The new face of Super Rugby
20 Dec 2010
Find out everything you need to know about the expanded competition in the bumper 156-page issue of SA Rugby magazine.
We kick off our Super Rugby preview section with an idiot’s guide to the new format (if you still don’t know how it works after reading this, we can’t help you). That’s followed by three pages on each South African team (how they are shaping up, player signings/losses, fixtures, previous log finishes, numbers that matter etc) and one page on each of the Kiwi and Aussie sides.
Also in the new issue:
– The Springboks failed to make any progress on their end-of-year tour
– Is Victor Matfield too conservative to be Bok captain?
– The All Blacks capped off an outstanding 2010 with their third Grand Slam in five years
– The Wallabies were frustratingly inconsistent on their end-of-year tour
– If England are to seriously challenge for the World Cup, they will have to stand up to the big beasts of the game
– Behind the swagger lies a secret diary that is driving England wing Chris Ashton to new heights
– Why the Barbarians are still relevant in the professional era
– Yet again the World Cup schedule helps the big nations and hinders the smaller ones. Why can’t the IRB make rugby’s showpiece event fair to all?
– Plus: Why Stuart Abbott is back in SA, Tim Noakes on the Boks ‘doping’ controversy, Heinrich Brussow’s injury battle, SA players in Europe
Click here to subscribe to print edition
Click here to subscribe to digital edition
2,264 Comments
Pages: « 1 … 26 27 28 29 30 [31] 32 33 34 35 36 … 46 » Show All
3 Jan 2011, 15:58 pm
A pity Kallis can’t bowl as I think he is one guy who would have got some movement.
3 Jan 2011, 16:10 pm
A bit of rugby news:
Will Greenwood has chosen his rugby dreamteam of 2010 and only 2 Boks make the starting 15. They are Victor Matfield and Bismark du Plessis.
A third Bok – Pierre Spies – is mentioned as being unlucky to miss out on a starting spot in the no.8 position, along with Jamie Heaslip and Harinorduquay. Kieran Read was chosen as the first choice in this position.
No other Boks came close.
Interesting little tidbit to pass the time.
3 Jan 2011, 16:10 pm
@Bill Reyts : Thanks for the info
Puma,Bill then why is Harrs still there?
3 Jan 2011, 16:13 pm
@Bill Reyts :
When a team gets a healthier score than they know they should have got(80 plus for the last 2 partnerships from 283/8) some of the non-in-fielders can relax too much I guess but that is human. But you do know Proteas generally are the trendsetters in the fielding stakes and accept that everything on a cricket field does not ALWAYS go your way as demonstrated by the JPD almost run-out of Dravid and then the run-out off a dropped catch by Petersen.
I think the frustration of the last two Proteas stands have got to the Indians’ psyche thus the lack of decisiveness and confidence(or is it over-confidence?).
This to me is a genuine 450 innings Newlands wicket for 2nd and 3rd days and even my ridgeback(who enjoyed pissing at its gates) would know this but not the Indians- the problem, they have not pissed on its gates.
I must say both series, here and Aussieland, have captivated me and then also we are only 46 days from the 2011 WC in India and S. Lanka.
3 Jan 2011, 16:13 pm
@Tacitus :
Compliments of the season Tac! Also missing the rugby! See Schalla, Habs and JdV at the cricket.
@JL1 :
Imran Tahir has only just qualified to play for SA! He is a Pakistani by birth.
3 Jan 2011, 16:15 pm
@Bill Reyts :
Same to you.
Unbelievable to think that the S15 kicks off in little over a month’s time. Can’t wait.
3 Jan 2011, 16:15 pm
@E.T. :
For sure! Gautum and Sachin looking pretty comfortable at the moment though.
3 Jan 2011, 16:17 pm
A sport can surely not be too physically demanding if guys can still be international stars at close to 40 years of age?
3 Jan 2011, 16:17 pm
@Tacitus :
I’m really looking forward to this years Super 15! I just hope our franchises come to the party. Feels like yesterday that we toured the UK!
3 Jan 2011, 16:17 pm
@JL1 :
The cricket mafia of Smith, Jacques ‘Carless’, Boucher and A. DeV. decree so.
You very correctly observed that Smith fears Botha as a captaining threat and everyone knows that Smith has decreed that he WILL captain the ODI side until the 2011 WC in Feb.
3 Jan 2011, 16:18 pm
@Tacitus :
Believe you me! Cricket is very demanding not only physically but also mentally.
3 Jan 2011, 16:18 pm
@Bill Reyts :
Unfortunately your wish is likely to be granted. Our franchises ARE going to come to the party, smashing each other to bits in our conference, and giving the Kiwis and Aussies an easy path to home play-offs.
3 Jan 2011, 16:19 pm
@Bill Reyts :
How can fat boys like Kallis and Smith be called athletes?
3 Jan 2011, 16:20 pm
@Tacitus :
3 Jan 2011, 16:21 pm
@Bill Reyts :
I guess. But the new format now exxacerbates the local rivalry.
3 Jan 2011, 16:23 pm
@Tacitus :
The same way that Smit, Guthro and co are called athletes…
3 Jan 2011, 16:23 pm
If Jacques ‘Carless’ has a genuine ” sidestrain” one would expect he will not bowl at all not only today but for this innings as well.
But guess what will happen? And is that not then cheating? And they say this is a “Gentlemen’s game”?
3 Jan 2011, 16:24 pm
Anyhow. See ya later. Kind of depressing commenting on the arse end of a 1500 post, 2 week old thread.
I’ll be back when the fake journalists on this site start earning their money again.
3 Jan 2011, 16:25 pm
How’s that one banner at Newlands.
“Harris, we’ve seen your straight one.”
LMAO.
3 Jan 2011, 16:25 pm
@Bill Reyts :
No way, big difference.
Smit, Gurthro, Os etc. may be heavy, but they have the strength to go with it. Care to compare benchpress stats for rugby props – who need to be heavy to meet the demands of their positions – and fat batsmen, who are just fat because they are lazy?
3 Jan 2011, 16:26 pm
India looking really good! Enjoyed the sign:
Harris we have seen your straight one, now show us some variety.
3 Jan 2011, 16:27 pm
@I am a stormer :
Snap! LOL
3 Jan 2011, 16:27 pm
I will in 2011 and anytime thereafter ask ALL the uncomfortable questions that needs to be asked of my country.
There is pleasure and genuine respect in the TRUTH, believe me.
Nationalism and pathetic patriotism counts for nothing in my value system.
3 Jan 2011, 16:27 pm
Cheers all.
3 Jan 2011, 16:29 pm
@Tacitus :
Cheers mate!
3 Jan 2011, 16:33 pm
@E.T. :
If Kallis is able to bowl in this innings, he will not be able to do so, until he has spent the same amount of overs on the field as he did off the field.
3 Jan 2011, 16:39 pm
@I am a stormer :
Did he, in fact do so in Durban where after batting he spent some time off the field?
Unfortunately we do not know the number of overs then and now it is already closing on 30 overs and if you then double THAT he can only really bowl after 60 overs if he comes back on now(he is still off is he not?).
3 Jan 2011, 16:39 pm
@Bill Reyts :
Harris thought he had Tendulkar a couple of overs ago. Was quite close but umpire probably correct.
If anything, the referral system should be in place in this series between teams 1 and 2 in world cricket.
3 Jan 2011, 16:41 pm
@Tacitus : @ 1502
it would have been more interesting if youd just cut’n'pasted it instead.
Good commentator/analyst is Greenwood, better than he was a player.
3 Jan 2011, 16:43 pm
@1526 & 1527
They have just focussed on Duminy again which means Jacques ‘Carless’ is still enjoying his shower.
3 Jan 2011, 16:44 pm
@E.T. :
That is the way I understand it. I’m trying to look it up in the laws of cricket.
3 Jan 2011, 16:51 pm
@I am a stormer :
You have the law correct but can you imagine how watchful and focussed any adjudicator has to be, to be correct always?
And that is why pointing fingers(not you specifically) at these guys are not fair as they are human after all. Mistakes mosly goes both ways 99% of the time.
3 Jan 2011, 17:00 pm
@E.T. :
Law 46 makes reference to players not being able to leave the field for a shower or rubdown while the match is in progress – but I can’t see anything about injuries to bowlers. Also, the law book I have is pretty old.
But it’s been in place when Jackman himself was playing first class cricket in this country.
3 Jan 2011, 17:04 pm
@I am a stormer :
Do you accept that Jacques ‘Carless’ was out twice legitimately so according to “Hawkeye” in his innings of 161?
The first time when he had about 48 or 52 and facing the last ball of the 52nd over by Sreesanth?
Srees. and other Indians confidently and convincingly appealed for LBW but were turned down just as convincingly only for “Hawkeye” to show that the whole ball ‘would’ have taken the top of the leg stump. Take that ‘extra’ 100 plus away and the other positives of that not out and you see the HUGE effect it would have on that 362.
But yet too many mentioned the questionable LBWs of DeV and Boucher in that final innings at Durban as if the game would have been saved based on the scratchiness of both batters in both innings in that game.
Too many embarrass me with such lack of KARMA( more clearly understood as one eyed-ism).
3 Jan 2011, 17:06 pm
@Tacitus : I am glad I do not rate Will Greenwood
Pomms seldom select Saffas in their dream teams
3 Jan 2011, 17:06 pm
@I am a stormer :
Just referring, playfully, to commentators comments at the end of Proteas innings(so game not really in progress) so the golden oldie could take his deserved shower.
3 Jan 2011, 17:08 pm
@E.T. : Shower!?With those hair implants he cannot risk a shower, maybe a Jacuzzi session is what he is having
3 Jan 2011, 17:12 pm
SA women, so sophisticatedly, use to be wine drinkers in days past but now they are apeing their lousy, loudmouthed American types by guzzling large amounts of beer. Its going down, just down!
Fortunately it has not reached the ‘JUG stage’ yet.
3 Jan 2011, 17:17 pm
@E.T. :
The referral system should be available in all test series particularly between teams 1 and 2. But the Indians gave it the thumbs down. This is where the toothless guys at the ICC should have stepped in and made a ruling.
Apparently, there are only 2 hawkeye systems available and one is being used in the Ashes series.
So why not here.
It just makes things fairer allround.
3 Jan 2011, 17:20 pm
@JL1
Well he could wear his GFs’ rubberised plastic shower cap that he has in his bag, amongst other things, to protect his ‘new-I-got-it-from-Durban-Tina-Turner-type-hair.
Did you see the positive comment I made wrt your Smith vs. Botha for ODI captain reference.
There is a real threat there as far as Smith is concerned hence his recent comments on that issue wrt to 2011 WC.
3 Jan 2011, 17:32 pm
@E.T. :
What comments are those by Smith? All I know is that Smith is standing down as ODI captain after the WC. He’s already stood down as T20 captain.
His obvious focus for the remainder of his career will be test cricket.
3 Jan 2011, 17:33 pm
@I am a stormer :
@1539
The stupid problem is really at the door of the ICC. They Must rule that ALL tests use it or NOT. You cannot have it in Australia and not simultaneously have it in S. Africa and New Zeeland.
They really need to take responsibility.
However, my physics dictates that “Hawkeye” is not gospel but too many will take it as such?
I cannot see transducers/sensors covering every mm. or inch of the bowling strip where the bowl is likely to land once out of the bowlers hand. With strips changing location from match to match that is too costly and labour intensive a demand.
Also the call for a review must be taken out of the players’ hands(captain) and placed into the hands of the umpires on the field.
You are aware of the STUPID situation were Ponting having asked for a review angrily and for many minutes did not accept its decision when it went against his desires.
So it is not the be-all and end-all technology, nothing ever is with emotional humans.
3 Jan 2011, 17:36 pm
Kakkest Protea XI since 2000 (Tests)
1. Alviro P
2. A Bacher
3. B Dippenaar
4. N McKenzie
5. A Prince
6. JP Duminy
7. T Tsolekile
8. Robin P
9. C Langeveldt
10. M Ngam
11. Lobsy
3 Jan 2011, 17:38 pm
@I am a stormer :
He commented more than once that he will give up the ODI captaincy after the 2011 WC.
To my knowledge the squad has not been selected yet. How does he know he is in the team let alone as its captain? How does he know that the fines- and drinks-master, Boucher, collorating with Jacques ‘Carless’ will not pin him against the next wall and gate that Mr. ‘Carless’ decides to take on?
3 Jan 2011, 17:40 pm
We could’ve had : (thanks 2 quotas we wont)
1. Smith
2. Amla
3. Trott
4. Kallis
5. Kevin P
6. AB
7. Prior (best sledger at the moment) – keeper
8. McClaren
9. Steyn
10. Morkel
11. Tahir
3 Jan 2011, 17:43 pm
AB drops Gambhir off Tsotsobe.
2nd dropped catch today off his bowling behind the wicket.
3 Jan 2011, 17:53 pm
@E.T. :
As I said, I’m aware that he wants to stand down as skipper of the ODI side. But I don’t whether he will available as a player only like for the T20 side.
An enlarged ODI squad of 30 has already been chosen. The squad for the ODI’s against India will come from this as well as being a provisional WC squad. But it is not exclusive – others can still force their way in. Maybe that Tahir guy could be in.
3 Jan 2011, 18:00 pm
@E.T. : Saw your comments
Smith is very conservative in his approach and Botha seems to be a natural strategist
Smith does not like this, maybe a tad insecure
3 Jan 2011, 18:00 pm
@I am a stormer : 1546 – Yip, if we not going to take our chances can’t see us win this test.
India are well in now. 140/2
3 Jan 2011, 18:02 pm
@Boo_Habana : Would Tahir be reckoned as a quota?
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