Category: Springboks

News and discussion about the Springboks

The Boks’ grand slam ambitions are over after being beaten by Scotland on the weekend. The Scots were poor but thoroughly deserving of their victory over the diabolically dumb Springboks who played their worst game since the 49-0 drubbing at the hands of Australia.

In a post-match interview a seemingly jovial Peter de Villiers gave the impression that he didn’t care about what had just transpired on the field. “All credit to Scotland, but we only had ourselves to blame. Some of the refereeing decisions were puzzling, however we did not respond the way we should have done. We now have to pick ourselves up physically and mentally for the challenge of playing England next weekend.”

Victor Matfield seemed in a foul mood on Saturday, almost losing the plot with referee Stuart Dickinson. It must have been the inconvenience of having to play a game of rugby during his golf tour of Scotland. Just look at his build-up to the big game on Saturday:

Tues 16th: Another set back today with Bryan breaking his hand. The only good news this last two days is that we got in at St Andrews Old Course.
Wed 17th: Dick Muir had a hole-in-one on the 11th at St Andrews. How spesial is that.
Thurs 18th: Really enjoyed yesterday at St Andrews. Just an unbelievable place but now its back to business.On our way to training.
Thurs 18th: Didnt want to be arrogant but Spies and myself took Jean and Hougies money. We were all square walking down the 18th.You cant buy experience.

No wonder the players want de Villiers to remain as coach – it’s just one long holiday while he’s in charge. Well done for not taking Scotland lightly…

Scotland 21 (12)
Penalties: Dan Parks (6). Drop goal: Dan Parks

Springboks 17 (9)
Try: Willem Alberts. Penalties: Morne Steyn (4)

Date: Saturday 20 November 2010 | 16:30 SA Time
Venue: Murrayfield, Scotland

Scotland – 15. Hugo Southwell, 14. Nikki Walker, 13. Max Evans, 12. Graeme Morrison, 11. Sean Lamont, 10. Dan Parks, 9. Rory Lawson (c), 8. John Barclay, 7. Kelly Brown, 6. Nathan Hines, 5. Scott MacLeod, 4. Richie Gray, 3. Euan Murray, 2. Ross Ford, 1. Allan Jacobsen
Subs: 16. Dougie Hall, 17. Moray Low, 18. Richie Vernon, 19. Ross Rennie, 20. Greig Laidlaw, 21. Ruaridh Jackson, 22. Chris Paterson

South Africa -15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Francois Steyn, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Juan Smith, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Victor Matfield, 4. Bakkies Botha, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Beast Mtawarira
Replacements: 16. Adriaan Strauss, 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Willem Alberts, 20. Ruan Pienaar, 21. Patrick Lambie, 22. Adrian Jacobs

Wales 25 (17)
Tries: George North (2), James Hook
Conversions: Stephen Jones (2)
Penalties: Stephen Jones (2)

Springboks 29 (9)
Tries: Willem Alberts, Victor Matfield
Conversions: Morne Steyn (2)
Penalties: Morne Steyn (5)

Bok player ratings

Other tests
Italy 16 – 22 Argentina
England 35 – 18 Australia
Ireland 20 – 10 Samoa
France 34 – 12 Fiji
Scotland 03 – 49 New Zealand

Date: Saturday 13 November 2010 | 16:40 SA Time
Venue: Millenium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales

Wales: 15 Lee Byrne; 14 George North, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 James Hook, 11 Shane Williams; 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Mike Phillips; 1 Gethin Jenkins, 2 Matthew Rees (C), 3 Adam Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Martyn Williams, 8 Jonathan Thomas
Substitutes: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Paul James, 18 Ryan Jones, 19 Andy Powell, 20 Richie Rees, 21 Andrew Bishop, 22 Chris Czekaj

South Africa: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Frans Steyn, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 TBA, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Zane Kirchner, 22 Pat Lambie

Other tests
16:00 Italy v Argentina
16:30 England vs Australia
16:30 Ireland vs Samoa
19:00 France v Fiji
19:15 Scotland vs New Zealand

Date: 6 November 2010 | 19:30 SA Time
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Ireland
Conditions: 70% chance of rain

Ireland – 15 Robert Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O’Driscoll (c), 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 1 Cian Healy, 2 Rory Best, 3 Tony Buckley, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 5 Mick O’Driscoll, 6 Stephen Ferris, 7 David Wallace, 8 Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Tom Court, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 Denis Leamy, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Ronan O’Gara, 22 Keith Earls.

Springboks – 15 Gio Aplon, (more…)

A 39-man group to attend a two-day training camp in Joburg next Friday has been named.

The group is:

Backs (15)
WP (5): Gio Aplon, J de Jongh, J de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Ricky Januarie
Bulls (4): Francois Hougaard, Zane Kirchner, Wynand Olivier, Morne Steyn
Sharks (4): Adrian Jacobs, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, JP Pietersen
Griquas (1): Bjorn Basson
Lions (1): Elton Jantjies

Forwards (24) (more…)

UPDATE Erasmus has told The Cape Times that he knows nothing of an offer and that the position is just media speculation. He said he remains committed to the Stormers and WP and is contracted until 2012.

Rob Wagner, MD of Western Province Rugby said, “Rassie Erasmus is contracted to WP Rugby until the end of 2012 and will not be leaving WP to take up a coaching position with SARU. Rassie is committed to WP Rugby and is a valued and respected member of the coaching staff. The rumours of a rift and an imminent move have absolutely no basis. There will be no further comment on the matter.”

Original story Western Province Senior Professional Coach Rassie Erasmus will be brought into the Springbok management team as a strategic consultant and technical adviser.

SARU wants Erasmus to join hapless coach Peter de Villiers and his assistants Gary Gold and Dick Muir on the Boks’ end-of-year tour in November. They are reportedly so desperate that they will pay any amount for him to be released from his contract with Western Province.

WP defence coach Jacques Nienaber will likely follow Erasmus if he accepts the post, meaning that Gary Gold becomes surplus to requirements with his two areas of responsibility being covered by others (the forwards by Os du Randt and Rassie Erasmus, defence by Nienaber). De Villiers, as always, remains untouchable.