Super Rugby
It is Sunday 4 September 2011… the time is now nearly 18:15 SA Time. The next live RUGBY we’ll see in South Africa will be from New Zealand, at the Rugby World Cup.
It is 5 nights, or sleeps as we were told as todlers, till the World Cup!
Can you wait… I can’t!
Paddy O'Brien
International referees boss Paddy O’Brien has said that the 10 men who will take charge of the Rugby World Cup matches will be told to toughen up.
Gatland fires 1st barb at Bokke
Their opening match may be just over a week away, but Wales coach Warren Gatland wasted no time in getting the first shot in, in what is sure to be an interesting verbal stoush in the coming days.
I am publishing these as additional rules for the World Cup. This is very important to read, and or to pass on to your wife/fiance/girlfriend/partner/significant other:
**** Extremely important advice and recommendations to be passed on to wives, Girlfriends, fiancées, mothers, sisters, daughters, etc. (to all women in General) ****
World Cup 2007 Celebrations
The RWC is now imminent, it is there for important to prepare now rather than a day before the event. I thought it wise to set out a preparation guide and some rules to follow during this epic event. Continue reading
Wales Rugby
Wales will arrive at the Rugby World Cup more confident than ever of finally making an impression at rugby’s greatest showpiece after the failure of 2007 when they failed to reach the knock out stages.
John Smit & Victor Matfield
Springbok captain John Smit and Vice Captain Victor Matfield say they want to end their international careers as double Rugby World Cup champions.
And now, from Auckland New Zealand — head quarters of the Rugby World Cup due to start on September 9 and end on the October 23 — here are the 10 essentials the International Rugby Board says teams must aim to get right if they want to lift the Webb Ellis Cup at the Rugby World Cup 2011.
Read this outstanding artile by Mark Reason. I found it in the Dominion post copied and pasted it verbatim. It is so good.
If New Zealand go out of a consecutive World Cup because of another dodgy refereeing decision, they will have no one to blame but themselves. The All Blacks no longer even bother to bend the laws. They set out to deliberately cheat.
For only one piffling syllable, CHEAT is an awfully big word. “Who are you calling a cheat?” demands the card-playing gunslinger, just before the mandatory murder and the five aces sliding from the sleeve.
The All Blacks cheat in spades. Half of their tries in the Tri- Nations have been set up by blatant cheating. Continue reading
It always intrigues me how partial and narrow-minded some of the New Zealand rugby commentators can be. The constant criticism of South Africa’s style of play and the ‘drooling’ over the New Zealand expansive game is something that irritates me immensely so as if there is only one way to play rugby and as if New Zealand has the perfect game.
Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers
Rugby World Cup hosts New Zealand will be defending champions South Africa’s biggest obstacle at the Rugby World cup according to Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.
Kieran Read and mates doing the Haka
All Blacks number eight Kieran Read will miss New Zealand’s Pool Games and fellow injured loose forward Adam Thomson looks set to miss the opening match against Tonga.
I have a lot I want to say about the upcoming Rugby World Cup (RWC) in New Zealand, and specifically about the Tri-Nation teams, I don’t pretend to be an expert on the Northern Hemisphere teams as I do not know their best players, or those fighting to become the first choice.
It is a very distinct possibility that the next time the Springboks meet the All Blacks, following the August 20 game at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will be at the 60 000-seater Eden Park in Auckland on October 23 at 9pm.
The Rugby World Cup starts in two weeks and all the national sides announce their squads this week and then depart for their bases in New Zealand.
The Scotland Rugby World Cup squad with children from their Scottish clubs or schools. Head coach Andy Robinson has today named the 30-man Scotland squad for the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.
Eighteen members of South Africa’s triumphant 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning squad were included in the 2011 party when the 30 players selected to attempt to retain the title were revealed in a live broadcast announcement on Tuesday.
Eagles Head Coach, Eddie O’Sullivan, has selected his squad of 30 players that will represent the United States at the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) in New Zealand next month.
England Team Manager Martin Johnson has announced the 30-man squad that will travel to New Zealand for next month’s Rugby World Cup.
Lewis Moody will captain the side at the showpiece tournament where they face Argentina (September 10), Georgia (September 18), Romania (September 24) and Scotland (October 1) in Pool B.
All Blacks Coach Graham Henry and his Assistant Coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have today announced the squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The All Blacks squad in position (with province and Test caps in brackets) is:
Eighteen members of South Africa’s triumphant 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning squad were included in the 2011 party when the 30 players selected to attempt to retain the title were revealed in a live broadcast announcement on Tuesday.
Pine Pienaar has announced the Bulls team to play against the Leopards on the weekend. It is safe to say those playing will not go to the RWC.
Eagles Head Coach, Eddie O’Sullivan, has selected his squad of 30 players that will represent the United States at the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) in New Zealand next month.
The Eagles will compete in Pool C at the RWC, taking on Australia, Ireland, Italy and Russia in pool play. NBC Universal has released their broadcast schedule of the tournament, which begins with the opening ceremony on September 9 and concludes with the RWC final on October 23.
England Team Manager Martin Johnson has announced the 30-man squad that will travel to New Zealand for next month’s Rugby World Cup.
Lewis Moody will captain the side at the showpiece tournament where they face Argentina (September 10), Georgia (September 18), Romania (September 24) and Scotland (October 1) in Pool B.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers was a mightily relieved man after his side’s 18-5 Tri-Nations victory over the All Blacks at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
He had flyhalf Morné Steyn to thank, perhaps more than any one else.
Rookie Springbok utility back Patrick Lambie will face an anxious 24 hours as he awaits a medical report on his injured shoulder.
Sporting history is littered with tales of great teams and individuals who did not know when to quit and suffered humiliating exits.
Many South African supporters fear a similar fate awaits the ‘green and gold’ at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand as they try to become the first country to successfully defend the title.
When Manu Samoa swept aside Australia less than two months from the start of the World Cup they sent a clear message — to Wales in particular –they will be serious contenders come tournament time.
Former Springbok wing Stefan Terblanche believes uncertainty in key selection areas is hampering the Springboks as they continue their stuttered build-up towards the defence of their World Cup title.
The Springboks are at risk of a white wash (losing all 4 Tri-nation tests matches) for the first time in tri-nations history. Desperate times indeed and that might explain some of the selections for this match.
Most of us here also blogged somewhere during the 2007 World Cup. Just like this year, in fact every time a Springbok team is picked, we the real experts pick our team too. Yes and every “selector” has his own favourites. In 2007 we disagreed with some of Jake White’s selections. Now let us see how many players back then were in YOUR team. Dont lie, some of us can remember your favorites, no cheating.
See the happy faces?
A major All Blacks sponsor on Thursday cancelled a campaign urging New Zealand sports fans give up sex to support their team during the World Cup, after a public backlash.
Argentina coach Santiago Phelan selected his strongest line-up on Tuesday for the World Cup warm-up match with Wales on Saturday.
Wales however, have made 9 changes to the side which beat England on the weekend.
Wallabies stalwart Matt Giteau has given every indication he has controversially missed Rugby World Cup selection.
A common trend in South African rugby is the emphasis on short term gains rather than long term vision. Continue reading
Springbok captain John Smit has not yet been ruled out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, a South African Rugby Union (Saru) spokesperson confirmed on Sunday.