Category: General

General rugby news and discussion

Times Online writer Patrick Kidd, who compiled the list, said the All Blacks could have featured on the list more than twice.

“It may be cruel to include the All Blacks twice in this list, but has self-belief and potential ever exploded so often, so predictably? As well as 1999 and 2007, we could include the World Cups in 1995 (damn that food poisoning), 1991 (two moments of brilliance by David Campese) or 2003 (averaged 62 points per game until the semi-final then blew it against Australia). How will they self-destruct on home soil in 2011?”

The 10 greatest chokers in sport

01. New Zealand rugby team (1999)
02. South Africa cricket team (1999)
03. Greg Norman (1996)
04. Asafa Powell (2007)
05. Scott Hoch (1989)
06. Jean van der Velde (1999)
07. Somerset cricket team (2010)
08. Guillermo Coria (2004)
09. Doug Sanders (1970)
10. Houston Oilers (1993)

South Africa finished last in the Tri Nations, lost the Mandela Shield, lost the Freedom Cup, lost to Australia on the highveld for the first time in 47 years, conceded the most tries by any team in the history of the Tri Nations and dropped to 3rd in the IRB world rankings after another disastrous game in what has been a disgraceful Trinations series.

The response from the coaches – BLAME IT ON THE PLAYERS!! Peter de Villiers: “I think we showed character to come back. Our structures are in place and they can take us to the World Cup if executed properly. If we execute our plans perfectly, it will be very difficult to score against us. We needed to show more character on defence, like we did in Soweto and last week at Loftus.”

Springboks 39 (13)
Tries: Jaque Fourie, Gurthro Steenkamp, Jean de Villiers
Conversions: Morne Steyn (3)
Penalties: Morne Steyn (6)

Wallabies 41 (31)
Tries: Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor, Stephen Moore, Rocky Elsom, Drew Mitchell
Conversions: Matt Giteau (4), James O’Connor
Penalties: Matt Giteau, Kurtley Beale

MOTM: Gurthro Steenkamp

­Much has been written about South Africa’s fall from grace in recent weeks. They have gone from a team that could do no wrong to a team that just can’t get it right. In particular, the South African media is falling over itself about the sudden plummet. While one can certainly see a big difference between last years Tri-­Nations and this year’s, the suggestion that the difference is only the law application is wrong minded.
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Odds as at 2010-06-20 10:48

Tri Nations 2010 Outright Winner Odds:
New Zealand: 11/8
South Africa: 11/8
Australia: 7/2

2010 Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Outright Winner Odds:
Vodacom Blue Bulls: 13/8
Vodacom Western Province: 3/1
Sharks: 9/2
Vodacom Free Seat Cheetahs: 9/2
Xerox Lions: 12/1
GWK Griquas: 50/1

Rugby World Cup 2011 Outright Winner Odds:
New Zealand: 8/5
South Africa: 3/1
Australia: 9/2
England: 8/1
France: 8/1
Ireland: 18/1
Wales: 22/1
Argentina: 50/1
Scotland: 50/1

2010 Football World Cup Outright Winner Odds:
Argentina: 9/2
Brazil: 5/1
Spain: 5/1
Netherlands: 7/1
Germany: 10/1
England: 11/1
Italy: 12/1
Portugal: 33/1
Uruguay: 33/1

Place your bets here:

SA Super14 Player of the Year

Morne Steyn (Bulls – Flyhalf)
Fourie du Preez (Bulls – Scrumhalf)
Gerhard van den Heever (Bulls – Wing)
Andries Bekker (Stormers – Lock)
Jaque Fourie (Stormers – Centre)

Vodacom Cup Player of the Year

Gerrit-Jan van Velze (Bulls – Flank)
Tiger Mangweni (Bulls – Fullback)
Francois Brummer (Bulls – Flyhalf)
Louis Strydom (Free State –
Monty Dumond (Shraks – Flyhalf)

The winners of the awards, as well as the rest of the SA Rugby Player of the Year awards, will be announced at the Springbok banquet on 2 November 2010.