If I had a Rand for every promising rugby talent that left Cape Town to pursue a career elsewhere in SA, I would certainly not be blogging on a cramped economy class flight to Jozi. No Siree Bob, I would have bought that property on the beachfront in De Kelders, the missus has had her eye on since who knows when. If for some reason this comparison escapes you, I’m attempting to explain that a huge amount of players leave Western Province and excel at other unions! I’m well aware that this scenario has been flogged to death on social media platforms, in rugby circles and around braais for ages, but I don’t care, I’m a staunch Province supporter and I want to rant and rave some more. So now you know what I’m about to ramble on about and I know that navigating away from this blog becomes an option, but I would urge you not to, as you might read something interesting after all.

If we allow ourselves to think back to 1995 when we secured our first RWC trophy, we are filled with elation, but this is not the case for Dr Louis Luyt, unfortunately. He might have been as exuberant immediately after the Stransky drop-goal, but nothing prepared him for what Francois Pienaar and Hennie Le Roux (amongst others) were cooking up for him and the entire amateur rugby world. That’s right folks rugga was an amateur sport, with players still largely holding down 9am-5pm jobs to bring home the bacon. (more…)

New Zealand’s rugby community was shocked at the news that their golden boy Dan Carter will have no more say in the outcome of this years rugby World Cup.

The All Black flyhalf has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament because of the groin injury he suffered at yesterday’s captains run and Colin Slade will now be expected to wear the No 10 jersey.

Manawatu’s Aaron Cruden has been brought into the squad.

This is a massive blow for All Blacks fans who are hoping their side will lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time since 1987.

And what makes this news even more devastating for Carter, and New Zealand fans, is that he is rarely been sidelined by this sort of injury.

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I’m shocked. Absolutely flabbergasted.

And not in your usual would-you-look-at-the-price-of-beer-and-cigarettes-after-the-annual-budget-speech kind of way, but in a more fundamental (and mildly offended) my-girlfriend-has-become-a-lesbian-and-says-it’s-all-my-fault kind of way.

You see, in the midst of sifting through the mountains of statistics and reading the countless weekly interviews with players and coaches that goes into accurately (or not, as was the case last week again…) producing sportblog.co.za’s weekly Kerrie Beker preview, I came across this gem from Western Province’s embattled coach Allister Coetzee, bemoaning the injury toll on his team so far this season:

“Imagine what’s it like at the start of the week when your biggest concern is whether you’ll have 22 players fully fit for a match in a few days’ time.”

No, really, he said it – just go check for yourselves on SuperSport.com.

OK, I see you don’t share my outrage here. Let me explain: the Western Province Rugby Union has about 10 000 registered senior rugby players. Stellenbosch University alone has 1500 registered players, which is more than one quarter of all the registered players in the whole of Namibia – and they made it to the World Cup! There are about 90 rugby clubs in the Western Cape feeding the provincial team. Granted, not all of them are anywhere near the size of Stellenbosch, but you get the idea. Surely finding a player or 3 to replace the walking wounded missing out of the provincial team’s ranks shouldn’t be that hard, right?

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The controversial (well in most South African rugby supporters’ eyes) Australian referee Stuart Dickinson has retired with immediate effect at 43 years of age.

Since 1997 he refereed for fifteen seasons in a record 47 Test matches, 98 Super Rugby matches and three Rugby World Cups.

“It’s not often people get to turn their hobby into a career and for that I am eternally grateful,” said Dickinson.

“To have been able to travel the world and take the field with some of the best players the game has ever seen has been a huge honour.

“I want to thank my wife Fiona and our three children Michael, Emily and Isabella who have been incredibly supportive, understanding and patient over the course of my career and I look forward to spending more time with my family in the months and years ahead.

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Last week I made myself guilty of giving the Sharks a bit too much credit and the Cheetahs way too little credit, and as a result sat watching in horror as my pick of the Sharks over the Cheetahs in Bloem turned farcical as the boys from the Free State pumped 50-odd onto the Durbanites. I’m blaming this bad pick on being distracted by the World Cup, an excuse I believe the Griquas would’ve been using after surprisingly coughing up the win points at home to give the Pumas their first victory of the Kerrie Beker campaign.

In fact, now that I think about it, given my other bad pick of Province over the Bulls, last week was either a week of upsets or a week of amateurish crystal ball-gazing. It takes a big man to admit that he is wrong. I, unfortunately, am not a big man, so I’ll continue to tell myself (and all of you as a consequence) that last week was a week of upsets – at least then I can continue picking this week without developing what golfers call the “yips”…

SHARKS vs GRIQUAS (Mr. Price King’s Park. Friday 7.10pm)

Although both teams should be smarting from losses last week, on paper the Sharks should have the goods on the Griquas, particularly since they have the comfort of bouncing back from last week’s pumping at home in the Shark Tank. As they say in the classics though, rugby is played on grass, not on paper, and the leaky Shark defence (as exposed by the Cheetahs last week) versus the Griquas’ potency on attack may yet deliver a surprise result. The Griquas have been consistently inconsistent this season, and if they decide to show up half-cocked in Durban this week the result could be very one-sided.

Sharks by 12.

PUMAS vs LEOPARDS (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit. Friday 7.10pm)

Oh dear. What to say about a game that not even SuperSport could be bothered to broadcast? Nothing really.

Pumas by 20.

LIONS vs BULLS (Coca-Cola Park, Joburg. Saturday 3pm)

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Going into the World Cup there were many people that weren’t exactly singing the praises of the selectors for choosing Danie Rossouw to be part of the Springbok squad to defend the Webb Ellis trophy. Thus far he has silenced all critics and was named Man of the Match against Fiji. Check out this huge tackle on Luke Charteris in the Wales game.

Source: rugbydump.com

The Springboks faced Fiji in their second 2011 World Cup game on Saturday at the Wellington Regional stadium. The Boks were absolutely clinical in their win of 49 – 3 over the South Islanders. Guthro Steenkamp, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Morne Steyn, Tendai Mtawarira and Daniel Rossouw (the Man of the Match) all scored tries as South Africa were rampant and showed no mercy. Morne Steyn kicked five conversions and Francois Steyn two penalties. The Sevens expert Fiji team never even managed to score on try, only one penalty.

Pic: supersport.com