WP 59 v 17 Leopards
Cheetahs 20 v 14 Bulls
Sharks 30 v 14 Pumas
Lions 40 v 29 Griquas
Wallabies 22 (11)
Tries: James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper
Penalties: Matt Giteau (3), Kurtley Beale
All Blacks 23 (6)
Tries: Richie McCaw, Kieran Read
Conversions: Piri Weepu (2)
Penalties: Piri Weepu (3)
Australia 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Lachie Turner, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 James Slipper, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 Richard Brown, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Berrick Barnes, 21 Anthony Fainga’a.
New Zealand 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Israel Dagg, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Victor Vito, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 John Afoa, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Jerome Kaino, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Rene Ranger.
South Africa’s leading players stand united in their objection to the absurd decision to withdraw all the contracted Springboks from the Currie Cup. [Rugby365]
‘I am angry,’ sports minister Makhenkesi Stofile said on Tuesday. ‘I did not hear him make the comments, but I received the message that he said we are wholeheartedly behind this chap who killed the policeman, 100%. That is disgraceful. It doesn’t matter what the circumstances were. I can’t believe he said this. (more…)
“There’s little difference between winning and losing, except you feel better after winning.†Now you can read the wise words of Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, all assembled in one place. HERE
It turned out to be what many players and spectators said was the most perfect afternoon and night in the tournament’s 42 year history. 25′ degrees, clear skies and a gentle breeze… And that set the scene for some fantastic rugby. (more…)
1. Poor defence
“The first problem, in capital letters, is defence. We started a rush defence in 2004 and were leaders in world rugby. Other countries followed us. South Africa conceded four tries in just 25 minutes in a critical Test on Saturday.” (more…)
Friday 10 September 2010
19:10 Pumas v Sharks
Saturday 11 September 2010
15:00 Lions v Griquas
17:00 Western Province v Leopards
17:05 FS Cheetahs v The Bulls
Blue Bulls 40 – 34 Sharks
Blue Bulls – Tries: Juandre Kruger, Ruan Snyman, Jaco Engels, Wynand Olivier; Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (3), Zane Kirchner; Penalties: Potgieter (4).
The Sharks – Tries: Lwazi Mvovo, Stefan Terblanche, Alistair Hargreaves; Conversions: Patrick Lambie (2); Penalties: Lambie (5). (more…)
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