Injuries and form fluctuations have ensured Graham Henry has named the same All Blacks starting XV for Saturday night’s test against the Wallabies as the one which walloped the Aussies 49-28 in Melbourne on July 31.
It is Currie Cup final time.
Every year this time I just can’t help to think about the 1970 Cinderella story when Griquas came from nowhwere to win the Currie Cup. That magical won by Griquas has intriqued me since I can remember and I have been loosely on the look-out for information about that match/season always thinking that I’ll make some serious investigation into at some stage. Continue reading
Western Province opted for the tried and tested when they named their side to play against the Sharks in Saturday’s Currie Cup final in Durban.
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The 2010 Currie Cup Final is the 50th final since 1939, the year of the very first final – the Golden Jubilee of the Golden Trophy. South Africa’s provinces have competed for a trophy since 1889.
Platinum Leopards’ coach Leon Boshoff made only one change in the starting line-up of his side that travels to George to face the South Western Districts (SWD) Eagles on Friday in the second leg of their Absa Currie Cup promotion-relegation tie.
Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse has made just one change to his match-day 22 for the second leg in the promotion/relegation battle with the EP Kings on Friday.
Fullback Johan Jackson has served his two week suspension for a spear tackle against the Lions and replaces Ashwin Scott on the bench for the match.
Former Natal Shark and now Saracens centre Brad Barritt has been called up to the England Elite Playing squad as cover for Riki Flutey.
Durban born Barritt was already in the England Saxons squad and has impressed playing for Saracens.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union have signed Sharks prop Patric Cilliers and flank Michael Rhodes have signed for the 2011 Super Rugby competition.
The Sharks have announced that Absa has terminated their 11-year association with them, having decided to drop the current sponsorship as stadium naming rights-holder which they have held since 2000.
Mannetjies Gericke, once a Springbok scrumhalf ,died on Friday in the Wilgeheuwel Hospital in Roodepoort. He was 77.
Gericke had trouble with his knee – old rugby injuries – and was unable to walk when he went into hospital for a knee replacement on September 2010. He suffered greatly after the operation and did little more than a month afterwards.
So the EP Kings won the Super 15, no wait, they won the Currie Cup, no wait…wait…they won the Vodacom Cup…darn it, wrong again, what the hell did they win again? Oh yes, promotion to the Premier Division… damn, another mistake from my side… fact is they haven’t won didly squat.
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There have been many finals over the years but this one has the potential to be one of the most important ones as it could potentially direct coaching strategies for next year’s S15 as well as for the world cup.
Last year saw us at the top of the world; winning the tri-nations comprehensively. Continue reading
The bruising battle of the backrows will have a profound impact on Saturday’s Currie Cup final between the Sharks and Western Province at Kings Park.
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André Watson, South Africa’s refereeing boss, has sent a letter to referees on the difficult matter of yellow cards which can have such an big effect on a match and its outcome. The communication to his match officials is below.
This week we will have some great Rugby action on Supersport One. The action starts on Friday morning 08:15, when Canterbury plays Wellington in the first ITM Cup semi final.
Western Province (WP) –as the oldest and biggest province in the early years- dominated the CC competition in the founding years.
The Currie Cup made its appearance in 1891 after it was awarded to Griqualand-West (GLW) by W.E Maclagan the captain of a British team touring South Africa for best performance by a South African team against them. Continue reading
Okay, now we’re finally ready to go. After a week of doing pretty much nothing and, for some, having to trek all the way to Johannesburg for an ill-timed Springbok training camp, preparations can start in earnest for the Sharks and Western Province for this weekend’s Absa Currie Cup final in Durban.
THE Wallabies’ running might be back to its best before this week’s All Blacks Test, but skipper Rocky Elsom says spring tour success will hinge on the set-piece.
Popping a sleeping tablet was not the only reason Graham Henry grabbed some decent shut-eye during the 9144km flight between Auckland and Hong Kong yesterday.
Craven – always “Doc” – and the Union were both born in 1910 and the centenaries of these two South African institutions have passed almost without comment.
This will be Natal or the Sharks 13th Currie Cup final since 1889. To be more accurate, since 1890, when the Natal Rugby Union was founded.
They have a 41.67% success rate having won 5 of 12 finals.
Natal made their first Currie Cup final appearance in the 1956 season playing against Northern Transvaal and went down by just a single point. Northern Transvaal winning the match nine points to eight. Continue reading
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers couldn’t put it more plainly. Despite all the talk of resting players and the World Cup next year, the only focus on the upcoming Grand Slam tour next month is winning.
Leopards (23) 37 / SWD (5) 22 (Final Score)
The Platinum Leopards hosted the SWD Eagles at 16:00 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 Platinum Leopards won the match by 37 / 22, scoring their 4 tries in the process for a bonus point win, whilst SWD Eagles earn a lone bonus point for 4 tries in the match.
Victor Matfield has been named as captain of the Springbok end-of-year tour on the first day of a preliminary training squad get together.
The SARU judicial hearing of the Vodacom Blue Bulls flanker Derick Kuün after he was cited for foul play during an Absa Currie Cup Premier Division game against The Sharks in Durban on Saturday, found the player not guilty.
Pumas (12) 36 / EP Kings (20) 36 (Final score)
The Pumas hosted the EP Kings in Witbank at 19:10 SA Time in a Currie Cup Premier Division PROMOTION / RELEGATION match. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
In a game full of running and with the might of the Pumas forwards pitted against the running backline of the EP Kings, the result was a surprising draw, 36 / 36, with the Pumas scoring 6 tries to the 4 from the EP Kings.
Former Springbok lock Ernst Dinkelmann, best known for being part of the 1951-52 Springbok tour of Britain, died of a stroke in the Nelspruit Medi-Clinic early on Friday.
Friday 22 October: Barloworld Toyota Pumas v EP Kings, Puma Stadium – Witbank (SS1 – k/o 19h00)
Saturday 23 October 2010: Platinum Leopards v SWD Eagles, Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom (SS1 – k/o 16h00)
14 July 1976 – Boland Invitation XV 6 / All Blacks 42
Wellington. Wet, drizzling with the field somewhat sandy but firm underfoot. Crowd 16 000. Continue reading
Some tough decisions await Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and his management team when they assemble with their wider training group in Johannesburg on Friday.
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Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has a midfield headache to address following the decision by Meyer Bosman to further his career at the Sharks.
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Much has been said about Peter de Villiers’ insistence on picking players that apparently need a rest, experts on the human condition, ex-rugby players, and everyone has had a go at old SNORRE, and generally the consensus is that this has been somewhat of a bad idea. Well, let’s have the Saint play a bit of Devil’s Advocate…
Peter de Villiers has no option, Peter Grant is a must for the Grand Slam Tour. Continue reading