Adriaan Fondse
Injury-plagued Blues lock Ali Williams will miss the next month of Super rugby after sustaining a hamstring injury during Sunday’s 22-22 draw with the Force.
Force (16) 22 / Blues (9) 22 (Final Score)
The Western Force hosted the Blues at nib Stadium, Perth at 13:05 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.
A penalty to the Blues after the hooter equalled the scores, a draw, 22 / 22.
Hurricanes (10) 29 / Chiefs (13) 26 (Final Score)
The Hurricanes hosted the Chiefs at the Westpac Stadium, Wellington at 08:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD and CSN on TV in SA.
A chilly wind greeted the Highlanders and DHL Stormers at Newlands on Friday night which saw the home side walk of with a boring 18-6 win.
Although the Highlanders enjoyed a fair amount of possession, they found themselves idle by not converting the positive momentum they created into points, and rather made unnecessary errors.
Stormers (12) 18 / Highlanders (6) 6 (Final Score)
The Stormers hosted the Highlanders 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 and M-Net on TV in SA.
In a very hard battle where the Stormers had to make more than double the tackles compared to the Highlanders, the Stormers toughed out an ugly win.
Rather an ugly win though than a spectacular loss!
Crusaders (19) 52 / Brumbies (10) 10 (Final Score)
The Crusaders hosted the Brumbies at Travalgar Park, Nelson at 08:35 SA Time. This was the game thread for discussion of the match. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD and M-Net on TV in SA.
The Crusaders started slowly and by Halftime were only 9 points in the lead but after Halftime they let rip in the first 9 minutes and scored try after try, demolishing the Brumbies.
Sean Maitland scored an impressive 4 tries on the night.
Lock Chris Jack will play his 100th game for the Crusaders when he takes the field in the Super Rugby match against the Brumbies at Trafalgar Park, Nelson, on Friday.
Jack, who plays his provincial rugby for Tasman, made his debut for the Crusaders 12 years ago and will start in the number four jersey, replacing Brad Thorn.
The Sharks have been approached by the Crusaders about playing their match on March the 25th at Twickenham in London.
The Crusaders cannot play their scheduled matches at AMI Stadium as it was damaged by the earthquake that hit Christchurch last month.
Herewith the Super Rugby team sheets as thet are announced for week 4 of Super Rugby 2011. The rest of the teams will be added as team sheets are made available.
The match officials for Week 4 of the 2011 SANZAR Super Rugby tournament have been confirmed by SANZAR with two late changes to the original schedule.
All Black and Chiefs fullback Mils Muliaina is expected to miss the next month of Super rugby with a back injury.
Muliaina had to leave the field in the Chiefs home win against the Melbourne Rebels at Waikato Stadium on Saturday.
The Crusaders could take Super Rugby to a completely new market by playing one of their matches in London England.
The Crusaders cannot use their home ground at AMI Stadium in Christchurch and are said to be considering playing a Super rugby match in Auckland or even London, England.
The Highlanders ended the Bulls 20 home match unbeaten run with an outstanding 28-35 bonus point victory at Loftus Versfeld.
The last time the Bulls lost a match at Loftus was on the 12th of April 2008 against the Hurricanes.
Bulls (6) 28 / Highlanders (11) 35 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls hosted the Highlanders at Loftus, Pretoria at 19:10 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 continued their unbeaten run and scored a bonus point for tries whilst the Bulls end their unbeaten run at home and only salvaged a bonus point for losing by only 7 points.
It was a disasterous game from a Bulls perspective, with bad refereeing and general bad play and sloppy tackling by all the Bulls players. Today it is frustrating to be a Bulls supporter.
Chiefs (16) 38 / Rebels (3) 10 (Final Score)
The Chiefs hosted the Melbourne Rebels 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.
The Chiefs managed their bonus point try in the 79th minute to ultimately run out composed winners with 5 Log points in the bag.
A perfect Autumn evening in Johannesburg. Not too hot, no wind, and no threat of rain.
Perfect that is until the Blues from Aukland spoilt it all for the vast majority of the 26 532 people at Coca Cola Park in downtown Johannesburg.
Lions (25) 32 / Blues (17) 41 (Final Score)
The Lions hosted the Blues at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg 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.
In a frenetic game the Blues came out victorious after putting their All Black subs on in the second half. Both teams earns a bonus point for tries.
Crusaders (26) 33 / Waratahs (13) 18 (Final Score)
The Crusaders hosted the Waratahs at Travalgar Park, Nelson (not in Christchurch due to the massive earthquake) at 08:35 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.
The Crusaders won comfortably in the end but the nail in the Waratahs coffin were the 2 fast scores before halftime and the fast try just after halftime to give the Saders the buffer they needed.
We can look forward to the following rugby on TV this weekend in SA:
Blues coach Pat Lam has made six changes to his team to face the Lions with Luke McAlister coming in for Stephen Brett who has been dropped to the bench.
Sonny Bill Williams is expected to make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut for the Crusaders against the Waratahs on Friday.
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.
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?
The Crusaders will play their next two home Super rugby matches in Nelson after their stadium was damaged in the deadly Christchurch earthquake.
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!
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 death of a Crusaders board member during the Christchurch earthquake hung over a meeting of players tonight to determine the fate of Saturday’s Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes.
The Crusaders are still planning to travel to Wellington for Saturday’s match against the Hurricanes but players will be given the choice of opting out.
The Chiefs have named their team to face the Highlanders this weekend with Isaac Ross earning his first start of the season… and a few surprise dropped players.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker declared a state of emergency and ordered people to evacuate the city centre after a massive quake devastated the city.
BIG-SPENDING French club Toulon has given up on getting Sonny Bill Williams back on their books after the Rugby World Cup.
Brumbies (18) 28 / Chiefs (3) 20 (Final Score)
The Brumbies hosted the Chiefs at Canberra Stadium, Canberra at 19:40 (10:40 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.
Bonus point-less win for the Brumbies and the Chiefs get no bonus point as the last kick of the match, an attemted conversion, hits the upright and bounces away.
Brumbies win by 28 / 20.