2012 End of Year Internationals predictions

Game 6 of 6 – 16:30 Sunday 11 November Scotland vs New Zealand, Edinburgh
 
 
Scotland
v
New Zealand
 
Rob (Ou Grote): New Zealand by 25
James (Ou Grote): New Zealand by 18
Bet.coza: New Zealand (0.02 / 16.00)
Ben (The Bounce):
Keo:
Tank (FRG):
 
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2012 End of Year Internationals predictions

Game 5 of 6 – 21:45 Saturday 10 November France vs Australia, Paris
 
 
France
v
Australia
 
Rob (Ou Grote): Australia by 6
James (Ou Grote): France by 3
Bet.coza: France (0.61 / 1.30)
Ben (The Bounce):
Keo:
Tank (FRG):
 
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2012 End of Year Internationals predictions

Game 4 of 6 – 19:30 Saturday 10 November Ireland vs South Africa, Dublin
 
 
Ireland
v
South Africa
 
Rob (Ou Grote): South Africa by 3
James (Ou Grote): South Africa by 11
Bet.coza: South Africa (0.61 / 1.30)
Keo: South Africa by 10
Ben (The Bounce):
Tank (FRG):
 
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2012 End of Year Internationals predictions

Game 3 of 6 – 16:30 Saturday 10 November Wales vs Argentina, Cardiff
 
 
Wales
v
Argentina
 
Rob (Ou Grote): Argentina by 6
James (Ou Grote): Wales by 3
Bet.coza: Wales (0.20 / 3.50)
Ben (The Bounce):
Keo:
Tank (FRG):
 
Next

2012 End of Year Internationals predictions

Game 2 of 6 – 16:30 Saturday 10 November England vs Fiji, London
 
 
England
v
Fiji
 
Rob (Ou Grote): England by 6
James (Ou Grote): England by 10
Bet.coza: England (0.01 / 20.00)
Ben (The Bounce):
Keo:
Tank (FRG):
 
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2012 South African Rugby Awards Winners

Player of the Year: Bryan Habana

Players’ Player of the Year: JP Pietersen

Young Player of the Year: Eben Etzebeth

SA Sevens Player of the Year: Cecil Afrika

SA U20 Player of the Year: Jan Serfontein

Team of the Year: The Sharks (Currie Cup)

Coach of the Year: John Plumtree (The Sharks)

Super Rugby Player of the Year: Keegan Daniel (The Sharks)

Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year: Deon Fourie (Western Province)

Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year: Hansie Graaf (Griffons)

Try of the Year: Bryan Habana (All Blacks vs Springboks, Dunedin)

httpv://youtu.be/7UdfL2SV1_o

Vodacom Cup Player of the Year: Demetri Catrakilis

Craven Week Player of the Year: Sergeal Petersen (EP)

The 31-man Springbok squad to take on Ireland, Scotland and England on the end of year tour has been named.

OUT: Bryan Habana – injured his knee in the Currie Cup final.
IN: Raymond Rhule – the young Cheetahs wing makes the squad.
IN: Schalk Brits – the London-based Brits comes in as cover hooker off the bench.
IN: Gurthro Steenkamp – France-based Steenkamp comes in to cover at prop.
IN: JP Pietersen – returns after sitting out The Rugby Championship.

Uncapped players making the squad: Jano Vermaak, Franco van der Merwe, Lionel Mapoe and Arno Botha.

Provincial make-up: Bulls (8), Sharks (7), Lions (6), Overseas (4), Western Province (4), Cheetahs (2)

The Springbok Squad

Willem Alberts (The Sharks) – Loose forward, 17 Tests
Arno Botha (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Loose forward, 0
Schalk Brits (Saracens, England) – Hooker, 3
Pat Cilliers (MTN Golden Lions) – Prop, 3
Marcell Coetzee (The Sharks) – Loose forward, 9
Juan de Jongh (DHL Western Province) – Centre, 12
Jean de Villiers (captain, DHL Western Province) – Centre, 81
Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks) – Prop, 39
Eben Etzebeth (DHL Western Province) – Lock, 8
Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Scrumhalf / Wing, 24
Elton Jantjies (MTN Golden Lions) – Flyhalf, 2
Zane Kirchner (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Fullback, 21
Juandré Kruger (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Lock , 5
Pat Lambie (The Sharks) – Fullback / Flyhalf, 17
Francois Louw (Bath, England) – Loose forward, 14
Lionel Mapoe (MTN Golden Lions) – Wing / Centre, 0
Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks) – Prop, 41
Lwazi Mvovo (The Sharks) – Wing, 7
Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland) – Scrumhalf, 60
JP Pietersen (The Sharks) – Wing / Centre, 45
Chiliboy Ralepelle (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Hooker, 21
Raymond Rhule (Toyota FS Cheetahs) – Wing, 0
Gurthrö Steenkamp (Toulouse, France) – Prop, 38
Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Flyhalf, 41
Adriaan Strauss (Toyota FS Cheetahs) – Hooker, 18
Jaco Taute (MTN Golden Lions) – Utility back, 2
CJ van der Linde (MTN Golden Lions) – Prop, 73
Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Lock, 20
Franco van der Merwe (MTN Golden Lions) – Lock, 0
Jano Vermaak (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Scrumhalf, 0
Duane Vermeulen (DHL Western Province) – No 8, 4

Written off by everyone except myself, Western Province put in a gutsy performance to deny the Sharks in Durban. The final score was 25 – 18. Key aspects of the game were John Plumtree’s poor substitutions (particularly taking Jannie du Plessis off), Craig Burden’s terrible lineout throwing, Demetri Catrakilis’ drop-goals, and Juan de Jongh’s brilliantly taken try. Luckily Jaco Peyper’s shocking refereeing performance did not influence the result.

The nominations are out for the 2012 SA Rugby Player of the Year. Winners will be announced at Saru’s annual awards ceremony in Cape Town on 1 November.

SARU Player of the Year nominees (Ou Grote’s pick in bold)

Player of the Year
1. Keegan Daniel
2. Eben Etzebeth
3. Bryan Habana
4. Pat Lambie
5. JP Pietersen

Young Player of the Year
1. Marcell Coetzee
2. Eben Etzebeth
3. Johan Goosen
4. Elton Jantjies
5. Raymond Rhule

Team of the Year
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