. Continue reading
Super Rugby finals could soon be played at neutral venues or at the southern hemisphere city which bids the most to host the final from 2011.
SANZAR has announced the eight Super 14 referees for the 2010 Super 14. Half of them are South Africans. Continue reading
The Vodacom Blue Bulls’ Springbok lock Bakkies Botha is going to be on the sideline for three months following an achilles injury.
Newlands Rugby Stadium will be the venue for three of the top Super Rugby franchises, when the Sharks, Western Force and Stormers face each other in a round of pre-season warm-up matches ahead of the 2010 Super 14.
News is that the Bulls are happy with their current crop and the purchases already made and won’t be signing more players for the 2010 Super 14 season, and have added just four new faces to their team for next year.
Blue Bulls hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, will undergo a foot operation on Tuesday and Bulls team doctor Org Strauss, estimates he will be sidelined for at least three months. Continue reading
Heyneke Meyer makes a dramatic return to the Bulls in the capacity of Director of Rugby, with Frans Ludeke continuing as head coach in next year’s Super 14. This has now been confirmed by means of a press release from the Bulls, contained hereunder in Afrikaans, then in English. In other related news it is reported that Frans Ludeke has signed for another 3 years at the Bulls. Continue reading
Willem Alberts and Louis Ludik have a new set of teeth as they change to Sharks. Continue reading
WP Senior Professional Coach, Rassie Erasmus, today released the 2010 Vodacom Stormers Management team.
The new year kicks off with some interesting pre-season friendlies that could show if the Stormers, Sharks and Force have made progress since this years Super14. Continue reading
Congratulations to the Australian Rugby Union – who against all odds, have managed (read carefully and meticulously choreographed) to bring the 15th Super Rugby franchise to Melbourne, especially when the ARU has 80,000 registered rugby players and SA Rugby over 500,000, over 5 times the number of players in Australia.
SANZAR has announced Melbourne as the 15th Super Rugby Team to join the competition when expansion occurs in 2011.
The 5 New Zealand Super 14 squads have been announced.
Springbok fetcher Heinrich Brüssow who made such an impact in his first full season of Test rugby will continue to play his rugby for the Free State Cheetahs in 2010.
The SANZAR Executive Committee on Wednesday decided to go to ‘arbitration’ to decide between Melbourne and the Southern Kings to be the 15th Super Rugby team. Continue reading
If there is just one reason SA Rugby can highlight on why Australia should not get (read do not deserve) the 15th franchise, it should because their market does not support it. Continue reading