Rugby

Jantjies danger for De Waal Subscribe today for premium content

2010-09-02 06:00:00 Edition 2
THE Lions may not be the powerhouses they were in the 1990s anymore, but Western Province are insisting that tomorrow's Currie Cup clash in Johannesburg won't be easy. [ Full Story... ]

Deans 're-arranges the order' of the Wallabies Subscribe today for premium content

2010-09-02 06:00:01 Edition 1
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans believes that the three changes made to their pack from last weekend will provide them with an infusion of energy, experience and physicality required for this Saturday's Test against the Springboks in Bloemfontein. [ Full Story... ]

Now that is where Juan tended bar ... Subscribe today for premium content

2010-09-02 06:00:00 Edition 1
BLOEMFONTEIN: There is a wistful look about Springbok tighthead Jannie du Plessis as he looks about the Shimlas clubhouse, where the walls drip with rugby history dating back to before the days of the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1901. [ Full Story... ]

JD for Wicus a 'tactical change' Subscribe today for premium content

2010-09-01 06:00:00 Edition 2
WESTERN PROVINCE hope to "keep up the physical intensity" for the full 80 minutes in anticipation of a fearsome onslaught from the Lions in Friday's Currie Cup clash in Johannesburg. [ Full Story... ]

'Little too late' for Bismarck Subscribe today for premium content

2010-09-01 06:00:00 Edition 1
BLOEMFONTEIN: The revelation that Peter de Villiers is to exclude 13 first-choice players from the purported Grand Slam tour in November is bound to annoy the Springboks' hosts in Dublin, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London, and might even have the home unions pointing angrily to pre-tour agreements to field "the strongest possible team". But Bok coach Peter de Villiers has that one covered. [ Full Story... ]

Wallabies hope to take 'right options' in lineouts

2010-09-01 06:00:00 Edition 1
DURBAN: Australia need to find some consistency in their game if they want to start winning regularly against top-flight opposition, assistant coach Jim Williams has said. [ Full Story... ]

Boks 'close the laager' Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-31 06:00:00 Edition 1
BLOEMFONTEIN: The performances of the Springboks in their last two Tri-Nations games have collectively been a significant step down the road to Rugby World Cup 2011, a buoyant Peter de Villiers claimed yesterday, before defiantly firing this broadside at the team's critics: "We have closed the laager - we will not allow you to hurt us anymore." [ Full Story... ]

Liebenberg blow 'tough thing' for WP Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-31 06:00:00 Edition 1
WESTERN PROVINCE are facing a mini-hooker crisis after stalwart No 2 Tiaan Liebenberg was yesterday ruled out of rugby for "up to six weeks" with an ankle injury. [ Full Story... ]

Even Habana entitled to a 'shocker' now and then Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-31 06:00:01 Edition 1
Wallaby utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper has come to the defence of out-of-form Bryan Habana, saying he still believes the wing is one of the major threats in the Bok backline. [ Full Story... ]

If Bok coach is unable to make the big call on Smit, he might as well quit Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-31 06:00:00 Edition 1
WHEN Springbok captain John Smit was substituted after 59 minutes of the Wallaby Test at Loftus on Saturday, it made a powerful image. [ Full Story... ]

Allister: Defeats not a train smash Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-30 06:00:00 Edition 2
WESTERN PROVINCE coach Allister Coetzee maintains that the weekend's defeat to the Free State Cheetahs "is not a train smash" and he is positive that his team can turn things around in this Friday's Currie Cup clash against the Lions in Johannesburg. [ Full Story... ]

Let's not kid ourselves: Pressure was off at Loftus, and it showed in the play Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-30 06:00:00 Edition 1
THE Springboks may have finally won a game in the Tri-Nations, but it doesn't suddenly mean that they are now out of trouble ahead of next year's World Cup. [ Full Story... ]

It was a special day, says hero Hougaard head goes here Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-30 06:00:00 Edition 1
JOHANNESBURG: Sensational performances in back-to-back Tests has rocketed Francois Hougaard into the limelight, and while he admits Saturday's Man-of-the-Match performance against Australia at Loftus Versfeld stands right at the top of his career highlights, he says there's still room for improvement in his game. [ Full Story... ]

Bok coach lauds team for 'great composure' Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-30 06:00:00 Edition 1
JOHANNESBURG: The standout feature of the Springboks' victory over Australia at Loftus Versfeld, unlike the previous week against New Zealand at the FNB Stadium, is that they played for 80 minutes on Saturday and showed character and composure to swing the encounter their way in the second half. [ Full Story... ]

Aplon back in Bok squad Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-30 06:00:00 Edition 1
GIO APLON has been recalled to the Springbok squad for Saturday's final Tri-Nations Test against the Wallabies in Bloemfontein. [ Full Story... ]

Toks set to sing SA anthem at big Test clash

2010-08-27 06:00:01 Edition 1
Toks van der Linde was a powerful loosehead prop in his playing days, and now he is going to unleash his equally powerful voice when he becomes the first ex-Springbok to sing the national anthem at a rugby Test. [ Full Story... ]

WP's Boks can light up Newlands Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-27 06:00:00 Edition 1
THEIR noses have been bloodied by the Sharks, but Western Province are confident that they can get up off the canvas and correct the mistakes of last week in tonight's Currie Cup clash against the Cheetahs at Newlands. [ Full Story... ]

Cooper hopes to 'turn out for Loftus show' Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-27 06:00:00 Edition 1
PRETORIA: Wallaby flyhalf Quade Cooper has welcomed the challenge of being perceived as the weakest link in the Australian defence and is not losing any sleep over being the target man for the Springboks. [ Full Story... ]

Frans just wants to 'focus on rugby' Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-27 06:00:00 Edition 1
JOHANNESBURG: The pressure on the Springboks to snap a four-match losing streak in this year's Tri-Nations competition will be immense at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow and every single member of the squad - from the coaches to the players - will be under a microscope. [ Full Story... ]

WP hope to 'catch the ball' Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-26 06:00:00 Edition 2
ADRIAAN FONDSE has assured Western Province supporters and his team management that the forwards will improve drastically on their set-piece performance in tomorrow night's Currie Cup clash against the Free State Cheetahs at Newlands. [ Full Story... ]

Quade a 'dream player' Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-26 06:00:00 Edition 1
JOHANNESBURG: Springbok flyhalf Morné Steyn has admitted the confidence levels in the team are not where they should be, but he's hoping Loftus Versfeld - where the Boks have beaten Australia in all four of their previous meetings - will be the tonic needed to turn their fortunes around. [ Full Story... ]

Pocock: Boks will be a lot tougher at the breakdowns Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-26 06:00:00 Edition 1
HE is quickly becoming a man Springbok supporters love to hate, but ball-stealer supreme David Pocock says that the key to success at the breakdowns is to "play as close to the line as you can" of the referees. [ Full Story... ]

Boks will try to 'bash' Pocock at breakdowns, say Wallabies Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-25 06:00:00 Edition 2
WALLABY forwards coach Jim Williams believes that the Springboks will "just try to bash" star fetcher David Pocock at the breakdowns in Saturday's Tri-Nations clash at Loftus Versfeld. [ Full Story... ]

Welcome back, Gio and Flo! Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-25 06:00:00 Edition 2
WESTERN PROVINCE coach Allister Coetzee says he is "very delighted" to have two Springboks in Gio Aplon and Francois Louw back in the team for Friday's Currie Cup clash against the Cheetahs at Newlands. [ Full Story... ]

'Prince Carel' sad to see Gio axed Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-25 06:00:00 Edition 1
FORMER Springbok coach Carel du Plessis says it is "disappointing not to see" Gio Aplon in the Bok starting line-up for Saturday's Tri-Nations Test against the Wallabies at Loftus, and that the Western Province star "brings a different dimension" that the Boks could've used on Saturday. [ Full Story... ]

Steyn not ready for Test rugby, says Racing Metro coach Berbizier Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-25 06:00:00 Edition 1
LONDON: Francois Steyn, who has been called up for South Africa's Tri-Nations match against Australia, is "not ready" for Test rugby, according to his Racing Metro coach Pierre Berbizier. [ Full Story... ]

'I believe this is the best team' head goes head goes Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-25 06:00:00 Edition 1
JOHANNESBURG: Frans Steyn's booming boot and ability to kick long-range goals has seen him rushed straight back into the Springbok team to play Australia at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday. [ Full Story... ]

Smith worry for Boks Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-24 06:00:00 Edition 2
PRETORIA: Springbok coach Peter de Villiers was right on the money yesterday when he said his biggest selection concern ahead of Saturday's Tri-Nations Test against Australia was flank Juan Smith. [ Full Story... ]

Deans: Wallabies need 'a bit more' to overcome Boks Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-24 06:00:00 Edition 2
WALLABY coach Robbie Deans has warned his team that they will have to reproduce their Brisbane performance "and a bit more" to be able to beat the Springboks in Saturday's Tri-Nations Test at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. [ Full Story... ]

Allister: We can't become a bad team overnight Subscribe today for premium content

2010-08-24 06:00:00 Edition 1
WESTERN PROVINCE coach Allister Coetzee says "it's not time to panic" after his team lost their first Currie Cup match and are now expecting a tough clash against the Free State Cheetahs at Newlands on Friday night. [ Full Story... ]