It is a hat-trick Western Province are desperate to avoid – three successive defeats.

Francois Steyn, who has been called up for South Africa’s Tri-Nations match against Australia, is “not ready” for Test rugby, according to his Racing-Metro coach Pierre Berbizier.

The Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund commemorated its 30th anniversary in style in Johannesburg on Tuesday night when almost R1-million was raised for the victims of serious rugby injuries at its Bell’s Night of the Stars Rugby Extravaganza held at Montecasino.

Too small for cricket and passed over by rugby, the stadiums that cost South Africa more than $1bn for this year’s World Cup already appear to be turning into white elephants.

Só sê die Springbok-yster Frans Steyn, nadat ’n storm die afgelope week rondom sy kop uitgebreek het oor sy jongste beenbesering én voortgesette beskikbaarheid vir Peter de Villiers se Bok-span.

The players and coaching staff have tried to play down the occasion, and avoid the hype, but there is no doubt that Currie Cup games do not come any bigger than a north-south derby – Western Province against the Blue Bulls.

Make a date with BOOTS AND ALL tonight at 20:30 on SS1. They will be discussing the video and Richie McCaw.

New Zealand’s worst losing run against South Africa in 33 years, a 0-3 whitewash last year, is what helped the All Blacks turn their game around and made them mentally stronger.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has come out strongly to tell the country that he – and nobody else – is the coach of the national team.

It is with great regret that I have to share with all of you that RuggaWorld has lost one of its family members as I received news this morning that Nelius, a founding member of this site, unfortunately passed away over the weekend.

‘ALL BLACKS ONLY 75% THERE’
Somewhat ominously for South Africa and Australia, New Zealand coach Graham Henry says there is better to come from his side despite two comprehensive victories over the Springboks to open this year’s Investec Tri-Nations campaign.

Without doubt the game of the weekend and also a match with many side plots.

GURTHRO GETS 8, MEERKAT ONLY 2
New Zealand scored a comprehensive 32-12 win over South Africa in Auckland on Saturday, to get their Tri-Nations campaign off to the perfect start – outplaying the Springboks in all aspects of the game.

Rugby has a problem. It’s now more than a decade since the game went professional and there are growing signs that it isn’t sustainable, writes CHRIS LAIDLAW.

. . . and it has nothing to do with rugby transformation.
President Jacob Zuma should fire Sport and Recreation Minister Makhenkesi Stofile because he has performed “shockingly” during the World Cup, the ANCYL in eThekwini said on Wednesday.