Ou Grote Rugby back on Facebook
After a lengthy absence, Ou Grote is back on Facebook. Check out and LIKE our page HERE.
2011 Super 15 predictions round 4
To help you with your predictions for round 4 of the 2011 Super 15 tournament, here is what those in the know are saying:
» Click HERE to download the 2011 Super 15 fixtures for Outlook
022. Crusaders vs Brumbies
KE1: Crusaders by 10
KE2: Crusaders by 10
FRG: Crusaders by 21
OGR: Crusaders by 5
365: Crusaders by about 20
BET: Crusaders
» Read more on 2011 Super 15 predictions round 4
IRB threatens to expel Fiji
The International Rugby Board has threatened to expel Fiji, preventing its participation at this year’s World Cup, because the nation’s military regime had attempted to depose the entire Fiji Rugby Union.
» Read more on IRB threatens to expel Fiji
Sheridan deal means Sale end week on a high
England prop Andrew Sheridan has ensured Sale RFU will have a good end to the week from hell. Sheridan, who turned down big money moves to France, has signed a contract extension with the Edgely Park club to keep him at the club past the 2011 Rugby world cup to the end of the 2012 season. » Read more on Sheridan deal means Sale end week on a high
2010 IRB Awards
New Zealand has claimed the top three awards at the 2010 IRB Rugby Awards. Richie McCaw was named the 2010 IRB Player of the Year, The All Blacks were named 2010 IRB Team of the Year, and Graham Henry got the 2010 IRB Coach of the Year award.
» Read more on 2010 IRB Awards
Matfield nominated for 2010 Player of the Year
Springbok captain Victor Matfield has been nominated for the 2010 IRB Player of the Year award.
Matfield is joined on the shortlist for the award by last year’s winner, All Blacks’ captain Richie McCaw, his teammate Mills Muliaina, France’s Imanol Harinordoquy and Australians David Pocock and Kurtley Beale.
The winner will be announced on December 1 when the awards for IRB Coach of the Year (Graham Henry) and Team of the Year (New Zealand) will also be made known.
Previous winners: Richie McCaw (2009), Shane Williams (2008), Bryan Habana (2007), Richie McCaw (2006), Dan Carter (2005), Schalk Burger (2004), Jonny Wilkinson (2003), Fabien Galthie (2002), Keith Wood (2001).
Bakkies 9 weeks – Kevvy 2 weeks
The IRB has disgraced itself still further by reducing Keven Mealamu’s ban for headbutting England captain Lewis Moody from 4 weeks to 2 after an appeal by New Zealand. The All Blacks are fast becoming the most hated team in rugby with their cheating tactics on the field and their hypocrisy off the field. The fact that they have Paddy O’Brien of the IRB in their back pocket just adds to the mounting worldwide dislike for this All Blacks team.
Here is the video of ‘Kevvy’ Mealamu blatantly headbutting Moody in front of the referee. Bakkies Botha received a 9 week ban for exactly the same offence (against New Zealand) during this years Tri Nations. Are the IRB biased? What do you think?
SA Rugby Awards 2010 LIVE
SA Player of the Year 2010 – Gurthro Steenkamp
Victor Matfield: So happy for Gurthro. Real awesome player and great team man. Go tight five.
John Smit: The big G cleaned up and deservedly so! Well done @gurthro I love it when the big boys dominate the girls trophies!!!
Players’ Player – Gio Aplon (WP)
Young Player – Elton Jantjies (Lions)
Super 14 Player – Andries Bekker (Stormers)
Most Out of Place Troupe of Backup Dancers – The ballerinas blocking the view of the big screen
John Smit: A big thank you for our tribute video last night but I must say @VictorMatfield & I chuckled about it being played with ballerinas dancing!
Team of the Year – Bulls
Coach of the Year – Allister Coetzee (WP / Stormers)
Currie Cup Premier Division Player – Bjorn Basson (Griquas)
Currie Cup 1st Division Player – Norman Nelson (EP Kings)
Kakkest Song at the Awards – Kurt Darren (Groter as Groter)
Try of the Year – Jaque Fourie
SA Sevens Player – Kyle Brown
SA u20 Player – Elton Jantjies
Official of the Year – Craig Joubert
Springbok touring squad named
The Springbok squad to tour Europe was named after Saturday’s Currie Cup Final. Notwithstanding injuries (Ricky Januarie, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger), the following is the squad to contest the Grand Slam:
Backs
Gio Aplon (Western Province)
Bjorn Basson (Blue Bulls)
Adi Jacobs (Sharks)
Jean de Villiers (Western Province)
Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls)
Bryan Habana (Western Province)
Elton Jantjies (Golden Lions)
Patrick Lambie (Sharks)
Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks)
Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland)
Frans Steyn (Racing Metro, France)
Morne Steyn (Blue Bulls)
Zane Kirchener (Blue Bulls)
Forwards » Read more on Springbok touring squad named
2010 Currie Cup FINAL
The 2010 Currie Cup Final will take place at 16:30 on Saturday 30th October 2010 between The Sharks and Western Province in Durban.
Latest Currie Cup News:
2010 Rugby Player of the Year Awards
The SARU 2010 Rugby Player of the Year Awards will be announced at Vodaworld, Midrand in Gauteng on Monday 1 November 2010. Fans can vote this year for the first time HERE.
Player of the Year
Gio Aplon (Western Province)
Schalk Burger (Western Province)
Juan de Jongh (Western Province)
Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls)
Gurthrö Steenkamp (Blue Bulls)
Other categories » Read more on 2010 Rugby Player of the Year Awards
John Mitchell stabbed, held hostage & robbed
John Mitchell was stabbed twice during a robbery at his Hyde Park apartment in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Lions spokeswoman Krystle Geach said that Mitchell had been at home with his flat-mate and fellow coach Wayne Taylor when he heard a noise. » Read more on John Mitchell stabbed, held hostage & robbed
Bok symbol almost gone
The Springbok emblem will move to the sleeve of the jersey for next year’s World Cup apparently because the IRB logo has to appear on the right-hand side of all teams’ jerseys at the tournament. The IRB refused to make an exception for the Boks, which means the Protea will be on the left-hand side of the jersey and the Bok emblem on the sleeve. Bye bye Bokkie…
Worst high tackle EVER
Could this be the worst high tackle ever? Check it out HERE
All Blacks are greatest chokers in sport
Times Online writer Patrick Kidd, who compiled the list, said the All Blacks could have featured on the list more than twice.
“It may be cruel to include the All Blacks twice in this list, but has self-belief and potential ever exploded so often, so predictably? As well as 1999 and 2007, we could include the World Cups in 1995 (damn that food poisoning), 1991 (two moments of brilliance by David Campese) or 2003 (averaged 62 points per game until the semi-final then blew it against Australia). How will they self-destruct on home soil in 2011?”
The 10 greatest chokers in sport
01. New Zealand rugby team (1999)
02. South Africa cricket team (1999)
03. Greg Norman (1996)
04. Asafa Powell (2007)
05. Scott Hoch (1989)
06. Jean van der Velde (1999)
07. Somerset cricket team (2010)
08. Guillermo Coria (2004)
09. Doug Sanders (1970)
10. Houston Oilers (1993)
Currie Cup Round 10 results
WP 59 v 17 Leopards
Cheetahs 20 v 14 Bulls
Sharks 30 v 14 Pumas
Lions 40 v 29 Griquas
3N.08 South Africa 39 – 41 Australia
South Africa finished last in the Tri Nations, lost the Mandela Shield, lost the Freedom Cup, lost to Australia on the highveld for the first time in 47 years, conceded the most tries by any team in the history of the Tri Nations and dropped to 3rd in the IRB world rankings after another disastrous game in what has been a disgraceful Trinations series.
The response from the coaches – BLAME IT ON THE PLAYERS!! Peter de Villiers: “I think we showed character to come back. Our structures are in place and they can take us to the World Cup if executed properly. If we execute our plans perfectly, it will be very difficult to score against us. We needed to show more character on defence, like we did in Soweto and last week at Loftus.”
Springboks 39 (13)
Tries: Jaque Fourie, Gurthro Steenkamp, Jean de Villiers
Conversions: Morne Steyn (3)
Penalties: Morne Steyn (6)
Wallabies 41 (31)
Tries: Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor, Stephen Moore, Rocky Elsom, Drew Mitchell
Conversions: Matt Giteau (4), James O’Connor
Penalties: Matt Giteau, Kurtley Beale
MOTM: Gurthro Steenkamp
Boks: A Cut Above or Part of the Pack?
Much has been written about South Africa’s fall from grace in recent weeks. They have gone from a team that could do no wrong to a team that just can’t get it right. In particular, the South African media is falling over itself about the sudden plummet. While one can certainly see a big difference between last years Tri-Nations and this year’s, the suggestion that the difference is only the law application is wrong minded.
READ MORE
My Bakkie’s Bullbar Is BIG
From Systemshock
2011 South African Public Holidays
Add all the holidays for 2011 to your Outlook calendar automatically.