Blitzboks battle past Poms
3 Feb 2012
The Blitzboks beat England 14-10 at the Wellington Sevens to finish top of Pool B.
South Africa trailed 5-0 at the break, but took the lead when Mark Richards scored a try early in the second half. Branco du Preez then beat three defenders to give his side a nine-point cushion.
England scored their second try in the final minute of the match, but the Blitzboks secured the kick-off, won a penalty and booted the ball into touch.
Earlier in the day, Cornal Hendricks scored a brace in South Africa’s 43-0 hammering of the Cook Islands in Wellington.
Paul Treu’s charges shot to a 19-0 half-time lead thanks to tries by Hendricks, Steven Hunt and Boom Prinsloo. Frankie Horne scored soon after the restart while Hendricks added his second two minutes in. Cecil Afrika and Paul Delport added further tries to complete the rout.
The Blitzboks also recorded a 21-0 win over the United States of America. Afrika scored a brace while Hunt also got his name on the scoresheet.
South Africa will play Fiji in the Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
For all the results, click here.
70 Comments
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3 Feb 2012, 07:40 am
Well Done Blitzbokke Dragons! Beat those Poms!
3 Feb 2012, 08:22 am
What time is the England game?
3 Feb 2012, 09:10 am
@pokkel-2:
In about 40 minutes.
If Steve Devine says ‘nek minute’ again, I’mma find him, and I’mma kill him.
3 Feb 2012, 09:10 am
@hendrikp-3:
Not to be taken literally.
3 Feb 2012, 09:13 am
Man o man. Lions are building up good depth.
Lions assistant coach Johan Ackermann says the team finally has a strong forward pack going into the Super Rugby season.
The Lions have been thin at lock, in recent years, but have finally found some depth in the second row.
“We now have good grinders in Wikus van Heerden, Michael Rhodes, Hendrik Roodt, Stephan Greeff and Marius Coetzer,” said Ackermann. as well as Ruan Ruan Botha, Ruan Venter and Vd Merwe
“We also have two current SA Under-20 guys, Paul Willemse and Ettiene Oosthuizen.”
Suffering a 6-28 defeat to the Stormers in a pre-season warm-up match last Friday, Ackermann said the Lions were still far from the complete package.
“We were predictable in the way we played but we were satisfied after acquiring that physical contact and we wanted our forwards to work hard, which they did,” Ackermann said.
“Our basic ball skills looked a bit rusty, we lost some balls in contact and our line-outs also looked rusty.”
However, Ackermann felt they would be able to iron out some of the rough spots displayed in Cape Town with three weeks to go before their opening Super Rugby match against the Cheetahs in Johannesburg.
The Lions have been hit by injuries to some of their key staff, the latest setback being a knee injury to centre Dylan des Fountain which could see him out of the game for up to six months.
Other injury concerns included those to playmaker flyhalf Elton Jantjies, who had a broken bone in his hand, and scrumhalves Ross Cronje and Wesley Moolman who were also nursing injuries.
Ackermann said the niggling injuries would be addressed within the next month.
“Obviously you want as few as possible injuries but we need to work through it and that is where your depth will count.”
There was healthy competition among the forwards and Ackermann used the example of Pat Cilliers, who would be under pressure from Jacobie Adriaanse at tighthead prop.
The squad members will play against each other on Friday to gain match fitness and get to grips with the laws which referees will be focusing on during the completion.”
3 Feb 2012, 09:18 am
Can you Keolings please post us a real rugby topic for the day?
The 2012 pilot episode of Boots and All was quite interesting last night.
Had Heyneke Meyer AND Victor Matfield in studio, with Owen Nkumane barely supressing his HendrikP urges in the face of so much “Bulls influence” around him.
Enjoyed it immensely.
3 Feb 2012, 09:32 am
@Tacitus-6:
Good morning.
3 Feb 2012, 10:01 am
The Cook Islands?
Isn’t that where that kiwi rugby player was arrested for flaunting his gentleman’s bits?
Let’s not pat ourselves on the back too soon hey?
3 Feb 2012, 10:04 am
Indeed Tac.
All it needed was Morne Steyn in the studio and Fourie du Preez on satellite link up from the land of the rising sun and you would have had the nucleus of the 2012 boks right there.
3 Feb 2012, 10:15 am
Score update anyone?
3 Feb 2012, 10:17 am
Yes well Done BlizBokke! Who do we face in the quarters?
3 Feb 2012, 10:21 am
@Sasuke-11:
Looking like Tonga.
3 Feb 2012, 10:23 am
@hendrikp-12:
Whoops I lie. Fiji – 2nd in Pool C.
3 Feb 2012, 10:28 am
@Tacitus-6: following from our conversation earlier this week where we were trying to figure out how the Lions would vote for the Kings to be included in Super Rugby. i found this article quite interesting and it made me wonder which way would the Leopards president vote if he had to choose the Kings vs the Lions (who have ignored them and not paid them for the past 2 years, basically being in breach of their franchise agreement) . to add insult to injury the Leopards have lost their sponsorship with the Royal Bafokeng Holdings due to the lions’ mismanagement.
The Golden Lions are set to lose R6.6m in broadcast fees after the South African Rugby Union (Saru) intervened to end a long-running dispute the union has had with its franchise partners.
Saru will now be fighting the battle for the Leopards and Pumas who are on the growing list of creditors knocking on the Johannesburg side’s door.
The decision to hand the matter over to rugby’s governing body was made at the same special council meeting in Cape Town where it was confirmed that the Southern Kings would be part of next year’s Super Rugby competition.
“Saru’s decision to deal with this matter is in the best interests of rugby in the country and it will also protect our interests as franchise members,” a relieved Leopards president André May said yesterday.
May’s union had recently lost about R5m in sponsorship from the Bafokeng Sports Trust, who decided to use an exit clause in their agreement with the North West-based rugby union.
With the Pumas owing the Lions a large chunk of cash, the bulk of the R6.6m should be given to the Leopards who have been struggling for years to get any money from their franchise partners.
Saru’s intervention came just before the partners were about to initiate legal proceedings that would not have sat well with the troubled franchise who were last week informed that their former partners Guma TAC had lodged a liquidation application at the South Gauteng High Court.
Not that the Lions have given their partners the recognition they were supposed to get under the franchise agreements as set out by Saru.
“The Lions have not had a franchise directors, meeting in two years,” said May.
Lions president Kevin de Klerk was not available for comment, but said in a previous interview that they would be seeking ways to resolve the problem.
“That is one of my legacy issues, there are certain things we are trying to sort out with them, in terms of definitive contracts and documents.
“These are things that were done seven years ago.”
De Klerk said that their new equity partner, Altmann Allers of Glasfit would be pumping “substantial” money into the union.
3 Feb 2012, 10:37 am
Interesting, Trannie.
On a related note: How much money do the big unions have to waste on sharing Super rugby cash with their supposed “franchise partners”. Do you pay them for each player of theirs you include in your S15 squad, or must they get a share even if you use zero of their players – like in the case of the Bulls, who exclusively make use of their own players in Super rugby?
3 Feb 2012, 10:43 am
Assuming Australlia win the current game, and New Zealand beat Samoa, the Cup quarter-finals will be:
1. New Zealand versus Australia
2. Tonga versus England
3. Canada versus Samoa
4. South Africa versus Fiji
If Samoa beat New Zealand, they switch positions…
If France beat Australia, Canada will move into the first game (in Australias place) and France will play Samoa (in game 3).
3 Feb 2012, 10:43 am
How the F does Kevin de Klerk still have a job?!
3 Feb 2012, 10:44 am
Who are the Bulls franchise partners anyway? If both the Leopards and Pumas are in the Lions franchise, are the Bulls on their own, or are they saddled with the Falcons as their charity case?
3 Feb 2012, 10:46 am
@hendrikp-13: Fiji again!
3 Feb 2012, 10:49 am
@Tacitus-18: I think the Valke is the Bulls Franchise partner.
3 Feb 2012, 10:51 am
@Tacitus-18: i think Valke & Limpopo are your broers
3 Feb 2012, 10:52 am
@Tacitus-18:
Leopards and Pumas moved over to the Lions when the Super 12 expanded.
Bulls + Falcons
Cheetahs + Griquas + Griffons
Lions + Pumas + Leopards
Sharks (on their own)
Stormers + Boland
Kings + Eagles + Border.
3 Feb 2012, 10:53 am
Wonder how much cash the useless Falcons drain from the Bulls coffers each year.
3 Feb 2012, 10:55 am
Wow okay, France settle for the draw, meaning they finish 2nd in the pool… Bit silly of them wanting to take New Zealand on so early.
New Zealand versus France
Tonga versus England
Canada versus Samoa
South Africa versus Fiji
3 Feb 2012, 10:55 am
@Transformation-21: Thats right and Limpopo is getting its own Franchise now. Its only right that each province has a rugby Franchise.
Sharks on their own….no wonder they need to steal talent from the other provinces. They dont even have a team in the Varsity Cup. Too much Indians in Durban….no likey contact.
3 Feb 2012, 10:58 am
More importantly, how come the Sharks were allowed to ditch the albatrosses around their necks? Ditto for the Stormers and the leeches known as the SWD Eagles? So they all dump their useless partners and never look back, and another union must be sacrificed in 2013?
3 Feb 2012, 10:59 am
@Sasuke-25:
They’ve got Grey College – with the Bulls digging into their talent pool lately.
3 Feb 2012, 11:00 am
Interestingly the Cook Islands are a territory of NZ. Just like Greenland is a territory of Denmark, The few hundred islands that make up the Cook Islands are a territory of NZ. The largest and most well known is Raratonga which is basically a tropical paradise. The Cook Islands are situated near Tonga, Fiji and Samoa.
3 Feb 2012, 11:01 am
@>^..^< katman-26:
Sour grapes?
Those unions made up their own minds.
3 Feb 2012, 11:02 am
@Delki-28:
Cool story Hansel.
3 Feb 2012, 11:04 am
The Leopard’s and the Puma’s should franchise up with the guppies … suck money from them.
Clearly the Lions are not in a position to look after themselves, much less partners.
3 Feb 2012, 11:06 am
@hendrikp-30: lol
3 Feb 2012, 11:11 am
A tropical paradise hey?
In that case I’d probably also hang out with my wang out there.
Serve up some peniscoladas.
3 Feb 2012, 11:13 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther-33: lol
3 Feb 2012, 11:18 am
If its true that Limpopo is actually the illegitimate lovechild of the bulls then we should put them up for adoption immediately.
Oh and the ginger haired stepchild that is the Valke as well.
3 Feb 2012, 11:19 am
@Tacitus-23:
Very little. One reaso major unions, like the Bulls, try to sign obvious francise players from their smaller partners is that SARU subsidises the salaries of franchise players. This in turn means that provincial salaries are also effectively subsidised.
3 Feb 2012, 11:25 am
@>^..^< katman-26: i think de Klerk was alluding to this when he spoke of “restructuring the current franchises, like Eagles go back to Stormers and EP & Border pair up with the Guppys, Bulls take Pumas or something, instead of dissolving the lions franchise.
De Klerk emphasised the need for Saru to make a decision that would be in the interests of South African rugby in general.
“It (the inclusion of the Kings) has to be a rugby decision, not a political decision,” De Klerk said.
“Perhaps a Super 16 series could be the solution, and we will continue hoping that another franchise could be accommodated.
“The restructuring of the existing franchises to include the southern and eastern Cape unions is another possible solution.But it won’t help (the Kings) to buy a team. We have witnessed at the Lions how important it is to build from the bottom and develop a unique culture.”
De Klerk also said it was important to ensure that the correct methods were employed in introducing the Kings into Super Rugby.
“In my view the principle of including the Kings is correct, but we must get the methodology right.”
3 Feb 2012, 11:25 am
The best thing about the Sharks not having any franchise partners is that there will never be a repeat of those horrendously ugly rugby jerseys that had to incorproate the brown of Border the red of EP and the black and white of the Sharks.
Fk me those were dark days.
3 Feb 2012, 11:26 am
@David-36: not quite, the two Lions franchise partners are expecting about a million each from the SANZAR pie of 6.6m given to each franchise. So the Valke are probably taking 2m from the Bulls pie every year, same with Boland leaching off the Stormers only worse because they are are 25% equity partners in the Stormers.
3 Feb 2012, 11:29 am
@Transformation-37: notice how sharkievarkie pricks share their SANZAR pie with no-one.
3 Feb 2012, 11:38 am
I can’t undersatand why the Lions supporters are so against a joint Super franchise with the Bulls. Claiming tradition or history as a factor is a smokescreen as the Lions in their present form have only existed as a franchise since 2006. From 1998 till then they were the Cats, a combination of GLRU, FS and Griquas provincial unions.
Financially it would make sense, considering the Franchises woes, which is also adversely affecting the actual provincial union.
The new franchise would also acquire the services of Mitchell as a coach.
Besides, nobody complained when Jake White merged the Bulls with the Sharks to form the Springboks.
3 Feb 2012, 11:42 am
@RL-40:
us souties are smart hey!
3 Feb 2012, 11:43 am
@David-41:
Sorry, I should have added “other than the Bulls supporters, who believed they didn’t need the Sharks players”.
3 Feb 2012, 11:48 am
@John Galt-38: mm.mm
The worst superwhatever kit had to be that godforsaken original kit worn by the Stormers in their first season…. that horrendous blue and yellow concocabortion that was supposed to integrate WP, Boland and SWD
Thank god for the Men in Black redemption that came afterwards… I still dont know as to why they despatched that colour scheme
3 Feb 2012, 11:51 am
@David-41: it may be that all 5 franchises get scrapped. SARU may create 5 new ones based geographically, Gauteng, Central, EC, WC and Varkies. Strip these franchises of any association to their unions. Gauteng may be the Rhino playing in kak brown. The central franchise could be called the maize boys the EC can be called the assagais, the guppies the Varkies in pink and the Stormers keep their. Matches could also e played across 10 stadiums throughout the country … you never know.
I say stuff it, scrap this franchise rubbish and let the top 5/6 Currie cup teams qualify for supperrugby.
3 Feb 2012, 11:51 am
@David-41:
You forget….. these are the all conquering almighty Lions that are surebets for the S15 crown this season.
Why in heavens name would they want to amalgamate with those trench crawling Bulls??
3 Feb 2012, 12:13 pm
@David-41: I tell you what, how’s this for a proposal:
- Kings and Stormers are both Cape franchises
- Stormers are actually the junior franchise in Super Rugby due to spending a season out of Super rugby twiddling their thumbs as a result of not quite making the grade. Also, the Stormers only came into being as part of Bob Skinstad’s copycat “Men in Black” campaign.
Therefore it would make sense to merge the Cape franchises into say the Cape Kings and the new franchise plays all their home games in the magnificent new PE Stadium which is far better than Newlands in terms of actual home support (i.e. less Stormersaders).
Many birds hit with one Stone – Transformation served by the Cape Kings and all other regions are deservedly happy: Bulls – The most successful SA S15 franchise, Sharks – the most consistent S15 franchise, Lions – CC Champs, Cheetahs – the breeding ground of SA Rugby.
3 Feb 2012, 12:16 pm
Since most Stormer fans are vociferously lilly liberal and are staunch advocates of transformation it would make sense that they should be enthusiastic about an exciting merger with their Cape Cousins – the Kings.
Its a win/win here chaps.
Behold the Cape Kings.
3 Feb 2012, 12:18 pm
See hendkrip?
You mess with Tacitus, he don’t greet you back.
You gone baby, gone.
3 Feb 2012, 12:25 pm
BlitzBoks get Fiji…………………………………….tough but winnable.
Fiji were in the toughest Pool of the tournament, so should be a most excellent match up.
I only saw about 5 games today, (not live) but think NZ looked awesome against Samoa.
Great defence and very powerful runners.
Semi’s will be NZ vs Eng.
Samoa Vs SA.
Final……………………..NZ Vs SA.
Winner……………………..NZ. (who else).
8)
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