World Cup
I played with the results in the Super 14 competition and came up with these interesting facts. Well, off course because they look so favourable for the Bulls, that’s why I publish them. I realise that this means sweet blue nothing in the next few weeks.
The Waratahs must have wondered what they were wandering into as they sauntered through Invercargill airport. It’s the first time the New South Wales Super 14 franchise has played here and their initial impression might have been that they should have packed flippers and snorkels along with the usual rugby accoutrements of hair product and cellphones as they flew in over flooded Taramoa farmland.
The miserly Stormers’ defence will be a challenge for the Crusaders this week.
Despite their 16-13 defeat to the Queensland Reds in Brisbane last weekend, the Stormers, leaked an average of just 12.7 points per match
This was the weekend of shock results. On the Super 14 Log there are 10 teams still able to make the play-offs. Sharks, Chiefs and Blues have a small mathematical chance for the title, but is really clutching at straws, which might finally break next weekend.
Vodacom Cup Semi Finals venues not confirmed yet but it will be the Bulls vs Sharks XV and the Boland vs Cheetahs on the 1st of May.
Lions coach Dick Muir seems to have lost confidence in Springbok fullback Earl Rose. Continue reading
For the last 18 months South Africans had to listen to boredom about the ‘boring rugby’ they play, but Super rugby statistics at the half-way stage of the competition suggests it is in fact the Antipodean teams that does most of the playing, WITHOUT the ball. Continue reading
Sometimes I sits and finks and Sometimes I just sits……ai ai ai ……..
This is the combined PREVIEW of the Super 14 matches played between Friday 12 to Sunday 14 March 2010. The matches discussed are:
Friday:
1. Chiefs vs Crusaders – Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, 12 March at 08:35 SA Time
2. Waratahs vs Lions – Sydney Footbaal Stadium, Sydney, 12 March at 10:40 SA Time
Saturday:
3. Brumbies vs Sharks – Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 13 March at 10:40 SA Time
4. Bulls vs Highlanders – Loftus, Pretoria, 13 March at 17:05 SA Time
5. Stormers vs Hurricanes – Newlands, Cape Town, 13 March at 19:10 SA Time
Sunday:
6. Reds vs Western Force – Brisbane, 14 March at 8:30 SA Time
If John Plumtree does not come back with at least 2, preferably 3 victories on the road and end in the top 8 of the Super 14 log, he must get the boot. Continue reading
The Stormers host the Waratahs tonight at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match is broadcast on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Bulls hosted the Brumbies at Loftus, Pretoria late this afternoon. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA. The Bulls won in impressive style, going away at the end and easily bagging full 5 Log Points to move alone to the top of the Super 14 table. They denied the Brumbies from any log points in the process. The Final score was Bulls 50 / 32.
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Springbok Ashley Johnson has been left out of the Cheetahs starting line-up and will sit on the bench when the team travels to Durban to face the Sharks in a Super 14 Round Two match on Friday. Continue reading
The sharks have made some forced and some unforced changes as they go into battle with the Waikato Chiefs this comming weekend, none more so then the flyhalf position after the shock retirement of newly aquired Flyhalf Steve Meyer.
We wish him well, sadly did not get to see the potential there was spoken of, Maybe soon there will be a reason given for this as it is known that he would have started for the Sharks the weekend. Continue reading
A recent discussion between myself and an acquaintance prompted me to assess the general mindset in South African rugby. Continue reading
Wallaby flank George Smith – one of only four Australians to have reached the milestone of 100 Tests – has announced his retirement from international rugby and will be released from his Australian Rugby Union and Brumbies contract at the end of the 2010 Super 14 season. Continue reading
The Western Force have just realised that they have bought the most expensive injury-prone flyhalf in the world, Continue reading
Juandre Kruger, who is currently playing in the English Premiership for the Northampton Saints, has signed with the Blue Bulls. Continue reading
The talk prior to the start of the Super 14 is the breakdown, and after all is said and done, from what I have seen I believe we are moving in the right direction. Continue reading
Springbok number 8 Pierre Spies has been ruled out of the Vodacom Bulls Super 14 squad for Saturday’s warm-up match against the Lions in Polokwane. Continue reading
The South African Rugby Union (Saru) is currently busy with a comprehensive research survey and the aim is to ultimately understand the rugby supporters better and to deliver a better product in a tightly contested sports entertainment arena. Continue reading
Pedrie Wannenburg will have to step out of controversy to play a key role for the Bulls in the Super14 following the news that Dewald Potgieter will miss at least the first two weeks of the tournament with a knee injury. Continue reading
The Bulls were dealt another injury blow in the build-up to the defence of their Super 14 crown with the news that Emerging Springbok captain and Bok loose forward Dewald Potgieter has been sidelined through a training ground injury. Continue reading
Sharks coach John Plumtree appears to be ready to return home to New Zealand, after reports surfaced that he had applied to take over as Hurricanes coach next year. Continue reading
(Courtesy from iAfrica.com)
Fully fit at the start of a season for the first time in years and with nothing to prove, World Cup-winning Springbok flyhalf André Pretorius is looking forward to his stint at the Western Force. Continue reading
Just yesterday I posted an article about the Reds where Will Genia said that the success of the team will greatly depends on the mindset of the players. Low and behold, today I came across a similar statement, this one from yet another perennial cellar dweller, the Cheetahs. Continue reading
I have been on record many times saying the majority of rugby fans are stupid, and this in part helps aid our underperforming teams a great deal in sustaining a ‘slapgat’ rugby culture. Continue reading
Pretoria – The Vodacom Bulls were dealt a setback when a freak accident ruled out Springbok utility back Francois Hougaard for up to six weeks. Continue reading
A flyhalf crisis in the City of Roses may see the young Sias Ebersohn run out for the Cheetahs’ Super14 team, albeit only in the warm-up game against Eastern Province in a couple of weeks time. Continue reading
The Sharks are probably the team in World Rugby that made the most of the game going professional, for one thing with the help of Mr. Price they sure sell a hell of a lot of T-Shirts. Continue reading
Player management and the threat of burn-out ahead of the 2011 World Cup has been big news in South Africa recently, but the Bulls don’t believe there is a problem. Continue reading
Our friends at the Lions made an interesting signing with news that former All Black flyhalf Carlos Spencer have joined the Lions. They are tight lipped about it all but it is understood it is also one of the biggest contracts ever in South African rugby. Continue reading
It’s generally good news for the Stormers on the injury front. Continue reading
I want to move forward in my career and experience a winning culture,” said the 26-year-old Springbok centre, who left the Lions to sign a contract with Western Province. Continue reading
The Bulls started training again on Monday after their festive break, with hooker Botha back after an absence of two seasons. Continue reading
The Bulls will play one warm-up fixture against the Lions on January 30 in Polokwane before their Super 14 campaign kicks off on February 12 in Bloemfontein against the Cheetahs. Continue reading