Proteas
TEAM anouncement at 20:00 (Team in article above)
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers gave his players two days off to recharge the batteries ahead of their final Rugby World Cup 2011 Pool D match against Samoa, on Friday.
Is this a pot of crock by Brenden Nel, or is it just a public relations stunt or is there after all something most of us miss?
Why are senior players like Fourie du Preez and Victor Matfield, who could possibly benifit the most from John Smit’s exclusion, so happy to play under his captaincy?
In Victor Matfield’s absence, Danie Rossouw called the lineouts, ran more with the ball and was one of the Springboks’ most impressive players on the park.
With Matfield set to make his return from a hamstring injury in Friday’s match against Samoa, Rossouw will swap the number five jersey for the number four and revert back to playing a tighter game.
South African rugby journalist Vata Ngobeni was detained during the early hours of Monday morning when Taupo police removed him from a local pub suspecting he was a drug dealer.
Wales (22) 81 / Namibia (0) 7 (Final Score)
Wales and Namibia did battle in New Plymouth at 08:30 SA Time (19:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Wales made it hard for themselves in the first half, only scoring 3 tries in that period, but the second half was a different story, with the tries eventually raining on Namibia towards the end.
Namibia now exits the World Cup, all their Pool games done and dusted.
Interpreting some games of rugby is akin to interpreting a Rorschach inkblot. The Rorschach Test was developed by Swiss psychologist Hermann Rorschach in 1921 to give insights into personality characteristics. It asks subjects to describe what they see in 10 symmetrical inkblots and the tester will make various assumptions about their personality according to the interpretation. – by John Eales
Samoan stalwart Seilala Mapusua has vowed his side will throw everything at the Springboks on Friday after winning the battle of the islands yesterday to keep their World Cup quarterfinals hopes alive.
Argentina (3) 13 / Scotland (6) 12 (Final Score)
Argentina and Scotland did battle in Wellington at 09:30 SA Time (20:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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This was not a pretty, airy-fairie match, but hard and unrelenting rugby.
The Argentinians came back from being 12 / 6 down to score a marvelous try and a cool conversion, and then hanging on with everything they had to keep brave Scotland away.
Ireland (36) 62 / Russia (0) 12 (Final Score)
Ireland and Russia did battle in Rotorua at 07:00 SA Time (18:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Ireland scored 9 tries to 2 and comfortably took the match, as expected.
The world’s rugby media have been rich in their praise for the All Blacks’ impressive win over France with former England lock Paul Ackford declaring: “The World Cup is as good as theirs”.
Fiji (0) 7 / Samoa (12) 27 (Final Score)
Fiji and Samoa did battle in Auckland at 04:30 SA Time (15:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Samoa just suffocated Fiji out of the game from the word go.
Very late in the second half, the game sprung alive after the first try of the match, with 2 more tries scored, one from each side.
All Blacks (19) 37 / France (3) 17 (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks hosted France at Eden Park, Auckland at 10:30 SA Time (20:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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After a strong France start, the All Blacks had a purple patch, where they scored 3 quick tries and from then on France was always just chasing the game.
5 Tries to 2 for the All Blacks.
England (34) 67 / Romania (3) 3 (Final score)
England and Romania did battle in Dunedin at 08:00 SA Time (18:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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There was ALWAYS only going to be one winner, and so it was, England winning by 10 tries to none.
I was sent these facts, figures and stats, by our friend and fellow-blogger, 4man. Thanks Ou-Ballie!
It is truly remarkable how many of the players in Rugby World Cup 2011, playing for their different countries, were born in another country, not the one they are playing for.
Wallabies (22) 67 / USA (5) 5 (Final Score)
The Australian Wallabies did battle with the USA Eagles in Wellington at 10:30 SA Time (20:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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The Wallabies scored 11 tries to a solitary try by the USA.
The injury toll on the Wallaby side will be worrysome for them, though.
New Zealand rugby Coach Graham Henry has strengthened his All Blacks team with the return of skipper Richie McCaw and Dan Carter among four changes for Saturday’s big World Cup Pool A game with France at Eden Park.
Springboks (31) 87 / Namibia (0) 0 (Final Score)
The South African Springboks did battle with Namibia in Albany at 10:00 SA Time (20:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The First half was not convincing at all by the Springboks, too many lapses in concentration and too many forced and unforced errors riddled this period. Despite not being clinical enough the Springboks scored 4 converted tries and a penalty in the First Half.
The Springboks started the Second Half in much the same vein, but then suddenly all gears clicked into place, and the tries rained on the poor Namibians. The Springboks scored 56 points in the Second Half.
Altogether, the Springboks scored 12 tries, hell make that 12 converted tries, as the 2 Springbok kickers had a flawless night with the boot as well.
At this juncture in Rugby World Cup 2011, this is the biggest win of the Tournament, surpassing the 83 / 7 score by the All Blacks whilst at the same time keeping the score sheet squeeky clean for the Springboks on the day.
Scrum-half Will Genia will captain an Australian side showing six changes from the one that lost to Ireland in Friday’s Pool C World Cup match against the United States.
Tonga (18) 31 / Japan (13) 18 (Final Score)
Tonga and Japan did battle in Whangarei at 09:30 SA Time (19:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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What a good action-packed match!
The sides went hammer and tongs from the word go, no standing back!
It was thrust and parry, defend and run… brutal but honest rugby.
A Maori leader has backed Springbok coach Peter de Villiers’ comments on the haka being overused, saying it has been “hijacked by rugby people” for commercial purposes.
PETER LOVE: “The haka in our culture is something which is regarded as special and should not be bastardised by sport.”
De Villiers’ comments attracted over 270 responses on Stuff.co.nz yesterday, with opinion split on whether the haka was overused.
All Blacks were taken by surprise when told Springbok coach Peter de Villiers feels their famous pre-match haka, an indigenous Maori war dance, is over-used.
France coach Marc Lievremont has named his team to face New Zealand’s All Blacks in the crucial Pool A match at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
Wallaby winger James O’Connor has been ruled out of Australia’s Rugby World Cup match against the USA with a strained hamstring.
Fiji backrower Dominiko Waqaniburotu will almost certainly miss the rest of the Rugby World Cup after being suspended for three weeks.
Italy (38) 53 / Russia (7) 17 (Final Score)
Italy and Russia did battle in Nelson at 09:30 SA Time (19:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Italy scored 9 tries to 3 by Russia.
It was good rugby though, nice running and full-on dominance by Italy in the scrums.
The Springboks on Tuesday made five changes to the starting line-up for their Rugby World Cup Pool D match against southern African neighbours Namibia at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, on Thursday.
South Africa v Namibia, 22 September 2011, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
South Africa are focusing on their upcoming Rugby World Cup match against Namibia even though they are now on track to face Australia in the quarter finals.
All Black Captain Richie McCaw and key players Dan Carter, Mils Muliaina and Israel Dagg all look set top play in New Zealand’s crunch Rugby World Cup pool A match against France in Auckland on Saturday.
The match is set to decide the runner up of the pool and therefore who will face the winner of Pool B which includes England, Argentina and Scotland.
All Blacks wing Zac Guildford admitted he had an alcohol problem on Monday and publicly apologised for breaking an agreement with management by drinking “excessively” after a game last month.
South African brothers Marius and Neels Botha have been having a blast touring New Zealand with their idol and namesake Bakkies Botha.
But Springboks fans need not fear the star back row has defected from camp – the Botha brothers are carrying a cardboard cut-out of their hero as they trek across the nation and take in their team’s Rugby World Cup 2011 pool matches.
Bok coach, Peter de Villiers will have a selection headache at loosehead prop on his hands as the RWC reaches the business-end of the tournament.
So, we are halfway through the Pool stages and already the tournament has been turned on its head. There are still a few important and path-changing matches left.
Fiji flanker Dominiko Waqaniburotu has been cited for making a dangerous tip tackle during the World Cup Pool D match against South Africa on Saturday, organisers said today.
Ireland’s upset over the Wallabies really has put the cat among the pigeons at this World Cup..in more ways than one.
You don’t have to draw too long a bow from the best match of the tournament so far to realise the result, potentially, has serious implications for the All Blacks.
I’m really interested now – and concerned in the same breath – to see how the French react to this result.
The haka is in danger of losing respect because it is performed too often, Springboks coach Peter de Villiers says.