All Blacks
Stormers flyhalf Peter Grant will miss his team’s match against the Bulls at at Newlands on Saturday after he failed a fitness test.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made one change to his starting line-up for Saturday’s Super Rugby clash against the Stormers at Newlands in Cape Town.
Springbok and Bulls scrumhalf Fourie du Preez could make a surprise early comeback for the Bulls clash with the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.
SANZAR have released the match officials for the 17th Round of the 2011 Super Rugby tournament with Steve Walsh returning to action.
Although I have said many times that I do not like the new format of Super Rugby, be it due to the unevenness of not playing all the teams in the Competition and playing local derbies twice, it still does make for interesting reading going into the final two rounds of Competition.
The 15th of August 1992 was South Africa’s official return to first class international rugby after 11 years –since the 1981 tour to NZ- of rugby isolation. The Springboks did play two “Test matches” against a world XV in 1989 (6 years prior to 1992) and 4 “Test matches” against the NZ Cavaliers in 1986 and of course there was the two Test matches against a 1984 touring English side but these matches were in all fairness not the real thing.
The Sharks survived an early scare as they found form in the second half to beat the Cheetahs 18-23 in Bloemfontein keeping them alive for another week.
A decision by the South African officials which was later proved to be incorrect may have helped the Waratahs to a 23-17 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria but the Waratahs left Pretoria with their pride in tact.
The Stormers scored five tries and collected a valuable bonus point in their final tour match, as they downed the hapless Rebels 40-3 in Melbourne on Friday.
Springbok loose forward Juan Smith says he’s nearing a return to light training after a torn Achilles’ tendon in February threatened his chances of playing at the Rugby World Cup.
Cheetahs (11) 18 / Sharks (6) 23 (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs hosted the Sharks at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 17:05 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.
It was frenetic, it was hard, it was brutal… and the Sharks finished with 2 players in the sin-bin but they won, by 5 points. 4 Log points for them, mission accomplished, against a game and determined Cheetahs side.
Hurricanes (15) 38 / Lions (20) 27 (Final Score)
The Hurricanes hosted the MTN Lions at Westpac Stadium, Wellington at 07:30 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 Hurricanes managed their 5 Log points win to nothing over the MTN Lions.
Bulls (13) 23 / Waratahs (6) 17 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls hosted the Waratahs at Loftus Versfeld, 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 & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Waratahs made quite a game of it and worried the Bulls throughout the match but in the end the Bulls won by 23 / 17, a slender 6-point margin.
Mission accomplished, 4 points in the bag for the Bulls, pity about the one point for the Waratahs.
Rebels (3) 3 / Stormers (16) 40 (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels hosted the DHL Stormers at AAMI Stadium, Melbourne at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Melbourne 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.
Mission accomplished for the Stormers, leaving the 4th try very late, but importantly getting it when it mattered.
Herewith ALL the Super Rugby team sheets as they were announced for week 16 of Super Rugby 2011.
The Sharks have named their team to face the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein with new signing Frederic Michalak being named on the bench.
Springbok and Stormers scrumhalf Ricky Januarie is reportedly considering a move to French Top 14 Rugby club Lyon.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has made two changes to the team that lost to the Bulls last weekend for their match against the Sharks.
Allister Coetzee, head coach of the DHL Stormers, today named his team to take on the Rebels at AAMI Park on Friday 3 June.
The MTN Lions have released their team to face the Hurricanes in Wellington this weekend.
Sharks have confirmed the Signing of mercurial french star Freddy Michalak Who is already in Durban and available for selection with immediate effect.
SANZAR has announced the referees for week 16 of Super Rugby 2011.
Sharks flank Jean Deysel has been suspended for two weeks after being found guilty of foul play by a SANZAR Judicial Hearing held in Durban on Tuesday.
Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke added close to 200 Super Caps to his side in making two changes for Friday night’s Super Rugby clash against the Waratahs at Loftus Versfeld.
Lions Flanker Michael Rhodes has been banned for 6 weeks by a SANZAR judiciary for a dangerous tackle on Highlanders winger Siale Piutau.
New Zealand media have been reporting over the weekend that Dunedin Police are investigating an alleged sexual assault case involving one of the touring Lions players.
Bulls (11) 32 / Cheetahs (0) 21 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls hosted the Toyota Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria. The Bulls won in spectacular fashion but took a great risk at the end to go for the 4 try bonus point at all costs, leading with only 4 points at the time. In the 84th minute Francios Hougaart crashed over for the 4th try. The final score gives one the impression that it was an easy win, the fact are that if it went wrong the Cheetahs would have won this well contested match.
The Bulls have now moved to No 7 on the Combined Log, playing the Waratahs next, who is in No 6th spot, one point ahead of the Bulls.
Sharks (13) 26 / Waratahs (11) 21 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Waratahs at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban at 17:05 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 Sharks left it late but ground out the necessary win, moving them to No 5 on the Combined Log.
Brumbies (3) 3 / Stormers (6) 16 (Final Score)
The Brumbies hosted the DHL Stormers at Canberra 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 the ugliest game of the whole season, the DHL Stormers ground out a win, only one try scored in the whole match.
The DHL Stormers road to the play-off’s is still safe.
Highlanders (16) 22 / Lions (9) 26 (Final Score)
The Highlanders hosted the MTN Lions at Carisbrook, 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 & M-Net on TV in SA.
The embattled MTN Lions pulled off a miracle win right at the death, doing the Bulls and Sharks a huge favour in the process… and causing the Highlanders to only get 1 Log point from this game.
After advice from a specialist on his ankle strain, Peter Grant has been withdrawn from the game to play the Brumbies and will return to South Africa. The injury requires 2-3weeks of immobilisation, rest and rehabilitation.
Toulon have signed South African World cup winner Andre Pretorius as replacement for Welsh International Gavin Henson.
Herewith ALL the Super Rugby team sheets as they are announced for week 15 of Super Rugby 2011.
Frans Steyn is set to rejoin the Springboks for this year’s TriNations and the Rugby World cup after playing for Top 14 club Racing Metro.
The Sharks have named their team to face the Waratahs in what will be their final home game of the Super Rugby pool stages with John Smit as captain.