SA Rugby
So, in a year where the SA Super Rugby teams have so much to win, and so very much to lose should they have a nightmare season, the two perrenial bottom dwellers of the South African teams square up in the first round of games.
The Lions are riding on the crest of the Currie Cup wave, whilst the Cheetahs will take great heart from some truly stellar performances during the 2011 Super Rugby campaign.
Lets take a look at what we can expect in this the first CAT FIGHT of the season, as well as a look at the player – player match ups.
The Generals, Standoff’s of just plain Flyhalf’s. Irrespective of what you call the man with number 10 on his back, when on song they can single handedly destroy ANY opposition, but when having a miserable day, they can utterly negate the hard work done by their 14 team mates.
Let’s look at the men likely to do duty in the number 10 jersey for the Lions in this season’s Super Rugby campaign.
In the latest edition of the Lions’ contenders we look at the men that dictate the flow of the game once the hard wok has been done by the big men up front – the Scrumhalves.
Scrumhalves are not the biggest players in any squad, by any means, but often the nuggiest and most skillful of the whole bunch.
They often talk too much as well!
It will be goodbye Lions, hello Kings come 2013 as a political decision has been endorsed to allow only ONE TEAM per PROVINCE.
The Lions held a media conference to launch their Super Rugby campaign this afternoon, where the team to face the Cheetahs at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday was announced.
Kick Off is at 19h10 local time.
Although we have seven games and only the Melbourne Rebels have a bye, my personal three Big games involve the top teams of each Conference. Crusaders vs Blues, Bulls vs Sharks and Waratahs vs Reds. Continue reading
Naka Drotske has named his team to take on the Lions at Coca-Cola Park, in the Cheetahs season opener on Saturday at 19h00.
Naka has really raised the eyebrows with his team selections, and bold he certainly is!
Sharks coach, John Plumtree, has chosen his best available side to take on the Bulls on Friday night at Loftus Versveld at 19:10 in thier opener for Super Rugby 2012.
In todays edition of the Lions Super Rugby contenders we look at the Rugby equivalent of the hyena and jackal, the Loose Frowards.
The men who have to get low down and dirty, and win the ball wherever it’s available, but mostly on the ground.
I’ll kick off with the stalwarts of the 2011 season.
Heyneke Meyer was appointed four weeks ago as Springbok coach and still there is no clarity as to who will be on his management team in 2012.
Here is the Vocacom Bulls team to face the Sharks on Friday night (19:10 SA Time) at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
We are including the English and Afrikaans versions of the Official Vodacom Bulls Media Release.
Bulls centre Johann Sadie says he is a “stronger, fitter and mentally tougher” player since joining the Bulls from the Stormers.
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.
Cheetahs prop Coenie Oosthuizen, has allegedly been involved in another scuffle at a club, Barba’s in Bloemfontein.
Tuks (24) 40 / Pukke (10) 20 (Final Score)
Tuks (University of Pretoria) and Pukke (North West University) did battle in the Varsity Cup at Tuks Rugby Stadium, LC de Villiers Sports Grounds, Pretoria at 19:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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In this the 3rd instalment of the Lions contenders, we look at the big men who perform in the engine room of the forward pack, the lock forwards.
Providing the grunt in the heart of the scrum, as well as the means to win ball in the line-outs, this group of BIG men are responsible for ensuring a continuous supply of quality first phase ball for the team.
Let’s open with the players who did the hard yards in last years campaign.
The next instalment will look at the ever improving and exciting loose forwards.
UJ (24) 48 / NMMU (5) 18 (Final Score)
UJ (University of Johannesburg) and NMMU (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) did battle in the Varsity Cup at UJ Stadium, Johannesburg at 17:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Stormers and Western Province head coach Allister Coetzee has signed a new contract to stay in Cape Town until 2015 and has turned down the opportunity to join Heyneke Meyer’s new Springbok coaching staff
As the maxim goes: ‘It never rains but it pours.’This certainly rings true for the South African Rugby Union.
In the midst of a predicament over their handling of the Southern Kings’ entry in Super Rugby, it has emerged that for the past 16 months SARU have been at loggerheads with one of their most prominent contractors.
As we have become accustomed to, 4 matches will be played today, Monday 20 February 2012, but only 2 matches will be broadcast on TV in South Africa.
We will be covering the first 2 matches with Live game Articles.
The matches are:
- UJ vs NMMU – 17:00 (Broadcast on SuperSport 1 & CSN)
- Tuks vs Pukke – 19:00 (Broadcast on SuperSpot 1 & CSN)
- Maties vs Shimlas – 19:00
- TUT vs UCT – 19:00
The second Article highlighting the Lions Super Rugby players likely to bear the majority of the playing time in the upcoming Super Rugbycompetition.
Today we look at the men in the middle of the front row, the HOOKERS.
The next Article in the Series will be about the Lions Locks.
After a runner-up spot in the South African conference and a bruising defeat to the Crusaders in the play offs, the Sharks will be hoping to put a bit more bite into the 2012 season.
After an aging side failed to the defend the Super Rugby title last year, the Bulls have entered a rebuilding phase that is unlikely to bring any silverware in the immediate future.
The 8th and last Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for the BACK THREE (WINGS & FULLBACKS) in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 7th and Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for CENTRES in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 6th and Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for FLYHALVES in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 5th and Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for SCRUMHALVES in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 4th and Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOOSEFORWARDS in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The 3rd and Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOCKS in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union has given Rugby-Talk 10 match day tickets for every Super Rugby home game of the Lions for 2012.
Firstly I have to thank Krystle Geach at the Lions for this kind gesture and consideration, it is appreciated, and we’ll put the tickets to good use.
This set me thinking… in addition to the Lions tickets, maybe I should approach the other 4 Super Rugby Franchises for match day tickets as well, and here’s why!
The 2nd and Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for HOOKERS in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The New Zealand television audience has the most potential for growth based on numbers last season in Super Rugby, and local officials and SANZAR chief executive Greg Peters said a brilliant Rugby World Cup last year could provide impetus for some increased viewing.
The chance to tap into the massive economies and population of North America and Asia, primarily US and Japanese markets, is something SANZAR will explore, with the former American broadcasting landscape boggling the mind with astronomical numbers.
It is a simple edict – aim to have at least 70 percent of ball available out of the ruck within three seconds – and this will be one of the crucial areas where referees will turn their attention to in the 2012 Super Rugby season.
The official draw has been held for the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, round six of the HSBC Sevens World Series to be played on 23-25 March 2012 at the Hong Kong Stadium.
With the event doubling up in 2012 as the HSBC Sevens World Series core team qualifier, the renowned Hong Kong event will play host to two 12-team competitions played side by side at the 40,000-capacity venue.