Spears get four ‘Test’ matches
25 Jan 2006
The Spears have at least five more fixtures before they make their Currie Cup debut later this year.
Having already played the Cheetahs (0-48) and Cats (11-29), the new South African franchise will take on the Stormers in Wellington on Saturday, before playing home and away matches against Kenya (28 February and 4 March) and two away matches against Namibia (24 and 31 March).
Both countries would struggle to reach the semi-finals of the Vodacom Cup, but at least the Spears can boost their confidence ahead of the Currie Cup.
Meanwhile, Spears No 8 and captain Ashley Johnson should return to the side to face the Stormers, after hurting his ankle against the Cheetahs. However, left wing Luvo Sogidashe won’t be named among Pieter de Villiers’s starting XV, after taking a heavy knock from Cats lock Willem Stoltz.
De Villiers said he was satsified with his team’s effort against the Cats and hopes for a similiar 80 minutes on Saturday.
“We created lots of chances but it was unfortunate that we couldn’t convert them into tries,” he said. “I think we stuck to our game plan and we made the Cats look ordinary.”
The Spears tight five gave their Cats counterparts a tough time, and it’s in this area of the game that they could test the Stormers – who are known to struggle up front.
“I worked very hard with our tight five before the Cats game,” said De Villiers. “I think they responded well.”
De Villiers will name his team on Wednesday or Thursday.
32 Comments
25 Jan 2006, 08:11 am
Dragons, Dragons, Dragons
25 Jan 2006, 08:23 am
It would be great if the SPEARS could become a totally “all black” side and prove to SA rugby followers that they have what it takes. In fact I
25 Jan 2006, 08:34 am
WOAH!
ktb, no one thinks that blakc players don’t have what it takes, what is this race issue coming through…
It is another South African team, Not an all black or all white!
25 Jan 2006, 08:35 am
And I am one that hopes the SPEARS do really well…
the problem is with the promotion/relegation in the super 14, not with the Spears, im sure in 2-3 years they could be a fairly good team
25 Jan 2006, 08:37 am
ktb
Who gives a rats *** if they are white, black or pink?
strikers
there are many old verkramptes around who still think that way…
25 Jan 2006, 08:37 am
Well, the Spares will be utterly snotted by proper rugby sides like one finds in New Zealand! No amount of “political correctness” will alter that cold hard fact.
25 Jan 2006, 08:39 am
DeVilliers has the intellectual prowess of Noddy’s famed Big Ears. Luck, home ground advantage and youthful eagerness – rather than a sound game pan – got him through the junior RWC. It is going to be a comical soap opera watching the Spears fall apart at the seams and the Afrikaners on the sidelines eagerly applauding and back slapping themselves as they do.
25 Jan 2006, 08:41 am
Ktb
Black players dont need to proof anything, we no there are excellent quality black players. Just look at all the good black, pink & white players coming through the ranks, ex. U/19 & U/21
Open your eyes please!
25 Jan 2006, 08:44 am
3rdday
Why dont u try to be positive, the best thing that can happen is for them to succeed, and I think everyone should hope for that regardless of your background.
25 Jan 2006, 08:46 am
And strikers, don’t kid yourself. Without an inbred heritage of the game the blacks quite frankly do not yet have what it takes. Its not a race thing, its simply a fact that rugby is not a religion amongst blacks. Their impis would cake walk the Afrikaner at one of their circumcision initiations. With all Americas funding and science and analytical coaching, why are they not yet better than lowly Scotland?
25 Jan 2006, 08:48 am
The Spears should have 2 years of playing currie cup before they start thinking about getting a Super 14 spot. For their sake and the rest of SA
25 Jan 2006, 08:48 am
Bleom Leeu,
I am a realist. How is the weather in Never Never Land?
25 Jan 2006, 08:52 am
Wouldn’t know, but first go back to primary school and learn to spell!…. o another thing, another word for realist is… wait for it…..*******!!!!!
25 Jan 2006, 09:01 am
3rdday … prophet of doom or what?
Hey, this site is full of self-proclaimed oracles gazing into their crystal poep-hol to catch a glimpse of what the super14 holds for SA.
I agree with Tackler that the Spears would get murdered by any provincial side from New Zealand. But if, as Pieter de Villiers, you were given the task of creating a team from what, let’s be honest, are the scraps left over from the other 4 franchises, this would be the perfect way to do it. Start small, baby-steps, with a reasonably steep learning curve but not being thrown into the deep-end like so many other youngsters have had the misfortune of. If SA Rugby is serious about developing a team from the region richest in black/coloured players, this is the perfect way to do it.
I do believe the Spears should only be entering the super14 in 2008 as opposed to next year, but we can’t have everything as we’d like.
Tackler, New zealand has great rugby players with a great provincial system and no meddling politicians … at least for now. It’s about time that with such a great infrastructure, the All Blacks are finally fulfilling their promise.
Don’t rest on your laurels though … the All Blacks dominated professional Rugby Union last year, but lost ground in the sevens and the Boks won both the u19 and u21 World cups and were the only side to beat the All Blacks and run them close at home.
All in all, it will be a very interesting year.
25 Jan 2006, 09:08 am
Surfbok, well said, I have to agree-it will take the Spears 2-3 years to be competative, until then support them & be positive!
25 Jan 2006, 09:10 am
If San Fransico gathered together 15 *** blokes from the annual Love Muscle Festival who had no previous rugby experience they would rodger the Spears in a one off game. They would simply outwit them.
25 Jan 2006, 09:11 am
HI 3RDDAY
WHY GIVE COMMENTS WHEN YOU ARE NOT INFORMED. PIETER DE VILLIERS AND HIS TEAM WON THE TOURNAMENT IN ARGENTINA. GET YOUR FACTS IN PLACE AND THEN TRY TO BE CLEVER.
25 Jan 2006, 09:12 am
Argentina; ****** third world Eastern Cape – whats the diffs??
25 Jan 2006, 09:17 am
3rdday … you alright my friend?
Seems like you’ve got an entire tin of pringles on your shoulder!
25 Jan 2006, 09:26 am
The spears should have played CC rugby for at least 3 years before entering the S14. They are going to be utterly snotted by the NZ teams and i predict new record scores.
For the time being, my money is on Kenya and nam.
25 Jan 2006, 09:38 am
Too true, Stan.
They will be snotted.
Now instead of predicting the obvious, offer something someone doesn’t know … maybe a bit of optimism … glass-half-full … silver-lining?!??!
25 Jan 2006, 10:30 am
3rrd, you poor misimformed fool.
Argentina rules!!!!
25 Jan 2006, 10:44 am
Tackler gets first prize in the – stating the obvious competition.
What a winner…
25 Jan 2006, 10:49 am
Surfbok, read my first sentence carefully…
25 Jan 2006, 10:52 am
Big Joe, Schalck, and Luke to run the other loosies ragged this season. But as usual for the men in Black tight 5 a bit of a worry. No such worries with the likes of Benjamin, Nokwe and Chavanga outside. Hopefully the forwards can the backs some decent ball and then things will get interesting. Don’t write them off just yet.
25 Jan 2006, 10:59 am
allez les bokkes,
In the cape it is called the light 5, not the tight 5…..
But yes, a very impressive loose trio , if they could gel.
25 Jan 2006, 11:09 am
I’m glad to see KTB realised he was talking a lot of KAK and cut his post short
25 Jan 2006, 11:17 am
Turrdday, fancy you knowing all about the annual love muscle festival… Do you go over to San Fran on your holidays and hold your ankles all day?
25 Jan 2006, 11:52 am
TS,
Naah, he just goes to Capetown…
25 Jan 2006, 11:56 am
Understood, Stan.
My comment re: optimism was regarding your backing Kenya & Namibia over the Spears.
25 Jan 2006, 13:58 pm
Lovely Stan, just lovely. Spoken like a true Blue Bull fan.
25 Jan 2006, 16:18 pm
TS
and i will have to stop calling the Sharks the Sperm Whales or else we will have all the Cape men flocking over to Durban.
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.