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 … 2 3 4 5 6 [7] 8 9 10 11 12 … 46 » Show All
21 Dec 2010, 12:44 pm
@iori Yagami : post 281.
No, I am no slaughterman.
My oldest brother had the duty of Axeman.
30 kids from the neighbourhood would show up(aged 4-10). Stand back 20 metres and watch in awesome wonder.
Vegetarians were few and far between in those days.
21 Dec 2010, 12:46 pm
@cane : Lol sounds cool. Poor chicken though, thats a packed execution.
21 Dec 2010, 12:52 pm
@gunther : Don’t get me wrong, the HR Pinot Noir is a splendid wine. But it is a bit of a hairdresser’s choice. It’s about a masculine as a floral foot stool.
21 Dec 2010, 12:52 pm
@Puma : Post 296.
Before you throw that lamb onto the braai on Christmas Day………………………………give it a love bite from me. Waste not want not.
21 Dec 2010, 12:54 pm
@>^..^< katman : Post 303.
I’ve always thought that about chardonnay.
21 Dec 2010, 12:55 pm
@cane : Hey, I like chardonnay. You calling me soft, you big old kiwi fruit?
21 Dec 2010, 12:57 pm
@cane : 304 – Will do Cannie.
21 Dec 2010, 12:58 pm
@>^..^< katman :
even worse for I like to stick it in the fridge for half an hour before opening.
I love shiraz…but when its very hot I find it a bit much.
fear not though I have a Vilafonte Series M in reserve.
21 Dec 2010, 13:01 pm
@cane :301 – Cannie, Bet you pleased you were not the oldest..hahaha. No wonder hardly any Vegetarians…
21 Dec 2010, 13:09 pm
@>^..^< katman : 303 –
Stick with the Cabernet or Shiraz. Best Shiraz I have tasted was in Oz.
@gunther : 308 – Gunther if you want to stick your Shiraz in the fridge, stick to Katmans Hairdressers choice
For me (a red wine drinker) the thought of a good red wine coming out of the fridge is a huge NO NO. 
21 Dec 2010, 13:14 pm
What an enviable problem/situation to have to deal with. I have to stick my red wine on the radiator or in front of the little fan heater before I can drink it over here!
21 Dec 2010, 13:15 pm
@Puma :
only in summer puma and only certain wines..
red wine should be served at room temperature.
what is room temp in durban during the summer?
unless of course you like your wine the same temperature as your soup
in which case keep on dishing out the no no’s
21 Dec 2010, 13:19 pm
@Yetirat :
Are you in Yorkshire Yeti……………or the Himalayas
21 Dec 2010, 13:20 pm
The world’s most respected wine critic, Jancis Robinson MW, rates SA reds rather lowly and says — with much justification — that they all have a characteristic “burnt rubber” undertone.
NZ pinot noirs compete with the very best Burgundy ones both in quality, complexity and premium price. It’s just not a hot climate cultivar and it’s the hardest of all to get just right.
21 Dec 2010, 13:26 pm
@gunther : 312 – Gunther room temp in Durbs is in my air con house
I know red wine should be at room temp but not fridge temp wink: that is a bit too cold. 
21 Dec 2010, 13:29 pm
@Puma :
Puma what temperature do you think it’s at by the time you have uncorked it and served it?
It’s probably an age thing.
21 Dec 2010, 13:31 pm
@Puma : 315.
Drink it the way you like it PUMA.
You only live once.
21 Dec 2010, 13:31 pm
@cane :
Northamptonshire. It’s no joke here at the moment.
Heard some thumping around the car this morning and it turned out the bottle of water I usually keep in the back had turned into a solid block of ice!
21 Dec 2010, 13:33 pm
@TheTackler : NZ might have a better rugby team (now, not next year) and better wines, but one thing is guranteed, we in SA have the better women. But it is all about priorities, I guess.
21 Dec 2010, 13:34 pm
@cane :
precisely.
21 Dec 2010, 13:37 pm
@cane : 317 – Thanks Cane, know we veterans know better.
21 Dec 2010, 13:37 pm
@Puma : know = now
21 Dec 2010, 13:40 pm
@gunther : 316 – Depends Gunther, If you uncork and serve it straight away (straight out the fridge) rather cold
But if left to stand then room temp, depends what temp your room is too. 
Like Cane says, drink it the way you enjoy it. Red wine for me very cold is not on.. lol. But all to our own hey!!!
21 Dec 2010, 13:41 pm
@Puma : meant = stand AT room temp.
Sorry busy working while posing..lol.
21 Dec 2010, 13:43 pm
@Puma : 324 – Jeepers not getting this right, must be a age thing…hehhe
– posing = posting.
21 Dec 2010, 14:01 pm
@Puma :
yoh..
your house must be cold at 14 16 degrees
sounds like you have cracked open your (warm) wine early.
21 Dec 2010, 14:07 pm
@gunther : I know it’s okay for a Pinot to be slightly chilled. As I said, I’m rather fond of one myself. But it does kind of smack of pink Polo shirts with popped collars.
21 Dec 2010, 14:11 pm
@TheTackler : Ja, you carry on telling yourself that. And why stop there? Tell us about NZ’s exquisite biltongs and their magnificent boerewors. Hell, why not convince us that their big game viewing is second to none.
They may produce some good Pinots, but the balance of their red wines is light years behind SA’s best. And by this I mean real reds.
21 Dec 2010, 14:11 pm
@>^..^< katman :
I’m struggling to make the older generation understand.
How did you know I rock the popped collar?
can you see me waving now?
ps that shirt is not as pink as it looks on the webcam….
21 Dec 2010, 14:12 pm
@TheTackler :
Is there no end to you sycophancy? They’ve let you in the country, you can stop being such an arze licker now.
21 Dec 2010, 14:13 pm
Goodnight all,
and whatever you throw on the heat this Christmas……………..I hope you enjoy it.
I sat on Santa’s knee earlier this week, and asked for the following:
- Hurricanes to win the Super whatever.
- Wellington Lions to win the NPC.
- West Coast to win the Heartland Comp.
- Sharkies to win CC.
- Celtic.
- Liverpool/Fulham……………anyone but Chelsea, Man U. or Arsenal.
- Poms to slaughter Oz in the Ashes.
- NZ to win RWC.
And the Big Guy said …………..Okay cane.
But just this once,
21 Dec 2010, 14:14 pm
@cane : @cane : Those shopping mall Santas can’t be trusted. Did he ever explain what he had in his pocket?
21 Dec 2010, 14:15 pm
I’ve started drinking Rose lately due to extreme heat here. Luckily the country I’m in is full of Frenchmen so I can get away with acting like a ponce…
21 Dec 2010, 14:16 pm
@gunther : Lucky guess. You sound like a collar popper I used to know. I bet you struggle to get your facial routine down to the 15 minute mark.
21 Dec 2010, 14:17 pm
@gunther : Gunther, I make the most typos, you should know by now..hehehe
My air con is set at 20 just right, house not too warm and not freezing.
Nah, still working but having some mates around later. So will open my wine around 5pm
It wont stand long either…hehehe. Actually my mates all enjoy a iced cold beer, I do too sometimes. Today it is overcast with rain so the red wine looks a good choice for later.
21 Dec 2010, 14:18 pm
@cane :
You asked for Celtic???
Anyway, Scotland doesn’t want them. Help yourself
21 Dec 2010, 14:20 pm
@>^..^< katman :
Plenty of red varietals that can be served chilled… obviously on top of the multitude of Rose varietals (the more savoury the better)… look no further than a GSM (Grenache Shiraz Movedre) or some of the many quality sparkling reds around…
As for those wanting to step away from the Turkeys/Hams… they can easily be done on the Weber… the Turkey’s boned, brined and herb butters stuffed under the skin or a leg ham boned and basted with any multitude of goodness… either with a smattering of red wine soaked hickory chips (or vine clippings) on indirect heat with hood closed and hey presto…
Any of the above chilled varietals match perfectly…
21 Dec 2010, 14:22 pm
@JockBok :
A Rose is a very delectable summer guff.
21 Dec 2010, 14:23 pm
@cane : Named after those giants of SA rugby, Earl and Jody, of course.
21 Dec 2010, 14:24 pm
@cane : 331 – Cane nice post there. But ask for Sharkies to win S15 and Boks WC
If you don’t post before Christmas Cannie, have a great one and enjoy it mate. Also all the best for your Birthday on the 26th my friend. Only allowed you one week to catch up to me in age…hehehe.
21 Dec 2010, 14:24 pm
@JockBok :
Easy Jocky,
Variety is the spice of life.
21 Dec 2010, 14:24 pm
@bryce_in_oz : I know. I’m all for a chilled red. I’m just yanking Goenta’s chain.
21 Dec 2010, 14:27 pm
@JockBok : 333 – JockBok, WHAAAT!!! Rose????? Well I never…hehehe. You sound as bad as Gunther with his red wine in the fridge…hahahaha.
How you buddy? When you coming home for Christmas?
Celtic is fine with me, Cannie can have that one in his wish list. Though Rangers are fine too. Have so many Scot mates and it gets hectic with who to support. Celtic or Rangers. I go with the flow who ever is visiting me. But I have a Celtic jersey. Given to me many years back.
21 Dec 2010, 14:35 pm
@Puma :
Howdy Puma. Go with Hearts. We are on a bit of a run at the moment, 6 wins in a row including stuffing Celtic, and a draw last week saw us consolidate 3rd place. G*d is a season ticket holder so you’d be in good company
In the proccess of packing now actually. Leave after midnight tonight, Ethiopia tomorrow morning 5am, Jozi at 1.15, The Spur at 1.30, CT at 6pm
And chilled red is relative mate. Depends on the room temperature, and when it’s hot outside, a little bit of chill can be quite nice.
21 Dec 2010, 14:37 pm
@bryce_in_oz : 337 – Bryce you a chef? Sounds kinda nice that braai.
I was in Oz on business in Oct. One restaurant served Shiraz very chilled, for me it was wasted, just far too cold, took the lovely taste away. But never put me off, tried it a few times again while there not chilled and was probably the best Shiraz I have had. So does depend on ones taste I suppose.
21 Dec 2010, 14:39 pm
@cane :
Variety is fine bud. But unfortunately you need a lawyer with that Christmas list. Even Santa can’t help you with *any* of those wishes
21 Dec 2010, 14:42 pm
@TheTackler :
When are you going to stop talking through your ***?
She is not rated in the top 5 wine critics in the world according to Wine magazine, that would be Parker from the States. Robinson is merely regarded as a top wine journalist.
And for the record, SA is among the top 10 in both the world’s leading wine producing countries, and the top 10 wine exporting countries.
21 Dec 2010, 14:43 pm
@>^..^< katman :
look after your face and your face will look after you.
I never take longer than ten.
@Puma :
actually, when I make my annual hajj to provence there is nothing I like more than bruisingly chilled, flinty rose.
I may even pop an ice cube in.
Quelle Horreur…
21 Dec 2010, 14:44 pm
@JockBok :344 – Hearts, You support them? Okay if you say so…lol. Most of my mates are either Celtic supporters (most are) but also have quite a few Scot mates supporting Rangers. Often have a mix of all of them over here. Believe it or not they all get on well. lol.
Good you on your way home buddy. You sure will be looking forward to the break.
I know red wine can be served chilled, I am just not keen on it at all. That is if it is like fridge temp, far too cold. You get it also like that in some restaurants in France. Got a Shiraz served to me very cold in Oz and it was not great. Tried it another time not chilled and enjoyed it far better. BUT Rose?? No ways, not for me..hehe.
21 Dec 2010, 14:46 pm
It is like Gavin Rich winning the top SA rugby journalist award.
Sure as **** does not make him a rugby expert…
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