The Crusaders sent out an early warning to the other teams in this year’s Super14 competition. They played against the Brumbies in the opening game of the competition and dominated the game in very wet conditions.

The Crusaders forwards out muscled the Brumbies and provided quality ball for their backs to run riot. Dan Carter conducted the flow of play around the park and they never let the Brumbies into the game.

The Crusaders ran in four tries, thus securing a bonus point in their first outing of the competition. Carter had a great game, scoring a try and adding 14 points with the boot. The Brumbies were without Stirling Mortlock, who is injured, but they were never in the game and failed to adept their tactics. It seems that Larkham and Gregan will be sorely missed by the ACT Brumbies. Final score: Crusaders 34 Brumbies 3

With the 2008 Super-14 competition starting on the 15th of February, preparations by the teams are in full swing. The Vodacom Stormers start their campaign with a friendly match against Boland on Saturday the 19th of January. The match gives the players a chance to get to grips with the new ELV’s(Experimental Law Variations) that will be applicable during this year’s Super14 competition.

Teams for the friendly: Stormers: 15. Gio Aplon, 14. Tonderai Chavhanga, 13. Dylan des Fountain, 12. Gcobani Bobo, 11. Sireli Naqelewuki, 10. Peter Grant, 9. Bolla Conradie, 8. Luke Watson, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Schalk Burger, 5. Andries Bekker(captain), 4. Francois van der Merwe, 3. Brock Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. JD Moller

Reserves: Schalk Brits, Schalk Ferreira, Adriaan Fondse, Pieter Myburgh, Dewaldt Duvenhage, Isma-eel Dollie, Corne Uys, Ruaan du Preez, Justin Melck, Robbie Diack, Joe Pietersen

Boland: 15. Justin Peach. 14. Alvin Hugo, 13. Piet van Zyl, 12. Hein Myburgh, 11. Alshaun Bock, 10. Lionel Cornelius, 9. Neil Papier, 8. Francois Prinsloo, 7. Henley du Plessis(captain), 6. Zolani Mofu, 5. Nico Esterhuyse, 4. Coenie Basson, 3. Andries Human, 2. Pieter Wium, 1. Jean Botha
Reserves: Clemen Lewis, Tommy Dixon, Frikkie Spies, Milroy Isaacs, Marnus Hugo, Jacquin Jansen, Kobus Meintjies, John Daniels, Monray Liebenberg

The game is played in WELLINGTON and starts at 18h00 for those who wants to go watch.

Spectators can look forward to a more open running game in the 2008 Super14 competition after SANZAR decided to adopt some of the Experimental Law Variations(ELVs). The ELVs adopted by SANZAR cover the following areas: 1. Posts and flags around the field, 2. Inside the 22m area, 3. Lineout, 4. Breakdown(tackle/post tackle), 5. Scrum and 6. Sanctions. The aim of the ELVs is to keep the ball in play more and create a more exciting brand of rugby to attract more people to the game.

ELVs to be applied:

1. Posts and flags around the field:

- Corner posts will be positioned at the outside junction of the goal line and the touch line:

a. if a player in possession of the ball touches the corner post he will not be in touch unless he touches the touch line or the ground beyond the touch line

b. if the ball is not being carried by a player and it touches the corner post the ball will be deemed to be touch in goal.

2. Inside the 22 metre area:

-When a defending player receives the ball outside the 22 metre line and passes, puts or takes the ball back inside the 22 the folllowing can occur:

a. If the ball is then kicked directly into touch, the lineout is in line with where the ball was kicked.

b. If a tackle, ruck or maul is subsequently formed and the ball is then kicked out the lineout is where the ball crossed the touchline.

3. Lineout:

- On a quick throw in, the ball can be thrown straight or backwards towards the defenders goal line, but not forward towards the opposition goal line

4. Breakdown(tackle/post tackle):

- Players entering the breakdown area must do so through the gate.

- Immediately the tackle occurs there are offside lines.

- The half back should not be touched unless he has his hands on the ball.

5. Scrum:

- The offside line for players who are not in the scrum and who are not the team’s scrum half, is 5 metres behind the hindmost foot of the scrum.

6. Sanction:

- For all offences other than offside, not entering through the gate and Foul play, the sanction is a free kick and not a penalty.

Info via www.sarugby.com

The Blue Bulls Company(Pty) Ltd made it official, Frans Ludeke has been appointed as the Head Coach at the Blue Bulls Company until the end of the 2010 season. Ludeke replaces Heyneke Meyer who is still in the run for the Springbok coaching job. Ludeke, who coached the Cats and is currently director of rugby at the Lions, signed his contract with the Bulls on Tuesday and he starts his new job with immediate effect.

The Sharks Rugby Union is laughing all the way to the bank as the Absa Stadium sold out in record time yesterday . All 54000 seats have been snapped up by hungry rugby supporters. The first all SA Super 14 final since the competition’s inception in 1996! News 24 wrote:

Who would have thought – or believed rather – two years ago, that The Absa Stadium would be sold out a week before a match. “Some 54 000 seats. How can we ever try to explain to loyal fans there are simply no seats left in the stadium for sale?

“How is everyone thanked for the ongoing support? The only way is to deliver a trophy, and I can assure you the Sharks will be going all out to do just that this Saturday”, says coach Dick Muir, Sharks management and players.

Early on Monday the last tickets for the final were sold and Brian van Zyl, chief executive officer of the Sharks, apologised to disgruntled fans who could not secure a ticket.

Read more after the jump

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]