For a South African rugby writer that is not domiciled in the Cape, there really is no finer place to be than in a press box in Newlands when the local team, inevitably, has choked in a big match. In a word it is ‘beautiful’. Alright, I accept that I am being triumphalist but, honestly,... Continue Reading →
Super Rugby Preview – The Grand Final
Can The Sharks do the almost unthinkable and bring the Vodacom Super Rugby trophy back to Durban by beating the Chiefs in the final in Hamilton on Saturday? The last few weeks had been as close to a dogfight as you would find on a rugby field for the men from Durban. After crushing the... Continue Reading →
Rennie the first debutant coach in 12 years to reach a Super Rugby Final
Despite presiding over a Super Rugby Final’s build up week with the Chiefs, SANZAR had the opportunity to share the views of coach Dave Rennie ahead of a match that he felt was the biggest in his career. “I’ve been involved in a couple of NPC Finals and a few Junior World Cup Finals and... Continue Reading →
2012 SUPER RUGBY FINALIST SNAPSHOT – THE SHARKS
The Sharks are the most successful Super Rugby franchise never to have won the title, with this their fourth Super Rugby Final. This season might not have begun according to plan, but the sixth placed South African wildcard qualifying side is building up an impressive head of steam. Back-to-back losses to start their season were... Continue Reading →
2012 SUPER RUGBY FINALIST SNAPSHOT – THE CHIEFS
The Chiefs will look to become the sixth team to win a Super Rugby Championship, a victory that could see the balance of New Zealand rugby power shift North to Hamilton. Coach Dave Rennie couldn’t deny he was “excited”, after what has been the longest calendar season in Super Rugby history. “It has been a... Continue Reading →
: These Crusaders are good enough to win this year’s Super Rugby title.
Four years without the silverware must seem an eternity in red-and-black country, but the drought could be broken as the Crusaders look for an eighth title. They were mightily impressive in beating the Bulls last night, adding to the feeling that they are producing their best form when it matters most. Todd Blackadder inherited a... Continue Reading →
To illustrate how little there is to pick between the four teams in Super Rugby -read this
The Sharks will travel to Cape Town for an all-South African Vodacom Super Rugby semi-final against the DHL Stormers after they eliminated the Reds in their qualifier in Brisbane on Saturday afternoon. The KwaZulu-Natalians reached the semi-finals for the first time since 2008 when they beat the Reds by 30-17. This was only the 11th... Continue Reading →
Crusaders vs Bulls Preview
Can any team beat the Crusaders in a Vodacom Super Rugby knock-out match in Christchurch? History says no, but the Vodacom Bulls will say nothing is impossible. In their only previous playoff in Christchurch, the Crusaders won easily – that was in 2006 when the Crusaders won by 35-15 and went on to win the... Continue Reading →
2012 Super Rugby Finals Series participants confirmed
Super Rugby played out the regular season with Round 18, and with all matches now completed, SANZAR can confirm the following. The South African Conference winning Stormers will finish top-of-the-table, and will host the lowest placed winner from the Super Rugby Qualifier (Week One), while the New Zealand Conference winning Chiefs will host the highest... Continue Reading →
Eight teams can still make the Vodacom Super Rugby Finals Serie
Vodacom Super Rugby Preview – Round 18 With one round of league action to go, eight teams can still make the Vodacom Super Rugby Finals Series, with only two – the DHL Stormers and the Chiefs – guaranteed of their positions. These two sides have already won the South African and New Zealand Conferences and... Continue Reading →
Richie McCaw will captain the Crusaders from the No 8 position this Saturday
Richie McCaw will captain the Crusaders from the No 8 position this Saturday as Kieran Read is unavailable with a rib injury. While Read should be fit for the play-offs, he will take no part in the match against the Force. McCaw will start at No 8 with Matt Todd replacing him at openside flank.... Continue Reading →
GAME OF THE WEEK CHIEFS v CRUSADERS
CHIEFS v CRUSADERS Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia) Head-to-Head: Played 18, Crusaders 13, Chiefs 5 In Hamilton: Played 7, Crusaders 5, Chiefs 2 Last match: Round 3, March 9, 2012: Chiefs beat Crusaders 24-19 at McLean Park, Napier WE’VE SAID it once and we’ll say it again for the sake of repetition: batten down the hatches,... Continue Reading →
Boks vs England in PE – Preview
There was a throw-away remark from Pierre Spies at Wednesday’s team announcement that neatly summed up the Springboks’ approach to the third match of a series they have already won. “Heyneke is just not the type of coach that lets you take your eye off the ball … it just won’t happen,” he laughed as... Continue Reading →
Joe Tomane Replaced by Cooper Vuna in Qantas Wallabies Starting XV
An injury at training has forced a late change to the Qantas Wallabies starting XV for Saturday night’s Castrol EDGE Wales Tour match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Brumbies winger Joe Tomane suffered a syndesmosis injury in his left ankle during today’s session on the Ballymore Number Two ground, and has been replaced in the... Continue Reading →
There are eight changes to the Qantas Wallabies starting line-up which has been named today for test against Wales
There are eight changes to the Qantas Wallabies starting line-up which has been named today for Saturday night’s opening Test of the Castrol EDGE Wales Tour in Brisbane. Five new forwards and three new backs feature in the starting combination, from that beaten 9-6 by Scotland midweek in Newcastle. The alterations in the pack sees... Continue Reading →
All Blacks team to face Ireland on Sat at Eden Park
ALL Blacks: Israel Dagg, Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Victor Vito, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Hika Elliot, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Ben Smith.
Etzebeth, Kruger and Coetzee to debut for South Africa
Etzebeth, Kruger and Coetzee to debut for South Africa Three players will make their Test debut for the Springboks on Saturday in the first Test of the Castle Incoming Tour against England at Mr Price Kings Park in Durban. DHL Western Province lock Eben Etzebeth, Vodacom Blue Bulls lock Juandré Kruger and Sharks flanker Marcell... Continue Reading →
the view is not bad at IRB under 20 championship
The anthems for NZ and Samoa
