Saffas shine for Sarries
29 Mar 2009
Brad Barritt and Wikus van Heerden were central to Saracens’ 19-14 win over Wasps at Vicarage Road.
Barritt’s impact on attack was limited but he was outstanding in defence, blunting Wasps’ 10-12 axis of Danny Cipriani and Riki Flutey. Van Heerden carried the ball strongly and was a constant threat at the breakdown.
However, while the South African pair stood out, the gutsy effort of the collective has to be lauded. They defended well for long periods and showed character to grab the win with a late try.
Flyhalves Glen Jackson and Cipriani traded penalties in the first half – Saracens taking a 12-6 lead into the break. But Wasps countered, scoring to take a 14-12 lead. However, a 75th minute converted try from Francisco Leonelli Morey sealed the result for Saracens.
In the other Sunday fixture, Bristol gave themselves hope of avoiding relegation with a 37-18 victory over Worcester Warriors.
21 Comments
29 Mar 2009, 18:30 pm
sharks miss barritt
29 Mar 2009, 18:31 pm
bulls could have done with wikus this weekend as well
29 Mar 2009, 18:32 pm
damn its frustrating losing all this talent to Europe!
29 Mar 2009, 21:09 pm
#3 grant10: Spare a thought for New Zealand, then!
29 Mar 2009, 21:28 pm
I like Brad Barrit. Very good player. I sincerely hope he gets to play for England.
Go Fez.
29 Mar 2009, 21:34 pm
There was a post on another thread re form team of S14 so far. Here’s my 2 cents, all in current positions, no injured, no internationaliste:
1. Heinke
2. Biz
3. Jannie Dup
4. Bakkies
5. Oom danie
6. Stegman
7. Vermulen
8. Spies
9. FDP
10. Steyn
11. Ndgane
12. JDV
13. Adi
14. JPP
15. Ludik
16. Beast
17. Smitty
18. Fondse
19. Kankowski
20. Rocket/Vermaak
21. Jacques
22.Zane Kirchner
29 Mar 2009, 21:39 pm
Stefan Terblanche. Probably ahead of Zane. But all 3 fullbacks good.
29 Mar 2009, 23:16 pm
Haha Not bad looking but I would say Brussouw way ahead of Stegmann, and definitely Terblanche way way ahead of Ludik. Ludik has turned up his performance this year as has Jano Vermaak, but he´s not in the top 3 Fullbacks we have.
Heinke great for scrums but Beast better for all round play.
Jannie our best bet along with Smit (but I would like to see them give Carstens an extended run in that position).
Missing Matfield and Bekker due to injury, and Jacques Botes would be ahead of Stegmann on the bench for me. Even Daniel. And if Deysel wasnt injured he´d be 7. Odwa at 11 cos he´s played well, but we really need someone more robust and faster there. Jacques Fourie deserves a starting berth too i reckon. Again I agree with Kockott and Vermaak has cerainly stepped it up this year.
29 Mar 2009, 23:38 pm
Watson: Bok coach “a ba.boon”
2009-03-29 21:28Email | Print
Cheeky Watson is embroiled in another storm.
Johannesburg – Eastern Cape rugby boss Cheeky Watson is embroiled in another storm after a newspaper reported he called Springbok coach Peter de Villiers “a ba.boon”.
Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag reported that Watson, who campaigned hard for De Villiers to be chosen as Springbok coach but has since had a falling out with the Bok mentor, made the comments at a meeting of the EP Legends on 10 December last year in Port Elizabeth.
The newspaper, which has a written statement from a member of the meeting, said that a heated discussion had taken place at the meeting over why De Villiers wanted to play a Springbok Test in Soweto when members of the meeting felt it should have been played in Port Elizabeth. During the discussion, the newspaper said Watson allegedly referred to De Villiers as “a ba.boon who does not know what he is doing”.
The newspaper reported that a complaint was laid with SA Rugby after another meeting on 29 January when Watson made disparaging remarks about other rugby administrators as well.
An email was sent to Andy Marinos, SA Rugby’s acting managing director which asked that Watson be investigated for misconduct. It seems no such investigation was ever launched.
In another move, Watson was served with a notice of court proceedings for defamation after he attacked SA Rugby’s regional manager Godfrey Afrika in an Eastern Cape newspaper this week, accusing him of trying to destabilise the region.
30 Mar 2009, 01:14 am
#8 Slumtown: Hello Slummies. Just a team. In truth I forgot Stefan with a brainfart. But Stegmann is better than Brussouw this year.
Beast is good, but I wanted heinke to soften ‘em up.
Didn’t choose anyone injured.
30 Mar 2009, 03:30 am
#6 SodaJoe:
It amuses me how many ignore the real unsung RSA S14 loose-forward and centre to the Shark’s success this year again…
None other than Botes… consistently turning over more ball, making more (error-less) tackles week in and out…
Other wise give or take a few positions on S14 form… Snor has it quite easy really heading into the Lions tour…
30 Mar 2009, 03:32 am
Cipriani is getting back to his best slowly but surely, apparently had a great game. Barritt getting closer to an England call up too.
#9 Supa Die BlouJan: I knew PDV didn’t get along with the Watsons
30 Mar 2009, 03:48 am
Biggles !
You are back – Good morning
30 Mar 2009, 04:07 am
#11 bryce_in_oz:
Not that eay bro.
PietSnor had better find a monster tighthead plus back-up before the Lions tour.
Not to mention a specialist goal kicker ipo Ruan.
Or we will have 1997 all over again, not to mention 1974….heaven forbids!
30 Mar 2009, 04:08 am
#12 Big Hit: sure he is, and the SH sides better watch out for the Autumn internationals right ??????
hahahahahahahaha
30 Mar 2009, 04:11 am
#14 Pietman:
See the pole on right… that is as accurate as I’ve seen it at TH…
And with Butch, RP, Steyn, Kockott that’s more than enough in the squad…
30 Mar 2009, 04:32 am
#16 bryce_in_oz:
If PdeV follows that pole, then it’s ok, but will he?
And Butchie and Ruan,also fine by me.
But PdeV will stick with Ricky, I think….
Look at Soda’s team above, good.
But it won’t fly for political reasons.
30 Mar 2009, 04:33 am
#13 Rugby_Princess: good moaning RP,
you been away yourself?
#15 poppa69: It’s not hard to win a rugby match when it’s 15 v 12 (except for NZ who found it tough work).
30 Mar 2009, 12:17 pm
Hmmm Bighit, how is it hard when you win by 30 points and dont concede a try? I call it hard when in 05 england couldnt even win at home against the ABs when three were yellow cards were dished out.
Oh well I suppose another moral victory for England only losing by 30. Hopefully we dont bother coming to the north this year whatss the point ,the tri nations teams should send there development teams. All I am looking forwrd to is the tri nations the first divsion of rugby.
30 Mar 2009, 13:45 pm
#19 hawkes: it was 12-6 after 60 minutes, England had 240 caps to NZ’s 675, ultimately the ABs were and are **** when other sides raise their game so it’s not really choking, just the truth being uncovered.
Granted we tired in the last 20 but if you’re playing 3 men down and the ref against you, it will happen.
30 Mar 2009, 17:10 pm
It will be a sad day when Barritt runs out in an England jersey. What a loss.
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