South Africa 42 England 6
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South Africa have hit form at the exactly right time as they humbled England 42-6.
South Africa led 20-6 at halftime and went on with it after the break running away with a 42-6 win against an English side with no answers.
The Springboks scored 6 tries to nil to complete the humiliation for England.
Watson selection could cause Boks to Boycott tour
Luke Watson’s recent anti-Springbok comments have put the focus on other players within the Springboks and the potential for a number of players to boycott the end of season tour.
The Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag, revealed players in Durban, Gauteng and Cape Town may be ready to withdraw from the Boks if Watson was selected after his vomiting comments about the Boks jumper.
The paper reported that angry players asked captain John Smit to relay their comments to the heirarchy.
Watson’s comments are currently under investigation by the SA Rugby board.
Luke Watson digs a deeper hole again…
South Africa’s Luke Watson can’t help but speak his mind and he has done it again but this time it may cost him dearly.
Watson was quoted on rugby365.com in an article as saying that “the problem with SA Rugby is that it is controlled by Dutchmen (Afrikaans-speaking white South Africans)”. He went on to say that he was kept from vomiting on the Springbok jersey because of the bigger picture and that ”the men who sit on my left and right of me in the change room despise me for who I am”.
Watson went on to say, “We need to see the bigger picture and realise that the here and now is not just the here and now, but the here and now only exists because of those who went before us and because of those who are still to come. Me having to wear the Springbok jersey, to keep myself from vomiting on it, because there is a bigger picture, because men and women have bled for me to get there.”
Watson has long been a man of controversy and no doubt this will be heavily scrutinised by the South African Rugby board and if it has not been taken out of context then Watson may be contemplating his words for years to com
Springbok Arrested for Drink Driving
Ricky Januarie was arrested over the weekend for drink driving at Durbanville after Januarie played in his teams 92.15 victory.
This is the second time this year that Januarie has been in trouble for excessive alcohol consumption.
All Blacks 2009 Test Schedule
The New Zealand All Blacks announced their 2009 Test Schedule today. The good news for All Blacks fans is they get to see their team all over the country with 2 matches to be held in Wellington and one each in Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland and Hamilton.
The real winner of the 2009 schedule is Hamilton who missed out on an international this year and will be keen to impress next year.
Sat 13 June - All Blacks v France - Carisbrook, Dunedin 7.35pm
Sat 20 June - All Blacks v France - Westpac Stadium, Wellington 7.35pm
Sat 27 June - All Blacks v Italy - AMI Stadium, Christchurch 7.35pm
Sat 18 July - All Blacks v Australia - Eden Park, Auckland 7.35pm
Sat 12 Sept - All Blacks v South Africa Waikato Stadium, Hamilton 7.35pm
Sat 19 Sept - All Blacks v Australia Westpac Stadium, Wellington 7.35pm
Springboks coach in blackmail scandal
A Johannesburg newspaper reported on Saturday that a rugby official and Springbok player tried to blackmail coach Peter de Villiers. The paper alleged that the offical and player attempted to blackmail Peter de Villiers by releasing a sex tape of him if he failed to select a player in the team.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has denied reports of the alleged blackmail but declared that an offical had met with De Villiers on 15th August in Cape Town but the SARU have not been able to find any basis for the claim.
The employee was advised on 25th August that they would face an internal hearing on a yet to be determined date. The surrounding drama is continuing to add fuel to the fire and is seems that some Springboks are at loggerheads with their coach.
Western Force eye Bismarck du Plessis
The Western Force are already on the lookout for their marquee player in 2009 with Bismarck Du Plessis being identified as a potential first up marquee signing for the Force.
The Western Force are likely to be one of the first Australian sides to sign a foreign based player under the new ARU Foreign Player Policy approval. The Force and Waratahs have arguably the deepest pockets and are in the best position to sign a star player.
Bismarck du Plessis is likely to drop back to the second choice hooker for the Sharks in 2009 as John Smit returns from his French sojurn.
In other Australian Super 14 news, the Brumbies identified that they are less likely to sign a foreign player in 2009 rather focusing their effort on the 2010 season which will allow adequate time to identify a suitable marquee player and a potential foreign star that could one day play for the Wallabies.
ARU knock back selecting foreign based players
The Australian Rugby Union board today knocked back the selection of Australian foreign based players dashibg hopes of selecting players such as Rocky Elsom for the European tour.
With more Australian rugby stars travelling to Europe to ply their trade there was some hope of the loosening of the selection of Australian players based particularly in Europe. The decision is in keeping with the New Zealand All Blacks who have maintained a focus on selecting only New Zealand based players.
Depending on the likely exodus and player depth over the next few years these restrictions are likely to be loosened as we lead into the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
South Africa have this year selected some of their leading players from European teams such as Victor Matfield and John Smit. After a slow start for Matfield he quickly started delivering the goods.
IRB World Rankings
South Africa have reclaimed the second spot on the IRB World Rankings after their win over Australia 53-8 in Johannesburg. Australia can reclaim second spot with a win against New Zealand in Brisbane.
No other changes occured in the Top 10 due to a lack of international rugby matches.
The list of the top 10 are below;
New Zealand
Australia
South Africa
Argentina
England
Wales
France
Ireland
Scotland
Italy
Is Peter de Villiers arrogant or off the planet?
Peter de Villiers is perhaps one of the more unusual international coaches in the game at the moment but he is also prone to digging a hole for himself after each press conference he attends.
De Villiers has been slated by the press of late, particularly in South Africa where he has been bagged for trying to change the successful Springbok style of play to accomodate the change to the game with the new ELVs. De Villiers early attempts at this change in style have been poor but no new style can click from day one but it seems odd to change what has been successful for so long.
De Villiers has been dogmatic in his approach that he is right and that what he is aiming to achieve will be vindicated when it all comes together. De Villiers labelled the win against the Wallabies as a vindication of what he is trying to achieve and while it did not all click on his opinion it was a good start.
Peter de Villiers did not stop there and went on to say, “The same people who threw their robes on the ground when Jesus rode on a donkey were the same people who crowned him and hit him with sticks and stuff like that, and were the same people who said afterwards how we shouldn’t have done that, he’s the son of God. So that’s exactly what we do. You have to look at history is repeating itself, and I’m not saying that I’m God.”
Quite creative I think but De Villiers should perhaps not look at the game as an indication of where his style is taking the Boks but more a case of getting the basics right such as ball control, passing, kick game etc.
Everything worked while the Wallabies seemed badly off the pace, poor kicking, passing and lack of straight running. When a side such as the Boks fire and the opposite side does not then the score can clearly blow out quickly as we saw in the 53-8 drubbing.
However, the way the Boks played is nothing we have not seen before. The Boks have always been able to play an expansive game and with speed to burn can score tries from anywhere. All the Boks did was deliver which was not so much about De Villiers coaching but about the players getting their act together.
De Villiers could perhaps focus more on training and coaching rather than sharing his outlandish views with the press each time he speaks to them. It is like he is constantly looking for vindication from whoever will listen that he knows what he is doing and will be successful. De Villiers is blessed with a fantastic squad and amazing depth, their is no excuse for failing with the squad at his disposal.
So what do you think, Is Peter de Villiers arrogant or off the planet?