South Africa qualified for their first final in a Hong Kong leg of the IRB World Sevens series when they came from behind to beat defending champions Samoa 12-10 in the semifinal on Sunday. The Springboks will meet New Zealand in the final later on Sunday.
The Wellington Hurricanes withstood a ferocious late fightback from the Otago Highlanders to win their Super 14 clash 10-6 at Dunedin on Friday. The Hurricanes spent most of the second half camped in their own quarter but defended superbly against waves of attacks from the Highlanders.
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/ 29 February 2008
The Wellington Hurricanes beat the Waikato Chiefs 39-19 with a six-try blitz in their Super 14 rugby clash on Friday. The Hurricanes finally played to their potential as they eliminated the errors that had plagued their opening two matches. They started with a roar and their wide running game ensured the bonus-point fourth try within 25 minutes.
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/ 9 February 2008
All Blacks coach Graham Henry said he thought his international career was over after his team’s shock elimination from the Rugby World Cup last year, a newspaper reported on Saturday. In his first interview since being reappointed in December, Henry said he only stood for re-selection because of the public support he had received.
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/ 4 February 2008
Crusaders and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says players from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa should be free to play in any of the three countries’ Super 14 rugby franchises. He is also supporting Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O’Neill’s view that the competition should be increased to two rounds.
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/ 9 December 2007
Unsuccessful All Blacks coaching candidate Robbie Deans has been granted a late interview for the vacant Wallabies job, the Australian Rugby Union said on Sunday. Deans, who missed out on the All Blacks position when the New Zealand Rugby Union decided to reappoint incumbent Graham Henry on Friday, had now asked to be considered for the Australian job.
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/ 7 December 2007
Graham Henry defied history on Friday when he was reappointed as All Blacks coach despite holding the reins during the team’s worst-ever World Cup performance this year. The New Zealand Rugby Union has traditionally been an unforgiving employer and no previous coach has survived a failed World Cup campaign.
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/ 2 December 2007
South Africa were eliminated in the semifinal of the IRB Sevens World Series in Dubai on Saturday against New Zealand, who then went on to beat Fiji 31-21 in the final. New Zealand, who had earlier tackled South Africa out of contention to win their semifinal clash 12-7, ran in three converted tries in the first half of the final.
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/ 27 November 2007
Four candidates have been shortlisted to coach the All Blacks but the real contest is expected to be between incumbent Graham Henry and Robbie Deans of the Canterbury Crusaders. The New Zealand Rugby Union said on Tuesday that Henry, Deans, Wellington Hurricanes’ Colin Cooper and Waikato Chiefs’ Ian Foster would be interviewed next week.
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/ 26 November 2007
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has re-applied for his job following the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) decision to make the position contestable after the team’s failed World Cup campaign. Henry (61) had until 5pm on Monday to apply for the job after the NZRU rejected a proposal to reappoint his coaching team.
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/ 15 November 2007
The All Blacks coaches have blamed English referee Wayne Barnes for their World Cup failure, it was reported on Thursday as the New Zealand Rugby Union deliberated on the future of the coaching panel. Head coach Graham Henry and his assistants Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have maintained a diplomatic silence about Barnes’ performance in the World Cup quarterfinal.
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/ 10 November 2007
Jake White was caught in the South African rugby crossfire during a bitter and ongoing power struggle of which he was the latest high-profile victim, the Saturday Star said on Saturday. This has emerged in his much-anticipated autobiography, In Black and White, which hits bookstores soon.
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/ 31 October 2007
Canterbury Crusaders coach Robbie Deans has confirmed the worst-kept secret in New Zealand rugby — he is keen to take over as All Black coach from Graham Henry. Henry is likely to be replaced following the All Blacks worst-ever World Cup showing this month when they were knocked out by France in the quarterfinals.
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/ 22 October 2007
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South Africa may have reclaimed the World Cup for the southern hemisphere after a one-off win by England in 2003, but that is not to say that the debate over who is in the ascendancy has been resolved. For many, the Springboks’ tactics in the 15-6 win over England in the final were decidedly of northern values.
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/ 20 October 2007
Dejected All Blacks were reported on Saturday to be undergoing grief counselling to help them come to grips with their shock loss in the rugby World Cup quarterfinals. New Zealand Rugby Union chairperson Jock Hobbs said it was imperative steps were taken to ensure the players were able to move on mentally as soon as possible.
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/ 19 October 2007
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France and Argentina clash on Friday in a World Cup third place play-off overshadowed by simmering French resentment at their opening night shock defeat to the Pumas five weeks ago. That 17-12 embarrassment threatened to send the hosts’ campaign into freefall before they righted their listing ship with a spectacular quarterfinal win over the All Blacks.
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/ 19 October 2007
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There have been many times during the past 12 years when the idea of South Africa ever winning the World Cup again seemed utterly ludicrous. Remember when André Markgraaff dropped Francois Pienaar and replaced him in the Springbok squad with Theo OostÂhuizen? That was ludicrous.
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/ 16 October 2007
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In Australia, it’s a term of abuse but in Paris on Saturday night, it’s poised to be the weapon of choice as England and South Africa eye the World Cup title. Never has the much-maligned drop goal been so important and in Jonny Wilkinson, England can boast the king of the kickers.
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/ 11 October 2007
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Rarely has the term ”Le Crunch”, often used to describe internationals between England and France, been more appropriate than for Saturday’s World Cup semifinal at the Stade de France. The old rivals will meet for the 90th time, knowing that defeat for either side could signal the end of some distinguished rugby careers.
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/ 10 October 2007
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All Blacks winger Doug Howlett was arrested in London and may face charges after an incident at the team’s hotel near Heathrow Airport, the New Zealand Rugby Union said. The union is investigating the incident at the Hilton Hotel in which two cars were damaged.
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Graham Henry will be replaced as All Blacks coach by the end of the year after his highly fancied team crashed out of the World Cup at the hands of France in the quarterfinals. The New Zealand Rugby Union board said on Sunday that a new coaching team should be in place by Christmas, even though Henry and his assistants have contracts until March 2008.
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South Africa’s media on Monday declared the Springboks as the new favourites to win the Rugby World Cup after they narrowly avoided becoming the third victim of a weekend of quarterfinal upsets. Newspapers breathed a sigh of relief that the Boks saw off a brave challenge by Fiji, who at one stage were level-pegging at 20-20.
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Australian newspapers on Monday sought to ease the pain of the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup exit at the hands of England — and the boot of Jonny Wilkinson — by taunting the All Blacks. ”At least we didn’t choke,” Brisbane’s Courier-Mail screamed across its back page.
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New Zealanders were looking for answers on Sunday after their beloved All Blacks once again failed at the Rugby World Cup. France’s stunning 20-18 win over the All Blacks in Cardiff left the nation wondering just how the world’s top-ranked team managed to lose to a French side that had been woefully out of form during the tournament.
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France upset the odds in dramatic style to come from behind and beat tournament favourites New Zealand 20-18 in the World Cup quarterfinal at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday. For the All Blacks, 13-0 up as early as the 30th minute, defeat was arguably as devastating as their equally unexpected 43-31 loss to France in the 1999 World Cup semifinal at Twickenham.
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A knockout place is a minimum requirement for a top team. Looking at the weekend’s results, you can’t be happy about the state of rugby among the Six Nations. When Wales, Italy and Ireland go out of the World Cup at the pool stage, when Scotland, England and France struggle, you have to conclude that the old tournament is no longer quite what it was.
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Richie McCaw admits he is ready to take New Zealand all the way to the 2007 World Cup title. The All Blacks captain will lead his side into the quarterfinal crunch clash against France at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday. New Zealand have enjoyed a smooth passage into the last eight with comfortable victories against European outfits Italy, Portugal, Scotland and Romania.
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/ 30 September 2007
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Eddie Jones will not compromise what he knows of the Wallabies’ inner workings to the advantage of fierce Rugby World Cup rivals South Africa, Springboks coach Jake White said on Sunday. White, who is using Jones as a consultant at the tournament, says the former Wallaby coach is a huge positive for him and the Springbok team.
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/ 29 September 2007
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New Zealand finished the World Cup pool stage in style with a spectacular demonstration of running and passing to demolish Romania 85-8 on Saturday. The All Blacks racked up 13 tries, three coming from flying winger Joe Rokocoko, as they blew away their opponents with some dazzling rugby to the delight of the packed crowd at the Stade Toulouse.
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/ 25 September 2007
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Romania ground out a slogging 14-10 win over brave Portugal for their first win of the Rugby World Cup at Toulouse Stadium in France on Tuesday. The Romanians fought back from 7-0 down at half-time to overpower the Portuguese through their superior forward pack.
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/ 24 September 2007
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In the measured tones of the schoolmaster he once was, New Zealand coach Graham Henry gave his half-term assessment of the All Blacks on Sunday evening. ”We are pretty happy really,” Henry told a news conference after his team had defeated Scotland 40-0 at Murrayfield.
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/ 24 September 2007
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New Zealand, Australia and South Africa may not have been at their destructive best but all three southern hemisphere giants have kept up their unbeaten World Cup records. Little Tonga pushed South Africa, and scored three tries, before they were edged out 30-25 in a pulsating clash in Lens on Saturday.