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Tuesday, August 19, 2008
TriNations Grand Slammers
Comments [0] | Tags: Go figure | rugby blog


Shark repellent?

The number of Grand Slam TriNations winners since its introduction in 1996.

New Zealand can lay claim to three of those in 1996, 1997 and 2003. South Africa interrupted the All-Blacks dominance in the late nineties beating all that went before them in 1998, making it an astonishing sequence of three undefeated champions in the first three years.


Jantjes, Nokwe Return
Comments [0] | Tags: by tournament | International Rugby | Latest Rugby News | South Africa | Tri-Nations


Jongi Nokwe: 'Eat my shorts'

Pieter de Villiers has made two changes to for the visit of Australia following last weekend's unnerving defeat to New Zealand.

One is forced, with Jongi Nokwe replacing the injured Bryan Habana on the left-wing while Conrad Jantjes returns for Percy Montgomery, who unlike David Beckham, can think of other things now he's been given his 100th cap.

De Villiers has opened himself up to a barrage of criticism by not selecting any second-row cover on the bench. We're not saying the Wallabies will be out to injure anyone, but it wouldn't come as a suprise to see a stray boot or extra effort going into tackles on Messrs Matfield and Bekker.

Fourie du Preez and Butch James continue as half-backs for the Springboks, who can ill-avoid one more slip up if they are to harbour hopes of salvaging something from their TriNations campaign.

South Africa: 15. Conrad Jantjes 14. JP Pietersen 13. Adrian Jacobs 12. Jean de Villiers 11. Jongi Nokwe 10. Butch James 9. Fourie du Preez 8. Pierre Spies 7. Juan Smith 6. Schalk Burger 5. Victor Matfield (captain) 4. Andries Bekker 3. CJ van der Linde 2. Bismarck du Plessis 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Reserves: 16. Adriaan Strauss 17. Brian Mujati18. Joe van Niekerk 19. Luke Watson 20. Enrico Januarie 21. Francois Steyn 21. Percy Montgomery

Forever Friends
Comments [0] | Tags: by tournament | International Rugby | Latest Rugby News | new zealand | top 14


Nice try hiding from all the helicopters Sonny...

Where do you find friends like this eh?

Andrew Mundine, the former Brisbane and St George rugby league star turned boxer, has bought out his chum, Sonny Bill Williams' Bulldogs contract, worth a reported NZ$900,000.

It prohibits the star from playing in the NRL until 2012 and allows Williams to kick-off his rugby union career against Saracens this week.

The All-Blacks could be the one's to largely benefit with Williams becoming available for the 2011 Super 14 season if he chooses to take up a second year in France.

Post Apartheid Headache
Comments [0] | Tags: rugby blog | Week in Rugby History


Michael Lynagh: 'Room for a small one?'

In 1992, post-apatheid, reigning world champions Australia and South Africa locked horns for the first time since 1971.

Blessed with pulsating talents, Tim Horan, Michael Lynagh, Nick Farr Jones and David Campese, the Wallabies trounced the Boks 26-3 at a packed Newlands - a defeat that still remains their highest ever recorded in Cape Town.

Wing Paul Carrozza crossed twice, adding to Campese's earlier score while Lynagh would notch up 11 points with his trusty right boot. South African legend Naas Botha kicked the Boks only points.

Also on this week in 1485, the Lancs beat the Yorkies as Henry Tudor defeats Richard III in the Battle of Bosworth field. In 1692, one woman and four men, including a clergyman, are executed after being convicted of witchcraft during the Salem Witchcraft Trials in Massachusetts and in 1911, the Mona Lisa is stolen by a Louvre employee.

And it's Suk San Wan Keut! as they say in Thailand to Australian scrum-half Luke Burgess (25), Springbok legend Rudolph Straeuli (45), Argentina captain Felipe Contepomi (31) and former Pumas scrum-half Agustin Pichot (34).

A World Cup Hangover Guide
Comments [0] | Tags: Editors Blog | International Rugby | South Africa


South African WAGS highlight that Matfield can't handle his booze...

Ah, the World Cup hangover. Undulating waves of lethargy, nausea, and dysphoria coupled with piles of regret, shame and pain. We all know it so well, but where do the Springboks fit in?

Bladi Bladi Blah: Hardly! Feeling desperately ill but relatively chirpy with a huge sense of pride, constantly reminiscing about that cracking night in Paris and golden era’s - Every kiwi since 1987 then…

Torment tantrum: Flashbacks of worrying dialogue shared with tabloid journalists and close chums return with painstaking clarity reminding you of a litter of faux pas a la Lawrence Dallaglio.

Inspector remorse: Getting closer! Boring the pants off everyone with stories of how great you were just like Terry Wogan.

Insanely Tipper: Absolutely! Still riding on the crest of the wave - the ‘we’re still world champions approach’ - maintaining a mega chuffed attitude that until 2011 they’re still World Champions even if they plummet like a RyanAir pilot trying to land a plane in between.

Hang your head in shame: Only if you hate Pieter de Villiers! The Pete Docherty excuse of a patently clammy feeling that you are so far out of your depth and you can’t remember why, how or what it is.

Blame it on the boogie: The New Zealand concept! Blame the referee, linesman and anyone else who plotted your downfall with the idea of making a fool of you.

Monday, August 18, 2008
Hadden Appoints Duo
Comments [0] | Tags: International Rugby | Scotland


At least watching Scotland isn't as tiring eh Mike...

Frank Hadden has recruited two new faces to the national set-up as the demands of the Experimental Law Variations bed in.

Mike Brewer and Graham Steadman sign on as forwards and defensive coaches respectively.

Former All-Blacks captain Brewer and Steadman have been recently working in Ireland with Leinster and Munster.

There is no place for Andy Robinson, who was widely mooted as Hadden's replacement had the Argentina tour been a disaster.