World Cup-winning Springbok utility Frans Steyn is one of five players recalled to the Bok squad for South Africa’s home leg of the Tri-Nations.
Build-up and teams
It was a test of missed opportunities. A test of controversy. A test almost won, against all odds, by South Africa.
True to form Athletic Park in Wellington was a swamp on test day. The weather was heavy and overcast; the field was a mud bath after two days of sustained rain; a gale force, 50 mile per hour cold southern wind, was blowing to top it off. The Springboks -after their series defeat in Australia and one lost out off 8 matches in New Zealand- were given no change to win. Five of the Springboks in the test side played in the 1960 series against the All Blacks in South Africa, namely Lionel Wilson, John Gainsford, Keith Oxlee, Lofty Nel, and Abe Malan. Continue reading
Sharks (18) 48 / Lions (16) 19 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Xerox Lions at ABSA Park, Durban at 17:05 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The game was broadcast live on M-Net, SuperSport 1 and on SuperSport HD on DSTV in SA.
The Lions held the Sharks well till halftime but by then the Sharks had already enjoyed 70% Territorial Advantage and most of the possession.
After halftime the Sharks turned on the taps and ran the Lions ragged, eventually running out with a 29-point winning margin. They won 48 / 19.
Griquas (3) 3 / WP (12) 50 (Final Score)
GWK Griquas hosted WP at GWK Park, Kimberley at 15:00. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The Game was broadcast live on M-Net and SuperSport 1 in SA.
The 1st Half was a hard and uncompromising affair with Willem de Waal giving WP the edge with a few converted penalties, but the 2nd half was a different affair, WP running Griquas ragged and ending the game on fire.
WP scored 6 tries in the process…. they will be hard to beat next weekend at Newlands… beware Blue Bulls!
All Blacks (17) 20 / Wallabies (10) 10 (Final Score)
The All Blacks hosted the Wallabies at the AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand at 09:35 SA Time for their 2nd Tri-Nations encounter of this year. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The game was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The All Blacks won by 20 / 10 in a hard match where the only difference between the 2 teams were that the All Blacks were stronger in the scrums and counterrucking better than the Wallabies.
Blue Bulls (26) 43 / Leopards (10) 38 (Final Score)
The Blue Bulls hosted the Leopards at Loftus, Pretoria at 19:10 on Friday night 6 August 2010. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Bulls won by a measly 5 points and was hugely fragile on defence tonight…. they will have to change a few gears if they do not want WP to knock them for a big six next week!
The Bulls scored 6 tries to the Leopards 5 tries and managed to gather their bonus point win, but they wee patchy, to say the least.
Not good enough Bulls!
Judgment was reserved in the hearing of Springbok coach Peter de Villiers’s misconduct hearing on Friday over his suggestion that the team were victims to a conspiracy to assist the All Blacks ahead of next year’s World Cup.
We are already well into the Currie Cup Premier Competition of 2010, with WP, The Sharks and Griquas, setting the pace so far and The Leopards and Pumas hanging on at the bottom.
This weekend sees another 4 matches, as follows:
- Vodacom Blue Bulls vs Platinum Leopards – Loftus at 19:10 SA Time on Friday 6 August 2010
- Barloworld Toyota Pumas vs Vodacom Free State Cheetahs – Witbank at 15:00 on Saturday 7 August 2010
- GWK Griquas vs Vodacom Western Province – GWK Park, Kimberley at 15:00 on Saturday 7 August 2010
- Sharks vs Xerox Lions – ABSA Stadium, Durban at 17:05 on Saturday 7 August 2010
Referees have been much under scrutiny lately, only rarely under amiable scrutiny. Many, many people have definite feelings about referees, both individually and collectively, and are happy to shout their opinions mostly to say what referees they do not want.
The All Blacks and the Wallabies cross swords at the AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand on Saturday at 09:35 SA Time for their 2nd Tri-Nations match between one another for 2010.
At this moment Peter is in the battle of his life. This can possibly end his coaching career. Read some of the encouragement he gets from elsewhere at the bottom of this Article.
The Gauteng Lions Rugby Union is holding a Gala Dinner, have a look at the Invitation below and book if you are interested.
All the talk of the referee blunders, the perception of unfairness, the targeting of the Springboks and the media circus with PDV has me thinking. Continue reading
The Sharks have made the changes as expected with young Patrick Lambie shifting from 12 to 10, John Plumtree was full of praise for the youngster and felt that this was a huge opportunity for him as the sharks tackle the Lions in Durban this coming Saturday. Continue reading
TWINS Anthony and Saia Faingaa have won call-ups to face the daunting All Blacks in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test in Christchurch where chill rain, wind and five degree temperatures also await.
As someone suggested to me, this might be the smallest Wallabie backline EVER to run onto the filed.
Maybe this will help clear up some of the assumptions expressed in all rugby circles in South Africa and elsewhere, people assume Steyn does not want to play for his country and who knows what else.
The article below thanks to The Mercury
This Article was mailed to me by a fellow blogger a year ago. It is interesting to read what people outside of South Africa think about the Springboks.
Continue reading
The Sharks rugby Union has confirmed the signing of utility backline player Meyer Bosman, Bosman will help to fill the void left by injuries and the departure of Ruan Pienaar.
Bosman is set to join the Sharks after the completion of the Currie Cup,
Also the position of Lionel Mapoe will be known by the end of the week whether he will be a Shark or a Cheetah player going forward. Continue reading
Francois Louw will return to the Western Province Currie Cup side for Saturday’s clash against Griquas in Kimberley. Continue reading
In recent weeks I said my bit about referees. I came across this video made by an Australian no-less which I think makes for some fascinating viewing. Continue reading
IRB referees boss Paddy O’Brien admitted that the decision to sin-bin Drew Mitchell for a late tackle on Richie McCaw was incorrect.
Xerox Lions flank Trevor Hall was found not guilty and Vodacom Blue Bulls lock Flip van der Merwe received a severe warning after both players attended SARU judicial hearings held in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The Cheetahs were hit by a setback as they lost captain Juan Smith for this weekend’s Absa Currie Cup match against the Pumas in Witbank.
The International Rugby Board has confirmed a change to the match official panel for Saturday’s Tri-Nations match between New Zealand and Australia.
Former Boland player Hayden Groepes and returning Springbok hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, will earn first starts in this year’s Absa Currie Cup competition when the Vodacom Blue Bulls face the Leopards at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.
Pat Lambie will wear the No 10 jersey this week given the injuries to Steve Meyer and Ruan Pienaar. It’s been confirmed that Pienaar’s AC joint injury will sideline him for six weeks, a layoff that ends his stint with the Sharks and the Springboks. Pienaar will be moving to Ulster in Ireland in September. Continue reading
Rugby is a highly emotionally driven medium, but Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will do well to apply some sober thinking as he plans to fix what has gone wrong in the last 10 months. Continue reading
World Cup winner Ruan Pienaar’s career in South Africa might have come to a premature end.
The 43-Test veteran utility back has suffered a shoulder injury and faces several weeks on the sidelines.
Jimmy Cowan has been ruled out of the second TriNations/Bledisloe Cup match to be played in Christchurch and has been replaced by Piri Weepu.
Springbok Coach Peter de Villiers will have his alleged misconduct hearing on Friday in South Africa this week.
I have said it numerous times already, now i find more people feeling the same. On Monday night’s Superrugby quite a few points were discussed and pointed out by the callers. The fact is that the brilliant All Black game is a unfair display of rule bending.
This article is the result off a shared attempt by myself and Superbul. Superbul came up with the idea and some original thoughts. However, I’ve added quite a bit and Superbul have not seen the final product so I’ll take the hits if you don’t agree with any opinions expressed.
The Blue Bulls always believe that a glass is half full rather than half empty, and that every dark cloud has a silver lining. Continue reading
The Blue Bulls are sweating over a possible calf injury to star scrumhalf Francois Hougaard.
Lions flank Trevor Hall, Blue Bulls lock Flip van der Merwe and SWD Eagles centre Sinethemba Zweni, will appear before SARU judicial committees on Tuesday after being cited for foul play during their Currie Cup games this weekend.