Another one slips from Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean-born flanker, David Pocock has been named as a reserve in the Australia team set to take on New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup this weekend. Pocock has been playing his trade in Australia for a while now having represented Australia A in 2006, Australian U19s in 2005 and Australian Schoolboys together with playing for the Western Force in the Super 14.
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Australia coach, Robbie Deans has named his starting lineup for the fourth and final Bledisloe Cup match on Saturday. After New Zealand named their lineup on Tuesday, Deans has had time to come up with a plan to beat the All Blacks based on the starting XV, Deans’ plan sees him go with Captain Sterling Mortlock at inside centre to try and attack Dan Carter.
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Posted by Ron | Posted in Springboks | Posted on 29-10-2008
A lot has been said in the last couple of days about the make-up of the new Springbok front row. Of note is the move of Bok Captain, John Smit to tighthead prop from hooker. I know some ex-Bok’s have already come out and said that they think this is a bad idea. According to PDV, this move is best for the Boks and it will prolong Smit’s test career until the World Cup in 2011.
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Posted by Ron | Posted in Super 14 | Posted on 29-10-2008
There had been suggestions that the playoff structure for next years Super 14 would change from being a four team battle to become a six team playoff but the SANZAR nations have failed to agree on a format as to how the six team playoff would work. I myself can not think of how a six team playoff would actually have worked but I am sure the forces that be had come up with a plan but it does not seem good enough as they have rejected it until 2010.
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Posted by Ron | Posted in All Blacks | Posted on 28-10-2008
What a great game we have in store on Saturday when New Zealand take on Australia in Hong Kong for the first-ever Bledisloe Cup fixture played on neutral territory. The All Blacks have arrived in Hong Kong in high spirits as they have already retained the prized Bledisloe Cup even if by some miracle the Wallabies beat the All Blacks on Saturday. All Black coach Graham Henry named his starting lineup today and there was a surprise.
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Posted by Ron | Posted in Springboks | Posted on 28-10-2008
This seems like a debate which will never come to an end but a decision has to be made with regards to Frans Steyn’s future as not only a Springbok but as a rugby player. At times having so much talent at such a young age can be a serious disadvantage for you. Frans can play in any position in the back line from 10 to 15 and I am sure he could even play 9 if asked to. But a call has to be made for his sake.
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The inclusion of Earl Rose in the Springbok squad for the end of year tour has shocked me! Firstly, PDV has said that Ruan Pienaar is going to be the first choice flyhalf for the Springboks during this tour. Butch James has been dropped as PDV has decided not to pick any foreign based players. We debated about Ruan Pienaar at flyhalf last week and the general consensus then was that Ruan is a scrumhalf and should not be forced to play flyhalf. Well, I guess we were wrong and yet again, Guru was right and Ruan is now the new flyhalf.
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Posted by Ron | Posted in Springboks | Posted on 25-10-2008
The Springbok squad for the end of year tour has been named today. As always there were going to be a couple of surprises. The one that stood out for me was the selection of Earl Rose. As we had debated during the week, we can now confirm that Butch James has not been named in the squad together with CJ van der Linde both of whom are not playing the club rugby in South Africa anymore. So in short, if you not playing in South Africa, you will not be a Bok!
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Posted by Ron | Posted in Currie Cup | Posted on 25-10-2008
As I had predicted, the Sharks won today but I was off with my scoreline prediction. I have to take my hat off to Guru for saying it was going to be a close game. But things could have been different if Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn had not had an off day with the boot.
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Posted by Ron | Posted in Springboks | Posted on 23-10-2008
I am hearing unconfirmed reports this morning that Butch James maybe omitted from the Springbok squad for the upcoming end of year tour. It is not clear why James would be omitted but it is suggested that PDV will not pick players not playing in South Africa for the Springbok end of year tour. The selection of foreign based players was always going to be an issue!
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