Amateur Test selectors rejoice. In a World Cup year – with its truncated Tri Nations tournament – every Super weekend has an influence on a certain tournament in New Zealand later in the year. So discard the ‘one week at a time cliches’ pedalled by the coaches join RugbyHeaven as we track the form, injuries and talking points among the Super sides with one eye on firmly on World Cup fortunes.
The ACT Brumbies have sensationally sacked coach Andy Friend after only two matches of the season.The Canberra Times understands Friend has just been told he no longer has the club’s support.
Defence coach Tony Rea will take over as coach immediately.
FNB UCT and FNB UJ are still unbeaten after four rounds of 2011 Varsity Cup action, with just one change on the log this week – at the bottom of the standings – as FNB Pukke finally scored their first league point of the season.
Shimlas (20) 20 / Tuks (5) 15 (Final Score)
Shimlas hosted Tuks at Shimla Stadium, Bloemfontein at 19:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
UCT (26) 45 / TUT (7) 16 (Final Score)
UCT hosted TUT at the UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town at 17:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
Veteran flyhalf Tony Brown has been drafted into the injury-depleted Highlanders’ Vodacom Super Rugby squad and will join the team in South Africa on Tuesday.
I am probably starting to sound like an agony aunt, but Rugby Press in general really leave so much to be desired, it seems more in place at a kindergarden party. I am not pretending to be above the board, because what I do can hardly be described as journalism, partially biased social commentary more like. Everyone knows I am a Stormers supporter, I never pretended to be anything else, however, in the interest of all bloggers and other people who have to read my ramblings, I try to be as honest as possible in my assessments, and I will never decapitate someone for not agreeing with my stance on a subject, and lastly I try to be entertaining…even ridiculous at times…
Four Varsity Cup matches take place today, 28 February 2011. They are:
- UCT vs TUT – 17:00 (Live on TV and Live Game Thread here)
- Shimlas vs Tuks – 19:00 (Live on TV and Live Game Thread here)
- UJ vs Pukke – 19:00
- Maties vs NMMU – 19:00
Hands up if you picked the Highlanders to be two from two with wins over the Hurricanes and Chiefs under their belts after the opening two rounds of the Super Rugby season?
This week we lost great players with injuries in the Super Rugby competition. To make it worse there is long term injuries ending some players World Cup aspirations. National coaches will have sleepless nights over some of their stalwarts injuries.
Scotland (9) 18/ Ireland (14) 21 (Final Score)
Ireland ran in three tries to set up a 21-18 victory over Scotland in their Six Nations clash at Murrayfield on Sunday.
The result left the Scots still without a point from three games. Ireland joined Wales and France on four points, two behind leaders England.
Another weekend of great rugby. Provincial rivalry made for a competitive and tight weekend. Read on my view of the Player of the week, the try of the week, Biggest blunder, the most disappointing player of the week. Go ahead add your views and many more.
In their opening Super Rugby match of 2011, the Stormers prevailed over a valiant Lions side at Newlands yesterday.
See the famous Joggie Jansen tackle, the Sid Nomis interception, the third test of 1965 which shows Brynard diving over two defenders to score, the Tiny Naude penalty and much more.
A total of 62 video’s can be viewed on the McLook Collection.
Click on these links.
“It was a great result for us against a quality team,” said Sharks captain Stefan Terblanche. “If you’d have given us two wins to kick off the campaign we would have taken it.”
Stormers (9) 19 / Lions (8) 16 (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers hosted the MTN Lions at Newlands, Cape Town at 19:10 SA 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.
The Stormers escaped jail with a very late comeback to eventually win by 3 points and with a number of their old stalwarts not firing. Guys like Bryan Habana, Conrad Jantjes, Ricky Januarie and Andries Bekker seem to be playing on hype and reputation only.
The gutsy Lions tried till 4 minutes into injury time to slowly move upfield and score, which they nearly did, only to be denied by a desperate steal by the Stormers.
Sharks (16) 26 / Blues (9) 12 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Blues at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban at 17:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Sharks started fast but then the game became scrappy, all the way through… not a memorable game but won nonetheless by the Sharks, before their trek accross the big waters.
2 Wins from 2 for the Sharks, this is what matters, I suppose.
The Cheetahs’ inspirational captain JUan Smith is set to miss South Africa’s defence of the World Cup, after he tore an Achilles tendon.
Three matches, beside the two important Super Rugby matches takes place in SA on Saturday afternoon and evening. The Vodacom Cup game between the Sharks vs Blue Bulls (14:30), italy vs Wales (16:30 SA Time) and England vs France (19:00 SA Time). This is the combined Score Update Article for these 3 matches.
Vodacom Cup: Sharks 30 / Blue Bulls 19 (Final Score)
Italy (11) 16 / Wales (21) 24 (Final Score)
England (9) 17 / France (9) 9 (Final Score)
Two notably erratic performances on the trot, but the Bulls have shown the mark of champions to gratefully bank away victories each time … and now they embark on a handy little run of fixtures back at Fortress Loftus.
Continue reading
The DHL Stormers host the MTN Lions this evening, in what for the home side will be their 2011 Super Rugby opener.
The weather for Cape Town today is expected to be hot and dry, peaking at 30°C, and we can expect the Rugby to be just as hot. Continue reading
Waratahs (16) 30 / Reds (6) 6 (Final Score)
The Waratahs hosted the Reds at ANZ Stadium, Sydney at 10:40 SA Time (19:40 AEDT). This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcat live on SuperSport 1 & M-Net.
The Waratahs eased past the Reds for a bonus point win and 10 Log Points from 2 games. The Reds were woeful, with a plethera of handling mistakes and wrong options marring their game.
It certainly looks like the Waratahs are the Australian team to watch this season.
Cheetahs (11) 23 / Bulls (8) 25 (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs hosted the Vodacom Bulls at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 19:10 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 and CSN on TV in SA.
Once again a game of two halves for the Bulls, this time extremely lacklustre in the first half and on fire after the break, when they decided to keep more possession.
It was hard, it was brutal, it was close… it was a derby!
Free State Cheetahs (22) 55 / Valke (5) 19 (Final Score)
The Free State Cheetahs hosted the Valke at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 16:45 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
Comfortable win for the Free State Cheetahs, with 8 tries scored by them against 3 tries.
The Crusaders will play their next two home Super rugby matches in Nelson after their stadium was damaged in the deadly Christchurch earthquake.
Rebels (9) 25 / Brumbies (16) 24 (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels hosted the Brumbies at AAMI Park, Melbourne at 10:40 SA Time (19:40 AEDT). This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
The Rebels bounced back from a horrible start in Week 1 to rack up their first ever win. They will still be concerned that they had very little possession though and the Brumbies will be kicking themselves for not converting so many chances in the Rebels 22m area into solid points.
Herewith the Super Rugby teams, all now announced, for week 2 of Super Rugby 2011. One game, the one between the Hurricanes and the Crusaders, has been called off due to the devastating earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, home of the Crusaders – the official result will be a draw with no bonus points, meaning that both teams get 2 Log points each.
Highlanders (6) 23 / Chiefs (13) 13 (Final Score)
The Highlanders hosted the Chiefs at Carisbrook, Dunedin at 08:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
It was the battle between the gritty Highlanders forwards against the star-studded Chiefs backs… and the Chiefs backs just were not on song.
The following Rugby is on TV in SA from Friday morning 25 February till Sunday 27 February 2011. Remember to do your SuperBru picks on time!
This week, SARU’s Manager of Referees, Andre Watson, steps into the Hotseat, dealing with issues ranging from scrums to rucks and more.
Sharks coach John Plumtree has stuck largely with the team that beat the Cheetahs last week for this Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash with the Blues at Mr Price KINGS PARK.
Keegan Daniel’s inclusion at flank is the only change to the starting lineup after Jacques Botes took a knock to the hip.
Hurricanes second five eighth Ma’a Nonu’s one week ban following a SANZAR judicial hearing this week, will be served out during his team’s next match against the Chiefs on 12 March.
The Melbourne Rebels are looking into an incident at a nightclub last weekend involving former England flyhalf Danny Cipriani, the Super rugby club said on Thursday.