Category: Nuustak

Rugby news

How Matfield revolutionised the game [Rugby365]
Victor Matfield, who on Saturday will become just the third South African to play in 100 Tests, stands head and shoulders above others – and it has nothing to do with his height.

Bok ace coaches Wallaby kickers [Rugby365]
Australia will have a Springbok ace up their sleeve when they tackle South Africa in their Tri-Nations Test in Pretoria on Saturday.

Why Pocock rates Burger as a fetcher [Rugby365]
Schalk Burger is a ‘world-class’ fetcher, and highly rated by the Australians, even though he is regarded as just another ‘brute basher’ in his own country.

Vultures circle over Habana [Sport24]
Will Bryan Habana be back to his best on his favourite hunting ground against one of his regular victims on Saturday?

Matfield deserves big welcome [IOL]
Springbok captain John Smit has made a passionate plea to fans and the people of Pretoria to jam-pack Loftus Versfeld for Saturday’s Tri-Nations encounter between the Boks and Australia to honour rugby great Victor Matfield.

Steyn not ready for test [Rugby365]
Francois Steyn, who has been called up for South Africa’s Tri-Nations match against Australia, is “not ready” for Test rugby.

A question of intensity for Boks [SuperSport]
John Smit believes the key to his Springbok team’s chances of beating Australia in their fifth Vodacom Tri-Nations encounter at Loftus on Saturday will be the level of intensity they can bring to the game — and he is 100% on the money.

Div sings different tune [SuperSport]
Wallaby flank David Pocock is commanding respect from Peter de Villiers … and the Springbok coach is singing a different tune about Irish referee Alain Rolland.

Boks’ best not good enough [Sport24]
The Springboks will start preparing on Monday for their next Test against Australia at Loftus knowing that their best is no longer good enough.

Smit: ‘I missed that tackle’ [Rugby365]
South African captain John Smit was left ruing a missed tackle which saw New Zealand grab a last-minute victory in their Tri-Nations encounter in Soweto on Saturday.

Where did it all go wrong? [Rugby365]
It is time for some serious introspection in the Springbok camp and not just the players, the coaching staff as well

All Blacks to rub salt into Bok wounds [Rugby365]
In what will be rubbing salt into the festering Springbok wounds, the rampant All Blacks now turn their attention to creating a record winning streak after clinching the Tri-Nations title with a dramatic 29-22 triumph over South Africa at the weekend.

Henry hails ‘best ever’ win [Rugby365]
New Zealand coach Graham Henry praised his side after watching them clinch a last-gasp 29-22 victory over South Africa in Soweto Saturday to seal the 2010 Tri-Nations title.

Record attempt at FNB Stadium [Sport24]
Rugby fans can be part of a massive Guinness Book of Records world record attempt on Saturday when the Springboks face the All Blacks in their Tri-Nations match at the FNB Stadium.

All Blacks not favoured, just smarter [Sport24]
The All Blacks are simply playing smarter rugby than their opponents and are not being favoured by referees.

‘Injured’Steyn to play for his club on Saturday [Rugby365]
The Francois Steyn saga revealed yet another bizarre twist on Thursday, when he was declared fit enough to play for his French club, Racing Metro on the weekend.

Boks want to fix damage [Sport24]
South Africa hope to start repairing the damage of a disastrous Tri-Nations championship away leg when they host New Zealand before a sell-out 90 000 crowd at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

Castle to toast Smit ton [Sport24]
Castle Lager will offer up a round of beer to all adults amongst the 90 000 plus spectators expected to attend the clash between South Africa and New Zealand, in paying tribute to Springbok captain, John Smit, as he makes his 100th appearance in the green and gold jersey at FNB stadium on Saturday.

Fitzy rates All Blacks [Sport24]
Legendary former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick admits that he thought the Springboks would have the edge over New Zealand in the current Tri-Nations series, but pointed out where he thought the Kiwis got their noses in front by winning all four of their matches to date with 19 out of a possible 20 log points in the bag.

John Smit as a schoolboy [Rugby365]
John Smit, round-faced and smiling, groomed and shaven, still looks like the ideal schoolboy, still the head prefect, still an icon as he was at Pretoria Boys High. But now he is those things to a much wider community, one of the top South Africans of our time.

Absa new Springbok sponsor? [Business Day]
Speculation has been rife on who would replace Sasol ever since its announcement last month that it would not renew its sponsorship deal due to the high price SARU was demanding.

PDiv lays down the law [Sport24]
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has laid down the law when it comes to team discipline ahead of Saturday’s massive Vodacom Tri-Nations test against the All Blacks.

Boks will use the ball [Rugby365]
All Black coach Graham Henry believes the Springboks will play a more ‘ball in hand’ game in the historic Tri-Nations Test in Soweto on Saturday.

Smit will be at World Cup [SuperSport]
John Smit will be at the World Cup in New Zealand next year. However, that is not a reference to the most experienced captain in world rugby’s playing status.

PDiv right to be dissatisfied [SuperSport]
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers appears to have good reason to be dissatisfied with the treatment his side has had from referees in this year’s Tri-Nations.