Year: 2015

“I have always put the Springboks first in my time as coach and since returning from England I have realised that as much as I believe I still have a lot to offer, the time has come for change,” said Meyer.

“My integrity has always been very important and I feel I can leave with my head held high. I’ve always maintained that my only motivation was to serve my country and to do what was best for the Springboks.

“I have greatly enjoyed my time as Springbok coach – although it has been highly pressured at times and especially tough on my family, and I would like to thank them for their unwavering support in the last four years.

(more…)

31/10 18:00 RWC Final: New Zealand v Australia (Twickeham)

Predictions

Rob (Ou Grote): New Zealand by 5
James (Ou Grote): New Zealand by 7
Sportingbet: New Zealand
Bet.coza: New Zealand
Sportsbet: New Zealand



» Next game

30/10 22:00 Bronze Final: South Africa v Argentina (Olympic Stadium)

Predictions

Rob (Ou Grote): South Africa by 3
James (Ou Grote): South Africa by 11
Sportingbet: South Africa
Bet.coza: South Africa
Sportsbet: South Africa



» Next game

Did you know that major sporting events – including the Olympics, Ashes and World Cups – can coincide with movement across indices, currencies, stocks and more? The team at IG looked at what we can expect from this year’s World Cup when it comes to market impact.

It turns out that there are huge benefits for sponsors, currencies and indices. Last year, Coca-Cola’s sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup coincided with some impressive increases in its share price. The jubilation of a sought-after cup victory – or disappointment of a missed opportunity – can affect traders as well as players and fans. England’s rugby world cup victory came in 2003, and coincided with a major rally for the FTSE and the pound.

Many of us experienced the sense of optimism that followed South Africa’s victories in the 1995 and 2007 world cups, as well as the excitement of hosting the 2010 soccer world cup.

IG analysts Travis Robson, Leigh Riley and Shaun Murison provide insightful answers to the question “Which markets might be affected by the rugby world cup?” They also look at the following:

  • Have any recent major sporting events impacted markets?
  • What markets might be influenced by the rugby world cup 2015?
  • Which companies will you be keeping an eye on during the rugby world cup?
  • Which of the sponsors will you be following during the rugby world cup?
  • Who do you want to win the rugby world cup and who do you think will win?
  • Which markets/companies do you think will benefit most if South Africa win this year?

South African companies that will be positively impacted include SABMiller (a lot of beer will be drunk), local retailers like Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Shoprite (from all the braais), as well as Clicks, Dis-Chem and pharmacare/pharmaceutical stocks (to deal with the inevitable hangovers). A lot of these companies will benefit from a stronger pound as they earn offshore revenue.

When it comes to investing, it’s worth paying extra attention to the sponsors during upcoming sporting events.

25/10 18:00 Argentina v Australia (Twickenham)

Predictions

Rob (Ou Grote): Australia by 7
James (Ou Grote): Australia by 5
Sportingbet: Australia
Bet.coza: Australia
Sportsbet: Australia
Jon Cardinelli: Wallabies by 7
Simon Borchardt: Wallabies by 5
Gary Lemke: Wallabies by 7
Craig Lewis: Wallabies by 10
Mark Keohane: Wallabies by 12
Oddschecker:

ozvarg



» Next game

24/10 17:00 South Africa v New Zealand (Twickenham)

Predictions

Rob (Ou Grote): Springboks by 2
James (Ou Grote): Springboks by 1
Sportingbet: New Zealand
Bet.coza: New Zealand
Sportsbet: New Zealand
Jon Cardinelli: All Blacks by 5
Simon Borchardt: All Blacks by 12
Gary Lemke: All Blacks by 8
Craig Lewis: All Blacks by 8
Mark Keohane: All Blacks by 10
Gobani Bobo: All Blacks
John Mitchell: All Blacks
Butch James: South Africa
Robbie Kempson: South Africa
Oddschecker:

nzvsa



» Next game

24/10 13:45 Golden Lions v Western Province (Ellis Park)

Predictions

Rob (Ou Grote): Lions by 20
James (Ou Grote): Lions by 15
Sportingbet: Lions
Bet.coza: Lions
Sportsbet: Lions
Jon Cardinelli: Lions by 7
Simon Borchardt: Lions by 8
Gary Lemke: Lions by 9
Craig Lewis: Lions by 12
Mark Keohane: Lions by 15



» Next game

The Front Row [6.5]

3. Frans Malherbe [6]

Rugby365: 6/10
Gave the Boks the solidity they needed in the scrums and did some valuable work away from the set pieces.

Sport24: 6/10
Perhaps not quite enough evidence yet to suggest he should be automatic starter now in tighthead spot? Boks had some good scrums, and disappointing ones. Pinged for a side entry, but couple of sure-handed carries.

Daily Mail UK: 6/10
Scrummaged well but quiet in the loose. Not a dominant ball carrier.

Telegraph UK: 7/10
Ensured the South Africa scrum was going forwards for most of the match and great little offload to release Le Roux.

OuGrote: 6/10

2. Bismarck Du Plessis [6.5]

Rugby365: 6/10
His basics were solid, made a crucial tackle on the cross-cover early in the game and worked hard away from the set pieces.

Sport24: 6/10
Made important early tackle on meaty wing George North when danger signs flashed. Dropped a ball in contact once, but showed courage in returning to park after treatment to what first seemed fairly serious forearm/hand injury.

Daily Mail UK: 7/10
Not as effective in loose as usual but still influential while set piece was good.

Telegraph UK: 8/10
Briefly withdrawn in the first half with a bleeding hand but the South African lineout was an impeccable operation when he was on the pitch.

OuGrote: 6.5/10

1. Beast Mtawarira [6]

Rugby365: 5/10
Had some good carries and was steady in the scrums, but his workrate is not up to standard yet.

Sport24: 5.5/10
Not one of “Beast’s” better Test matches, in truth. Failed to really impose himself at scrum-time and few of his trademark, forceful drives on display.

Daily Mail UK: 7/10
Prominent in the loose and also anchored a very solid Springboks scrum.

Telegraph UK: 6/10
Difficult to tell if the Beast chant is ironic as he only ever seems to go backwards when carrying. Scrum work was very effective.

OuGrote: 6/10

SOURCES:

Daily Mail UK
Telegraph UK
Sport24
Rugby365

» Next: The Back Three

The Locks [6.5]

5. Eben Etzebeth [6.5]

Rugby365: 6/10
Some big carries and good workrate, but missed a couple of tackles and conceded silly penalties.

Sport24: 6.5/10
Seldom shirks coalface duties, and that applied again here. Some unusual concentration lapses, and penalised once or twice at rucks.

Daily Mail UK: 7/10
One of the world’s leading second rows enjoyed a fine game disrupting and carrying well

Telegraph UK: 6/10
His intent, whether carrying or in the tackle, is never less than ferocious, but sometimes aggression got the better of him conceding a couple of penalties.

OuGrote: 6.5/10

4. Lood de Jager [7]

Rugby365: 7/10
His ball-carrying remains a huge boon to the Boks, but he also made a few errors – missed tackles and penalties.

Sport24: 6.5/10
Wales had clearly done their homework on the tall-timber ball-carrier; tribute to his lively pool-phase play at this tournament. So they closed his channels down pretty often … but that didn’t mean he was “quiet”. Also confident on own lineout ball, though possibly needed to help “clean” more in Boks’ scratchy first half.

Daily Mail UK: 7/10
An edgy, aggressive, physical player who has years ahead of him at the top.

Telegraph UK: 7/10
Coughed up some costly turnovers in the Welsh 22, but was otherwise impressive as a ball-carrying option and in the lineout.

OuGrote: 6.5/10

SOURCES:

Daily Mail UK
Telegraph UK
Sport24
Rugby365

» Next: The Front Row

The Loose Forwards [7.5]

8. Duane Vermeulen [8.5]

Rugby365: 8/10
Worked very hared and was very good value at the breakdown, making some crucial turnovers. However, his tendency to go high in the tackle cost his team at times. That pass for Du Preez’s try made up for all his blunders.

Sport24: 8/10
Made some storming metres on occasion, and always one of the more precise Bok players on a day when imprecision was too often a team feature. Always in market for a poach, one natty ‘SBW’ offload … and then crisp, key involvement off back of scrum in Du Preez’s try.

Daily Mail UK: 9/10
Hugely physical player but also an outstanding footballer with extraordinarily high skill level.

Telegraph UK: 9/10
Offload of the tournament to create Du Preez’s try. Approaching the form he was in when he was crowned IRB Player of the Year. Monstrous carrying.

OuGrote: 8.5/10

7. Schalk Burger [7.5]

Rugby365: 7/10
Lots of carries, mostly effective, and a few neat offloads. However, he also made some poor decisions and conceded some penalties.

Sport24: 7.5/10
Twenty-six carries! That is quite some statistic, and underlined yet again that Burger just doesn’t “do” anonymity in a Bok jersey. Always big on scrambling defence when required, too. The veteran was official man of the match, even if I rated him a fraction below one or two others, for the little it matters. Maybe Boks overdo using him in No 10 channel a tad?

Daily Mail UK: 7/10
Carried well and tackled superbly. Good to see him back close to his best.

Telegraph UK: 9/10
What a warrior. Lining up as the Springboks’ second receiver, Burger made an incredible 26 carries and was also his team’s top tackler.

OuGrote: 7.5/10

6. Francois Louw [6.5]

Rugby365: 7/10
His workrate, on defence and at the breakdown, was immense. His hands did let him down at times, but his carries made up for that.

Sport24: 6.5/10
Visiting pundit Lewis Moody called beforehand for more carrying and linking by the open-sider, who does this well for Bath. He responded to good degree, especially in first half; one terrific charge. Customary good industry at close quarters.

Daily Mail UK: 7/10
Wonderful carrying in the first half and some excellent link play too. Strong at the breakdown.

Telegraph UK: 6/10
Made a couple of impressive bursts with ball in hand but far less prominent at the breakdown where Warburton ruled the roost.

OuGrote: 7/10

SOURCES:

Daily Mail UK
Telegraph UK
Sport24
Rugby365

» Next: The Locks