Super Rugby 2017

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...istant-coach-for-next-two-super-rugby-seasons

With Aaron Mauger on board, the Highlanders' next task is to appoint head coach

Now the Highlanders have signed Aaron Mauger to join their coaching group for the 2018-19 seasons, the odds of Tony Brown being replaced by someone outside of the Super Rugby club seem greater than ever.

Head coach Brown, who replaced Jamie Joseph this year, leaves Dunedin after the Super Rugby season to link up with his old boss in Japan where he will help him guide the national side through to the 2019 World Cup.

On Monday the Highlanders announced that Mauger, who worked as Todd Blackadder's backs assistant at the Crusaders in 2013-15 and was head coach of English club Leicester before the board elected for a clean-out, will move his family to Dunedin in July. Given they have filled their quota of coaching personnel for future seasons, it indicates the next head coach will be an internal appointment.

I wonder whether the Kiwis will promote Mark Hammet to head coach, again? He killed the philosophy at the Hurricanes by mismanaging Ma’a Nonu and Andrew Hore, turning everyone against him. My bet would be on Scott McLeod.

 

[DanDango]

Blitzbok, Kings duo to join Cheetahs
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/blitzbok-kings-duo-to-join-cheetahs-20170501

Cape Town - Blitzboks speedster Rosko Specman will join the Cheetahs’ Super Rugby squad after the completion of the 2016/17 World Rugby Sevens Series.

Specman, 28, is recovering from a hamstring injury, but is on course to regain full fitness and to re-join the Springbok Sevens squad ahead of the Paris (May 13-14) and the London (May 20-21) sevens events.

Specman will then link up with the Cheetahs for the remainder of the Super Rugby season.

According to Afrikaans newspaper Rapport, Speckman is one of three backline players set to join the Bloemfontein-based franchise, despite the uncertainty surrounding the Cheetahs’ Super Rugby future.

The other two are Kings duo Makazole Mapimpi and Malcolm Jaer, with Mapimpi already believed to have agreed a deal with the Cheetahs.

The Cheetahs and Kings look set to be axed from the Super Rugby competition, but the possibility of the Free State side playing in Europe’s PRO12 competition has reignited players’ interest in joining them.

 

[DanDango]

Prinsloo welcomed into Bulls camp
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/prinsloo-welcomed-into-bulls-camp-20170501

Cape Town - The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd confirmed on Monday that former Springbok Sevens star, Boom Prinsloo, joined them on May 1 on a two year deal, having signed a contract until October 2019.

Prinsloo represented the Cheetahs in 51 matches in the Super Rugby competition and the Springbok Sevens team for two years and 15 tournaments and will be available to the Bulls and Blue Bulls team with immediate effect.

High Performance Manager at the BBC, Xander Janse van Rensburg, said there is great excitement in the squad about the arrival of Prinsloo.

"There can be no doubt that the arrival of Boom will bring a different element to our squad and we are pretty excited about that. Boom excelled in fifteens and sevens and not many players can say that. It does show how versatile he is as a player. He is also a strong leader on and off the field, another trait we want in our players."

Prinsloo said he is very pleased with his move to Pretoria.

"I needed a fresh challenge in my career and this is it. I had a great time in Bloemfontein and will only have good memories about the opportunities they created for me in Free State, but I felt that it was time for change. Few challenges greater than making the Vodacom Bulls squad comes across a player's career, so I am very keen to make the best of this opportunity. I am very positive to learn and contribute to the squad and union and cannot wait to start," the 28-year old loose forward said.

 

[Fulcrum29]

OT:

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/lions-star-escapes-armed-robbery-tragedy-20170502

Lions star escapes armed robbery tragedy

Cape Town - Springbok and Lions centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg had a narrow escape after robbers broke into his house last week.

Janse van Rensburg (22), his girlfriend Anzelle von Staden (23) and good friend Runan Venter (20), were watching a movie at the rugby star’s house in The Oaks Golf Estate in Boksburg when they were robbed by three armed men.

Janse van Rensburg told Netwerk24 that the robbers took three computers, a TV, R40 000 and all his clothes except his rugby jerseys.

The Springbok said one of the men was about to rape his girlfriend before he started praying loudly, which prompted the man to back off.

The robbers then tied up Von Staden and Venter, before forcing Janse van Rensburg to drop them off in his girlfriend’s car.

According to Janse van Rensburg, the men instructed him to stop near a squatter camp a few kilometres from his house.

“I heard them tell each other: ‘We have to shoot him, he has seen too much’. I made peace with the fact that it was my last night on earth. I know God loves me and I’ve had a good life.”

Janse van Rensburg said he asked the men if he could pray for them before they shoot him. The men then left him and fled.

 

[faniebraai]

^jesus :wtf:

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Why did he have R40k cash in his house...? :wtf:

 

[Fulcrum29]

It has been announced that Harmichi Tatekawa and Shota Horie has recuperated and will represent Japan against Hong Kong this weekend. The Sunwolves will have much depth when the Sharks and the Cheetahs go on tour to Japan/Singapore. I only wonder what happened to Ataata Moeakiola, this young man will puncture the Stormers line without any doubt.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.heraldlive.co.za/sport/2017/05/03/malletts-radical-plan-sa-rugby/

Mallett’s radical plan for SA rugby

Former Bok coach has high praise for Kings and says PE needs a franchise

Port Elizabeth needs a Super Rugby franchise, according to former Springbok coach Nick Mallet, who has proposed a radical plan that could keep rugby alive in the Eastern Cape.

Mallett, now a television analyst and widely regarded as the voice of South African rugby, wants to see major changes in the way rugby is structured in South Africa.

It has been announced that South Africa must shed two of their franchises as Super Rugby reduces from 18 sides to 15 next season and the Kings and Cheetahs are expected to be the victims.

Mallett has proposed that the country be divided into four regions with Gauteng (Bulls and Lions), KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape (Kings and Cheetahs) and Western Cape making up the four South African franchises.

“I personally think Port Elizabeth needs a franchise,” Mallett said. “Whether you structure it as the Kings or whether you say it is an Eastern Cape franchise and we also have Gauteng, KZN and Western Cape franchises.

“Then you do away with the Bulls and the Lions and all that sort of thing. That would be my answer.”

“If you got the Cheetahs and Kings together and then the Lions and the Bulls, and I am just saying this, and they are not wanting to join.

“I am just saying if there was a Gauteng franchise that drew on those two and an Eastern Cape franchise that drew on the Cheetahs and Kings, we will then keep the majority of our best players and have rugby played in areas that can generate big crowds.

Mallett said Port Elizabeth could put together crowds of 20 000.

Continued

Good to see Mallet talking sense again, this is exactly how I would want the rugby unions to be structured. This must go deeper though, all the through club to schools' level.

To add, WP needs a strong Boland to be expansive again. WP needs to heal the issues at Boland.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Stormers team to [-]get hammered by[/-] face the Hurricanes. NZ import Shaun Treeby gets his first start. Hope he can inject some thrust as well as marshal the defensive line.

Stormers: 15 Sarel Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Kobus van Dyk, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Alistair Vermaak.

Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Oliver Kebble, 19 John Schickerling, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Dan Kriel, 23 Bjorn Basson.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

http://www.heraldlive.co.za/sport/2017/05/03/malletts-radical-plan-sa-rugby/



Good to see Mallet talking sense again, this is exactly how I would want the rugby unions to be structured. This must go deeper though, all the through club to schools' level.

To add, WP needs a strong Boland to be expansive again. WP needs to heal the issues at Boland.

That does make more sense, but doubt whether the Lions or Bulls would go for it. Probably a bigger chance at reforming the Cats!

 

[DanDango]

Cronje back at scrumhalf for Lions
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/cronje-back-at-scrumhalf-for-lions-20170504

Cape Town - Lions coach Johan Ackermann has named his team for Saturday’s Super Rugby clash against the Rebels in Melbourne.

Ackermann has made three changes to the starting team which won 24-15 against the Force in Perth last weekend.

Up front, Lourens Erasmus comes in at lock, replacing Andries Ferreira, while Cyle Brink takes the No 7 jersey from Ruan Ackermann.

In the backline, Ross Cronje is back at scrumhalf, replacing Faf de Klerk.

The Lions said the changes were made due to their rotation policy.

Saturday’s clash is scheduled for 07:00 (SA time).

Teams:

Rebels

TBA

Lions

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen

Substitutes: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Robert Kruger, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Jacques Nel, 23 Anthony Volmink

No Faf de Klerk no more passes behind players or rolling around the ground.

 

[Fulcrum29]

That does make more sense, but doubt whether the Lions or Bulls would go for it. Probably a bigger chance at reforming the Cats!

These two rugby unions need to swallow their pride. The people, the supporters base, need to remember that Super Rugby is the preeminent rugby competition in the Southern Hemisphere. We do have provincial competition tiers in place where the unions participate. It is logical to have the Lions/Bulls draw under the same region. It will save the GLRU and the BBRU a lot, it will also allow the BBRU to return to developing players than exhaust their resources on players outside their draw and in return they will supplement the GLRU.

The same applies to Boland and WPRU. Besides, what is the Bulls doing with the Boland, Pumas, Border alliance???

The Cheetahs and EP, same story.

I read the other day that the Aussies are collaboration with the Kiwis to promote some NRC teams to the Mitre10 cup. Desperation. The Warriors may have a good debut this year at the NRC…

 

[mbayshark]

Pat Lambie back for the Sharks for Saturday's game. Playing off the bench:


Sharks: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Sbusiso Nkosi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt (capt), 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Thomas du Toit
Reserves: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Tera Mtembu, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Johan Deysel

 

[Cray]

Pat Lambie back for the Sharks for Saturday's game. Playing off the bench:

Injury coming in 3...2....1

 

[Agent_Smith]

Injury coming in 3...2....1

He makes Andre Pretorius look indestructible!

 

[mbayshark]

Injury coming in 3...2....1

We can only hope not.

 

[faniebraai]

No Faf de Klerk no more passes behind players or rolling around the ground.

yeh, his service has been shocking lately

 

[DanDango]

He makes Andre Pretorius look indestructible!

:crylaugh:

 

[Scary_Turtle]

These two rugby unions need to swallow their pride. The people, the supporters base, need to remember that Super Rugby is the preeminent rugby competition in the Southern Hemisphere. We do have provincial competition tiers in place where the unions participate. It is logical to have the Lions/Bulls draw under the same region. It will save the GLRU and the BBRU a lot, it will also allow the BBRU to return to developing players than exhaust their resources on players outside their draw and in return they will supplement the GLRU.

The same applies to Boland and WPRU. Besides, what is the Bulls doing with the Boland, Pumas, Border alliance???

The Cheetahs and EP, same story.

I read the other day that the Aussies are collaboration with the Kiwis to promote some NRC teams to the Mitre10 cup. Desperation. The Warriors may have a good debut this year at the NRC…

Wouldn't it make sense then for Kings-Stormers, Sharks-Cheetahs, Bulls-lions to join together just because of geography?

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Gross ...... every one of our established franchises should never be forced to merge. You destroy the union's identity by doing that, the Cats thing was a nightmare. Look, irrespective of current form or if a team plays SR or not, they are this country's face of rugby, they have supporters that are just theirs, branding, logo's, etc etc. Leave them alone.