Springbok team announcement

Is my selection that bad?

South African squad:

Backs: Jean de Villiers (Western Province), Fourie du Preez (Blue Bulls), Jaque Fourie (Golden Lions), Bryan Habana (Blue Bulls), Adrian Jacobs (Sharks), Conrad Jantjes (Western Province), Enrico Januarie (Western Province), Jongi Nokwe (Free State Cheetahs), Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), Ruan Pienaar (Sharks), JP Pietersen (Sharks), Earl Rose (Golden Lions), Francois Steyn (Sharks).

Forwards: Andries Bekker (Western Province), Bakkies Botha (Blue Bulls), Schalk Burger (Western Province), Heinrich Brüssow (Free State Cheetahs), Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Blue Bulls), Brian Mujati (Western Province), Danie Rossouw (Blue Bulls), John Smit (captain), Juan Smith (Free State Cheetahs), Pierre Spies (Blue Bulls), Gurthrö Steenkamp (Blue Bulls.

Players on standby: Peter Grant (Western Province), Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), Johann Muller (Sharks), Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls), Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), Heinke van der Merwe (Golden Lions), Jano Vermaak (Golden Lions).

Sharks win Currie Cup

The Sharks ended a 12-year wait for a trophy by winning the Currie Cup Final, against the Bulls in Durban on Saturday, by 14-9. And they did it in style by outscoring the Bulls by two tries to nil.

It may have been a long wait for the Sharks faithful, but as veteran fullback Stefan Terblanche said: “It was worth the wait.”

And it was a deserved win by a very efficient Sharks team, who always seemed to have that extra few metres on the Bulls. And while it ended a long drought, it was the Sharks’ fifth win of South Africa’s most prized domestic competition.

It was Very tense game throughput, a true final indeed.

There was nothing too flash from either side, although the Sharks had their moments. The Bulls were ’steady as you go’ throughout the 80 minutes.

While the early stages produced a tactical kicking contest, the Sharks started playing with a bit more poise in the latter stages and that was the difference in the end.

Even though the Sharks’ discipline early in second half let them down on occasion, but they regrouped quickly and managed to hold on despite a late surge form the visitors.

The Blue Bulls had the first scoring opportunity, with Morné Steyn having lined up a shot at goal in the third minute after the Sharks failed to roll away at the tackle. However, his attempt drifted to the right of the uprights.

Next opportunity came in the eighth minute, when Bryan Habana went offside – giving Ruan Pienaar a shot at goal. He too pushed it wide.

The first score came only in the 23rd minute and not surprising it went to Sharks scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar. came from a ruck, when the Bulls stopped JP Pietersen, and from the ensuing ruck Pienaar picked up, stepped past flank Deon Stegmann and sprinted 15 metres before being tackled. But Pienaar was close enough and stretched to dot down.

He added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

The Bulls hit straight back when Steyn landed his first penalty of the day almost from the restart.

Within minutes Pienaar had another shot at goal, a penalty for an incorrect entry at a ruck, but for the second time in the match Pienaar’s kick drifted wide.

The next scoring chance came only in the 34th minute, with a Francois Steyn drop-goal attempt drifting wide.

With time running out in the first half the Sharks scrumhalf, Pienaar, had another shot at goal – a penalty for Wikus van Heerden being off his feet at a ruck – but again the kick drifted wide.

That meant the Sharks took a four-point lead (7-3) into the half-time break.

The Bulls opened the second half strongly, as they took the ball through several phases before Morné Steyn slotted a perfect drop-goal to make it a one-point game – 7-6.

The Sharks’ discipline let them down badly in the early stages of the second half, as foul play and hands in the ruck in quick succession set Steyn up for another shot at goal.

His attempt hit the crossbar and bounced back infield, allowing the Sharks to launch a raid upfield.

The tempo of the game now picked up and another strong run by Bismarck du Plessis had the Sharks just metres from the Bulls’ line – where he was marshalled into touch.

As the game approached the final quarter Francois Steyn had a long-range shot at goal, but it was short.

However, the Bulls failed to find touch and the Sharks launched another raid from deep. It ended up with Steyn scoring his team’s second try – a crucial score at that. The creator, apart from some great interplay, was flyhalf Freddie Michalak – who created the overlap with a show and step. From then it was quick hands. Michalak added the conversion for a 14-6 lead.

But the Bulls soon made it a five-point game again when Steyn landed second penalty in the 63rd minute to make it 14-9 – leaving the game poised on a knife’s edge.

With two minutes to go Steyn, the Sharks’ version, had a chance to seal the win with a penalty. However, he hooked it badly and the Bulls were still in with a shout.

However, the Sharks managed to play out the clock in the final two minutes and were able to celebrate their first trophy in 12 years – but deserved celebrations.

Man of the match: Wikus van Heerden was a star performer for the Blue Bulls – securing crucial turnovers and strong on defence. There was one crucial tackle on Ryan Kankowski, where he carried him back from the tryline and won a scrum turnover. John Mametsa was busy and impressive all afternoon, both on attack and defence. For the Sharks Ruan Pienaar made some good scrambling tackled, backed up with fine tactical kicking. Bismarck du Plessis had a strong game and Frederick Michalak was as impressive as expected. However, our vote for Man of the Match goes to veteran fullback Stefan Terblanche. Not only was he safe under the high ball, rock solid, but he returned those kicks with interest. Yes, there was the one occasion when he kicked it directly into touch, but overall he was the star performer.

Moment of the match: There was Wikus van Heerden’s tackle on Ryan Kankowski early in the second half – two quick turnovers, including winning a scrum turnover with that tackle. It was crucial. Francois SDteyn’s missed penalty in the 78th minute could have been crucial, as he left the Bulls in the game – within one score. But our award goes to Francois Steyn’s try in the 60th minute. It was, ultimately the score that won the game.

Villain of the match: Simply no villains, just heroes and a losing team that also contributed to a spectacle.

The scorers:

For the Sharks:
Tries: Pienaar, Steyn
Cons: Pienaar, Michalak

For the Blue Bulls:
Pens: Steyn 2
DG: Steyn

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller (captain), 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 John Smit, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Bradley Barritt, 22 Waylon Murray.

Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 John Mametsa, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Rayno Gerber, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Juandré Kruger, 19 Dewald Potgieter, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Tiger Mangweni.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Touch judges: Joey Salmans, JC Fortuin
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

Preview: CC Final, Sharks v Blue Bulls

The big prize: The Currie Cup trophy

 

I have been so excited about South Africa’s premier domestic showpiece.

Yes, this feeling of lively and cheerful joy, a state of being emotionally aroused and worked up, has even moved me to break my own tradition and insert a big ‘I’ in my copy.

This is going to be a very special game.

Not just will the best two teams in the country, the Sharks and Blue Bulls, go head-to-head in Durban on Saturday.

But the game will also feature 24 Springboks – 25 internationals if legendary French flyhalf Frederic Michalak is factored into the equation – and 15 of those are World Cup winners.

It has been said several times this week, but it is worth repeating.

The Sharks feature an all-international backline – six Springboks and Michalak. Five of the eight Sharks forwards are Boks and they have another four Boks on the bench, including World Cup-winning captain John Smit.

The Bulls have eight Springboks in their matchday 22 – seven in the starting XV and one-time Bok captain Chiliboy Ralepelle on the bench.

Heck, that array of world class stars will excite anybody. If it doesn’t arouse your senses, you don’t understand the game of Rugby Union.

This game will be of Test match intensity – fierce, brutal and won or lost on a single moment of brilliance.

Having spoken to a number of players and officials on both sides of the fence, I simply couldn’t help but feed off the excitement that has been building in Durban and Pretoria … in fact throughout the country.

Even the many Expats from around the world have been caught up in the moment.

But it is when you speak to the players that you realise just how special this will be.

On the one side you have the world’s foremost wing, Bryan Habana – who scored a record-equalling eight tries at the World Cup last year and was named the International Rugby Board Player of the Year.

He has a World Cup winner’s medal and a Super 14 gold. But he does not have a Currie Cup triumph to his name.

He is like a prized racehorse, ready to bolt.

On the flipside of the coin you have prop Jannie du Plessis. He also has a World Cup winner’s medal and three Currie Cup golds to boot.

His excitement is just as contagious. He is every bit as hungry as Habana.

The Bok wing, Habana, dismissed the notion that this Final may be about setting records straight, personal glory or revenge.

It is simply about performing on one of the world’s most revered stages.

“We just want to go out there and do something special,” Habana told rugby365.com in an exclusive interview this week.

“We know it is going to be a tough encounter, but for however long it is going to take – for 80, 90, 100 or 120 minutes, it is going to be a very tough encounter.

“Both sides have great tight fives, having great forward packs, with some exciting backs playing great rugby at the moment.

“In our team we will be concentrating on what we are doing. Just look at a guy like Fourie du Preez, playing some of the best rugby I’ve seem him play since the World Cup, a guy like Wynand [Olivier], who has picked up the form that saw him become a Springbok, Morné [Steyn] is probably one of the most consistent players in the Currie Cup over the last three months.

“Then there are guys like Zane Kirchner, exciting youngsters, Marius Delport, who has put his hand up.

“Like I said, it is going to be a tight battle, whether it be from structure or playing from turnover ball, it is going to be the team that sticks it out for 80 minutes or more and doing what they’ve been doing well, and not worry too much about what the other side has been doing.

“You just have to concentrate on your own game plan and your own defence, and make sure you work for each other for however long that whistle will blow for.”

Du Plessis seemed to be singing from the same hymn book – well just about every breathing sole in both teams did – when he assessed the two rivals’ prospects in the game.

The prop forward, who won his three Currie Cup medals with the Cheetahs in 2005, 2006 and last year, spoke of the two Ds – discipline and defence.

“In any Final it is about the commitment and things like defence,” Du Plessis told rugby365.com.

“Sound defence in a Final is non negotiable. If your opponents get a try against you, they must know that they worked very hard for it. You can’t afford soft tries in a Final.

“We’ll have to defend like Trojans and make sure they have to work for their points.

“Discipline is another key. A yellow card, or two/three extra penalties, make a huge difference, especially in a game with a player like Morné [Steyn]. He can convert from any angle.

“It is little things like just holding onto the ball momentarily too long or playing the ball and conceding a penalty. You could suddenly find yourselves 10 points behind and in a Final 10 points are very tough to make up – that will place your team under a lot of pressure.”

Players to watch:

For the Sharks: You have 16 internationals in a matchday 22 … you have plenty to watch. There is real value for money here. But the key individuals will be fullback Stefan Terblanche, the steadying influence, centre Francois Steyn, because of his ability to do amazing things, flyhalf Frederic Michalak, the French magician, and No.8 Ryan Kankowski, because of the consummate ease with which he tends to beat defenders. Oh, there’s plenty more, but those are key.

For the Blue Bulls: They certainly also bring great value to the game, but centre Wynand Olivier is the glue that sticks the backline together, wing Bryan Habana is a game-breaker without peer, scrumhalf Fourie du Preez is the general, No.8 Pierre Spies could be a match-winner in his own right, flank Wikus van Heerden is the breakdown key and lock Victor Matfield has dual role of line-out master and captain.

Head to head: The most crucial of all the head-to-heads are the halfbacks – Frederick Michalak and Ruan Pienaar (Sharks) against Morné Steyn and Fourie du Preez (Blue Bulls). You have creative genius against rock solid. Up front the key battle will be Sharks captain Johann Muller against Blue Bulls captain Victor Matfield - both in terms of the set pieces and how they guide those around them.

Most recent play-off meetings:

Finals:
1990: Natal 18 Blue Bulls 12, Pretoria
2003: Blue Bulls 40 Sharks 19, Pretoria

Semifinals:
1970: Northern Transvaal 24 Natal 8, Durban
1998: Blue Bulls 31 Sharks 11, Pretoria
2000: Blue Bulls 22 Natal Sharks 19, Durban

Prediction: Once you sit down and analyse the team, even after you take all the emotion out of it (which tends to be difficult) toy find it hard to counter the argument that the Sharks are favourites. But you never write the Blue Bulls off. The Sharks have won three of their four Currie Cup victories away from home – Pretoria in 1990, Johannesburg 1992 and 1996. Durban’s sole Currie Cup win was in 1995. However, the wise money is on the Sharks, although my mighty Rand is firmly tucked in my pocket and will stay there. This will be close, but I suspect the Sharks will sneak it and win by five points with a late try.

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller (captain), 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 John Smit, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Bradley Barritt, 22 Waylon Murray.

Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 John Mametsa, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Rayno Gerber, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Juandré Kruger, 19 Dewald Potgieter, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Tiger Mangweni.

Date: Saturday, October 25
Venue: Absa Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: 16.30 (14.30 GMT)
Weather: There’s a 35 percent chance of rain. High of 18°C, low of 16°C
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Touch judges: Joey Salmans, JC Fortuin
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

Sharks vs. Bulls. The Rugby Gods have spoken!

At a function on Saturday evening in the company of dedicated sports people, the question arose as to who the three loose forwards for the Bulls were.  Pierre Spies, Wikus van Heerden and ….?

A lot of different names cropt up. Thys Lourens, Frik Du Preez, Danie Roussouw, Kevin Keegan, Luis Hamilton and many others including Madonna, Gwynith Paltrow and Joel Stransky (yes he of the nasal twang and new found affinity for the Lions – I quote “Errol Rose is a Springbok, there is no doubt in my mind he is of Springbok quality and beyond – a great, great player.”) What are they feeding you Joel? It doesn’t sound kosher to me! Just for the record, Springbok is not a four letter word but puke is as is cool, hand and of course Luke. A quick quiz – was his dad called “Cheeky” because of the brownies he kept showing everyone?

But back to the Bull’s loose forwards as opposed to the Bull’s loose women, Bull’s guitar strings, Bull’s shoelaces and of course Bull’s brandy bottle tops. “Wait till Saturday and you will find out” I heard my uncle from Bapsfontein telephath me. “Shutupyourface” I telephathed him back. I am for the record a completely unbiaised Shark’s supporter.

We do not wear blinkers in the Zulu Kingdom. We can’t afford them and even if we could we wouldn’t. We see and tell things the way they are. The Bulls are OK in their own corral but a bit China Shoppish everywhere else. The Sharks on the other hand, excluding a backhand are the complete finished article.  No flaws, weak hindquarters or exposed balls. Just a great rugby team thats time has come.

Even Steve Hofmeyer has bought a home in KZN where he wrote his memoirs and other things. The omen is there. The rugby gods have spoken.

Originally written @ http://www.moralfibre.co.za

Currie Cup Finals since 1939

South Africa’s provinces have competed for a trophy since 1889. Since 1892 that trophy has been the Currie Cup. Playing Finals have been more recent and continuous since 1968. It is the big event of the domestic season.

There have been 47 Currie Cup finals since 1939, the year of the very first Final. The Blue Bulls, formerly Northern Transvaal, have won most of them and will have another crack in Durban on Saturday.

There have been Currie Cup Finals at ten different venues. Loftus Versfeld has played host to most – 16 in all, of which the Blue Bulls (Northern Transvaal) have won 13 and losing to Western Province in 1983, Natal in 1990 and Free State in 2005. Loftus Versfeld has been kind to them. Mind you it has not been as kind as Newlands has been to Western Province. Western Province have lost a Currie Cup final there only once and that was the first one, way back in 1939.

Natal have won the Currie Cup Final four times, but only one of those victories has been at home. Their home record is not as good. They have played in five Finals at home and won just once.

Natal’s only home victory was over Western Province, in 1995. That afternoon it poured with rain, which was supposed to have suited Western Province from the winter-rain area. In fact Natal simply outplayed them. The weather conditions almost made it an away match for Natal.

Playing at home is an advantage, but not a remarkable one. Of the 47 Currie Cup Finals so far, the home teams have won 26, four have been drawn and the visitors have won 17. That’s OK, for it seems that the visitors have a chance.

The Currie Cup finals have all happened in my lifetime and everyone has been special. Saturday’s in Durban will again be special. It will be one of those “Do you remember” matches

Currie Cup Final results

The first Currie Cup Final was played in 1939, at Newlands when Transvaal beat Western Province.

The following are the results of all the Currie Cup Finals played:

1939: Transvaal vs Western Province, 17-6 at Newlands
1946: Northern Transvaal vs Western Province, 11-9 in Pretoria
1947: Western Province vs Transvaal, 16-12 at Newlands
1950: Transvaal vs Western Province, 22-11 in Johannesburg
1952: Transvaal vs Boland, 11-9 in  Wellington
1954: Western Province vs Northern Transvaal, 11-8 at Newlands
1956: Northern Transvaal vs Natal, 9-8 in Durban
1968: Northern Transvaal vs Transvaal, 16-3 in Pretoria
1969: Northern Transvaal vs Western Province, 28-3 in Pretoria
1970: Griqualand West vs Northern Transvaal, 11-9 in Kimberley
1971: Northern Transvaal vs Transvaal, 14-14 in Johannesburg
1972: Transvaal vs Eastern Transvaal, 25-19 in Springs
1973: Northern Transvaal vs Orange Free State, 30-22 in Pretoria
1974: Northern Transvaal vs Transvaal, 17-15 in Pretoria
1975: Northern Transvaal vs Orange Free State, 12-6 in Bloemfontein
1976: Orange Free State vs Western Province, 33-16 in Bloemfontein
1977: Northern Transvaal vs Orange Free State, 27-12 in Pretoria
1978: Northern Transvaal vs Orange Free State, 13-9 in Bloemfontein
1979: Northern Transvaal vs Western Province, 15-15 at Newlands
1980: Northern Transvaal vs Western Province, 39-9 in Pretoria
1981: Northern Transvaal vs Orange Free State, 23-6 in Pretoria
1982: Western Province vs Northern Transvaal, 24-9 at Newlands
1983: Western Province vs Northern Transvaal, 9-3 in Pretoria
1984: Western Province vs Natal, 19-9 at Newlands
1985: Western Province vs Northern Transvaal, 22-15 at Newlands
1986: Western Province vs Transvaal, 22-9 at Newlands
1987: Northern Transvaal vs Transvaal, 24-18 in Johannesburg
1988: Northern Transvaal vs Western Province, 19-18 in Pretoria
1989: Western Province vs Northern Transvaal, 16-16 at Newlands
1990: Natal vs Northern Transvaal, 18-12 in Pretoria
1991: Northern Transvaal vs Transvaal, 27-15 in Pretoria
1992: Natal vs Transvaal, 14-13 in Johannesburg
1993: Transvaal vs Natal, 21-15 in Durban
1994: Transvaal vs Orange Free State, 56-33 in Bloemfontein
1995: Natal vs Western Province, 25-17 in Durban
1996: Natal vs Transvaal, 33-15 in Johannesburg
1997: Western Province vs Free State, 14-12 at Newlands
1998: Blue Bulls vs Western Province, 24-20 in Pretoria
1999: Lions vs Natal, 32-9 in Durban
2000: Western Province vs Natal, 25-15 in Durban
2001: Western Province vs Natal, 29-24 at Newlands
2002: Blue Bulls vs Lions, 31-7 in Johannesburg
2003: Blue Bulls vs Natal, 40-19 in Pretoria
2004: Blue Bulls vs Cheetahs, 42-33 in Pretoria
2005: Cheetahs vs Blue Bulls, 29-25 in Pretoria
2006: Cheetahs vs Blue Bulls, 28-28 in Bloemfontein
2007: Cheetahs vs Lions, 20-18 in Bloemfontein

* There have been so many changes of names of venues we have given the name of the city where the match was played – except for unique Newlands.

Number of Finals: 47

Number of Times in a Final:

Blue Bulls: 29
Western Province: 22
Lions: 18
Natal: 11
Free State: 11
Boland: 1
Falcons: 1
Griqualand West: 1

Number of victories:

Blue Bulls: 22 (including four draws)
Western Province: 12 (including two draws)
Lions: 8 (including a draw)
Natal: 4
Free State: 4 (including a draw)
Griqualand West: 1

Records:

Highest Score: 56 (Transvaal 1994)
Lowest Score 3 (Transvaal 1968, Western Province 1969, Northern Transvaal 1983)
Lowest winning score: 9 (Northern Transvaal 1956, Western Province 1983)
Highest match score: 89 (1994)
Lowest match score: 12 (1983)
Biggest margin of victory: 30 (1980)
Highest individual score: 26 (Derick Hougaard, 2002)
Most team tries: 7 (Transvaal 1994)
Most appearances: 11 (Burger Geldenhuys, Naas Botha)
Most penalty goals by a player: Thierry Lacroix – 6 in 1995
Most conversions by a player: Gavin Johnson – 6 in 1994
Most dropped goals by a player: Naas Botha – 4 in 1987

Before 1939 and in 1959, 1964 and 1966 the Currie Cup was decided at a tournament or on a league system.

The total number of times each province has won the Currie Cup is as follows:

Western Province: 32 (four times shared)
Blue Bulls: 22 (four times shared)
Golden Lions: 9 (once shared)
Natal: 4
Griqualand West: 3
Free State: 4 (once shared)
Border: 2 (twice shared)

Battrick: U19 managers Election

Fellow BT members – it is my great pleasure to welcome you to my managers election thread – and in particular how i can work together with you and ensure we continue the development and involvement in our young NT players.

Last month we saw our young lads get to the Semi-finals with the great work of De Villiers. Now to look not to the past but to the future.

Whilst there are different approaches to training and management procedures, we still all have a common ambition to win the WC in 2 seasons time.

This is just not a job, but a challenge and to raise the skill level to improve enjoyability. Within BT we have so much to learn from each other, sharing experience and knowledge has been one of our greatest strengths, but not giving away too much of the game

My contribution to this approach will be my dialogue between managers, myself and “NT management”.

What i have to offer is my blood, toil, sweat and tears.
“We shall go on to the end, we shall fight on the pitch, we shall never surrender!”

How can we turn ourselves into an even more successful BT nation? I have always been impressed with our managers doing their bit for our nation! I want to use that and continue our success.

Thank you for taking the time to read my opening speech.
I will try my best with the question and answer them to the best of my abilities.

SARU to investigate Watson rant

Following the comments by Luke Watson, reported on rugby365, regarding the state of rugby in South Africa, acting managing director of SA Rugby Andy Marinos has confirmed an urgent meeting has been called.

During a public address recently Watson made a number of statements regarding SA Rugby which have now been reported in the media, many of which have clearly caused some concern for people in the sports hierarchy.

Some of the statements include:

“We need to see the bigger picture and realise that the here and now is not just the here and now, but the here and now only exists because of those who went before us and because of those who are still to come,

“Me having to wear the Springbok jersey, to keep myself from vomiting on it, because there is a bigger picture, because men and women have bled for me to get there.

“Did I ever want to be there? No, it’s never been my dream, but I chose this burden with the greatest of pride and satisfaction, knowing that my father Cheeky Watson laid down his life to get me there.

In the statement SA Rugby confirmed that a meeting would take place in Cape Town as soon as possible and decision made from there.

“The South African Rugby Union has greeted with shock statements attributed to Luke Watson regarding South African rugby, his Springbok team-mates and the national jersey,” read the statement.

“SARU has called an urgent meeting on Monday to determine the accuracy of the reports with Western Province, the player’s contracting union, and the University of Cape Town Rugby Club (UCT), where the statements were said to have been made.”

Marinos himself said: “If the reports are accurate this is a very serious matter indeed,
 
“But we can’t pre-judge the matter on the strength of media reports and we can make no definitive statement until we have in our hands what evidence there may be.”

With thanks to SA Rugby

Watson wants to ‘vomit on Bok jersey’

Controversial Western Province loose forward Luke Watson has launched a bizarre attack on his Springbok teammates, South African rugby, administrators and even the late Danie Craven.

But most of all, in his melodramatic outburst, he claimed that he felt so nauseated by wearing the Springbok jersey that he wanted to vomit on it.

Another claim he made was that “the problem with SA rugby is that it is controlled by Dutchmen”, whilst Watson also suggested that SA rugby is “rotten to the core” and that “the men who sit on my left and right of me in the change room despise me for who I am”.

Currie Cup: Semi’s

The Sharks are expected to feast on the Lions in the first of the two
semifinals, in Durban on Saturday.

However, not all experts agree as to who will win the other semifinal when the Blue Bulls host the Free State Cheetahs in Pretoria.

Currie Cup play-off matches are not for the faint of heart and encounters between the Sharks and Lions have always been at the top end of the scale in terms of physical demands.

And in this game there is so much more at stake – not just because it is the semifinal, but because neither team have won a trophy for years.

The Sharks last tasted success in 1996 and last played in a Currie Cup Final in 2003. The Lions narrowly lost in last year’s Final to the Cheetahs, but they also go back to before the turn of the century for their last Currie Cup win – 1999.

Road to the playoffs:

Sharks:
v Western Province won 28-25
v Boland won 38-13
v Bulls lost 35-14
v Falcons won 28-10
v Cheetahs lost 31-9
v Lions won 16-11
v Griquas won 15-44
v Western Province won 10-32
v Boland won 7-41
v Bulls won 34-24
v Cheetahs won 22-10
v Falcons won 19-44
v Lions won 20-34
v Griquas won 66-12

Lions:
v Bulls lost 7-21
v Cheetahs lost 22-18
v Falcons won 35-23
v Boland won 57-17
v Griquas won 32-36
v Sharks lost 16-11
v Western Province won 27-13
v Bulls won 27-30
v Cheetahs lost 28-38
v Falcons won 14-83
v Griquas won 41-20
v Boland won 10-31
v Sharks lost 20-34
v Western Province lost 14-6

 

Don’t expect too much in terms of fancy footwork, or expansive and extravagant moves when the Blue Bulls and Free State Cheetahs go head-to-head in their semifinal in Pretoria on Saturday.

Encounters between these two sides – who have met in the play-offs every year since 2004 – have produced some of the most dramatic results. Also, some of the most brutal.

Just think back to the Final of 2005, when a bounce of the ball literally handed the Currie Cup to the Cheetahs.

And with neither side making a secret of the fact that they will again be out to physically dominate the opposition, to pummel them into submission, the bar will be raised considerably.

Road to the playoffs:

Blue Bulls:
v Lions won 7-21
v Western Province lost 26-17
v Sharks won 35-14
v Cheetahs won 31-23
v Boland won 10-26
v Falcons won 7-50
v Lions lost 27-30
v Griquas won 41-12
v Western Province won 37-6
v Sharks lost 34-24
v Boland won 69-19
v Cheetahs won 5-23
v Griquas won 22-58
v Falcons won 22-20

Free State Cheetahs:
v Griquas won 16-20
v Lions won 22-18
v Western Province lost 9-3
v Bulls lost 31-23
v Sharks won 31-9
v Falcons won 55-14
v Boland won 10-15
v Griquas won 22-3
v Lions won 28-38
v Western Province lost 17-35
v Sharks lost 22-10
v Bulls lost 5-23
v Falcons won 7-78
v Boland won 50-40

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Kiwi Coincidence?

So the IRB have decided to change the World Cup seedings for the next Rugby World Cup. Based on the current system, the seedings for 2011 would read: 1. South Africa 2. England 3. Argentina 4. France.

The All-Blacks would, at best, be a lowly fifth. Surely the IRB is taking this bold step with a view to representing the four-year cycle of international rugby more fairly, not just to step to appease New Zealand, which hosts RWC 2011. What do you reckon…

Question - who is sick and tired of Kiwi moaning? If New Zealand arrived in France as top seeds, rather than England, they would have drawn South Africa, Tonga, Samoa, and USA, rather than Scotland, Italy, Portugal and Romania. It certainly doesn’t take a rugby genius to work out who had the easier route to the knock-out phase…

It looks likely that the All-Blacks will be rewarded for being consistently the best team in world rugby –  and I’m sure their fans are already surfing naked in celebration. But form counts for diddly-squat in knock-out tournaments. It’s all about holding your nerve and showing that big match temperament when it really matters.

If the All-Blacks can’t realise that throwing wild miss-passes on your own five metre line in a World Cup quarter-final (see Dan Carter) represents a dangerous combination of arrogance and mind-boggling stupidity, then the seedings aren’t likely to help them get what they feel they so richly deserve.

Too many of their greats go missing in the big games and they always find some excuse – food poisoning in 1995, France’s dirty play in 1999, Anton Oliver being brutalised in 2003 and referee Wayne Barnes’ visual aberration in 2007.

With nothing to show since 1987 we continue to hear ludicrous statements like ‘we’re still the best team in the world’ within hours of an inglorious World Cup exit. Whatever happened to notion that if you’re going to win it, you must beat the best?