South African Rugby

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Kiwis are on fire

News coming out is New Zealand has won the rights to hold the 2011 rugby world cup.

If you were a betting man ,New Zealand were the outsiders ,so somebody has made some nice cash on that decision.


12-1 New Zealand
2-5 Japan was the favorite to win
2-1 South Africa




South African Rugby homepage

We have been booted

South Africa will not be hosting the 2011 rugby world cup ,now down to New Zealand and Japan ,that really sucks.


The 2011 world cup must be going to Japan ,we shall see.


South African Rugby homepage

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

The Welsh make 10 changes for the SA game.

Dafydd James will win his first Wales cap in 3 years on Saturday after coach Mike Ruddock announced sweeping changes for the clash with South Africa.

James, a 2001 Lion who last appeared for Wales under Steve Hansen in the 2002 defeat to New Zealand, impressed Ruddock after being called into the squad as injury cover.

James, who faces the prospect of trying to keep tabs on South Africa's electric winger Bryan Habana if he can keep up , is amongst 10 changes that Ruddock has made to the first-choice Wales side that was beaten by the All Blacks two weeks ago.

Two of those changes are injury-enforced with James replacing Kevin Morgan and Luke Charteris starting in place of lock Brent Cockbain.

But otherwise Ruddock has performed radical surgery on the side that was beaten 41-3 by the All Blacks. Wales went to grasp a last-minute 11-10 win over Fiji last week.

Lee Byrne starts at fullback with Gareth Thomas moving to outside centre instead of Mark Taylor.

Thomas is partnered in midfield by Sonny Parker, who comes in for Ceri Sweeney, while Lions tourist Gareth Cooper takes over from Mike Phillips at scrumhalf.

Recovered from ankle problem


In the pack, Worcester prop Chris Horsman has recovered from an ankle problem to start ahead of Adam Jones and hooker Rhys Thomas has ousted Mefin Davies what a name , while Lions flanker Martyn Williams returns with Jonathan Thomas slipping to the bench and Colin Charvis moving to the blind-side.

"Our rationale has been to go for a team that has the potential to play the exciting brand of rugby that we associate with the Welsh team and a team that can adopt a strong defensive attitude when the Springboks have the ball," said Ruddock.

"We may have lost a few players to injuries but we believe we have an exceptionally strong team here with a good mix of experienced players and some great young prospects."

Stephen Jones, 28, will become just the 16th Welsh player to win 50 caps when he enters cardiff, while South African captain John Smit will also reach his half-century of appearances for the Springboks.

In announcing his side, Springbok coach Jake White handed a debut at outside-half to 20-year-old Meyer Bosman, who has been likened to Henry Honnibal because of his 6ft 3in, 15st frame yeah right.

Bosman, replacing Andre Pretorius who sustained an ankle injury two weeks ago against the Pumas in Buenos Aires, will be partnered by fellow rookie and Free State team-mate Michael Claassens at scrumhalf.

New halfback combination


Claassens will earn his first start in his fourth Test at Cardiff.

"We've got two flyhalves out and two scrumhalves out, so we've got a new halfback combination which is untested," White said.

"But it's an opportunity for players to put their hands up, so we hope this tour will bring out one or two youngsters and help us prepare for the 2007 World Cup."

White said he was taking nothing for granted despite Wales' performance against New Zealand and Fiji.

"We won't read too much into the Fijian game and we all know that if you get it wrong against the All Blacks and they turn it on they can whack you."

Teams (15-1):

Wales: Lee Byrne (Llanelli ); Dafydd James (Llanelli ), Sonny Parker (Ospreys), Gareth Thomas (Toulouse/FRA, capt), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Clermont Auvergne/FRA), Gareth Cooper (Newport-Gwent); Michael Owen (Newport-Gwent), Martyn Williams (Cardiff), Colin Charvis (Newcastle/ENG); Robert Sidoli (Cardiff), Luke Charteris (Newport-Gwent); Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Cardiff), Chris Horsman (Worcester/ENG)

Replacements: Mefin Davies (Gloucester/ENG), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Newport-Gwent), Jonathon Thomas (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Cardiff), Ceri Sweeney (Newport-Gwent), Matthew Watkins (Llanelli)

South Africa: Percy Montgomery; Conrad Jantjes, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Meyer Bosman, Michael Claassens; Jacques Cronje, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger; Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield; Lawrence Sephaka, John Smit (capt), CJ van der Linde

Replacements: Hanyani Shimange, Os du Randt, Albert van den Berg, Danie Rossouw, Bolla Conradie, De Wet Barry, Brent Russell.







South African Rugby homepage

Monday, November 14, 2005

Wonder what the score will be ?

The Welsh are wondering what has happened to their six nations heroes ,looks like they will be getting some extra pain against us followed by the aussies who have everything to prove ,the aussie press must be going ballistic.

"Wales captain Gareth Thomas accepts the struggling Six Nations champions will be written off for their remaining autumn Tests against South Africa and Australia.

Thomas, however, is relishing the challenge of picking his team up by the bootlaces following a record home defeat at New Zealand's hands and a totally unconvincing one-point victory over Fiji.

To compound matters for Wales, they will be shorn of several top players on Saturday when they face the renowned physical power of the Springboks."


South African Rugby homepage


dvd recorder

Add your Rugby URL here for free -