Hurricanes
Highlanders (14) 20 / Hurricanes (9) 26 (Final Score)
The Highlanders and Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
Hurricanes (16) 35 / Blues (12) 19 (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Blues did battle in Super Rugby at Westpac Stadium, Wellington at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & SCN on TV in SA.
*******************
Chiefs (12) 33 / Hurricanes (8) 14 (Final Score)
The Chiefs and Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
The completed weekend of action saw the Highlanders dethroned at home, which meant the Chiefs headed to the top of the New Zealand Conference table courtesy of winning their first match on the road in Perth.
Hurricanes (25) 42 / Sharks (3) 18 (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Sharks did battle in Super Rugby at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
Hurricanes (32) 38 / Cheetahs (32) 47 (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Toyota Cheetahs did battle in Super Rugby at Westpac Stadium, Wellington at 06:305 SA Time (17:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
Blues (16) 25 / Hurricanes (19) 26 (Final Score)
The Blues and Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at Eden Park, Aucland at 08:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
Hurricanes (14) 17 / Highlanders (13) 19 (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Highlanders did battle in Super Rugby at Westpac Stadium, Wellington at 08:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
Force (10) 19 / Hurricanes (22) 46 (Final Score)
The Western Force and Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at NIB Stadium, Perth at 13:05 SA Time (19:05 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
The Vodacom Bulls scored the first four-try bonus point of the season on local soil in Bloemfontein on Saturday as they beat the Toyota Cheetahs 51-19 to move to the top of the table after two weeks of Vodacom Super Rugby action.
Lions (8) 28 / Hurricanes (14) 30 (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and the Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
As previously posted, we have 5 pairs of tickets (10 tickets in total) available, courtesy of the Lions, for every Super Rugby match to be played at Coca Cola Park this season.
Last week we donated the tickets to the SA First Aid League (Noodhulpliga) in recognition of the hard work they do at the Lions club games in the lower leagues.
This week we’re offering them to Rugby-Talk bloggers who would like to go along and see the game.
All you need to do is e-mail the answer to the following question to Rugby-Talk’s Webmaster using the link on the website.
Chris Smylie - Out
Reg Goodes - 6 weeks
The Hurricanes have suffered a double blow with the news that half back Chris Smylie has been ruled out for the season and loosehead prop Reg Goodes for six weeks at least.
There would have been much head shaking by those in the North, as the Crusaders and Highlanders recorded opening wins in the New Zealand Conference, and while the losers hardly shamed themselves – it is easy to see how the patient and uncompromising rugby of the South eventually subjugated their rivals.
Stormers grind out a 13 point margin win against the Hurricanes at Newlands.
Stormers (23) 39 / Hurricanes (16) 26
(Final Score)
The DHL Stormers and Hurricanes did battle in Week 1 of Super Rugby 2012 at Newlands, Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
Following on the theme of other ‘experts’ insights,Tony O’Sullivan from rugbydump has put together his thoughts on the teams competing in the upcoming Super Rugby series.
I will post them per country, as he has done.
The First installment deals with the Teams from the Land of the Long White Cloud, New Zealand.
They are the Crusaders, Blues, Highlanders, Hurricanes and Chiefs.
Picked up this piece on the net at a website called sportbilly.co.za
The man is some kind of biased New Zealand supporter of sorts… and obviously oblivious of what is really happening here in South Africa at present.
This Article of course does not necessarily reflect my own views or that of Rugby-Talk, but at least someone was willing to nail his beliefs to the wall!
Here it is:
Super Rugby previews are more numerous than Whitney Houston tributes at the moment. In both cases time is wasted. There seems to be a reluctance amongst sports writers in general to spare one’s balls from the impending pain and climb down off the fence. So lets now seperate the poop from the champagne when it comes to the teams.
I am not going to bore you with in depth analysis of the no-hopers. I’m looking at potential champions here. To win this thing you have got to finish top of your conference. Bottom line. The ‘extended playoff’ scenario gives the ‘also rans’ a cruel illusion of hope but their chances remain slimmer than a Somalian hunger striker.
Here is how I see it.
I thought I would start to post titbits picked up during the week, but probably don’t deserve a full article.
The warm glow that New Zealand rugby fans hold as they reflect on their status as World Champions will mean that there will be high hopes that the most successful country in the history of Super Rugby will add to their ten titles.
The NZRU will place advertisements this weekend in newspapers asking for expressions of interest to buy the licences for four of the New Zealand Super Rugby franchises.
The Wider Training Groups for the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders Super Rugby squads have been confirmed for the 2012 season.
Sonny Bill Williams has withdrawn from the Baa-Baas and is replaced by Richard Kahui.
Drew Mitchel is injured again and expected to miss the opening Rounds of Super Rugby.
Conrad Smith is named as Hurricanes Captain for 2012.
Derick Hougaard could be back at the Bulls.
Bolla Conradie, Elgar Watts & Clemen Lewis, all from Boland, as well as Burton Francis are included in Stormers plans for 2012.
Graham Henry rules out England coaching job.
The New Zealand Super Rugby squads have been announced for 2012.
Lock Jason Eaton has become the latest player to recommit to the Hurricanes for 2012, which will be his seventh season with the franchise.
Licences to operate New Zealand’s five Super Rugby franchises could be put on the market by the end of this year but they will only be on offer to New Zealand teams.
Cheetahs (20) 49 / Griquas (10) 39 (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs hosted the GWK Griquas at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 15:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
Griquas coach Abre Minnie has named an unchanged line-up from the team that beat the Blue Bulls last week for his side’s crucial Currie Cup showdown with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Griquas (27) 48 / Blue Bulls (22) 44 (Final Score)
GWK Griquas and the Vodacom Blue Bulls did battle at GWK Park, Kimberley at 15:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
The Griquas effectively ended the Blue Bulls aspirations to make the final four in the race for the Currie Cup, with this 4-point win.
Griquas named their team on Wednesday to square up against the Blue Bulls in a Currie Cup encounter in Kimberley on Saturday.
Sharks (14) 29 / Griquas (10) 18 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted GWK Griquas as Kings Park, Durban at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
The Sharks scored their 4 tries for a bonus point win, but the Griquas gave them a torrid time and in the end lost by only 8 points.
I know it is RWC time and I have written before (read here) about the fairy tale Curry Cup win of Griqualand West against the mighty Blue Bulls in 1970. This week I received this wonderfully written account by Michael Kokkinn about that historic match. Micheal’s father was not only one of the selectors of the Griquas team but also a sort of mentor to coach Ian Kirkpatrick. Michael actually attended the match in 1970 and here is his first hand personal recollection of the match.
My personal thanks to Michael for this personal first hand and historical recollection of that match. You can feel the passion for the game as you read his story. This is heartland South African rugby and it is people like him that make South African rugby what it is.
1970 Griquas Team - Currie Cup winners
Lions (20) 41 / Griquas (6) 25 (Final Score)
The MTN Lions hosted GWK Griquas at Coca-Cola Park, Joannesburg at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
A Game of two contrasting halves!
The MTN Lions absolutely dominated the first half yet the determined Griquas were determined not to give up and dominated the second half.
The Lions bag a full 5 Log Points and the Griquas get nothing.
Griquas (15) 35 / WP (21) 41 (Final Score)
GWK Griquas hosted DHL Western Province at GWK Park, Kimberley at 15:00 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.
Western Province scored 7 tries to 4 by Griquas.
Earl Rose
Griquas have named a 24-man Currie Cup squad, while they wait on the fitness of two key players, for their Currie Cup game against Western Province in Kimberley on Saturday.