Proteas
Well this was much better. The Springboks were innovative and clearly made some adjustments to how they play the game. Probably because of the change in game plan, most of the players played well. A few played exceptionally well like Frans Steyn, Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow, Gurthro Steenkamp and Bismarck du Plessis, when he came on.
Danie ‘Pakslae’ Rossouw was outstanding in everything he did and maintained a high work rate on defence and on attack. Out wide he showed some deft touches, good decision making and a surprising turn of speed.
The most pleasing aspect of the whole match was the fact that they kept the ball in hand.
France (19) 46 / Canada (10) 19 (Final Score)
France and Canada did battle in Napier 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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Brave Canada gave France a torrent time till the 70th minute, then the French machine clicked into gear with a few quick tries, earning France the bonus point for tries after full time.
England (17) 41 / Georgia (10) 10 (Final Score)
England and Georgia 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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Despite a 31-point winning margin and 6 tries, England will not feel at all happy about this match and you can bet your bottom dollar that Martin Johnson must be secretly fuming at the ill-dicipline and overall incompetance of the England side.
If Georgia had a kicker who could slot the penalties, the score would have been very different.
That said, it’s 5 Log points in the bag for England.
Wales (6) 17 / Samoa (10) 10 (Final Score)
Wales and Samoa did battle in Hamilton at 05:30 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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It was a brutal match, Samoa not relenting and Wales had to fight hard and right to the end to ensure their win.
One loss to Wales in Pool D, one loss to Samoa…. now the Springboks do not want to lose against Samoa, because it would mean one loss to them then as well, leaving the Pool wide open, and somebody will go Home!
Rampant Pierre Spies
When it comes to results in pool matches during the rugby world cup, I for one rather look at how and what teams have done and what has been effective.
Wallabies (6) 6 / Ireland (6) 15 (Final Score)
The Australian Wallabies did battle against Ireland 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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In the first real upset in Rugby World Cup 2011, Ireland upset the apple cart and beat the Australian Wallabies.
No tries in the match, just hard, uncompromising rugby!
Springboks (21) 49 / Fiji (3) 3 (Final Score)
The Springboks and Fiji did battle in POOL D in Wellington at 08:00 SA Time (18:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & 4, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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A very well balanced Springbok performance!
The Springboks scored 6 tries, 5 of them converted, plus 3 penalties to a lone Fiji penalty.
Job done, mission accomplished, 5 points in the bag!
Argentina (26) 43 / Romania (8) 8 (Final Score)
Argentina did battle with Romania in Invercargill at 05:30 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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Consumate performance by Argentina, 6 tries to 1.
Argentina was just too strong from the word go.
Toby Flood has been preferred at flyhalf for Sunday’s game against Georgia. Continue reading
All Blacks (38) 83 / Japan (0) 7 (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks hosted Japan in Hamilton at 10:00 SA Time (20:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & 4, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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The All Blacks scored 13 tries to 1 and ran riot!
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has reiterated that his plan to treat every game at this World Cup as a final and not to mix and match combinations to give everyone a run.
Call them stubborn, label them stupid, but it certainly seems Graham Henry and his fellow selectors are struggling to learn the harsh lessons of their last World Cup failings.
Rugby authorities are doing themselves no favours in dispelling the belief that rugby still is an elitist sport which only caters for the traditional powerhouses of the game.
I’ve found myself pondering more and more about the amount of injuries during this year’s RWC. Is it just my imagination or are there more injuries this year than previous times?
In run-up to this year’s RWC we had constant injuries to Springbok and All Black players to the extent that everyone was starting to label it as ‘resting’ or ‘cotton wool’ procedures.
South Africa have players like Bekker, Vermeulen, Potgieter, Juan Smit (to name but the few I can now remember) who was not even considered for the RWC squad due to injury.
At the moment Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Jean de Villiers, Johan Muller, Flip van der Merwe, and Habana are all injured. In the All Black camp McCaw, Carter, Dagg and Mills Muliaina are all injured and can’t play on the weekend. Continue reading
Russia (3) 6 / USA (10) 13 (Final Score)
Russia and USA did battle in New Plymouth 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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USA was in control of most of the match, holding on to the ball well, but struggling to break resolute Russian defences.
Samoan custom frowns upon chest-beating, but there is a strong self belief this World Cup squad can claim another historic victory over Wales on Sunday.
Warren Gatland’s Welshmen face an emotionally-charged and buoyant Samoan side in Hamilton, where World Cup aspirations will be defined.
Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina are both out of tomorrow’s test against Japan.
Both players have been ruled out of the All Blacks’ second game of the World Cup because of injury, while Israel Dagg has also picked up an injury, following a training session at St Peter’s College in Cambridge late yesterday afternoon.
The Springboks made four changes to their starting line-up and two more on the bench when they named the team to meet Fiji in their Pool D World Cup 2011 match in Wellington on Saturday.
France fly-half David Skrela will miss the rest of the World Cup after sustaining a bad shoulder injury in the opener against Japan, coach Marc Lievremont announced on Wednesday. Continue reading 
Springbok wing Bryan Habana has been ruled out of South Africa’s Rugby World Cup match against Fiji because of a knee injury and lock Johann Muller is in doubt. Continue reading 
England Prop Andrew Sheridan has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup due to injury and will return home to England. Continue reading 
Scotland (9) 15 / Georgia (3) 6 (Final Score)
Scotland did battle with Georgia in Invercargill at 09:30 SA Time (19:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & 4, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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A Tryless match!
Scotland were mostly in control of the match, but they were blunt on attack against a gutsy Georgian side who defended like trojans.
Tonga (7) 20 Canada (10) 25 (Final Score)
Tonga did battle with Canada in Whangarei at 07:00 SA Time (17:00 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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Canada gutsed out a 5-point win, with gritty and hard work… and with 3 tries to 2.
All Blacks star Daniel Carter is injured and won’t play in this week’s World Cup match with Japan.
Carter, who suffered a sore back in the opening clash against Tonga, was replaced by Canterbury’s Colin Slade in the starting XV, with halfback Jimmy Cowan coming on to the bench, and Piri Weepu moving out to provide first–five cover.
Samoa (25) 49 / Namibia (0) 12 (Final Score)
Samoa did battle against Namibia in Rotorua at 04:30 SA Time (14:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & 4, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Samoa won this game and collected 5 log points by scoring 6 tries to the 2 late tries by error-ridden Namibia.
Three Rugby World Cup matches take place on 14 September 2011.
The 3 matches have already been scheduled as Live Game Articles and will be covered here on Rugby-Talk.
This Article should actually be read in conjunction with the previous one, namely “Analysis of the Springbok / Wales match”. A lot of the things that I wrote about in the first Article can actually be seen on these video clips.
Frans Steyn scored for South Africa within the first 3 minutes of this historic match between SA and Wales in the second Pool D (so-called pool of death) match of the 2011 tournament.
England’s Courtney Lawes has been suspended for two Rugby World Cup matches after being found guilty of recklessly striking an opponent with his knee.
Having dodged a Welsh bullet, Springboks coach Peter de Villiers is more convinced than ever about the three ways his team can retain the World Cup.
Watertight defence. Pinpoint goalkicking. And, perhaps the biggest headache, getting inside the respective heads of the referees.
The most controversial kick in World Cup for a very long time was not over.
It is way too early to start hitting the panic buttons after the Springboks narrow win over Wales on Sunday.
One has to feel for Wales as they were outstanding on the weekend. I got pretty upset with the Springboks as the match progressed but in retrospective one has the give credit to Warren Gatland and his Welsh side.
I had some sort of an Aha moment during this game in the sense that I developed a deeper appreciation of the impact of the new rule interpretation on the game. The most important thing of the modern game is structure at the breakdown. The emphasis has shifted from set piece to the breakdown. Where previously forward dominance was dependent on structure at set piece, forward dominance now depends on structure at the breakdowns. Continue reading
A parade of topless, motorcycle-riding strippers scheduled to take place in Auckland this month has been cancelled to preserve the Rugby World Cup’s family atmosphere, organisers said Monday.
I feel somewhat relieved to see that South Africa is for once amazingly not be the target of ridicule and mockery, but on the other hand mildly frustrated. Here are some excerpts from some “Expert” opinions on the New Zealand Herald panel regarding this weekend’s play.
Despite the most optimistic faces on the Springbok team at the moment, there is no doubt the Boks will be privately fuming with themselves at the way they allowed Wales to steal momentum in their 17-16 victory in Wellington on Sunday.