KeoTV: Steyn setback hurts Boks
1 Oct 2011
MARK KEOHANE says Frans Steyn’s injury has disrupted the balance of the Bok 22.
Keo.co.za
18 Jun 2013
MARK KEOHANE, in Business Day Newspaper, writes the Boks gained more the battle in Nelspruit. Rather a scrap than a sensational effort against a courageous but limited Scotland. The Springbok coaching staff gained more because of the struggle against Scotland and there certainly won’t be complacency against Samoa. South African rugby supporters tend to be reactionary and very different in their reactions every weekend. When New Zealand struggled to beat France in the first Test in Auckland and South Africa were brilliant in patches against Italy many on social networks expressed confidence ... Read Article1 Jun 2013
The Bulls are South Africa's best team and they proved it in Bloemfontein. The Cheetahs have been outstanding all season and they were as good on Saturday night as they have been at any stage. Still it wasn't good enough to beat the Bulls, who won 30-25 after leading 30-13 with 10 minutes to play. The Cheetahs finished brilliantly and deserved the bonus point, but the Bulls consolidated their top two league placing thanks to an imposing first hour. Pierre Spies was impressive as team and pack leader, Arno Botha was ever present and the No 9, 10, 12 Bulls axis of Francois Hougaard, Morne ... Read Article11 Jun 2013
Brendan Venter's appointment as Sharks Director of Rugby is a good one. But the decision to end John Plumtree's Sharks coaching tenure is not. Former Springbok and Italy coach Nick Mallett turned down an invitation for the role of Sharks Director of Rugby and Venter, formerly the head coach and Director of Rugby at Saracens, will start his job at the outset of the Currie Cup season. Plumtree remains the Super Rugby head coach until the end of this season's tournament but his contract has not been renewed. Plumtree is highly rated in Europe and will in all likelihood link up with a European ... Read Article8 Jun 2013
Rene Ranger was among the few highlights in New Zealand's 23-13 win against France in Auckland. The All Blacks led 17-10 at half time but France dominated field position for most of the match and enjoyed the greater quality in possession. However they couldn't translate the advantage in the set phase and at the breakdown into points. New Zealand defended well in a match of poor quality. France lead early through Wesley Fofana's try and it took Ben Smith's break to start up New Zealand's international season. Smith has been the form New Zealand back in Super Rugby and he looked a class ... Read Article27 May 2013
Kiwi Vern Cotter is Scotland's new head coach. Cotter will only take up the position in a year's time. He will see out his contact with French club Clermont. Cotter's appointment means that New Zealanders will coach Scotland, Ireland (Joe Schmidt) and Wales (Warren Gatland). New Zealander Robbie Deans has been at the helm of Australia for the last five years and current Blues coach John Kirwan coached Italy and Japan. Kiwi coaches have also been at the helm of Samoa and Fiji in recent years. Read Article5 Mar 2013
MARK KEOHANE writes the Varsity Cup in its first year rocked. Since then it's just another professional tournament. The Varsity Cup may have the innovation of doing a few things differently, but what was supposed to be a celebration of student rugby somehow just seems like another tournament, in which the traditional power houses remain the traditional strengths in the tournament. Much has been made of the Port Elizabeth-based Nelson Mandela University display this season and equally there has been bewilderment at how poor Shimlas have been. But it seems the old one two of Stellenbosch University ... Read Article12 May 2013
Marcus Watson scored in extra time to beat the Blitzbokke in the London World Series Sevens Cup quarter-finals. The teams were level 14-all at full time. Watson's try came four minutes into extra time. England won 19-14. England had the chance to win the match with the last play of the game in normal time. They were awarded a penalty and opted to take a drop kick for goal. It missed. Watson then rounded off a move after England had retained possession for two minutes. South Africa suffered further embarrassment when they lost for a second time in the tournament to the USA and were eliminated ... Read Article8 Jan 2013
Limpopo will play in the Vodacom Cup as a separate side for the first time this year. The region, which is a sub-union of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union, has been granted a place in the tournament in its own rights to help foster rugby in South Africa’s far north. They join the 14 provincial unions as well as the returning Pampas XV from Argentina in the tournament, which kicks off in the second week of March and concludes in mid-May. The Polokwane-based Limpopo team will play in the North Section of the competition, along with the Blue Bulls, Golden Lions, Griffons, Leopards, Pumas, Valke ... Read Article1 Oct 2011
MARK KEOHANE says Frans Steyn’s injury has disrupted the balance of the Bok 22.
backpagemedia has written 16 articles.
21 Oct 2011
20 Oct 2011
Wales scored a last-minute try to sneak in for an 18-17 win over the Baby Boks in their Junior World...Read More
The Boks will not become the No 1 team on the planet until they become the world's leading team at...Read More
SARugbymag.co.za asked HSM sports editorial director GARY LEMKE and junior sports writer GARETH DUNCAN: Have the Sharks made the right...Read More
The Brumbies held on for a 14-12 win over the British & Irish Lions, having led 8-3 at the break....Read More
Brian van Zyl did an excellent job as Sharks CEO during his 19 years in charge, writes MIKE GREENAWAY in...Read More
The Bulls are South Africa’s best team and they proved it in Bloemfontein. Read More
MARK KEOHANE, in Business Day Newspaper, writes the Boks gained more the battle in Nelspruit. Read More
The Rugby Football Union has turned down a proposal from their Welsh counterparts to stage the 2015 World Cup pool match between England and Wales in Cardiff. Read More
Marcus Watson scored in extra time to beat the Blitzbokke in the London World Series Sevens Cup quarter-finals. Read More
Kiwi Vern Cotter is Scotland’s new head coach. Read More
Rene Ranger was among the few highlights in New Zealand’s 23-13 win against France in Auckland. Read More

75 Comments
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1 Oct 2011, 18:38 pm
Realistically we all know that we have very little chance of winning the world cup. We have scrapped two narrow wins and only now face the real contenders. It is 50/50 and bounce of the ball on the day. We have been a pretty average side for about 18 months and things don’t just change overnight. Although we all would LOVE to win the trophy – we are realists, whether Steyn was playing or not.
1 Oct 2011, 19:04 pm
Agreed, Gumboots. But tell me, which team do you think is out of reach of the Boks ? Australia, who got a slapping from such a poor nation as Ireland ? France ? England ? Come on, apart from NZ, all the other teams can be beaten by our boys. So, yes, we do have a strong chance of keeping the cup home, as this tournament is to be the most average one in a long time.
1 Oct 2011, 19:15 pm
@frenchiebokfan(frenchiebokfan)-52:
Mate it would be great to bring the trophy home, but Oz won’t be easy pickings come quarters, then NZ. Two tough games in a row. We haven’t been convincing at all. It was tough against Somoa – very tough and they are a second tier team.
1 Oct 2011, 19:34 pm
if carter is out, and we can get thru oz, nz are definitely beatable.
1 Oct 2011, 19:38 pm
@frenchiebokfan(frenchiebokfan)-52: I agree no team looks that impressive. I think there is far to much rugby during a World Cup Year all the unions are greedy. The top teams look jaded. Players are playing hurt. There is not way Samoa should be running the boks so close or Russia score 20 plus points against Australia or the US getting within 10 points of Ireland etc etc.
1 Oct 2011, 20:05 pm
i don’t wish injury on any springbok but if it has to be a Steyn then why couldn’t it have been the kak Steyn?
1 Oct 2011, 20:42 pm
the standard of world rugby has risen dramatically, look at the forward pack produced these days, they all can mix it with the big boys, and they also now have the coaches and structures that professionalism brings.
there are very few weaknesses in any of the major teams these days.
carter going down is huge tho, because its one position they have no real backup, wipes 20% of the AB value immediately.
1 Oct 2011, 21:33 pm
This is a huge loss for boks. Makes the mountain so much steeper to climb.
1 Oct 2011, 21:40 pm
Oh my lord. It gets worse.
Kirchner replaces Frans.
1 Oct 2011, 21:44 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-59:
Would rather have had Meisiekind. (only joking)
Or Sadie, Daniller, Goosen, Ebersohn.
What is Pdiv thinking?
Clearly he isn’t.
And he’ll probably play Kirchner at 13. Or something stupid.
1 Oct 2011, 21:49 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-60:
Even Marius Joubert
1 Oct 2011, 21:57 pm
@Jinx2(Jinx2)-61:
Kiwis are saying Carter is now out. Injuries to the stars are becoming crazy.
1 Oct 2011, 21:59 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-62:
Time for a JW Black Label to send him on his way.
1 Oct 2011, 22:37 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-59: Clearly a political replacement. Kirchner has no hope in hell of playing in any of the knockout games. Even if Lambie is injured they will select Aplon ahead of Kirchner at 15. As for centre cover, De Jongh will slot in if JDV or Jaque injured.
1 Oct 2011, 22:44 pm
@kwas(kwas)-64:
Agreed. Lambie is now the no. 1 FB in the sqaud with Gio as adequate cover.
My concern is that we only have 3 centres in the squad, but 4 wings.
I would have rather sent another centre across eg Sadie or Ebersohn.
1 Oct 2011, 22:50 pm
I thinking it might not have been a bad thing that we lost to Ireland. Books minus steyn and blacks minus Carter, just think bok fans, if you win this world cup no one will ever say you didn’t earn it
1 Oct 2011, 23:08 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-65: As I said, they needed a political replacement and Sadie/Ebersohn is not. We all know Sadie is superior to the other rubbish available, with Kirchner the worst choice possible.
1 Oct 2011, 23:13 pm
@SAussie/QldRed(SAussie)-66: Blacks will take the Cup without Carter. However, without Richie they will struggle as he is the true warrior.
1 Oct 2011, 23:16 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-59: Where did you hear that? My lord these guys have no idea. Kirchner adds zero value. Theyre so one dimensional.
Dammit.
1 Oct 2011, 23:16 pm
The loss of Frans is devastating for the Boks. I think that has significantly reduced our chances of winning the RWC. Frans brought new shape to the backline. His distribution skills are excellent. 10 times better than JdV. Dirty Samoans. Probably on the ABs payrolls to injury the Boks big playmakers.
Contrary to what people think of Morne he is actually essential to our RWC campaign. His goal-kicking is vital to winning a championship like this. With Frans on his outside Morne looked far more comfortable. We will not win this RWC with that carthorse JdV. Absolutely gutted for Frans Steyn. Fans deserve to see the best players performing on the biggest stage. I would like to know if a Samoan clothesline tackle damaged his shoulder.
Its blatantly a Aus/NZ conspiracy to put the Boks in a group with two Islander teams yet again! They’ve succeeded in ensuring the wheels fall off for us. Can’t De Jongh take over from Steyn? Anyone but JdV. I’ve lost all faith in him since seeing Frans playing at 12.
1 Oct 2011, 23:20 pm
Dan Carter ruled out of rest of Rugby World Cup – injuries are diluting this cup radically as well as all the mismatches.
1 Oct 2011, 23:22 pm
@Samba Bok(JayDaFiveOh)-70: Well was just saying on the injury front Sa in comparison to Oz and NZ are looking a lot better in general. Depending of course on news of JP and Houghaard and Bakkies. Losing Steyn is a huge loss but at least we have some form a repalcement. If Jean plays I´m not sure what will happen – anyone notice he is the one that was the last line of defence in the Samoan try? Couldnt get under Stowers to deny him or ruck him back. At least JP ripped the ball in that near miss try for Samoa when the guy lost it. Direct result of JP ripping the ball. Legend.
1 Oct 2011, 23:31 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-72: How many times has JPP saved our ***?! Good grief. He is Mr reliable 9 out of 10 times. JdV is a poor defender given his size. I think De Jongh is a better tackler than him and he is half his size.
I cannot understand how Kirchner can be called up. He hasn’t played any international rugby this year and is mr butterfingers. What about Sias? Good god SA is incredibly short on talent at no.12. We should be producing at least 3 Frans Steyns every few years.
2 Oct 2011, 05:50 am
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-72:
Are you having a zarnie on Kidd’s beach again?
2 Oct 2011, 21:31 pm
Frans is a blow. I the closest we will get to replacing him is with Butch at 12 Jean on the wing and JP at fullback. I think we will then have the physicality required.
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