The Blue Bulls guaranteed themselves a place in the Currie Cup semifinal through a hard-fought and bruising battle that yielded a 41-31 victory over reigning champions, the Free State Cheetahs, at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. The Cheetahs had come to Loftus already guaranteed of a place in the last four, but also wanted to repeat their miraculous feat of last year.
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/ 30 September 2006
The Titans confirmed their position as strong MTN Championship contenders when they began their limited overs domestic season with a well constructed four-wicket win over the Cape Cobras at Supersport Park on Friday. The home side made reaching the target of 237, posted by the visitors, seem easy as they cantered to victory.
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/ 9 September 2006
A powerful surge by the Springboks in the second half guaranteed them a 24-16 victory over Australia in their Tri-Nations encounter at Ellis Park on Saturday. After a subdued and slow start to the game with the teams deadlocked at three-all at the break, tries from Fourie du Preez and Breyton Paulse and a snap drop from Andre Pretorius ensured the Boks victory.
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/ 8 September 2006
The Springboks have downplayed suggestions that Australia will walk into Ellis Park on Saturday as the underdogs for the last match of the Tri-Nations. With the Wallabies coming off a three-week rest and the Springboks in high spirits after their win over New Zealand last Saturday, Springbok captain John Smit said the pressure is on his team to repeat last weekend’s heroics.
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/ 3 September 2006
Coming off possibly their greatest victory in Test rugby, Springbok coach Jake White on Saturday evening watered down any thoughts that his team had completely turned the corner. However, he praised his charges’ tenacity at beating the All Blacks by the narrowest of margins in an epic Tri-Nations battle.
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/ 2 September 2006
A wounded Springbok team laboured hard to a spirited 21-20 Tri-Nations victory over the All Blacks at Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace on Saturday, bringing to an end New Zealand’s 15-match unbeaten run. The Springboks delivered a commanding and near-ruthless performance.
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/ 1 September 2006
In 100 years of Springbok rugby, European royalty, presidents and other statesmen have often handled the ceremonial pleasantries before a Test match. It was only fitting on Friday that the Springboks continue this tradition. However, this time around the Boks had an audience with an African king.
Springbok coach Jake White named a formidable team with five changes for his team’s Tri-Nations clash against the All Blacks on Saturday. Sharks loose forward AJ Venter makes a return to international rugby at number eight after having last played for the Springboks in 2004 at Twickenham.
Five games and four players down and the Springboks believe more than ever that victory is 80 minutes away. On Tuesday the Springboks went through their paces without fullback Percy Montgomery, who was suffering from a stomach bug, scrumhalf Fourie du Preez with an ear infection, hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle not feeling well and CJ van der Linde, who is suffering from a neck injury.
Springbok coach Jake White believes that his team can still claw themselves out of one of their worst runs to date after sinking to their fifth successive defeat when the All Blacks beat them 45-26 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. A major concern for White was how his team failed to capitalise after a dominating start over the reigning Tri-Nations champions.