The All Blacks celebrated their 100th test victory over the Wallabies to safeguard a decade-long ownership of the Bledisloe Cup in Sydney tonight, as the start of Ewen McKenzie's tenure added to Australia's recent sporting humiliations. McKenzie was unable to match his predecessor Robbie Deans by savouring a win in his first trans-Tasman test as... Continue Reading →
Rugby Championship 2013 -My take on things
Well it all starts on Saturday in Sydney -All Blacks vs Australia . and then latter that day Boks vs Argentina The simple point to make is the Boks will always have a Steyn or Van Der Merwe to be competitive ,but to win the 2013 competition they have no chance. Forget the waffle one... Continue Reading →
Springboks make four changes for Argentina clash
The Springbok side for Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener against Argentina at Soccer City in Soweto shows four changes from the team which beat Samoa in June. Two of the changes are in the starting XV, both of them in the forwards, and two on the bench for this Test, which forms part of the Nelson... Continue Reading →
Stamp out the feel-good factor around new Wallabies coach is the All Blacks focus for Sat
Stamping out the feel-good factor around new Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie is the All Blacks early focus as they brace for a tough Rugby Championship opener in Sydney. The All Blacks believe McKenzie's arrival will give their trans-Tasman rivals a major boost this season and particularly during his first match in charge. "You only have... Continue Reading →
All Black Squad of 28 every game will now be a trial as they head towards 2015
With the squad of 28 preparing for the Rugby Championship, which kicks off on August 17 in Sydney for the All Blacks, it is worth noting that now only 13 of the 33 World Cup squad are still wearing the black jersey. Many have gone overseas but along with Weepu, Corey Flynn, Brad Thorn, Victor... Continue Reading →
Looming tests represented a challenge to the All Blacks to lift their game.
June had been about getting game plans and structures in place and now was the time to refine them. "We want to get a bit of versatility and not be a one-trick pony," Hansen said when asked if the new approach was all about increasing the tempo. The 28-man squad has also been bolstered by... Continue Reading →
Boks are work in progress rather than title contenders for Rugby Championship 2013
THE Springboks are into their second year now under coach Heyneke Meyer and while they are better prepared than last year, they are still very much a work in progress and some way off being genuine Rugby Championship contenders. This time last year, Meyer had not been long in the job and expressed his frustrations... Continue Reading →
Time for Carter to give way to Cruden?
OPINION: There came a time when Carl Lewis could not run the 100 metres in under ten seconds, when Roger Federer began to sweat like ordinary men and when Viv Richards was no longer the master blaster. And these times feel like heresy. Buildings will fall and the sky will fill with ash and no... Continue Reading →
Chiefs hold on to beat Crusaders in a classic game. They host the 2013 Super Rugby final next week
The Chiefs will host their second Super Rugby final in as many years after somehow managing to turn the tables on the Crusaders in tonight's semifinal in Hamilton. Willed on by a crowd of about 22,000, the home side were on the back foot early in the second half, trailing 9-3 at halftime, only to... Continue Reading →
Crusaders coach has a go at the Chiefs
Todd Blackadder has drawn first blood. Having alleged the Chiefs' tactics of using support runners to knock over opposition defenders is illegal, Crusaders coach Blackadder has fired the opening shot ahead of tomorrow night's Super Rugby semi-final at Waikato Stadium. After sifting through footage of the Chiefs' past performances, Blackadder believes some referees and their... Continue Reading →
Are the Crusaders going to end 5 year title drought?
For 65 minutes at AMI Stadium on Saturday night Richie McCaw had the best seat in the house for a performance that may just have instilled the Crusaders as Super Rugby title favourites. Certainly after their 38-9 demolition of the Queensland Reds in a one-sided quarter-final, the seven-time champions demonstrated palpably that they possess the... Continue Reading →
The structure of the Super Rugby Finals Series is as follows:
WEEK ROUND MATCH HOME AWAY 1 Qualifier A Crusaders Reds 1 Qualifier B Brumbies Cheetahs 2 Semi-Final C Bulls Highest-ranked winner of A and B 3 Semi-Final D Chiefs Other winner of A and B 4 Final E Highest-ranked winner of C and D Other winner of C and D SANZAR will confirm the Super... Continue Reading →
Springbok record-holder Bryan Habana’s provincial career in SA came to an end in Cape Town o n Sat evening -some stats
Springbok record-holder Bryan Habana’s provincial career in South Africa came to an end in Cape Town on Saturday evening. He is off to France soon where he will play for Toulon. He made his debut in 2005 and played a total of 118 Vodacom Super Rugby matches (61 for the Vodacom Bulls and 57 for... Continue Reading →
Richie McCaw will be added to the bench for qualifying final against the Queensland Reds
Richie McCaw will be added to the bench for Saturday night's Super Rugby qualifying final against the Queensland Reds, Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has indicated. Having watched openside flanker McCaw play for his Christchurch club at the weekend after a seven-month break, Blackadder appears satisfied the All Blacks captain will be fit enough to play... Continue Reading →
Crusaders name team to play final round robin against the Hurricanes
Round Twenty see's the final round robin games of the 2013 Investec Super Rugby tournament. This Friday the Crusaders take on the Hurricanes at AMI Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.35pm NZ time Crusaders Head Coach Todd Blackadder has named his team to play the Hurricanes making only one change to the starting fifteen that beat... Continue Reading →
All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw returns from his sabbatical on Saturday.
No restrictions on game time have been placed on All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw when he returns from his sabbatical on Saturday. McCaw will end his seven-month break when he turns out for his Christchurch club against University at Christchurch Park in the Canterbury Metro competition. The 32-year-old has not played rugby since the All... Continue Reading →
Crusaders hit top form to hammer Chiefs
Here come the Crusaders. Tonight's 43-15 win over the Chiefs guaranteed the Crusaders a place in the Super Rugby playoffs but it was ruthless way they ripped apart the defending champions that will have everyone talking this weekend. This bonus-point victory wasn't just a warning shot to the Chiefs, who they may meet again in... Continue Reading →
GAME OF THE WEEK CRUSADERS v CHIEFS
When: Friday July 5, 7.35pm (NZST) Where: AMI Stadium, Christchurch Referee: Jonathon White (New Zealand) Head-to-head: Played 21, Crusaders 14, Chiefs 7 In Christchurch: Played 6, Crusaders 5, Chiefs 1 Last meeting: Round 15, May 24, 2013: Chiefs beat the Crusaders 28-19 at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton AS FAR as heavyweight Super Rugby rematches go, they... Continue Reading →
George Smith back for Wallabies to play British & Irish Lions in series decider test match
The selection of Australia’s third highest capped player, four years after his most recent Test appearance, highlights the Qantas Wallabies side named today ahead of Saturday night’s third and series-deciding game against the British & Irish Lions in Sydney. In gaining selection, George Smith returns for a possible ‘farewell’ Test appearance on Australian soil, after... Continue Reading →
Five changes for Crusaders team to play the Chiefs on Friday
This weekend sees the Crusaders take on the 2012 Investec Super Rugby champions the Chiefs. Crusaders Head Coach Todd Blackadder has named his team making five changes to the starting fifteen that beat the Highlanders last weekend. The forward pack sees Wyatt Crockett, Corey Flynn and Owen Franks return to the front row. Crockett and... Continue Reading →
