Archive for November, 2007

Baa-baas: `We`ll entertain you`

November 30, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

The famous rock group Queen had a hit song called ‘Let me entertain you’. A few other artists – including British pop megastar Robbie Williams – had songs with the same title, but few could entertain like Queen.
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Posted in Outgoing tours | 9 Comments »

Boks wary of Baa-baas backlash

November 30, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

Hopefully Springbok skipper Johann Muller was not being too literal when he said at a press conference that the great thing about Saturday’s clash with the Barbarians at Twickenham is that it is a rare opportunity for the players to have fun.
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Posted in General Discussions | Comments Off

Collins Enjoying Old-School Stint

November 30, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

Jerry Collins may be one of rugby’s star attractions but the big-hitting All Black is determined to stay in touch with his amateur roots.
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Posted in Outgoing tours | 4 Comments »

Smit: Captain Spectacular

November 30, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

Bok skipper our greatest ambassador.
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Posted in Rugby Personalities | 67 Comments »

Why they’ve become South African

November 30, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

Quite a few South Africans who were there have remarked on how well the Springboks were received in Cardiff in the buildup to and during last weekend’s clash with Wales.
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Posted in General Discussions | 6 Comments »

Hungry pack chasing Springboks

November 30, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

South Africa are the narrow favourites to retain their Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens title when the action gets underway today, but the last event to be staged at the Dubai Exiles is far from clear cut with several sides equipped to take honours.
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Posted in IRB Sevens | 2 Comments »

Ackermann to spark Bok pack

November 30, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

Veteran Springbok lock Johan Ackermann has received a consolation prize after missing out on the rugby World Cup tournament in France.
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Posted in Outgoing tours | 5 Comments »

You did us proud, Jake

November 29, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

World rugby will bid Jake White goodbye this weekend – if only for the time being. He deserves every accolade that comes his way at Twickenham on Saturday when the Springboks run out against the Barbarians.
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Posted in General Discussions | 113 Comments »

Boks ready to defend Dubai title

November 29, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu is confident that his side are prepared to defend their Dubai title this coming weekend. The Springbok Sevens team completed their preparation with a comfortable win over the USA and they are already benefiting from extra time to prepare in Dubai.
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Posted in IRB Sevens | 2 Comments »

Centralised thinking

November 29, 2007
Posted by Morné

Is it only me or does anyone else agree that 99% of this players playing overseas nonsense and Province vs. Country battle be solved in one swift move.
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Posted in Columnists | 3 Comments »

Kumble backs Kirsten as coach

November 29, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

India’s Test captain Anil Kumble supported Gary Kirsten’s candidature as national coach to succeed Greg Chappell on Thursday.
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Posted in Cricket | 3 Comments »

Conspiracies of silence feed conspiracy theories

November 29, 2007
Posted by Morné

Why is it that we can continually embarrass ourselves as a rugby nation?
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Posted in Rugby Administration | 11 Comments »

Bok team to face Baabaa’s

November 29, 2007
Posted by Morné

Jake White was found somewhere in London and they managed to get the team for Saturday from him.
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Posted in Outgoing tours | 31 Comments »

Possible good news for Smit?

November 29, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

Springbok captain John Smit seems to have nothing to be concerned about if Peter de Villiers becomes coach of the national rugby team next year.
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Posted in Springbok Team Analysis | 55 Comments »

Another Saru media circus

November 29, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

The Springboks are the World Cup champions but South Africa’s rugby administration is nowhere near the same level.
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Posted in Outgoing tours | 11 Comments »

Bok passion not for sale

November 29, 2007
Posted by Morné

It is good to know that even in the professional age of sport, money (and lots of it) cannot buy some player’s passion to wear the Green and Gold.
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Posted in Rugby Personalities | 12 Comments »

More allegations WF players are tossing their quokkas

November 28, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

Western Force rugby officials have reactivated their investigation into claims a number of players mistreated quokkas on Rottnest Island last weekend, after more allegations of animal cruelty surfaced.
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Posted in General Discussions | 335 Comments »

Saru 2, White 1???

November 28, 2007
Posted by Morné

Confusion rules the day as Bok coach Jake White is AWOL.
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Posted in Outgoing tours, Rugby Administration | 24 Comments »

Jake to stick with first choices?

November 28, 2007
Posted by KSA Shark ©

Just as he has done for most of his successful reign as Springbok coach, Jake White should be expected to stick with the tried and trusted when he names his team on Wednesday for Saturday’s match against the Barbarians.
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Posted in Outgoing tours | 59 Comments »

SA hooker fight at Twickenham

November 28, 2007
Posted by KSA Shark ©

Saying thank you to his mentor, Springbok captain John Smit, is higher on Bismarck du Plessis’ list of rugby priorities than a duel with Schalk Brits.
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Posted in Outgoing tours | 1 Comment »

SARU 2, White 0.

November 28, 2007
Posted by KSA Shark ©

Two of Springbok coach Jake White’s requests have been turned down by SA Rugby this week. The Springbok team to play the Barbarians at Twickenham on Saturday will not be regarded as a Springbok XV, despite White’s request earlier this week.
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Posted in Outgoing tours | 26 Comments »

I am not an agent for the ANC – Stofile

November 28, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

Mike Stofile won’t say whether he will stand against Oregan Hoskins for the presidency of the South African Rugby Union early next year. Under the election process, there was still a long way to go on that front, he said, dismissing it airily. But over a dinner in Cape Town last week, Mike Stofile...
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Posted in Rugby Administration | 35 Comments »

Boks to lose out on R6,5m

November 27, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

Saturday’s final Springbok match of the year at Twickenham this weekend looks set to be marred by a railway company’s decision which stands to cost the benefactors R13-million.
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Posted in General Discussions | 4 Comments »

Spellbound by the magical, mysterious, unique and essential world of the Lions

November 27, 2007
Posted by Rasputin

I have an image I have always carried with me. For a while the photograph held its place in my scrapbook. It was of three men – R. H. Williams, Alun Thomas and Cliff Morgan. They looked straight at the camera in their shorts and blazers and, because it was fashionable in those days,...
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Posted in British & Irish Lions Tour 2009 | 4 Comments »

Can Brits make White eat his words?

November 27, 2007
Posted by KSA Shark ©

Western Province Schalk Brits will join the Boks in England. Years ago, coach Jake White didn’t react kindly to Brits’ threat to leave South Africa because he wasn’t selected.
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Posted in Springbok Team Analysis | 26 Comments »

A Woking shame

November 27, 2007
Posted by Morné

The IRB is hosting a conference in Woking at the end of this month for what they say is to map the way forward for rugby, but reading between the lines it seems more like an attempt to continue to undermine the real strength of rugby as a global brand or to become a...
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Posted in Columnists | 16 Comments »

AB’s name coaching shortlist

November 27, 2007
Posted by KSA Shark ©

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) Board have short-listed four coaches for the All Blacks coaching position.
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Posted in Other Unions / Teams | 3 Comments »

Was there a third force behind White?

November 27, 2007
Posted by KSA Shark ©

The deputy president of the South African Rugby Union, Mike Stofile, has accused Springbok coach Jake White for disappointing the top brass and the public on the issue of transformation
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Posted in General Discussions | 116 Comments »