Keo.co.za
22 May 2013
Willie le Roux and Lappies Labuschagne have finally been rewarded with spots in the Springbok training group. They are two of eight that are first timers in Springbok training groups this year. The others are Gio Aplon, Trevor Nyakane, JJ Engelbrecht, Lionel Mapoe, Wiehahn Herbst and Demetri Catrakilis. The group of players will assemble in Durban for the second training camp of the year, before the final squad for the Incoming Tours is selected. Players not considered due to injury include: JP Pietersen, Jaco Taute, Frans Steyn, Johan Goosen, Duane Vermeulen, Pat Cilliers and Frans Malherbe. ... Read Article22 May 2013
Ryno Benjamin brought in ahead of Raymond Rhule for Port Elizabeth clash. Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has kept the rest of his team unchanged, hoping the momentum from the Reds victory will lead them to a win against the Kings. That does mean that Burton Francis remains out of the match 22, Elgar Watts continuing ahead of Riaan Smit, who is on the bench yet again. Willie le Roux and Lappies Labuschagne will use this match to show why they have been included in the Springbok training squad. Both will be pushing hard to be among the final names for the upcoming Incoming tours against Italy, ... Read Article25 Apr 2013
Jan Serfontein, the player of last year's under 20 World Championship, will head the baby Boks defence in France. Serfontein and Kings wing Sergeal Petersen are two Super Rugby regulars to make Dawie Theron's squad and brilliant flyhalf Handre Pollard is another to play in a second successive tournament. Theron's squad lost a three-match series 2-1 to Argentina in Argentina. Serfontein, Petersen and Western Province's Cheslin Kolbe did not play in those matches. Bulls loose forward Ruan Steenkamp is captain. Serfontein and Pollard are the only two squad members from last year's ... Read Article14 May 2013
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has selected several uncapped Blues players in his training group. Hansen confirmed 38 names and this included many from the potent Blues backline. The Highlanders, despite only winning one match in this year's Super Rugby competition, have six players in the group. An obvious area of weakness is at hooker where Hansen has selected veterans Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu and Canes Dane Coles. Options are limited and it certainly is a concern for New Zealanders. No overseas-based players were considered, as it is NZRFU policy. Among the uncapped players ... Read Article15 May 2013
French coach Philipe Saint-Andre has included three South African-born players for the three-Test series against the All Blacks in New Zealand. Racing Metro flank Bernard le Roux and Clermont prop Daniel Kotze join Antonie Claassen in a squad that includes eight new caps. Fijian-born Clermont winger Noa Nakaitaci is among the newcomers. Saint-Andre has rested flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc, but included Toulon's Frederic Michalak. France play world champions New Zealand on June 8, 15 and 22 in Auckland, Hamilton and New Plymouth respectively. French super club Toulon's foreign dominance ... 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 Article3 Oct 2012
Heinrich Brussow has been ruled out for six months with a shoulder injury.
According to SuperSport.com, Brussow injured himself against Griquas last Saturday, and after assessing his injury, the Cheetahs decided to let him have surgery on the shoulder so he can return as early as possible for next year’s Super Rugby tournament.
Brussow had already missed the Cheetahs’ first four Currie Cup games because of a knee injury.
Simon has written 2608 articles.
31 Jan 2013
29 Jan 2013
Ryno Benjamin brought in ahead of Raymond Rhule for Port Elizabeth clash. Read More
Willie le Roux and Lappies Labuschagne have finally been rewarded with spots in the Springbok training group. They are two of eight that are first timers in Springbok training groups this year. 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
French coach Philipe Saint-Andre has included three South African-born players for the three-Test series against the All Blacks in New Zealand. Read More
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has selected several uncapped Blues players in his training group. Read More
48 Comments
3 Oct 2012, 08:00 am
OPENSIDE DRAGON!!
3 Oct 2012, 08:02 am
I wish him a speedy recovery.
Not sure he would have been picked for the boks though.
3 Oct 2012, 08:05 am
Bummer
It would have been good if he could have played out the Currie Cup and then been a squad member on the year end tour.
Hope you heal up properly Ratel, we need you fit and in form for next year.
3 Oct 2012, 08:06 am
F Louw now realy is worth his weight in gold….just really hope he stays fit!
Dont want us as a Bok team to ever go into Test matches without a specialist breakdown opensider ever again if possible!
3 Oct 2012, 08:09 am
@grant10-4:
Ideally I would like Flo to come back to WP and take over the captaincy once Jean de Villiers retires.
3 Oct 2012, 08:10 am
heinrich & stegmann – former greuly boys – both are injury prone!
3 Oct 2012, 08:15 am
there you go
vindicated
again
(best wishes on his recovery)
3 Oct 2012, 08:17 am
If Louw get’s injured, Deon Fourie is next in line to play 6.
3 Oct 2012, 08:19 am
Very unfortunate for Brussow and SA/Cheetahs rugby, Flow will continue to work hard to make the 6 jearsy his. Best of luck to Brussow and his recovery.
3 Oct 2012, 08:19 am
Brussow was never the same after his first injury.
He do a few good things in games and he gets a highlight reel.
Minnie has overtaken Heinrich and if he can minimize his penalty count he will be worthwhile. Even Deon is better than Brussow atm.
Good guy… but not the same player imo.
3 Oct 2012, 08:19 am
@WP-Forever-5: Now that would make me a very, very happy man!
3 Oct 2012, 08:19 am
BTW Louw is doing a fantastic job atm.
Now get him back in SA.
3 Oct 2012, 08:24 am
@4 Grant10
Haha, bad luck – many if not MOST Afrikaner coaches remain SUSPICIOUS of the concept of specialist opensiders and prefer 3 big ball carrying loose forwards. This will probably never change.
3 Oct 2012, 08:50 am
It doesn’t rain, it pours. His value is that he makes things happen, but won’t get a look in ahead of the mass monsters currently in the squad.
3 Oct 2012, 08:58 am
Lol. One of the “manne met spiere” often gets tackled backwards – At a time when others are getting real injuries (achilles tendon; shoulder etc), Pierre Spies hurt his finger
3 Oct 2012, 09:00 am
If F Louw gets injured its time for Derrik Minnie to have his shot in a bok jersey with Keegan and D Potgieter providing back up
When does Kolisi return?
3 Oct 2012, 09:03 am
Flo plays because he can carry aswell as being excellent on the ground.
He has never had a bad game for the boks its just that P Div had differnt opinions on him to what we do
3 Oct 2012, 09:04 am
Urgent we need a back up fetcher, no need for Carriers at this stage .. Spies is such a lightweight, I have never seen him with a cut or graze or even dirty shorts .. We are well rid of him … I dont care if he belongs to the same church as Vic and Bakkies he is not good enough even for S15 ..
3 Oct 2012, 09:05 am
This guy is so unlucky.
Hope recovers well.
Still question why he is not in the Bok mix.
Only 1 year ago he was classed as one of the best fetchers in the game.
All of a sudden not needed, seems a bit silly.
3 Oct 2012, 09:07 am
@Rhys7-16: Just pray Flo plays full 80 this saturday … We have Coetzee who could play a fetcher position but with out Biz our best fetcher is Habs .. !!!!
3 Oct 2012, 09:07 am
Very sad news. Still think he should have been involved with the Boks.
Best of luck Heinrich.
@grant10-4: Breakdown specialist is non-negotiable.
@Hop Hop Spinnekop-12: Why does he need to return to SA?
@Rhys7-17: Flo was ineffective against the Wallabies in RWC 2011, when he subbed Heinrich early in the game.
3 Oct 2012, 09:08 am
@Hurricane-19: I am guessing size played a part in the early HM days but he has been acrrying an injury and HM commented o this last week.
Wish him well and hope Cheetahs have a fetcher to cover for him.
3 Oct 2012, 09:12 am
It is also interesting to see that, from the outset of HM’s tenure, many people branded Flo as an “opensider” who should play for the Boks.
Flo never played openside for the Stormers. He played blindside alongside Schalk Burger.
3 Oct 2012, 09:13 am
@Doughnut-22:
Brussow punches way above his size.
Seriously i am happy the Boks never picked him this year.
Awesome at slowing ball down, good little tackler and does not mind getting in amongst it.
Stands up to anyone. He was the best going around really.
I know he would be in the ABs mix, no doubt about it.
3 Oct 2012, 09:14 am
@garth-8: For the Boks? Well I can assure you, that’s not going to happen.
3 Oct 2012, 09:18 am
Its ironic that Heyneke’s basically stumbled upon a very good loose trio combo, following the timely exit of Spies & timely return of big Duane.. They really excelled in Dunedin & this Saturday shapes up to be a humdinger
3 Oct 2012, 09:23 am
Hope he can recover and be free of injury next year… Best openside in SA by a mile…
3 Oct 2012, 09:42 am
@willievz-21: Do you think the quality of rugby in the north is the same as Super rugby? Like Taute said you want to play/measure yourself against the best.
3 Oct 2012, 10:08 am
@Hurricane-24: Makes it so frustrating to hear a rival say they’re happy he’s not picked… just like when Aus and NZ supporters cheer when Morne Steyn gets picked… it’s bloody ridiculous.
3 Oct 2012, 10:12 am
@Hop Hop Spinnekop-28: I think the quality of rugby in the North is underestimated, yes.
3 Oct 2012, 10:21 am
@garth-8: agreed
3 Oct 2012, 10:22 am
@garth-8: Also rate Minnie
3 Oct 2012, 10:32 am
@willievz-21:
“Flo was ineffective against the Wallabies in RWC 2011, when he subbed Heinrich early in the game”
Do not agree, in all fairness the Boks problems in that test was not due to Francois not playing a fetcher role, but to Pocock being allowed to get away with murder at the breakdown. All the forwards should have rucked him out of the way and secured SA ball.
Francois as a fetcher would not have been able to counter Pocock. Remember a fetcher does not counter a fetcher. He steals or slows down opposition ball. With the Boks enjoying the majority of possesion fetching skills wasn’t really required in that game.
3 Oct 2012, 10:32 am
@Hop Hop Spinnekop-28: Louw’s come back a better player already… Some shape up in the North, others just get FAT, like Frans Steyn… whose injury is a blessing in disguise for the Boks.
3 Oct 2012, 10:35 am
@Craven-33: You are entitled to that opinion.
But remember the opensider’s role on attack, or speeding up ruck ball…
3 Oct 2012, 10:58 am
Much sympathy and respect to Brussouw. He was the main instigator for a great 2009 Bok season where the British Lions and TriNations was ours. Its ridiculous he was not picked for the squad this year. Every nation fears him and so they should. Just like Kolisi, he could have benefited from the selection and stayed out of Currie Cup rugby where he was now injured. Thanks HM for letting 2 star loose forwards go back to currie cup and get themselves injured. We now have way less recognised or talented backup in the no 6 position!
3 Oct 2012, 11:04 am
@willievz-23:
That was to accommodate Schalk at 6. IRB player of the year and all that as a 6.
I wonder if he return where he’ll play. I think it should be at 7. He did well there in the RWC.
3 Oct 2012, 11:08 am
What the hell is wrong with this guy?
I bet it’s the way these idiots over train in the Gym or something. His injury rate is just not natural…
3 Oct 2012, 11:10 am
Oh yes, all the best to Brussow.
Take your time HB. Have the op and use all the recovery time you need before you start to play again. At least you now know exactly where you are in the pecking order of this stupid coach. It is up to you to come back and force your way into the Bok team again. You’re still young enough to do it.
3 Oct 2012, 11:11 am
Injured again.
I guess soon there will be fewer witnesses of fully healthy Brussow (or Juan Smith) left than those who have seen the Yeti.
(Speedy recovery for both)
3 Oct 2012, 11:21 am
Brussow is only 25
so easy on the never being selected for boks ever bit again
Hes a had bad 18 months injury wise.
Stil the best opensider SA has ever produced
Still the best when fit.
3 Oct 2012, 11:24 am
And by the way Warburton,Pocock,Brussow all injured at present.We all know how many times Richie McCaw crocks up
3 Oct 2012, 11:33 am
@mshiniwami-42:
It comes with the territory, doesn’t it?
Yeah, he’ll be back…TERMINATOR style.
3 Oct 2012, 12:08 pm
@Guns-9: what sh.it are you smoking man. Fourie wtf.
3 Oct 2012, 13:04 pm
How long is Jaque Fourie’s contract in Japan? Will he be back in SA when done?
3 Oct 2012, 13:27 pm
Fourie is nearly 30. Seems unlikely he will make the 2015 WC?
3 Oct 2012, 14:17 pm
@corporal punishment-46: He’s 29, so will only be 32
3 Oct 2012, 14:23 pm
@blik-47: Yes but by next year we hopefully will have Taute at 13 or a young gun .. time doesnt stand still .. He made his choice as this would have been the big year for him with FS at 12 .. Class player but I suspect he will be unavailable until end 2013 ..
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