RUGBY BLITZ

Orlando Stadium in Soweto, South Africa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The 2013 rugby season is really starting to take off. The Lions Challenge is moving into its 3^rd week and we have the RBS Six Nation as well as the FNB Varsity Cup starting this weekend. Throw in a couple of warm up games and the sevens and no rugby lover can complain this weekend. The big question is however what we can expect.

LIONS CHALLENGE

The Bulls will be hosting the Lions at the Orlando Stadium in Orlando West, Soweto, this Saturday with the kick-off at 15:00. In a sense it is a home game for both teams, but then again an away game for both teams. The Lions made some changes to their team, but in essence this should not hamper them much. Marnitz Boshoff comes in for Lionel Cronje, but it would probably be a 40 minutes for each player. This young Lions team can still impress

The Bulls have very little in known players on senior level but it is good to see them giving youngsters like Jan Serfontein a chance to play. The Bulls are never a team to write off and if you do, you do so at your own peril. Then again they will be missing big guns like Morne Steyn and Wynand Olivier.

This will be one of the must watch games this weekend. I’m backing the Lions to win by 5-10 only because they have played a couple of games together.

RBS SIX NATIONS

Well the RBS Six Nations will give us a couple of good games to watch this weekend. First up Wales vs Ireland. Not an easy game to call, but then no international should be. Wales have home advantage but they never looked like winning anything after April 2012. Ireland had a couple of good showings in the Year End Tours. This will be the game of the weekend with Ireland that should just edge Wales out by less than 7.

England vs Scotland is a no brainer. You have the favourites, England, against the potential wooden spooners, Scotland. England should win this game with ease by 14 or more. Should Scotland pull og a miraculous win they can hand over the trophy to them now.

Italy vs France. This game all depends on the mind-set that the French pitches up with. I have said this many times before and I will say it many times more: France can beat any team on any given Saturday, but they can also lose to any team on any given Saturday. They are their own worst enemies. Still they should be able to control the Italians. It will not be a runaway win, but France by 14.  A game that promises some good running rugby mixed with string scrumming.

FNB VARSITY CUP

Monday night see the start of the Varsity Cup and the fight about what to watch in most houses across South Africa. First up on Monday is 4 time champions, Maties, against UJ. This is always a good clash to watch. I’m giving it to Maties because it is a early season home game for them. Maties by 7-12.

Tuks, defending champions, travel to Potchefstroom to face Pukke. To good rugby teams that both have a lot of pride. Pukke should have this but by less than 5

UCT or Ikeys will host NMMU and this si a difficult game to call. UCT struggled last year, but they are one of the better teams in the competition. NMMU has improved over the last two seasons and are no longer a walk over. Still Ikeys should win by around 20.

Newcomers , Wits, will host Shimals. Shimlas should have this game, but they have never really showed their true worth in the Varsity Cup. This year however they don’t have the Club Champs to go to. Shimlas should have this by 14+ but don’t be fooled by Wits.

Lions players sending strong message

Coach, Johan Ackermann, and captain, JC janse van Rensburg, must be very proud of their young charges after Saturday’s 33-17 mauling of the Cheetahs. Yes the Cheetahs didn’t have their strongest team on the field and rolling subs were used, but the Lions has a young relatively inexperienced side. The Cheetahs had experience on the field and during the second half they had their first choice back line on the field. Still the young Lions line impressed.

Players like Lionel Cronje, Stokkies Hanekom, Ruhan Nel and Anthony Volminck showed just why the Lions will be a difficult team during the Lions Challenge. They set the back line on fire. Western Province and the Stormers must be wondering why they ever let Lionel Cronje go. For the second week in a row Cronje made magic happen when he got the ball in hand. At least two of the Lions’ tries were made by the youngster. The intercept came at a crucial point when the Cheetahs looked like getting back into the game. His overall game play is very good and i can see him at the pivot or at centre like Saturday.

Stokkies Hanekom displayed just what he had and speed is one of those talents. His ability to break the line and put players around him away is crucial and he does it well. Defensively he is not bad either. Ruhan Nel still has some work to do, but the youngster is one to watch for the future. The only draw back in the back line on Saturday was at scrum-half. Guy Cronje is a bit slow and looks pedestrian at times.  The good thing however is that the players are playing very flat from him. This can however be a problem when faced with stronger opposition.

Up front the Lions destroyed a Cheetahs scrum or two in the same way they did against Russia. The front row has nothing to worry about. line-out time and breakdowns will be a concern for the coaching team. Losing 4 line outs on your own throw is not what any team wants. Maybe keep it simple and get the confidence going before trying the deep and complicated throws. At the breakdown the forwards must protect the ball better and not allow other teams to push them off it. This could have cost the Lions some points on Saturday.

The season is still long and games against the Bulls & kings over the next two weeks will tell if this si just early season luck. I do however feel that these players are coming into their own. Keep an eye on Lionel Cronje, Hanekom, Ruhan Nel and Volminck, they are going to go far if they keep this form.

Lions maul Bears in Challenge

The first game of the Lions Challenge between the Lions and the Russia Bears were played in front of 4495 supporters at Ellis Park the rain and relative cold weather played a role not only in the game but attendance as well. As the Russian Rugby Union pointed out to us 19 degrees is not that cold. They experienced temperatures of -14 and -20 degrees in some cities today.

You maybe excused if you thought the 51-13 score line reflected a one sided game. As Johan Ackermann, Lions Coach, pointed out after the game: “Two penalties, 14 points, makes big difference.” JC janse van Rensburg, Captain, said that in the end even when down by 40 points the Bears never gave up. That it was a tough physical game is not in question.

The Lions opened the scoring through two Lionel Cronje before the 10 minute mark. 6-0 up the Lions opted to go for a line-out with their next penalty, but the Russian defence held and a turn over ensued. In the 13th minute Russia got a penalty within kicking distance but went for the line-out instead, showing clear intent that they were here to compete.

For the next 10 minutes it was all Russia as they put pressure on the Lions in the Lions’ half. the Lions got back in the Russian half, but Russia cleared their lines. From the kick down field the Lions ran back and in broken play the Russian defence was lacking. Deon Helberg went over for a try with Cronje converting to make it 13-0 after 23 minutes. With two minutes left in the half Russia won a penalty and fullback, Igor Klyuchnikov put them on the board.

Cronje’s restart was a clever low long kick into the corner that went out. From a deep throw-in by Russia, the Lions won the ball and a scrum from there. After a penalty and Yellow Card to the Russian flank, Andrey Temnov, the Lions decide to take another scrum. Another penalty and resulting Penalty Try with Cronje converting had the half-time score at 20-3.

From the second half kick-off the lions went straight on to the attack and after a good build up. They won a penalty and Russian hooker, Valeriy Tsnobiladze, got yellow carded. Once again the Lions opted for a scrum and got a Penalty try as the 6-man Russia scrum disintegrated under the pressure of 8 Lions men. Cronje once again converted.

The Lions couldn’t control the restart and Russia looked like they scored their first try. Lourens vd Merwe referred it to the TMO and the try was awarded. Alexey Makovetskiy, the Russian centre, just got his hands on the ball before two Lions’ defenders. Klyuchnikov added the two points to bring it to 27-13.

Hendrik Roodt scored next for the Lions with Cronje converting. A mere 7 minutes later Warwick Tacklenberg broke in open play and went in under the posts. Marnitz Boshoff added the conversion, but he missed the next two conversions of his own try and then the “after the hooter” try of Ruhan Nel. Before awarding the try of Nel, Vd Merwe went upstairs for a foul play incident. Russian fullback, Klyuchnikov, got red carded for a tip-tackle. A bit cynical as it was a touch and go if the Lions player did indeed go through the 90 degrees and the hooter had already sounded. The final score 51-13.

Both coaches were unhappy with their sides’ discipline. Kingsley Jones, Russian coach, said: “I’m no referee basher, but if the referee had blown his whistle half as much as he did, it would be to much.”

Johan Ackermann said that his said will now focus on the Cheetahs who they play next Saturday. “We want to do good against the Super Rugby sides.”

Russian Bears announces team to play Lions

The Rugby Union of Russia have announced their 23-man squad to take on the Lions this Saturday. The game is the first of The Lions Challenge games and is set to be a challenge for both teams. Not much is known in South Africa about the Bears.

Come and join the Lions Saturday in welcoming the Bears to Ellis Park. The match kicks off at 19:00 and gates open at 16:00.

Russia Bears:
15. Igor Klyuchnikov, 14. Andrey Otrokov, 13. Yaroslav Rechnev, 12. Alexey Makovetskiy, 11. Mikhail Babaev, 10. Sergey Yanyushkin, 9. Alexander Yanyushkin, 8. Victor Gresev, 7. Artem Fatakhov, 6. Andrey Temnov, 5. Maxim Kiselev, 4. Alexander Voytov, 3. Innokentiy Zykov, 2. Valeriy Tsnobiladze, 1. Grigory Tsnobiladze
 
16. Alexey Volkov, 17. Sergey Novoselov, 18. Evgeny Pronenko, 19. Pavel  Kvernadze, 20. Pavel Butenko, 21. Alexey Shcherban, 22. Sergey Sugrobov, 23. Igor Kurashov

11 New Caps for Lions vs Russia

Lions Coach, Johan Ackermann announced his 23 man squad to play against the Russian Bears this Saturday at Ellis Park. He has included 11 new caps in his team and is looking to start the season on a high note against the Bears.

“Every game will be important for us, but it’s especially important that we start this tournament well,” Ackermann said after announcing his team on Thursday.

The Lions will use the Lions Challenge to prepare for the promotion/relegation series against the bottom placed South African side Super Rugby. This is an opportunity for players to make positions their own and show what they have.

“We want to fine-tune our game, get some conditioning and continuity going, especially getting the new players to gel, and it will be our first real contact because we haven’t had a lot up till now.

“We want to get our style of play going too, but really I just want to win and get the guys out on the pitch.” Ackermann’s view on the 16 matches they will play before then.

Not knowing much about their opponents on Saturday makes it a bit difficult, but the team is filled with youth and experience.

Lions:
Forwards: 1. JC Janse van Rensburg (Captain) 2. Martin Bezuidenhout 3. Ruan Dreyer 4. Hendrik Roodt 5. Franco Mostert* 6. Warwick Tecklenburg* 7. Derick Minnie 8. Willie Britz
Backs: 9. Michael Bondesio (Vice-Captain) 10. Lionel Cronje* 11. Anthony Volmink 12. Harold Vorster* 13. Stokkies Hanekom* 14. Deon Helberg 15. Andries Coetzee
Substitutes: 16. Francois du Toit 17. Jacques van Rooyen* 18. Jacques Kotze* 19. Hugo Kloppers* 20. Claude Tshibidi* 21. Ross Cronje 22. Marnitz Boshoff* 23. Ruhan Nel*
*On debut for the MTN Lions

Russia Bears: TBC

Lions announces 2013 squad

The Lions announced their 35-man squad to play in the Lions Challenge and will form part of the 2013 Currie Cup. The squad is filled with both youth and experience.

The Lions signed some young up and coming players late in 2012 after some of the senior players opted to go to other teams either on lone or permanently. Yet they retained stalwarts like JC janse v Rensburg and Derick Minnie upfront. In the backs players like Deon van Rensburg, Alwyn Hollenbach and the Cronje’s will add the spark and experience needed.

The squad is:

Gavin Annandale, Martin Bezuidenhout, Michael Bondesio, Marnitz Boshoff, JJ Breet, Willie Britz, Andries Coetzee, Robbie Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Guy Cronje, Lionel Cronje, Ross Cronje, Dylan des Fountain, Ruan Dreyer, Swys du Toit, Stokkies Hanekom, Deon Helberg, Alwyn Hollenbach, JC Janse van Rensburg(c), Hugo Kloppers, Jacques Kotze, Jaco Kriel, Derick Minnie, Franco Mostert, Jacques Nel, Ruhan Nel, Hendrik Roodt, Warwick Tecklenburg, Claude Tshibidi, CJ van der Linde, Deon van Rensburg, Jacques van Rooyen, Anthony Volmink, Harold Vorster, Warren Whiteley

Several of the players in this squad has extensive Currie Cup and Super Rugby experience. The younger guys will have an opportunity to learn from them while gaining experience against international competition. While it is not Super Rugby this is a better opportunity than just playing Vodacom Cup.

The US invitational, French Barbarians, Russia and Samoa will give very good resistance. Add to that the Top 14 and other European clubs, not to mention the South African Super Rugby teams and you will gain experience as a player.

Once again well done to the Golden Lions Rugby Union who turned the disaster of being relegated from Super Rugby into an opportunity. Not only for their players, but also to build rugby relations all over the world. That in its own is a feat.

Rugby the Russian way

Russia will be playing against the Lions this coming Saturday at Ellis Park in the first game of the Lions Challenge. Not much is known in South Africa about Russian rugby or the history of the team. Most of us in South Africa would have seen them play in 5 games during the last World Cup in 2011 and maybe once or twice other than that. Not much to go on. Here is a look at rugby in Russia.

Rugby in Russia started prior to 1992, but back then it was under the Soviet Union and it consisted of a combined CIS team. Since 1992 the Rugby Union of Russia or RUR has been administrating rugby. The national team is known by their nickname, the Bears. Their first game was on 6 June 1992 against the Barbarians which Russia won 23-27. In October of 1992 they played against Belgium and won that game 11-17. Russia recorded their largest win in 2000 over Denmark whom they beat 7-104. Their largest defeat came in 2010 against Japan. Japan won the game 3-75.

The Rugby Union of the Soviet Union was founded in 1936, but they only played their first game in 1974. They took some time to establish themselves but during the 1980’s they started to beat teams like Italy and Romania on a regular basis. In 1987 they declined an invitation to the inaugural World Cup due to the fact that South Africa, with its apartheid policy, was still a IRB member. After the breakup of the Soviet Union the Russian players played for the Commonwealth of Independent States between 1991 and 1992. In 1992 RUR was born and Russia rugby as we know it today was created.

Russia has tried to qualify for the 2003 and 2007 World Cups but fell short, they did however qualify for the 2011 World Cup. They failed to win a single game out of 5 but did manage a bonus point against the USA. Russia did however set a couple of new records. They scored the most tries, 8, by a debutant nation and the most since Samoa in 1991. They also managed to score 3 tries against Australia, the first time that this has been done since 1987.

Russia might not be the strongest nation in rugby, ranked 19th in the world contest to this, but they will not be a walk over and has shown that they know how to score tries. Their current team is as follows:

Hookers: Vldislav Korshunov, Valery Tsnobiladze
Props: Gregory Tsnobiladze, Sergey Popov, Evgeny Pronenko, Andrey Polivalov, Alexey Volkov, Innokenty Zykov
Locks: Artem Fatakhov, Kirill Kulemin, Alexander Voytov, Vladimir Boltenkov
Loose-forwards: Pavel Butenko, Andrey Garbuzov, Yuri Vengerov, Pavel Kvernadze, Andrey Temnov, Victor Gresev
Scrum-halves: Alexey Shcherban
Fly-halves: Anton Ryabov, Sergey Sugrobov, Ramil Gysin
Centres: Dmitry Gerasimov, Alexey Makovetskiy, Sergey Trishin, Mikhail Babaev, Igor Kurashov
Wings: Denis Simplikevich, Vladimir AstRUShko
Fullbacks: Andrey Otrokov, Vasily Artemyev, Igor Kiyuchnikov.
Coach: Kingsley Jones (former Wales Flanker)

Proteas on top as Black Caps fold

Day 2 of the second test between South Africa and New Zealand belonged to the hosts beyond a shadow of a doubt. The Proteas added 200 runs in just over two sessions and then had the Black Caps on the ropes at 47/6 before close of play.

Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis continued on day two with the Proteas 325/4 over night. Du Plessis on 69* and Amla on 108*. Amla was the first to go for 110. Dean Elgar walked to the crease and together with du Plessis recorded a new South African 6th wicket partnership. Du Plessis scored his second test century in emphatic style with a six after lunch. Elgar went on to his maiden test 50 before they were sent a message to up the scoring.

Du Plessis eventually succumbed on 137 but Elgar kept going. With his telly in the 80’s Peterson joined him. Peterson however went out cheaply before tea. After tea Elgar on 91 and Steynn continued batting. Steyn then got himself out and it started looking like Elgar would be stranded without batting partners short of his hundred. Kleinveldt however helped Elgar to the 100 and the Proteas to 525/8. Once Elgar scored his maiden test century, Smith declared and the batsmen immediately left the field. Elgar not out on 103.

When guptil got dropped on 0 the Black Caps must have thought luck was on their side. Steyn however had him removed shortly after this with his score still on 0. Williamson followed shortly afterwards. New Zealand 8/2. Kleinveldt then joined the party and had Brownlie out for 10 after he peppered him with some shot stuff. Flynn followed shortly for 0, another Kleinveldt wicket.

McCullum and Watling seemed to have made it through the day, but Robin Peterson came on. He had McCullum caught in the slips and with his very next ball got rid of Munroe. The Black Caps ended the day on 47/6. Still 280 odd runs short of the follow on total.

McCullum and his team will not sleep well. They must be thinking that they should declare their first innigs on 0/0 and just bat in a second innings. The Proteas are spoiled for choice at the moment as every player coming into the side just seems to be kicking on. It will be interesting to see if this test goes into day 4.

Cricket: To walk or not to walk?

Late on day one of the second test, between the Proteas and Black Caps, Faf du Plessis got a feint glove down the legside. The catch was taken but du Plessis stood his ground and the umpire, Ian Gould, gave him not out. The DRS referral wasn’t taken by New Zealand and Faf batted on. Hotspot however showed that he was indeed out.

Subsequently discussions have been going on about if Faf should have walked or not. Super Sport commentators discussed it on air and twitter has gone mad with people airing their views. Now here is mine.

Faf was in his full right to stay and wait for the unpire to make the decision and when not given out to bat on. Ultimately, and as many commentators pointed out, it is the umpire’s call. If the Black Caps felt he was wrong they had the referral to use. They didn’t.

The same can apply to bowlers bowling a wide down legside and then appealing to sway the umpire’s mind. Why should a batsman walk if a bowler can appeal to hide a wide. Batsmen these days will stand when a catch is close to the ground or a full toss is a bit high. They wait for the umpire to make the decision.

As kids we are tought not to walk and batsmen should in my view only walk if given out, unless they feel it is unfair. Then DRS will come into play and decide their faith. No rule states you must walk.

Cricket: To walk or not to walk?

Late on day one of the second test, between the Proteas and Black Caps, Faf du Plessis got a feint glove down the legside. The catch was taken but du Plessis stood his ground and the umpire, Ian Gould, gave him not out. The DRS referral wasn’t taken by New Zealand and Faf batted on. Hotspot however showed that he was indeed out.

Subsequently discussions have been going on about if Faf should have walked or not. Super Sport commentators discussed it on air and twitter has gone mad with people airing their views. Now here is mine.

Faf was in his full right to stay and wait for the unpire to make the decision and when not given out to bat on. Ultimately, and as many commentators pointed out, it is the umpire’s call. If the Black Caps felt he was wrong they had the referral to use. They didn’t.

The same can apply to bowlers bowling a wide down legside and then appealing to sway the umpire’s mind. Why should a batsman walk if a bowler can appeal to hide a wide. Batsmen these days will stand when a catch is close to the ground or a full toss is a bit high. They wait for the umpire to make the decision.

As kids we are tought not to walk and batsmen should in my view only walk if given out, unless they feel it is unfair. Then DRS will come into play and decide their faith. No rule states you must walk.