Currie Cup Log 2009 after round 8

Pos Team.................P W D L Pts
1 Western Province...8- 6- 0- 2- 28
2 Sharks..................8- 6- 0- 2- 27
3 Blue Bulls.............8- 5- 0- 3- 25
4 Griquas................8- 5- 0- 3- 24
5 Cheetahs...............8- 4- 0- 4- 20
6 Lions....................8- 4- 0- 4- 20
7 Leopards...............8- 1- 0- 7- 15
8 Boland..................8- 1- 0- 7- 15

International Rugby Results: Tri-Nations and Currie Cup round 8

29 Aug Currie Cup Lions 20 - 13 Blue Bulls
29 Aug Currie Cup Griquas 13 - 58 Cheetahs
29 Aug Currie Cup Sharks 9 - 21 Western Province
29 Aug International Australia 25 - 32 South Africa
28 Aug Currie Cup Leopards 50 - 16 Boland

Boks make 2 changes to face the Wallabies

Ruan Pienaar will start at fullback against the Wallabies on Saturday, with Schalk Burger on the bench.

Pienaar replaces Frans Steyn, who will join Racing Metro after the Tri-Nations. Peter de Villiers has so far refused to pick overseas-based players, and this selection indicates Steyn won’t be considered while he’s in France.

‘Ruan is a brilliant rugby player,’ said Springboks coach Peter de Villiers. ‘We want to keep his interest levels high and we can’t afford to lose Ruan.’

The mercurial Frans Steyn drops to the bench where flanker Schalk Burger has also been named for his comeback from suspension for gouging in the June series against the British and Irish Lions.

The highly-rated Burger comes back into the Springboks squad for Danie Rossouw, who is nursing a slight hamstring strain, but could not unseat Heinrich Brussow from the starting pack.

‘It’s certainly indicative of where our team is at the moment to see Schalk at No.19,’ said captain John Smit. ‘It shows how far the team has come. It’s amazing to have a bench like that.’

A fourth straight Tri-Nations victory will almost guarantee the world champions the 2009 series crown.

Steyn finds himself on the bench, along with Schalk Burger, who returns from his eight-week ban. Heinrich Brüssow, who has been outstanding for the Boks this season, keeps the No 6 jersey.

Fourie du Preez will play his 50th Test on Saturday, becoming the seventh player in the starting XV to have reached the landmark.

Springboks – 15 Ruan Pienaar, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (c), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Schalk Burger, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Adi Jacobs, 22 Frans Steyn.

(see this article first on www.keo.co.za)

And This Little Piggy Cried All The Way Home :'(

Oh how the conspiracy continues

It has always been an open secret since the Yarpie letter was leaked that the Aussies and the Kiwis tend to gang up against the Boks. As paranoid as this seems we need only look at the way South Africans are cited and banned for weeks for cleaning rucks whereas others nearly knock the oppositions block off and receive naught but a yellow card. In an Australian club game a few weekends back a player had his spleen ruptured from an incredibly early tackle and when one compares this to Bakkies Botha's "illegal" rucking it makes you laugh so hard you begin to cry and then have to leave work early because you are too emotional.

The latest criticism of the Boks, obviously because for the first time in a long time they are on top of the world, is that they kick too much and that rugby should be entertaining. This is a whole crock of nonsense and simply the only outlet the antipodeans have for their lack of quality execution in the last three games of the tri-nations. They are complaining that South Africa play a boring style of rugby, yet forget the completely forgettable game that opened up the tri-nations this year. A slew of handling errors and tired running lines culminated in a tight and very unattractive match.

To have a go at the Boks when they are on top is ridiculous and smacks of sour grapes. The point is: rugby is a sport and like all sports (especially international sports) both teams are trying to win the match. If they weren't it would be called Sunday league and even then most of the guys would handle their hangover better if they won their game of touch footy. South Africa are simply playing to their strengths which is a good kicking game and a great defensive line. The Boks had opportunities to score at least three more tries against the Aussies and if they had taken their chances then it would have been impossible to cite "boring" rugby. The scoreline would have and should have been massive, but the Boks made elementary mistakes, mistakes the Wallabies and All blacks are making far too often.

I am in the enviable position of using a biblical quote like our fine coach Mr De Villiers ( i am honored)does on just such occasions; they should take the log out of their own eye before trying to take the spec out of the Boks'. If you ask any South African supporter if he was entertained by the games he witnessed he will tell you "hell yeah I was!" and I leave it up to the the blokes from down under to stop worrying and winging about the Boks kicking and start focusing on your catching, because your going to need it.

And that's what really grinds my gears...

I hope you all watch the game this Saturday between the the Wallabies and the All Blacks and by Jove if its not exciting i want Graham Henry to personally pay me my money back! I'm not kidding.
Rugby fans please, please, please...enjoy

SGR

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Rugby Fixtures August 2009: Currie Cup & Tri-nations

21 Aug Currie Cup Blue Bulls v Leopards 19:10
-------------------------
22 Aug International Australia v New Zealand 12:05

22 Aug Currie Cup Cheetahs v Boland 15:00
22 Aug Currie Cup Sharks v Griquas 15:00
22 Aug Currie Cup Western Province v Lions 17:05

International Rugby News: Australia vs New Zealand (teams)

For the game this Saturday in Sydney...

Wallabies – 15 James O’Connor, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Richard Brown, 7 George Smith (c), 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 James Horwill, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Subs: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 David Pocock, 20 Will Genia, 21 Ryan Cross, 22 Peter Hynes.

All Blacks – 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 John Afoa, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Rodney So’oialo, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Ma’a Nonu.

SGR

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Currie Cup News: Akona back in blue

Akona Ndungane is back in the bulls side after suffering from a severe case of shin splints. The injury has caused the Springbok winger to miss every game since the final of the Super 14.

He will make his first appearance in this year's Currie Cup against the Leopards at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night. Team doctor Org Strauss confirmed on Monday that he was completely rehabilitated and that Ndungane will be able to play approximately 50 minutes on Saturday.

SGR

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super rugby

Rugby Union Results: Currie Cup Round 7

Lions 19 - 30 Sharks
Boland 7 - 38 Western Province
Griquas 24 - 25 Blue Bulls
Leopards 17 - 71 Free State Cheetahs

A little sum sum i picked up on an ozzy rugby site

Year formed:1889
Emblem:Springbok
RWC 2007:Champions
Best finish:Champions 1995, 2007
World ranking:1
Coach:Peter De Villiers
First Test:30 Jul 1891 v Great Britain, Port Elizabeth; SA lost 0-4
Team colours:Dark green jerseys with gold collars, white shorts
Website:www.sarugby.co.za

SGR

Learn to play rugby

If you are interested in taking your game to another level or just learning the basics Click Here! for an online guide.

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Rugby Union Fixtures

Currie Cup

FRIDAY

Leopards v Free State Cheetahs (Potchefstroom) 7.10pm

SATURDAY

Griquas v Blue Bulls (Kimberley) 3pm

Boland Cavaliers v Western Province (Wellington) 3pm

Lions v Sharks (Johannesburg) 5.05pm

International Rugby News: Rathbone Retires

Clyde Rathbone, the former SAU21 captain has decided to retire from rugby citing injury and lack of desire as his main reasons.

A player who should have been one of the greats and a contemporary of Jean De Villiers, Rathbone has been plagued by injury after injury throughout his career. At the age of 28 he has only played 26 tests for Australia (his adopted country) and 52 Super rugby games.

Rathbone severely injured his face in a club match at the weekend, prompting this announcement, and will require a heap of surgery. From the rugby window team we wish him a speedy recovery and lament the loss of such a talented player.

SGR

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International Rugby News: Carter rushed back in black

Dan Carter has been recalled to the All Blacks squad for the remainder of the Tri-Nations tournament after recovering from an Achilles injury, New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) said on Monday.

The flyhalf had played a club game and two rounds of the provincial Air New Zealand Cup competition, and was ready to return to the top-flight, All Blacks coach Graham Henry said in an NZRU statement.

They next face the Wallabies in Sydney on August 22.

Courtesy of superrugby.co.za

Burger or Brussow?

Have we forgotten what Schalk Burger has done for south Africa and do we not always use the adage form is temporary and class is permanent? Why then is it almost impossible for any South African to believe that he should start on the flank for South Africa in Australasia. The answer: Heinrich Brussow; by far the find of the season, not only locally but world wide as well. Every year or so a world class player performs modern miracles and through a string of performances makes the world stand up and take notice.

Dan Carter, Johnny Wilkinson and even Schalk Burger at the beginning of their careers were ear marked for greatness. It was just a feeling in the air; an intangible quality that made them one of the first picks in anybodies world side. What Heinrich Brussow has done over past month and a half is akin to what these great players did and the question we have to ask now is who will Peter De Villiers pick going into the most important tour of his career.

Schalk at his best is a wrecking ball who tears into the opposition with his rucking, tackling and barn storming runs. Brussow is nowhere near the runner or defender Burger is and he isn't an international lineout option, whereas Burger is a proven jumper at the back of the lineout. Burger does have his downfalls; he is a target to all referees with his exuberance and Samsonite blonde locks, he gives away too many penalties through ill discipline and he has started to lose too many balls in the contact situation.

Brussow is the best fetcher in the world at the moment and provides better balance to the loose trio, Spies and Smith do the running and the jumping whilst Brussow gets down and dirty stealing balls like a kleptomaniac squirrel in a nut shop.

The real trip is using these two in tandem, but how? Schalk is no impact player and the longer he is on the field the better he becomes. Brussow could be utilised off the bench but then the Boks will miss the penalties and turnovers he wins in the first half where they are arguably better and have scored more points all their tests this year.

It's a decision I'm glad I don't have to make. Peter De Villiers has a completely fit squad which hasn't happened in many a Sprinbok year. The money says Brussow will start as his form and effect on the game have been integral to the Bok's success recently, but De Villiers loves springing surprises. What I do know is that the Springboks are in a perfect opportunity to clinch the Tri-nations title for a third time and beginning what could be a golden age of Springbok rugby.

SGR

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27 Man Springbok Touring Squad Announced

The president of the South African Rugby Union, Oregan Hoskins, and Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers, on Saturday named a squad of 27 for the away leg of the Vodacom Tri-Nations.

Four players were added to the squad of 23 that did duty during the three home tests, in which the Springboks were unbeaten. The four new players in the squad are Vodacom Western Province flanker Schalk Burger, Sharks loose forward Ryan Kankowski, Vodacom Blue Bulls prop Gurthrö Steenkamp and Sharks winger Odwa Ndungane. All of them were in action earlier in the year against the British & Irish Lions.

The squad departs South Africa on Monday, August 24, 2009. Their first game is on Saturday, August 29 against the Wallabies in Perth. A week later, on Saturday, September 5, they meet Australia again, this time in Brisbane, before concluding the tour in Hamilton against the All Blacks on Saturday, September 12.

The Springbok tour squad is:

Forwards:
John Smit –The Sharks, Captain
Victor Matfield – Vodacom Blue Bulls, Vice-Captain
Andries Bekker – Vodacom Western Province
Bakkies Botha – Vodacom Blue Bulls
Heinrich Brüssow – Vodacom Free State Cheetahs
Schalk Burger – Vodacom Western Province
Bismarck du Plessis – The Sharks
Jannie du Plessis – The Sharks
Ryan Kankowski – The Sharks
Tendai Mtawarira – The Sharks
Chiliboy Ralepelle – Vodacom Blue Bulls
Danie Rossouw – Vodacom Blue Bulls
Juan Smith – Vodacom Free State Cheetahs
Pierre Spies – Vodacom Blue Bulls
Gurthrö Steenkamp – Vodacom Blue Bulls

Backs:
Jean de Villiers – Vodacom Western Province
Fourie du Preez – Vodacom Blue Bulls
Jaque Fourie – Xerox Lions
Bryan Habana – Vodacom Blue Bulls
Adi Jacobs – The Sharks
Ricky Januarie – Vodacom Western Province
Odwa Ndungane – The Sharks
Wynand Olivier – Vodacom Blue Bulls
Ruan Pienaar – The Sharks
JP Pietersen – The Sharks
Frans Steyn – The Sharks
Morné Steyn – Vodacom Blue Bulls

Courtesy of SA Rugby : http://www.sarugby.co.za

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Springboks make it 3 out of 3 in the 2009 Tri - Nations

The Springboks made it 3 out of 3 after there 29 - 17 domination of this new-look Wallabie team.
This means the Boks go on the away leg of the tournament with one hand firmly on the 2009 Tri-Nations trophy. With a lead of 8 points over the struggling All-Blacks, the Boks must believe that this is there year.

The Wallabies started strongly with a their first try in 1 minute and 48 seconds of game time. A good team try from a line-out ending with Adam Ashley-Cooper crossing the line. But after that it the Springbok Juggernaut proved far too strong for this young Australian side. Morne' Steyn continued to impress by scoring 28 points for the boks taking his Bok tally to 65 points in only 5 games (of which he only started 3). Heinrick Brussouw played with the ferocity that we have come to expect from the young Bok star winning much of the ruck ball in the first half. Springbok captain John Smit showed his skill by setting up the Boks try with a delicate little chip through the Aussie defence, with the air of a seasoned fly-half, to allow Victor Matfeild to cross the line for his 6th test try. The Wallabies made thing hard for themselves by reducing themselves doing to 13 men with about 5 mins of the first half to go, Giteau with an uncharacteristic elbow to the face of Fourie DuPreez which will surely see him cited and the loose forward followed suit for a blatant off-side professional fowl. The half time score was 23 - 10 to the Boks.

The second half was far less entertaining than the first, with a multitude of mistakes from both teams making it a frustrating game to watch. The Boks missed out of at least 2 good try scoring opportunities. The formidable South African line-out proved to be too much for the Wallabies, loosing 9 of their own throw-ins throughout the game. However the Australian scrum put massive pressure on the Boks, the first real test for out star front 5. The half ended with a converted try for the Wallabies by Giteau and a yellow card for substitute captain George Smith for a cynical infringement at the Wallabies 5 meter line.

It must also be mentioned that Victor Matfeild and Bakkies Botha celebrated their 50th match starting as the Springbok lock combination. Well done from the Rugby Window family, it has been an emotional 50 games.

Final Score: Springboks 29 - 17 Wallabies.

MM

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ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division Log

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	BPts	Pts
1	GWK Griquas	5	5	0	0	200	87	113	25	9	3	23
2	Sharks	5	4	0	1	145	79	66	14	6	2	18
3	Vodacom Western Province	5	3	0	2	150	98	52	15	8	3	15
4	Xerox Lions	5	3	0	2	122	96	26	11	7	3	15
5	Vodacom Blue Bulls	5	3	0	2	127	96	31	13	8	2	14
6	Vodacom Free State Cheetahs	5	1	0	4	89	114	-25	7	8	1	5
7	Boland	5	1	0	4	74	213	-139	7	30	1	5
8	Platinum Leopards	5	0	0	5	70	194	-124	8	24	0	0

Currie Cup Results: Round 5

Cheetahs 24 -15 Blue Bulls

Platinum Leopards 15 - 44 Sharks

Boland 13 - 19 Golden Lions

Griquas 33 - 32 Western Province

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Griquas march on

Griquas took another step towards Currie Cup semi-final qualification with a shock win over in-form Western Province. The hosts clinched the nail biter 33-32 and have anounced there arival as contenders for the crown they have won only once in the history of the competition. More results to follow.

SGR

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Springbok Starting 15 Unchanged After Smashing All Blacks

Peter DeVilliers has stated that the starting 15 for the Boks will be unchanged for this weekends match against Australia at Newlands in Cape Town. After a media interview earlier this week, the Bok Coach seemed to be hinting that Ruan Peinaar may be inline to take back his starting position at number 10. However he has decided against it, and who can blame him after Morne Steyn placed both hands firmly on the Springbok Flyhalf position by scoring all 31 points in the 31-19 victory over the All-Blacks in Durban last week. Thankfully now the Boks have two quality flyhalfs in the team, a stark contrast to 2007 when they seemed to have no one in reserve for Butch James. The center pairing of Jean DeVilliers and Jaque Fourie will also stay the same as well, the two have rekindled the flames of their awesome center pairing that was lost on that faithful day against Samoa at the 2007 RWC. Their is only one change on the bench, that is bringing Ruan Pienaar back from injury to replace Wynand Olivier. Lets hope the Boks can make it three out of three when they take on a formidable Wallaby team.

The Springbok team is (Test caps in brackets):

15. Frans Steyn (32)
14. JP Pietersen (28)
13. Jaque Fourie (47)
12. Jean de Villiers (50)
11. Bryan Habana (50)
10. Morné Steyn (5)
9. Fourie du Preez (48)
8. Pierre Spies (24)
7. Juan Smith (59)
6. Heinrich Brüssow (6)
5. Victor Matfield (85)
4. Bakkies Botha (59)
3. John Smit (86) – Captain
2. Bismarck du Plessis (26)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (15)

Reserves:

16. Chiliboy Ralepelle (6)
17. Jannie du Plessis (9)
18. Andries Bekker (16)
19. Danie Rossouw (40)
20. Ricky Januarie (37)
21. Ruan Pienaar (31)
22. Adi Jacobs (24)

MM

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Bob Skinstad is joined by International referee Craig Joubert for a beer

Courtesy of Bob Skinstad
www.twitter.com/bobskinstad

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Stream and Watch South Africa vs New Zealand - Live Tri-Nations Rugby

Click here to watch Live Tri-Nations Rugby - South Africa vs New Zealand

http://www.justin.tv/manu_soccer

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Currie Cup News: Captains hat-trick helps Western Province on its way to 3rd place

Luke Watson lead from the front in WP 48-7 (half time 15-0) win over the Platinum Leopards by scoring a hat-trick of tries for the blue and white hoops. WP's seven try haul over the newly promoted Leopards was enough to send them into second place. (Now in 3rd place after the Bulls victory over Boland) The Leopards however, stay on zero points at the bottom of the table.

Willem DeWaal shocked the Leopards and the 9135 Newlands faith full by deferring from his usual kicking game to cut through the the backs like a hot knife through butter to score a brilliant individual try off the back of a line-out. This seems to be the journeyman's season, racking up 18 points last night.

Scorers:

WP 48 – Tries: Luke Watson (3), Willem de Waal, Joe Pietersen, Pieter Louw, Gio Aplon. Conversions: De Waal (5). Penalty: De Waal.

Leopards 7 – Try: Deon van Rensburg. Conversion: Clayton Durand.

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2009 Currie Cup Log - Round 4

ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division | Log

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	BPts	Pts
1	GWK Griquas	4	4	0	0	167	55	112	22	5	3	19
2	Vodacom Blue Bulls	4	3	0	1	112	72	40	13	5	2	14
3	Vodacom Western Province	4	3	0	1	118	65	53	11	5	1	13
4	Sharks	4	3	0	1	101	64	37	8	4	1	13
5	Xerox Lions	4	2	0	2	103	83	20	10	6	3	11
6	Boland	4	1	0	3	61	194	-133	6	29	0	4
7	Vodacom Free State Cheetahs	4	0	0	4	65	99	-34	4	8	1	1
8	Platinum Leopards	4	0	0	4	55	150	-95	6	18	0	0

2009 Currie Cup Round 4 Results

Free State Cheetahs 12 - 21 Natal Sharks (Bloemfontein)

Western Province 48 - 7 Platinum Leopards (Cape Town)

Blue Bulls 50 - 18 Boland (Pretoria)

Golden Lions 19 - 23 Griquas (Johannesburg)

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