Mallett Backs Boks For Tri-Nations
Italy coach Nick Mallett believes that South Africa can, once again, dominate in this year’s Tri-Nations competition.
Mallett, whose team was thrashed 55-11 by the Springboks in East London on Saturday, predicted that the confidence currently streaming through the Springbok camp would stand the South Africans in good stead when they kick off their Tri-Nations title defence against the All Blacks in Auckland.
“We’ve seen this team really mature over the past couple of years,” Mallett said.
“They really respond well to challenges. Back in the 90s it was tough to go over there on tour and win matches but now the players don’t fear [the Wallabies and All Blacks] and they believe they can beat them. In fact, they think they are better than them and, after last season’s performance and the success of the Bulls in the Super 14, they’ve every right to be confident.”
The Boks’ first Test performance against Italy, in Witbank last weekend, was widely criticised after the team’s lacklustre performance resulted in a flurry of tactical errors and a general inability to score tries. However, after the return of some of their top players, including skipper John Smit, there was little room for manoeuvre for Mallett’s feeble chances on Saturday.
“It was a shoddy performance by the Springboks last week and it wasn’t a great performance by us but you have to put in the work before you can knock over a team, even one like Italy, and this week they did that,” Mallett expressed.
“This is a really strong Springbok side, the best they can put out – give or take one or two players – and they showed it this week as normal service was resumed.”
With thanks to SA Rugby.com
Southern Hemisphere Rugby Rules
Springbok captain John Smit in Cardiff: All in a day's work
South Africa, along with the other rugby powerhouses of the Southern Hemisphere, has remained dominant in World Rugby for the better part of the past two decades – much to the dismay of Northern Hemisphere pundits.
Prior to the inaugural 1987 World Cup, European nations crossed the equator in the infrequent expeditions of the amateur rugby union era with understandable trepidation.
Aside from a handful of celebrated exceptions, notably France’s famous 1958 series win over South Africa, the southern hemisphere citadels usually repelled all invaders with ease. Fast forward to 2010 and, after six World Cups and the advent of professional union, the only difference appears to be the sheer number of modern internationals.
Each of the Six Nations championship contenders will be in action in the southern hemisphere this month in a frenetic series of internationals. But, with the possible exception of grand slam champions France, they will have travelled much as they did during most of the 20th century – with hopes higher than expectations.
World champions South Africa, who have won the ultimate tournament twice in four appearances, set out their stall last weekend when a team with probably four first-choice players at most, defeated Wales 34-31 in Cardiff. The Springboks beat the British and Irish Lions last year, they are the current Tri-Nations champions, and the Bulls defeated the Stormers in an all-South Africa Super 14 provincial final.
South Africa will play Six Nations champions France in a one-off test on Saturday between possibly the two major contenders at next year’s World Cup in New Zealand.
DISMAL RECORD
France, as they were in 1987 when they lost the World Cup final to New Zealand in Auckland, are the standard bearers for European rugby. But they are missing key players through injury and coach Marc Lievremont has made it consistently clear that all his efforts are concentrated on winning the World Cup for the first time.
Since England became the first, and to date, only European country to win the World Cup in 2003, the four home nations have lost all 25 away matches against Tri-Nations opposition. England, who face a two-test series against the Wallabies, have gone backwards since 2003 and they were lucky to escape with a 28-28 draw against the Australian Barbarians on Tuesday.
Ireland, who have never beaten New Zealand, and Wales, who have never defeated them away, play one and two tests respectively against the All Blacks. The Irish faltered this year after winning the 2009 grand slam and they will take the field without the Lions captain Paul O’Connell. Wales, as they showed against South Africa, often look like world-beaters for an hour before fading in the final quarter.
Scotland, with two tests in Argentina, has on paper the easiest task. Argentina, though, has always been a difficult tour for any side, the Pumas possess a redoubtable pack and the Scots have beaten them only twice in 10 tests.
The World Cup has changed the face of rugby with every test, tour and championship now viewed in the context of the four-yearly tournament. What has not changed is the gulf between the hemispheres.
REUTERS
Stormers Allegations Groundless
Referee Craig Joubert looks at the replay on the big screen during the Super 14 final between the Bulls and the Stormers at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
Sanzar will on Tuesday decide whether to act on statements by the Stormers’ captain Schalk Burger and coach Allister Coetzee, about the handling of the match by referee Craig Joubert, but statistics to a very large degree prove the Stormers allegations to be groundless.
The statistics of the match provided by South Africa’s refereeing boss Andre Watson, make it quite clear there was no “coaching” of the Bulls by referee Joubert at the breakdowns as alleged by Burger, who after the match said that two sets of laws were applied by Joubert.
“After reports in various newspapers and websites I looked at whether there were grounds for the allegations,” said Watson.
“According to the reports Craig Joubert allegedly “coached” the Bulls while the Stormers were simply penalised.
“With that as background, I went through every clip of the match – we have the technology to do so – and came to the following conclusions: “There were 167 rucks in the match. The Stormers took the ball in 85 times and the Bulls did so on 82 occasions. Craig (Joubert) spoke 25 times to the Stormers and 28 times to the Bulls at the breakdowns.
“On not a single occasion did he repeat any warning. He throughout warned both sides only once where it was applicable and then penalised them if the persisted.
“The Bulls were penalised seven times at the breakdowns and the Stormers twice. Every penalty but two, where he penalised immediately, came after warnings to the offending side.”
The statistics were gathered by Watson because Burger, after the game, openly said two sets of rules were applied by referee Joubert in what is widely construed as an act that comes close to accusing the referee of cheating.
Watson would not respond to whether action would be taken against the Stormers captain — and coach — for their utterances.
“That is not my place, its Sanzar’s decision.”
Sanzar’s director in South Africa, Johan Botes, said a decision whether to take the matter further will only be reached on Tuesday.
“At this stage the allegations are just hearsay. We are gathering all the facts and detail and Sanzar will take a decision tomorrow (Tuesday),” Botes said.
Brumbies flyhalf Matt Giteau was fined $5000 after critisising referee Steve Walsh’s handling of their Super 14 match against the Waratahs.
Walsh was replaced as referee for the Brumbies’ following match against the Reds after having been previously appointed to officiate in this fixture.
With thanks to timesonline.co.za
Super 14 Final: Images
The Bull's babes
Fans outside the Orlando Stadium.
The Bulls won the Super 14 league for the third time.
The Stormers lost 17-25 to the Bulls in the Super 14 Final, with the Bulls taking an early 16 -0 lead.
Jaque Fourie and Wynand Olivier.
Peter Grant
Schalk Burger congratulates Victor Matfield.
The Bulls celebrate their Super 14 win.
SA’s Best Battle For Super 14 Supremacy
Victor Matfield of the Vodacom Bulls.
Waratahs coach Chris Hickey believes the Stormers have a good chance of beating the Bulls in the Super 14 final in Soweto on Saturday.
The Stormers – who only conceded 17 tries during the round robin stage – have reached their first-ever Super rugby final.
“The Stormers probably provide you with the least amount of opportunities,” Hickey said.
“When you make line-breaks you have to be patient, so that you can build pressure. Any defensive line has a weakness and it will be up to the Bulls to find it.”
Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh concurred: “Their discipline is good and their defensive record speaks for itself. No doubt they deserved to reach the final.”
However, Waugh stopped short when asked if he feels the Stormers can vanquish the defending champions.
“I’m not that concerned to be honest”, he said bluntly.
‘The Bulls and Stormers finished the round robin first and second,” continued Hickey, “and not too many people can argue with the fact that the top two sides are contesting the final.”
The Bulls are reigning Super 14 champions and enter the encounter clear favourites. However, the Waratahs mentor expects a fierce, nail-biting derby battle.
“I think the Bulls/Stormers game will be a very competitive game of football,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee was an excited man ahead of the final game of Super 14 rugby – next year the Super 15 is introduced.
“We are very excited to have made the final and know we can make history this weekend,” said Coetzee.
“This Stormers side has a lot of respect for the Bulls, who are best team in the Southern hemisphere but we go to win, not just to run the race.”
Coetzee believes the Stormers have matured immeasurably over the last few seasons, and is confident the Cape side will give a very good account of themselves.
The Stormers played a second string Bulls side at Newlands on May 15 and won 38-10.
However, nothing can be read into that result as the Bulls rested as many as 14 regular starters.
This North/South derby promises to produce plenty of fireworks with silverware and Springbok places up for grabs.
Build up to the big final from Orlando Stadium is on Mnet and SuperSport 1 from 3pm with kick-off at 5pm.
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Reserves: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Derick Kuün, 20 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 21 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 22 Pedrie Wannenburg.
Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Reserves: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Willem de Waal, 22 Tim Whitehead.
SI Prediction: Bulls to edge the Stormers by five points in an exciting encounter.
By Grant Shub
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