On Saturday night, controversy in South African Rugby continued with the squad of 45 players being enlarged to 46 players to accomodate Luke Watson. Aparently, this was the doing of South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins, due to pressure from politicians.

Springbok coach Jake White was not consulted on this change and is seeking legal advice according to reports.

Although it looks like a bit of a circus, SARB aproves the inclusion of Watson.

[Via: Super Rugby; Pic: SA Rugby]

The Bulls set up the first all-South African final in Vodacom Super 14 history by beating the Crusaders 27-12 in the second semi-final played at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday evening.

In match that produced no tries Derick Hougaard booted the Bulls into their first final, against the Sharks in Durban next Saturday, with eight penalties (equaling the Super Rugby record) and a dropped goal.

The Bulls struggled to re-kindle their awesome form of the week before when they pulverised the Reds by a record score, but they did manage to maintain good field position to allow Hougaard to open the scoring with two penalties.

It was soon evident that the match was going to have the tenor of a typical test match between the Springboks and the All Blacks with the Crusaders trying at every opportunity to put width on the ball and with the Bulls trying to establish forward superiority.

And gradually it went the way of the powerful blue bulldozer as the Crusaders, who had skipper Richie McCaw yellow-carded by Australian referee Matt Goddard in the 57th minute, started to commit a string of uncharacteristic errors.

Some of these turned over the ball and others led to penalties — penalties which were turned into points to the resounding echo of Gè Korsten’s “Liefling” as Hougaard slotted five penalties (including one from 55 metres right on the whistle) to the three of Dan Carter to have the Bulls 15-9 up at half time.

More after the jump

[Via: SuperSport]

Allright guys (and girls!), on Saturday the 12th May 2007 after the Bulls – Crusaders semi-final the Springbok Rugby Training Squad will be announced for the tests against England and Samoa, as well as the Tri-Nations on channel 21 on DSTV (MNET). SARB has compiled a squad whose names we would like to see in that announcement, divided into ‘1st Team’, ‘Reserves’, ‘Rest of Squad’ and ‘Training Squad’.Players from the training squad will probably get the chop once the tests start. SARB’s resources hints that 28 players will eventually be kept in the final squad as this is the number of players you’re allowed to take to the World Cup. You’ll notice Jean de Villiers’ name absent from the 1st team (absurd!), due to a wrist injury that will see him miss the first two tests against England. Ashwin Willemse is also eligible for the squad, shaking off his knee, ankle and hamstring injury (at last!). Check it…

1st Team:
15. Percy Montgommery (Sharks)
14. Akona Ndungane (Bulls)
13. Jacques Fourie (Lions)
12. Wynand Olivier (Bulls)
11. Bryan Habanna (Bulls)
10. Andre Pretorius (Lions)
9. Fourie du Preez (Bulls)
8. Pierre Spies (Bulls)
7. Juan Smith (Cheetahs)
6. Schalk Burger (Stormers)
5. Victor Matfield (Bulls)
4. Bakkies Botha (Bulls)
3. BJ Botha (Sharks)
2. John Smith (C) (Sharks)
1. Guthro Steenkamp (Bulls)

Reserves:
16. Gary Botha (Bulls) – Hooker
17. CJ van der Linde (Cheetahs) – Prop
18. Danie Rossouw (Bulls) – Lock / Loose Forward
19. AJ Venter (Sharks) – Lock / Loose Forward
20. Francois Steyn (Sharks) – Fullback ./ Flyhalf / Wing / Centre
21. Ruan Pienaar (Sharks) – Scrumhalf / Flyhalf
22. Butch James (Sharks) – Flyhalf / Centre

Rest of Squad:
Conrad Jantjes (Lions) – Fullback / Wing
Johan Muller (Sharks) – Lock
Deon Carstens (Sharks) – Prop
Joe van Niekerk (Stormers) – Loose Forward
De Wet Barry (Stormers) – Centre
Pedrie Wannenburg (Bulls) – Loose Forward

Training Squad:
Wickus van Heerden (Bulls) – Loose Forward
Waylon Murray (Sharks) – Centre
Enrico Januarie (Lions) – Scrumhalf
Ashwin Willemse (Lions) – Wing
Heinke van der Merwe (Lions) – Prop
Breyton Paulse (Stormers) – Wing
Bradley Barret (Sharks) – Centre
Jean de Villiers (Stormers) – Flyhalf
Odwa Ndungane (Sharks) – Wing
Luke Watson (Stormers) – Loose Forward
Jannie du Plessis (Cheetahs) – Prop
Ryan Kankowski (Sharks) – Eightman
Tiaan Liebenberg (Stormers) – Hooker
Andries Bekker (Stormers) – Lock
Gerrie Britz (Stormers) – Lock
Ernst Joubert (Lions) – Flank
Bobby Skinstad (Sharks) – Loose Forward

Authors: Storman & Maverick