The News Review:
- Empty seats raise questions about rugby’s future
- Dallaglio Farrell make England’s Rugby World Cup squad
- … already a success – Rugby News Results Fixtures and…
- SA Rugby – www.sarugby.co.za – The official home of rugby in South…
- Super 14 Rugby Super Rugby News Fixtures and Results
- Long weekend rugby scores
- Welsh Club Rugby / News pening round of ARC hailed as success
Empty seats raise questions about rugby’s future
Stuff.co.nz – Aug 13, 2007
To a degree this malaise can be blamed on the World Cup. Several angles can be taken on this one. Firstly some members of the rugby brethren may feel that they have already had their rugby fill; the Super 14 began in early February followed by seven All Blacks tests. Now fans are taking a breather. By choosing to ignore the Air New Zealand Cup they are preparing to recharge their batteries before getting square eyes watching the box when the World Cup kicks off next month. The New Zealand Rugby Union should also cop some of the heat. Their obsession with winning the Webb Ellis Cup has contributed to the rugby slop served up this year… Now fans are taking a breather. By choosing to ignore the Air New Zealand Cup they are preparing to recharge their batteries before getting square eyes watching the box when the World Cup kicks off next month. The New Zealand Rugby Union should also cop some of the heat. Their obsession with winning the Webb Ellis Cup has contributed to the rugby slop served up this year. They allowed Graham Henry to mothball 22 of his top All Blacks for half the Super 14 meaning most of the New Zealand teams battled through the early rounds of that competition before their combinations clicked. And when the internationals returned for the latter half of the competition line-ups were re-shuffled making it had for the players find their feet. The All Blacks’ performances – of which three tests were against weakened French and Springboks teams and brave minnow Canada – generated little excitement.
Dallaglio Farrell make England’s Rugby World Cup squad
Turkish Press – Aug 13, 2007
Head coach Brian Ashton named the duo among his 30-man squad which will seek to retain the trophy England won for the first time in Australia in 2003. Ashton admitted he faced some tough choices in leaving players out from his final training squad as he honed his final selection. Ex-Great Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell who has made just four Test appearances made the final cut. He has been widely criticised for his lack of pace in rugby union yet he offers considerable leadership qualities and the mental toughness Ashton has been seeking among his final 30.
… already a success – Rugby News Results Fixtures and…
Planet Rugby – Aug 13, 2007
Four games were played over the weekend in Sydney Perth Canberra and the Gold Coast in a competition designed to bridge the gap between club and Super 14 rugby. In the season opener the Sydney Fleet defeated the Central Coast Rays 25-19 in what was reported to have been a well attended fixture at the North Sydney val on FridayIn the other three fixtures on the weekend the Perth Spirit downed the Western Sydney Rams 21-13 in Perth. The Canberra Vikings went down to the Melbourne Rebels 27-32 which was regarded to have been the upset of the weekend at the Manuka val in Canberra on Saturday. While the East Coast Aces beat the Ballymore Tornadoes 27-21 in their derby game.
SA Rugby – www.sarugby.co.za – The official home of rugby in South…
SA Rugby – Aug 13, 2007
The match will be at Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday August 15. It will be the 44th test match for the Springboks at Newlands. f the previous 43 South Africa have won 28 lost 13 while two tests were drawn. The average score at this stadium is 16-12 in favour of South Africa.
Super 14 Rugby Super Rugby News Fixtures and Results
Super 14 – Aug 13, 2007
At Murrayfield Scotland won at Twickenham France. As usual we had great help from Soundsure’s Fair Play system. We shall discuss some aspects of law later in the week. Sanctionary Cards There was none this week though Jamie Noon may have been fortunate to avoid one for his lift and dump tackle on David Marty.
Long weekend rugby scores
Supersport – Aug 13, 2007
The Durbanites had almost no possession and were simply outplayed on all levels. Nonetheless gracious in defeat Glenwood’s marketing manager Terence Chapman says “ur boys were overwhelmed by an exceptionally talented schoolboy team. We hardly had the ball at all. It was amazing to watch.
Welsh Club Rugby / News pening round of ARC hailed as success
Scrum.com – Aug 13, 2007
The Mazda ARC began with an exciting match-up between the Sydney Fleet and the Central Coast Rays before a very healthy crowd at North Sydney val on Friday evening and ended yesterday afternoon with a thrilling local derby between the East Coast Aces and the Ballymore Tornadoes at Gold Coast Stadium. Eight teams are competing nationally for the Mazda Cup the competition spread across 10 weeks. ARU Deputy CE and ARC Commissioner Matt Carroll says the standard of rugby shown across the four matches was impressive. “The open play and skill shown under the new experimental laws gave us some very encouraging signs for the type of competition we are in for in the Mazda ARC’s first year” Matt Carroll said.