SA Rugby
The 7th Article in the set discussing the Southern Kings.
In this Article we look at the contenders for CENTRES in the Southern Kings 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The Southern Kings have announced a 40-man squad ahead of their Super Rugby debut season, with some experienced players falling by the wayside.
The Eastern Cape franchise will make their Super Rugby entry without stalwarts Tiger Mangweni and Wayne van Heerden who failed to make the cut when the revised squad was announced this week.
The Lions have suffered another blow after being relegated from Super Rugby for the 2013 season as their stadium sponsor has pulled out after four years.
Rory Kockott has admitted his yearning for international honours, be they with France or his native South Africa, was behind his desire to leave his current club Castres at the end of the season.
With the 2013 Super Rugby season just around the corner the fixture list of all warm up games has been released.
Some teams have opted for tougher opponents and some less so, much of course depending on their requirements and strategies they have planned for. The tournament itself kicks off on the 15 February 2013.
With most of the pre-season fitness programmes out of the way, the next few weeks will be vital as each side starts to focus on honing their game ahead of another grueling season. Teams will be trying to get their best combinations together as to find cohesion, coaches of course will hope not to pick up injuries as some teams are starting the season with numerous injured stars.
The 7th Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.
In this Article we look at the contenders for CENTRES in the Vodacom Bulls 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The departure of Andries Strauss to the Kings, and the arrival of Johann Sadie, will ensure a new midfield combination. There is talk of Robert Ebersohn reverting back to inside centre where he played at school level, and using Johann Sadie at outside centre. This could be an enticing option, but there are however other possibilities.
In this Article we look at the contenders for CENTRES at the Sharks 2013 Super Rugby group.
The Sharks for the first time in a long time have a solid midfield, and to top it they have more than one option, the secret though is going to be which combination would suit the team’s dynamics the best.
I would like to try and explain the two centre position as many seem to get confused between the two, for example,“ What kind of player would you want at inside centre or outside centre” contrary to many beliefs in my opinion the center combination should be 2 players with different skill sets.
South Africa is blessed with some wonderful centres at the moment, and the lads in the Stormers squad are no exception. Springbok Captain Jean de Villiers again wears the Captains band for the Stormers, even though Schalk Burger is expected back from a long injury lay-off a couple of weeks into the season.
South Africa Under-20 head coach Dawie Theron on Monday named 34 players for the latest training camp in preparation for the IRB Junior World Championships to be played in France in June. The Junior Springboks will defend the title won in South Africa last year.
The 6th Article in the set discussing the Southern Kings.
In this Article we look at the contenders for FLYHALVES in the Southern Kings 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 6th Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.
In this Article we look at the contenders for FLYHALVES in the Vodacom Bulls 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
Looking at the pivotal position of flyhalf, the Cheetahs were derailed last year, by the long term injury to Johan Goosen, and the sudden loss of confidence by replacement Sias Ebersohn. The knock on effect for the Cheetahs was debilitating, to say the least. A repeat must be prevented.
In this Article we look at the contenders for FLYHALVES at the Sharks 2013 Super Rugby group.
FLYHALF – this is the position the Sharks now have the most depth they have had in a long time, even with the departure of the French general, Freddy Michalak.
The Sharks are in a position where they at least always have parity at scrum time and for the most part should win the breakdown clashes! This allows for their halfbacks to be more involved in games and they are also able to set up running lines and control games more effectively.
Coaches Naka Drotske and Hawies Fourie, seem to be pretty clear of who they envisage in their final Super Rugby squad for 2013. Griquas players Justin Downey, Leon Karemaker, Steph Roberts, Edwin Hewitt, Marnus Hugo and Jean Stemmet have been released to Griquas to prepare for the Vodacom Cup.
It is speculated, that the possible return of Juan Smith may have been the primary motivation as Phillip van der Walt, Heinrich Brüssow, Lappies Labuschagne, Juan Smith, and Boom Prinsloo all have still to prove their fitness. This could indicate that Juan’s progress is in line with the coaches’ expectations.
Last year, this is where I expected the bloggers have a good giggle. This year, we all know the coup pulled off by Allister Coetzee and Co which has, with the signing of one player, completely changed the face of the Stormers flyhalf dilemma of the past.
A final decision regarding the playing future of Springbok flank Juan Smith will now only be made at the end of January.
According to the Beeld website it has been confirmed that the Sharks will play two friendly warm-up games against two local sides as part of their preparations for Super Rugby.
Keegan Daniel’s men will play the Leopards on 8 February at the Woodburn stadium in Pietermaritzburg and a week later (15 February) they will face the Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
Morne van der Merwe, ex WP and Stormers prop, has only days to live.
He was diagnosed with a brain tumor two years ago and his wife, Cindy, is hurriedly putting together mementoes of his life to keep for the couple.s two young boys.
The 5th Article in the set discussing the Southern Kings.
In this Article we look at the contenders for SCRUMHALVES in the Southern Kings 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 5th Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.
In this Article we look at the contenders for SCRUMHALVES in the Vodacom Bulls 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The Cheetahs have some real continuity and experience in the vital scrumhalf position. Almost any of the players in the squad would be contenders for any squad in the Super 15, albeit as a back up. More importantly, they all fit in well with the Cheetahs favoured game plan.
The Blue Bulls Rugby Union is very pleased to honour Lourens (LM) Smit, who celebrated his 100th birthday on Monday.
Smit is the oldest living player that has represented the union and played in their very first match ever, in 1938.
In this Article we look at the contenders for SCRUMHALVES at the Sharks 2013 Super Rugby group.
SCRUMHALF – now here is where many a match is won or lost, not always because the scrumhalf was poor. Well sometimes this may be true, but because of various reasons beyond a Scrumhalf’s control, many times we say the flyhalf should control the game as he is normally the play maker, this although true to a degree, it is not always the case in the modern game where a more complete rugby is played.
And so we move on to the backs, but before we do, some housekeeping and a summary of what has happened through player movements at Stormers HQ from the 2012 to the 2013 season.
The 4th Article in the set discussing the Southern Kings.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOOSE FORWARDS in the Southern Kings 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
“This is where the debate starts to get interesting. So much conjecture around Schalk Burger, his role and where he should play. With Francois Louw gone, is the fetching role going to be an area of contention?” This was my view from the same article 12 months ago – has anything changed?
Schalk Burger still under a cloud, Nizaam Carr still hobbling, but a plethora of very good players in the squad means that if these two players do ever get into frontline rugby again, the Stormers will certainly be able to post a formidable loose trio on match days!
The 4th Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOOSE FORWARDS in the Vodacom Bulls 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
Wow, 5 CURRENT or very RECENT Springbok Loose Forwards in the Bulls Super Rugby group and only 3 can start a game… Plus 2 Junior World Champion Under 20 SA players in the broader squad. Which other Super Rugby side can muster or even sniff such quality?
In years past, this was a position the Cheetahs could make their team selections with their eyes closed. With legends like Juan Smith in particular, giving yeoman service.
Long term injuries and player movements has temporarily thrown the proverbial spanner in the works, resulting in Naka having to recall Hendro Scholtz out of retirement to have a fit flanker in the 2012 Currie Cup.
However the emergence of a few young stars has restored order. Marnus Schoeman has started delivering on the hype anticipated when he was still a junior with the Blue Bulls. Lappies Labuschagne and Justin Downey have grown in their positions, which leaves Naka Drotske spoilt for choice.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOOSE FORWARDS at the Sharks 2013 Super Rugby group.
Loose Forward is a set of 3 positions where the Sharks have abundance of, but much will depend on the coaching staff’s game plans and which combinations to use accordingly and as we have seen with John Plumtree, you could very well see someone like Willem Alberts playing a game or two at lock.
But before I continue, let me get this out of the way first! The biggest problem at the Sharks at Loose Forward is the lack of a FETCHER and as many great Loose Forwards that they have, not having a fetcher is that one huge weakness. All one has to do is look back at the Currie Cup Final of 2012 and see how it hurt them as a team, specially with Bismarck du Plessis being out injured, because it is common knowledge that Bismarck du Plessis fulfills that role for the Sharks.
With only four locks in the squad, and the well documented injury problems that Bekker seems to pick up on a regular basis, this looks like an area of concern for Alister Coetzee and his assistants.
The 3rd Article in the set discussing the Southern Kings.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOCKS in the Southern Kings 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 3rd Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOCKS in the Vodacom Bulls 2013 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOCKS at the Sharks 2013 Super Rugby group.
At Lock the Sharks have had their fair share of worries this past year, none more so than the semi-final and final of the Currie Cup 2012.
Anton Bresler and Jandre Marais along with Steven Sykes were the frontline jumpers but there always seemed to be something missing, and although the Sharks made both the Super Rugby and Currie Cup Finals, one glaring aspect of their play that at times was very troublesome was the poor line-outs.
This was due, one can assume, to various issues such as injuries to key players at critical stages of the season as well as just poor play.
The season of 2013 will see the Sharks with the same young locks accept for two changes – Steven Sykes has signed for the Kings and is returning to his family farm (Steven was a great servant to Natal rugby and will no doubt be sorely missed) and on loan to the Sharks for the Super Rugby season 2013 is Franco van der Merwe, who no doubt with his experience can help fill that void and add some much needed experience.
Looking at the tall timber, in what has been a troublesome position for the Cheetahs in seasons past. With stalwarts like Barend Pieterse, Rory Duncan, Corniel van Zyl, Flip van der Merwe, David de Villiers , Nico Breedt, and Wilhelm Steenkamp all leaving a void, so a new generation of locks has to be nurtured. With the more recent departures of George Earle, and Izak van der Westhuizens’s departure for colder pastures, a perception could exist, that the Cheetah class of 2013 could struggle in the second row. Well, maybe not!