In 1891, just before the departure of the British Isles Rugby team for South Africa, Sir Donald Currie, owner of the Union Castle Line presented the squad with a golden trophy.
With the trophy came a very clear instruction to present the trophy to the team that gave the most spirited opposition during a tour match.
After a hard fought match Griqualand West became the first ever holders of the trophy that would, over the next century or so become the Holy Grail that South African provincial Rugby Teams would work tirelessly to possess.
Highlanders lock Jarrad Hoeata is the newcomer in the All Blacks squad named for the Tri-Nations.
The squad, which will be captained by All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, is made up of 16 forwards and 14 backs and packs huge experience with 1028 test caps between them.
Veteran back-rower Radike Samo has been reactivated by the Wallabies as one of 15 triumphant Queensland Reds named in Australia’s 40-man Test squad on Sunday.
Fijian-born Samo, who celebrated his 35th birthday with a Super Rugby title, is one of the big selection surprises along with Reds reserve hooker James Hanson and Melbourne Rebels utility back Mark Gerrard.
It was exciting and a close contest and I was as happy as most Aussies with the Reds victory mostly because it moved me up to the top 4% overall on Superbru.
Generally speaking though, I thought it was a rather poor exhibition of how to play finals rugby – by both teams. Not poor rugby but poor finals tactics. Let me explain at hand of the following observations I’ve made while watching the game.
Two match reports. First what New Zealand said and then the Australian view.
The Reds, who were playing for those who suffered because of the Queensland Floods early this year, came out on top.
But one thing is for sure – all of those involved with this Crusaders side should hold their heads high about what they’ve achieved this year.
Reds (6) 18 / Crusaders (7) 13 (Final Score)
The Reds hosted the Crusaders in the Final of Super Rugby 2011 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Brisbane Time). This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
In a truly super Super Rugby Final, the Reds emerge as worthy champions.
What a tournament we’ve had!!
Captain John Smit will lead a squad of 27 players drawn from the Springboks’ preliminary Rugby World Cup squad on the away leg of the Castle Tri-Nations Series, it was announced on Friday.
The Blue Bulls Company Pty (Ltd) is pleased to announce that Johann Sadie and JJ Engelbrecht have signed two year contracts (till 31 October 2013) with the Vodacom Bulls.
This is not a spitefull article, nor is it one to show any insensitivity from my side.
We experience so many disasters in the world and in my eyes the biggest one so far in 2011 was the Japannese tragedy. Japan will for years live in doubt about radio-active radiation.
Greg Growden writes: A dream final, and all of Australian Rugby are willing the Queensland Reds to win. But it won’t be easy. The Crusaders were phenomenal against the Stormers in last weekend’s semi-final in Cape Town, with their triumph revolving about an exceptional forward performance, especially at the scrum. And that’s where the Crusaders, despite the trials of jetlag, should again dominate.
The Reds scrum is good, but not as good as the Crusaders. As well, the Crusaders midfield looks far more penetrating than the Reds counterparts, who last weekend worryingly fell off several crucial tackles. The Reds will threaten long and hard, and don’t be surprised if this final is determined in extra time.
Herewith the Super Rugby team sheets for the 2 finalists of Super Rugby 2011.
The Free State Cheetahs are facing a massive fight to keep their Springbok fetcher Heinrich Brüssow in Bloemfontein after it emerged that Western Province have made a massive offer for him.
Brüssow is widely regarded as one of the best fetchers in the world, and is a shoo-in for the World Cup squad, but his contract with the Cheetahs ends at the end of this season and he has become a major target for other sides.
The biggest gift we can give our kids or the next generation of sports men and women, is to remove the fear of failure from their minds.
Compulsary rugby games will be played on Friday. Currie Cup teams must play a game against the “B” division teams. Sharks the current Currie Cup champions take on South Western Districts Eagles, Griquas will play against Border Bulldogs, Blue Bulls will play the Griffons and Free State Cheetahs take on the EP Kings. If more teams are released this post will be updated. If any of these matches will be broadcast Live is not known.
John Smit will lead a decidedly second-string Springbok selection on the away leg of the Tri-Nations series, but coach Peter de Villiers believes the side can still win in Australasia.
Sharks looseforward Jean Deysel has been added to the Springbok training squad in Cape Town because of injuries. Deysel, who made his Test debut against Italy on the 2009 end-of-year tour, joined the group on Wednesday.
I was reading the team of the week selection by Planet rugby the other day and it made me wonder what the depth was in each of the three Tri Nations countries, and also which positions they have sufficient depth.
While the news coming out of the Bok camp seem positive, you have to ask what prompted such drastic changes?
South Africa 3 / North-Auckland 0
The second match against North Auckland played in extreme weather conditions in Whangarei didn’t help the Springboks’ cause; the Springboks were desperate to not only win but also to play well but the wet underfoot conditions made it impossible to play proper rugby.
There was so much disappointment at the team’s exit from the current Super Rugby competition that it wasn’t noted at the time, but Jean de Villiers after the Newlands semi-final did have some encouraging words that should lighten the gloom for Stormers fans.
Standing in for regular captain Schalk Burger, who was unable to come back onto the field after halftime because of injury, the Springbok centre repeated what has been said often – perhaps too often for the liking of Cape supporters – this season: “We need to learn from this, absorb the lesson and apply the lesson”.
South African rugby has this reputation of having a powerful scrum. In fact the perception is that South African rugby is totally dependent or at least of being over dependent on its scrum to the extend that if you can counter the South African scrum the Springboks are easy to beat.
The absence of information will always lead to speculation, and whether it is fair or not, you would think that the Lions Rugby Union would have realised this after years of accusations of financial and administrative mismanagement.
Heinrich Brüssow, a ball fetcher par excellence, should be named along with team-mate Ashley Johnson when the Springbok team for the Tri-Nations is announced on Saturday.
Brüssow will undergo medical tests when the preliminary World Cup group assembles in Cape Town on Wednesday. He is expected to be fit to face the Wallabies and All Blacks on 23 and 30 July in Sydney and Wellington respectively.
Continue reading
Sometimes they say it is beneficial to go backwards in order to go forward … sadly for the Stormers, it tends to be a principle of dubious value in crunch rugby matches.
It did them no favours in an embarrassingly one-sided Vodacom Super Rugby semi-final exit, when a white flag was effectively raised at only the second set scrum of the evening.
THE Queensland Reds are one game away from becoming one of Australian sport’s great redemption stories after securing a home Super Rugby grand final with victory against the Auckland Blues.
It all came together on the night for Ewen McKenzie’s men as they outclassed the Blues at Suncorp Stadium, setting up the franchise’s first appearance in a Super Rugby decider next Saturday that will top off a mammoth week of football in the Queensland capital.
Stormers (10) 10 / Crusaders (23) 29 (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers hosted the Crusaders at Newlands, Cape Town. Stormers was forced to change their team. Dewald Duvenhage out, Louis Schreuder in. That disruption did not cost them the game, they also lost their inspirational captain at half time. Schalk Burger did not return from the changeroom, he broke a finger. The forwards of the Crusaders dominated the Stormers. At scrumtime the Stormers were not up to it. More to follow…..
Reds (15) 30 / Blues (7) 13 (Final Score)
The Reds hosted the Blues at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia. This action packed match was brilliantly won by the Reds, scoring 4 tries to one in return by the Blues. The Reds will host the final at the same venue against the winner of the second semi final between the Stormers and the Crusaders in Cape Town. Quade Cooper kicked poorly but his ball in hand game was brilliant.
THREE of the teams playing in this weekend’s Super Rugby semi-finals – the Stormers, the Crusaders and, especially, the Blues – have gone through the usual ritual this week of trying to justify their underdog status. I have never understood this rationalisation. Too often teams talk themselves out of a victory. So it is good that the Reds are talking up their prospects over the Blues tonight at Suncorp Stadium.
Coach Ewen McKenzie insists the home-ground advantage will inspire his side to victory. “We want people to turn up and be excited,” he has told reporters. The Reds supporters are the most vocal, partisan and inspiring for their team of all the Australian franchises.
Bloemfontein – Springbok reject Sarel Pretorius will continue his Super Rugby career in Australia. Continue reading
The Aviva Premiership Rugby fixtures for the 2011/12 season have been announced with reigning Aviva Premiership Rugby champions Saracens kicking off their season by playing London Wasps in the London Double Header at Twickenham.
SANZAR have unveiled the new Super Rugby Rugby trophy that will be presented to the inaugural Super Rugby champions on 9 July 2011.
A lot has been made in recent days on the inclusion of Saracens hooker, Schalk Brits, in the Stormers team for their semi-final clash against the Crusaders this weekend at Newlands.
Herewith the Super Rugby team sheets for the 4 teams competing in the semi finals of Super Rugby 2011.
The Queensland Reds, aiming for their first professional Super Rugby title, are not perturbed they lack players accustomed to finals football or waving impressive trophies above their heads. As they prepare for Saturday night’s semi-final against the Auckland Blues in Brisbane, Reds coach Ewen McKenzie said it was not a big disadvantage that his players were foreign to finals football.
The last time the Reds appeared in a Super final was in 2001, when they were beaten by the Brumbies in the semi-final.
Rynhardt Elstadt needs to “out-work” Brad Thorn and not be intimidated by him in Saturday’s Super Rugby semi-final between the Stormers and Crusaders at Newlands.
That was the call from Stormers forwards coach Matthew Proudfoot on Tuesday. The vastly experienced Thorn was injured and did not feature for the Crusaders in their recent 20-14 victory over the Stormers at Newlands, with Luke Romano and Chris Jack guarding the second row.