Adriaan Fondse
I think most South Africans (except maybe Stormers supporters) are somewhat disappointed with the way our Super Rugby teams are going this year. New Zealanders (Crusaders fans excluded) are also not particularly over the moon with how their teams are performing. The Chiefs is almost bottom of the log. The Blues is somewhat better than previous seasons but far from consistent. The Canes is sort of all over the place. The Highlanders is the surprise package for the Kiwi’s but just a few injuries short off coming apart. They lack depth in the squad and everyone in Kiwiland is holding their thumbs but not expecting them to go all the way. Continue reading
Cheetahs (33) 47 / Hurricanes (30) 50 (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs hosted the Hurricanes 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, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Hurricanes stole the game right at the death with a long distance try in a game which was fast-paced and producing a plethera of tries.
Blues (31) 31 / Waratahs (7) 17 (Final Score)
The Blues hosted the Waratahs at Eden Park, Auckland at 09:35 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 Blues started like a house on fire and within half an hour had already recorded their bonus point for tries scored.
The Warayahs desperately tried to break back into the game, but fell short of any bonus points.
Rebels (6) 18 / Highlanders (22) 40 (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels hosted the Highlanders at AAMI Park, Melbourne at 11:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
The Highlanders simply blew the rebel out of the Rebels.
Chiefs (13) 16 / Crusaders (17) 34 (Final Score)
The Chiefs hosted the Crusaders at Baypark Stadium, Mt Manganui at 09:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
The Crusaders bagged their bonus point-earning 4th try just before full time… and the juggernaut continues.
All the Globe Jet-setters might be more qualified to write an article like this. So let me try my hand on a subject I never experienced, in fact I have never left this beautiful country. Mozambique is only 200 kilometers to the East from where I live. Botswana and Zimbabwe not even 400 kilometers away, never been there. So take my words with a pinch of salt.
Brumbies (11) 17 / Hurricanes (10) 16 (Final Score)
The Brumbies hosted the Hurricanes at Caneberra Stadium, Canberra at 11:40 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.
In a dismal game the Brumbies sneaked a win by 1 point.
Crusaders (14) 27 / Bulls (0) 0 (Final Score)
The Crusaders hosted the Bulls at Alpine Energy Stadium, Timaru at 09:35 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 Crusaders methodically dismantled an error-ridden and lacklustre Bulls effort, keeping them scoreless.
Highlanders (17) 24 / Cheetahs (14) 21 (Final Score)
The Highlanders hosted the Cheetahs at Carisbrook Stadium, Dunedin at 09:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD and M-Net on TV in SA.
The Highlanders prevailed by the skin of their teeth to win by a margin of 3 points in a game where both sides scored 3 tries each and with the Cheetahs fighting hard at the end to eradicate the Highlanders lead.
At the end of the day a couple of missed penalties by Sias Ebersohn, was the difference between the sides.
The Cheetahs are hoping to achieve a second victory on tour when they take on the Highlanders in a Super Rugby match between the so-called banana peel teams on Friday. Continue reading
The Crusaders have named their team to face the Bulls in Timaru with Dan Carter being replaced by Matt Berquist due to injury.
Herewith ALL the Super Rugby team sheets as they were announced for week 8 of Super Rugby 2011.
SANZAR have released the match officials for the eighth Round of the 2011 Super Rugby tournament and Nathan Pearce starts the action for this week on Friday.
This week the Blues, Chiefs and Rebels have a BYE so there is one match less than last week. Friday has one match and Saturday has five matches.
Jonathan Kaplan will finish the action on Saturday in Durban.
Hurricanes (3) 14 / Bulls (15) 26 (Final Score)
The Hurricanes hosted the Bulls at McLean Park, Napier at 08:35 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 Bulls started well with the wind and the early penalties as well as 2 Morné Steyn drop goals set up a good early lead. After that the canes were always playing catch-up rugby and eventually the Bulls ground out a 12-point win, in New Zealand.
Blues (14) 29 / Cheetahs (3) 22 (Final Score)
The Blues hosted the Cheetahs at Okara Park, Whangarei at 06:30 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 Blues bagged 5 Log points, with the gutsy Cheetahs coming back hard at them with constructive attacking rugby after the Cheetahs played dumb helter-skelter rugby in the first half.
Waratahs (20) 23 / Chiefs (6) 16 (Final Score)
The Waratahs hosted the Chiefs at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney at 10:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
The first half belonged to the Waratahs, with most of the ball and doing most of the attacking but the second half was exactly the opposite with the Chiefs attacking hard.
Highlanders (15) 26 / Brumbies (7) 20 (Final Score)
The Highlanders hosted the Brumbies at Rugby Park, Invercargill at 08:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
The Brumbies had the majority of possession and field position but the Highlanders used their opportunities and ground out a win.
All Blacks wing Hosea Gear returns from injury in one of just two changes to the struggling Hurricanes for Saturday’s crunch Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Bulls at McLean Park in Napier.
Herewith ALL the Super Rugby team sheets as they were announced for week 7 of Super Rugby 2011.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder warned his Super Rugby rivals his side can get even better after their 44-28 defeat of the Sharks at Twickenham on Sunday.
Dan Carter and league convert Sonny Bill Williams were the inspiration behind a devastating first half performance that put the New Zealanders 34-18 up at the break.
Crusaders (34) 44 / Sharks (18) 28 (Final Score)
The Crusaders and the Sharks did battle in a game “Hosted” by the Crusaders at Twickenham, London, England 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.
What a game!
Scintilating rugby, game of all time in the History of Super Rugby!
5 Tries by the Crusaders, 4 tries by the Sharks.
Chiefs (10) 13 / Blues (6) 16 (Final Score)
The Chiefs hosted the Blues at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton at 08:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
In very wet condition, a low score was always going to be the result, with the Blues edging the Chiefs by 3 points.
Rebels (20) 42 / Hurricanes (20) 25 (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels hosted the Hurricanes at AAMI Stadium, Melbourne at 10:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
After conceeding 3 early tries the Melbourne Rebels rallied and scored 6 tries after conceeding a consolation bonus point try to the Hurricanes, 2 minutes from full time.
The Melbourne Rebels won handsomely by 42 / 25.
The Crusaders have moved their remaining “home” Super Rugby matches to Napier, Wellington, Timaru and back to Nelson.
AMI Stadium has been ruled out for the rest of the year so the Crusaders had to move their matches to other grounds.
Herewith ALL the Super Rugby team sheets as they were announced for week 6 of Super Rugby 2011.
The Hurricanes have named their team for their first ever clash against the Rebels with an unchanged starting line to the one that lost to the Blues.
Alarming signs for the Wallabies at provincial level, Kieran Read proves his no Thorne in New Zealand’s side and will the South African selectors make the big call to prevent the Bulls’ slide from affecting the Springboks? Paul Cully puts the weekend’s Super Rugby action into a World Cup context.
Blues (20) 41 / Hurricanes (14) 17 (Final Score)
The Blues hosted the Hurricanes at Eden Park, Auckland at 08:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
Although the score seems to indicate an easy win by the Blues, it really only ballooned away from the Hurricanes in the last 20 minutes.
Highlanders (6) 13 / Crusaders (13) 44 (Final Score)
THe Highlanders hosted the Crusaders at Carisbrook, Duneden at 06:30 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
The Crusaders ran rampant towards the end of the game, totally blowing the Highlanders out of the game. At halftime the scores were still close but woeful kicking to goal by Tony Brown gave the Crusaders the necessary buffer to open the taps properly in the second half.
Chiefs (3) 15 / Sharks (6) 9 (Final Score)
The Chiefs hosted the Sharks at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton at 08:35 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.
In wet conditions it was never going to be champagne rugby and the Chiefs toughed out a hard win by 15 / 9.
Herewith all the Super Rugby team sheets as they are announced for week 5 of Super Rugby 2011.
Quake-ravaged Christchurch will lose its Rugby World Cup hosting rights on the back of a new report showing the city’s stadium is unfit for games, British media is reporting.
London’s Daily Telegraph newspaper says it has confirmation from a senior International Rugby Board (IRB) source that the engineers’ structural report will end the city’s hosting chances.
The Crusaders match against the Sharks match at Twickenham has been confirmed for March 27 at 4pm local time.
England’s Rugby Football Union have agreed to host the match on the Sunday as the previous date clashed with Harlequins playing Gloucester at the Twickenham Stoop in the Aviva Premiership.
The Referees and Match Officials have been allotted for all the Super Rugby games of Week 5 to Week 8 (till 9 April 2011), announced by SANZAR.
They are: