Montpellier pip hapless Bath
14 Jan 2012
Montpellier scored a last-minute try to beat Bath 24-22 in a European Cup clash on Saturday.
Bath led 10-7 at the break and were favourites to win as the clock wound down, but Montpellier rallied for one final attack and scored under the posts through Timoci Nagusa. The result will ensure that Bath exit the European Cup on a particularly disappointing note.
In other European Cup fixtures played on Saturday, Clermont massacred Aironi 82-0 while another French club in Toulouse enjoyed dominance over their opponents Connacht in the 24-3 victory at the Stade Ernest Wallon. Castres could not complete the French treble however, as they went down 26-10 to Munster.
In Wales, Northampton overpowered Scarlets and won 29-17, while in England London Irish went down 22-15 to Cardiff. Harlequins beat Gloucester 20-14 to keep their play-off hopes alive.
55 Comments
14 Jan 2012, 22:13 pm
Toulouse sported perhaps the most powerful frontrow in club rugby currently, perhaps ever.
Census Johnston (138kgs), William Servat (103kgs) and Guthro Steenkamp (125kgs).
Unbelievable.
15 Jan 2012, 00:42 am
Bath are missing the greatest lose forward on the planet…..King Luke
15 Jan 2012, 02:33 am
Hope your talking about Lucky Luke or Luke Skywalker, you surely can’t be referring to Luke Watson?
Good grief I can name about 10 SA loosies better than him without taking a breath.
15 Jan 2012, 03:59 am
@JA-JA-3: are u talking about their last captain?
15 Jan 2012, 08:21 am
SOME BREAKING NEWS…..
Rassie Erasmus will be with Boks full time….Nienaber about to resign from WP / Stormers as well and join Rassie fulltime at Boks, along with Paul Treu…..
Head Coach favorite is now Heyneke Meyer ! Meyer met with Bulls Thursday to talk about a possible move away from Bulls…….Gert Smal not out of running yet but Heyneke has confirmed he wants Bok job…
15 Jan 2012, 08:27 am
Interesting stuff grant…
Won’t nienaber see out the S15 with Stormers…? Seems crazy to resign now and do ‘nothing’ while he could be seeing the Stormers thru S15…
15 Jan 2012, 08:44 am
@ufo-6: read the Rapport….some very interesting sruff…especially an exclusive interview with Rassie…very revealing indeed…..Rassie rates Mallet as his mentor….and also Markgraaf….
Says he would be very happy to work with either Heyneke or Smal…..appears as if those responsible for the appointment of Bok coach are very divided between Smal and Heyneke….both candidates apparently interviewed already….
My gut says its gonna be Heyneke
15 Jan 2012, 08:53 am
Thanks grant…
I really don’t mind who of the two get it… But maybe for the ‘good’ of Bok rugby it should be heyneke… Then there can be no excuses from the majority of fans who have always touted him.. If its anyone else many fans will always harbour doubts and suspicions… So yeah… maybe best for heyneke to get the post…
Pity about nienaber.. hope it’s only after the season… seems fate is determined to conspire against wp
15 Jan 2012, 08:59 am
@ufo-8: seems the Heyneke fans will get their wish….I just hope that doesent mean we saddled with Spies….perhaps even as captain!
Looks like Nienaber set to go …..yeah…we are taking some strain…..but opportunity in adversity….always
15 Jan 2012, 09:02 am
Meyer hired four years too late to undo the permanent damage to the Boks.
He is by far the best man for the job and like Jake White, is miles ahead of any coach we have in South Africa.
Like Jake White he is a legend in the making and our answer to Grumpy Henry.
The biggest tragedy is that the former useless embarrassment has chased away a few of the big names. Hopefully Bok rugby will heal itelf in time and the pyschological damage will not be as terminal as I suspect it is.
15 Jan 2012, 09:10 am
Yeah grant… will be interesting to see what choices he makes… and what fans will say if he doesn’t make the expected ones…
Outpost… If he’s as good as you and most people say… he should be able to turn things around… like him or not jw turned things around from the mess he inherited… so no reason heyneke can’t do it…
anyway… connectivity slow n intermittent … Time to get on with my day
15 Jan 2012, 09:40 am
@grant10-5:
Yes! That’s the best news I’ve heard all year … what a coaching setup. HM head honco, Treu the backline maestro, Small the forward guru, Nienaber the defensive wall and Rassie the bag handler.
Great news for the Boks but even better news for the Lions, the brokebacks will be stuck with the mediocre AC unable to score tries and unable to defend and the Bullies will revert to their 2008 form with a lost Ludeke crying for his Heineken.
15 Jan 2012, 09:59 am
@grant10-5: Just new Rassie would not be leaving WP unless for a big pay packet overseas, or working with the Boks.
I really do rate Meyer only that with him comes Spies as our Bok Captain and Morne as our fh for the next 4 years. But if Rassie is there with Treu as our backline coach. We will be fine. More than fine I reckon. I also think that if Meyer is coach we just may see Gert join in as Forward Coach. Well think he may both being Afrikaans speaking. If we get Nienaber from the start as our defence coach that would be great as well.
Spies could prove us all wrong and be a brilliant captain. Just need to see how he captaints the Bulls. Burger could still be the captain though. But if Meyer is our coach he will always select Spies at 8 for the Boks. Just can’t see him drop the Bulls captain when it comes to the Boks. Who knows Spies
could prove us wrong and be a great 8 this year. Just needs to get stuck in more in S15. Being captain at the Bulls he just may.
Actually anything can still happen. I still will not be suprised if AC gets the job. Just have to wait and see.
15 Jan 2012, 10:01 am
@Puma-13: captaints = captains
15 Jan 2012, 10:01 am
@RL-12: LOL
I am not sure Smal would be happy with the forwards assistant type role if he is overlooked as the HC…
But regretfully the rest of your post seems spot on….Nienaber loss tragic news for Stormers if the reports are valid
15 Jan 2012, 10:03 am
http://www.rapport.co.za/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Rassie-na-Bokke-20120114
Headline on today’s Rapport : Rassie na bokke
Also:
” Meyer van die Blou Bulle Rugbyunie en Smal, wat Ierland se voorspeler-afrigter is, is die twee kandidate wie se name in die hoed is vir opvolger van Peter de Villiers as nasionale breier. Rapport se bronne sê Meyer is in hierdie stadium die voorkeur-kandidaat, maar Smal geniet ook heelwat steun onder verskeie rugbybase. Meyer het die afgelope week aan Rapport gesê hy is gretig om die Bokke te brei sou hy die pos kry. Hy het Donderdag met die Blou Bulle se bestuur vergader oor die moontlikheid om van sy kontrak vrygestel te word, sou hy die einde van die maand as Bok-breier aangewys word.”
Please let it be Meyer. I dont think Smal has the vision to do something new with bok rugby. He was part of a bok setup who were happy with a 64% win rate…
15 Jan 2012, 10:04 am
@Puma-13: spies an bok 8 is a travesty of justice
spies as bok cappie is a crime against humanity
15 Jan 2012, 10:12 am
oops it seems im posting old news…
Well Im not to worried about who Meyer picks, regarding spies. Considering that he went to the US to find out how the american football teams pick players based on mental toughness I dont see him picking Spies.Perhaps he’ll make the cut as an impact player..
I dont think morne Steyn will feature as the number 1 flyhalf in the long run… Maybe for a few games to get the younger guys a chance to start off the bench… Meyer is looking to evolve the bulls rugby into a more attacking rugby, that doesn’t leave much room for Steyn.
If Smal gets picked, who will he pick? What is his rugby philosophy? I dont like not knowing what to expect from Smal….
15 Jan 2012, 10:12 am
@grant10-17: hahahaha. Grant man you make me laugh……….hahaha. Are you gonna have a go at Spies non-stop for the next 4 years? hehehehe. At least that will get you off John’s back…..lol.
Okay serious now, I am with you on this. I won’t call him names though. For now really don’t rate Spies at all, but will give him time in the S15 to prove to us he can captain. He just might up his game. Though not so sure he had 4 years to do that already.
Right now we have far better 8′s.
Still think there could be a suprise. We still might see AC getting the Job. Remember when Jake got it? Well his name had not been mentioned until the very last minute. So let u wait and see. We may just see Mitchells name there……hahah. Pipe dream I know. But that would be first prise. Well for me as a Bok supporter.
15 Jan 2012, 10:14 am
@Puma-19: Jeez too early for me..hehehe
u = us
15 Jan 2012, 10:14 am
Maybe smal will be happy with the assistant role. Considering that its a lot less stressful and the fact that he seems happy with his role with Ireland… Why would he want to make the step up to head coach?
15 Jan 2012, 10:18 am
@Puma-19: Mitchell / Mallet would be my chosen ones…..
I respect Heyneke a lot…..and with Treu, Rassie and Nienaber it will be a formidable team ….
Just hope it does not lead to any Bulls bias…
As for Spies…..I do rate his lineout ability, but he is far too soft and I dont believe that will change. I agree…we have far better 8 s !
15 Jan 2012, 10:21 am
@Jeez-21: I think Smal would work with Meyer. Just think he would. Not sure, but both being afrikaans speaking does help.
15 Jan 2012, 10:27 am
if Smal were to accept asistant forwards coach role that would really be a helleva team…
15 Jan 2012, 10:29 am
@grant10-22: Mitchell would have been my first choice. Would not even have given it a thought. Would have thrown the cheque book at him to take the Job.
Just can’t ever see saru ever selecting a foreign coach. That is a pity cause this is the professional era and we should be getting the very best.
In South Africa the best right now would be Meyer, Smal, Mallet or AC. So if we do get any of them we are going in the right direction. Especially if we have Rassie, Treu and Nienaber in with the head coach.
Have to agree with you. If it is Meyer just hope we don’t see a bias for the Bulls players. We have better fh’s than Morne as well. Janjties and Lambie are way, way better. Better 8′s than Spies too.
Anyhow just have to wait and see. Just hope whoever gets the Job waits until mid S15 to select their captain.
I somehow think if Meyer is coach he may still select Burger as captain. I think all the players respect Burger huge. Meyer knows that.
15 Jan 2012, 10:30 am
It would be good if he does, I dont think there could be any bias if they talk about the best possible pack.
Smal will obviously help Schalks cause to be captain… With Rassie there too… If Smal and HM do work together all the negative whiny retards can give it a rest… The boks will for the first time have the best possible coaches.
I Dont rate True, but i dont know enough to suggest anyone else…
15 Jan 2012, 10:34 am
@Puma-25: I wouldnt be worried about Bulls bias. HM didnt want to be coach 4 years back just to pick a bunch of bulls players, I think he gets exited about ALL the talent that will be available to him. Besides if Smal is assistant coach I believe he will have a big say in who gets picked at 8…
15 Jan 2012, 10:38 am
@grant10-24: Yes it would be.
Meyer, Smal, Rassie, Treu and Nienaber. Together they would be awesome.
Still would have wanted Mitchell as head coach. Just not to be. But the above are the best we have in SA. Them together will be brilliant.
15 Jan 2012, 10:42 am
@Puma-28: How and why would Treu make the cut ? Where does his experience as a 7s coach help a 15 man game? Perhaps helping with the skills, but doesnt it take more than that to be a good backline coach. Kicking for territory, when to kick ect.
15 Jan 2012, 10:43 am
@Jeez-27: Well for sure Victor would have been captain if Meyer was selected 4 years back. So just hope he is not bias by selecting mostly Bulls. He has a smart rugby brain so might do that.
Actually now thinking of the group together. Meyer, Smal, Rassie, Treu and Nienaber. That is probably our best rugby brains there together. They can feed off one another. Boks gonna be more then okay I think. Select the right players and we will be cooking. Will feel really ecstatic if Treu is our backline coach. He is bloody marvelous with the 7′s. That way we just not play only Bulls rugby……hehehe. Combine the two styles. With our young players coming through we gonna be very, very hard to beat.
15 Jan 2012, 10:45 am
@Puma-30: sorry meant – 2nd line first paragraph. He has a smart rugby brain so might NOT do that. Forgot the not up there..
15 Jan 2012, 10:47 am
@Jeez-26: Treu has been superb with our 7′s. Think he will be great.
15 Jan 2012, 10:48 am
Yeah exciting times IF it turn out that way…
15 Jan 2012, 10:51 am
What I like about HM is that he takes control without the ego of White and he wont be a pushover like PDV. And having the players respect from the word go helps a hell of a lot for a teams confidence… Picking the right players will probably be the hardest part of his job… I trust he’ll be more concerned with the right combinations than the best player in every position… Which is fare
15 Jan 2012, 10:52 am
@Jeez-26: If Meyer gets the Job we just may see Victor ropped in as a Lineout Coach. I think it would be great. Just get the very best in all positions coaching. That way we leave nothing uncovered.
If we do get all those coaches as mentioned think Bok rugby gonna be great.
15 Jan 2012, 10:54 am
@Puma-35: ropped = roped
15 Jan 2012, 10:56 am
@Puma-32: In that case Id like to have another clever rugby brain with the backs… Jeez what Flecky is doing with the Stormers backs is another question. Treu will probably get support from Nienaber too. I wonder if Percy will keep his job..
15 Jan 2012, 10:58 am
Hi Guys – so nice to read some rugby blogs again…
As long as the new coach changes with the times and picks the best players in their positions – I don’t mind either of the names mentioned above. I still think Smal in the front runner from what I have heard, but things change so quickly in SA anything is possible. Just don’t make a captain permanent and things will be ok. Let the guy earn his position and respect. I hope we stop the skop and jaag and play decent WINNING rugby. Good luck to either or whoever…
15 Jan 2012, 10:59 am
@Jeez-16:
JW is 9:10 in the Three Nations vs NZ & Aus, or 45% if you like
A @Puma-28: Great record
‘Too many chefs spoil the broth’
15 Jan 2012, 11:00 am
Im off, i just hope tomorrows papers wont have headlines like: “Meyer 100% committed to bulls not boks” It wont surprise me. Although I have more confidence in the Rapport’s sources than Keo’s…
15 Jan 2012, 11:00 am
@Jeez-34: Selecting the right players will be key.
Just hope Meyer gives Jantjies and Lambie a chance. They way better than Morne.
15 Jan 2012, 11:02 am
@Puma-41:
Howzit Buddy! Yeah the right combinations is more important than just the right players. Depends on the style the new coach is going to employ. If Meyer I think the skop and jaag will be implemented with Steyn at 10. If running rugger – which I hope, then Lambie and Jantjies come into the running…
15 Jan 2012, 11:05 am
@Jeez-37: Yeah I wonder if Percy will keep his job too? I would really get Braam instead. He worked wonders with O’Conner for Oz. Also helped Janjties as well. Both are kicking superb right now.
15 Jan 2012, 11:07 am
@Bill Reyts-42: Yes of course the right combinations.
How you Bill? Hope well. It is bloody hot here in Umhlanga. Should be at the beach but even too hot for the beach..lol.
15 Jan 2012, 11:10 am
@Puma-44:
Good buddy! I trust you have had a great start to 2012. I have been travelling between Durban – Cape Town and Johannesburg and Cape Town’s weather has been great – a bit hot at times but hey no complaining.
Can’t wait for the rugby to start… I just hope our new coach embraces change and chooses players on merit and not on name…
15 Jan 2012, 11:13 am
@Hondo-39: Not this time Hondo. We need all the best brains together to get our Boks back to where they should really be. Right at the top.
We have those coaches next year. (All of them together) I can bet on it now. (And I am not a betting person) Boks will be the first to beat the new World Champs. In NZ nogal too…haha.
2012 Bok Rugby bring it on! Can’t wait.
15 Jan 2012, 11:14 am
The wife is calling… chat again sometime…
Cheers!!!
15 Jan 2012, 11:18 am
@Bill Reyts-45: Yes had a great start to 2012. Hope you did too Bill. All the best for the New Year Bud. We have had some really very hot weather of late.
I think if we DO select all of those coaches together (which I think we should) then doubt selecting the right players all of the time will be a problem. They will all have a say in it.
15 Jan 2012, 11:19 am
@Bill Reyts-47: Cheers Bill. I am out of here too.
15 Jan 2012, 18:03 pm
@Puma-46:
Too many egos to work together in a harmony IMO
Can’t see the two Boks’ forward coaches HM (1997-2000) and Gert Small (2004-2007) agreeing on anything,
And these are merely rumors at this stage, it well could be AC – as I anticipated – the appointed coach.
15 Jan 2012, 18:03 pm
Yawn
15 Jan 2012, 18:14 pm
How come john smit drinking at WPTID’s work on Friday and playing on my TV today
16 Jan 2012, 05:08 am
Spies like Koster should never have had to move off the wing and into the engine room… but we all know why!
16 Jan 2012, 06:50 am
so i see mark “shorta rse” keohane has found himself a sideline job as spokesman for sasco(k).
he spouts a load a poo trying to defend tubby reddy and a bunch of other fatcats at sascoc(k) who are flying business class to the winter olympics whilst our single represenatative athlete flies economy.
and mark defends the fatcats he has sold his soul and its sad to see but then again, he used fairly innocuous friction in the bok camp to make a name for himself in 2003 so i guess its par for the course.
16 Jan 2012, 06:57 am
@bryce_in_oz-53:
Both those are not a wings backside, you obviously have no idea of a wings full skill set, why the racist slant you k nob !!
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