Richie McCaw will make an appearance on the Crusaders bench against the Hurricanes after a lengthy battle with a foot injury.
McCaw hasn’t played since the World Cup final in October 2011. There were fears that it was so severe that he would be forced into premature retirement. However, McCaw assured the media that those fears were unfounded.
In other changes, the Franks brothers, Ben and Owen, start at loosehead and tighthead prop , while Luke Romano comes into the second row in place of Sam Whitelock.
Dan Carter continues his stint in midfield.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Will Genia to join Western Force? Seriously?
I was confirmed yesterday that Melbourne Reds and Wallabies scrumhalf will join the Western Force next season.
Shock, right? I mean I don't understand Australian teams and their players sometimes, waisting their talent by leaving teams that have been performing well for struggling teams. It makes if you know you are a good player, playing the best players in the country as a team and dominating as apposed to going off and being the superstar of an ok team. I get that they are spreading the talent amongst the teams but this decisions i don't understand.
It almost feels like he's abandoning ship because with Quade Cooper out on injury and Digby Ioanes suspension the Reds have been struggling. But I guess money talks.
The move will only be confirmed next week, but it is believed that Genia has already agreed terms to leave defending Super Rugby champions the Reds for the Force in 2013. This comes after the player requested an improved contract to remain in Australia, with demands of a A$400 000-a-season deal.
There were potential moves to Europe and Japan on the cards before the Force offered Genia a lucrative deal. The signing of Genia has also convinced Wallabies flank and Force captain David Pocock to agree a new deal to extend his stay in Perth.
This is going to be a massive loss for the Reds, I'm starting to wonder what Quade Cooper s going to do when or if he comes back from injury.
Shock, right? I mean I don't understand Australian teams and their players sometimes, waisting their talent by leaving teams that have been performing well for struggling teams. It makes if you know you are a good player, playing the best players in the country as a team and dominating as apposed to going off and being the superstar of an ok team. I get that they are spreading the talent amongst the teams but this decisions i don't understand.
It almost feels like he's abandoning ship because with Quade Cooper out on injury and Digby Ioanes suspension the Reds have been struggling. But I guess money talks.
The move will only be confirmed next week, but it is believed that Genia has already agreed terms to leave defending Super Rugby champions the Reds for the Force in 2013. This comes after the player requested an improved contract to remain in Australia, with demands of a A$400 000-a-season deal.
There were potential moves to Europe and Japan on the cards before the Force offered Genia a lucrative deal. The signing of Genia has also convinced Wallabies flank and Force captain David Pocock to agree a new deal to extend his stay in Perth.
This is going to be a massive loss for the Reds, I'm starting to wonder what Quade Cooper s going to do when or if he comes back from injury.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Hougaard to stay with the Bulls
It was reported that talented scrum half Francois Hougaard signed a 3 year deal extending his contract with the Bulls. Good news for the team indeed considering that there were rumours that he wold go back to Westeern prvince and that he also had other offers to go abroad to play.
He moved from Western Province to the Bulls in late 2007.
Hougaard said: ‘This is where it all really started for me and in the last four years I have worked very hard in the structures to establish myself in the side. I put a very high premium on hard work and the work ethic at the Bulls is something I feel very comfortable with. I know how hard not only the players, but the coaching staff work to achieve results.’
He moved from Western Province to the Bulls in late 2007.
Hougaard said: ‘This is where it all really started for me and in the last four years I have worked very hard in the structures to establish myself in the side. I put a very high premium on hard work and the work ethic at the Bulls is something I feel very comfortable with. I know how hard not only the players, but the coaching staff work to achieve results.’
The Beast is Back!
Wow, It felt like he was gone forever. Sharks Tendai Mtawarira is back in action this week in the Vodacom Cup after making a faster than expected recovery from injury.
He suffered a bad ankle injury at the begining of the year while training and had to have surgery, He recovered 2 weeks early. The 26-year-old is in the starting line-up for the Sharks XV's clash with the EP Kings at Kings Park on Saturday. This is good news for Sharks, Beast will add great value to the team for a place in the playoffs.
The Sharks play the Chiefs this weekend before enjoying a bye next week, so there is a good chance Tendai could be involved in the next clash against the Highlanders on May 5.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer must be a pleased man with these news.
He suffered a bad ankle injury at the begining of the year while training and had to have surgery, He recovered 2 weeks early. The 26-year-old is in the starting line-up for the Sharks XV's clash with the EP Kings at Kings Park on Saturday. This is good news for Sharks, Beast will add great value to the team for a place in the playoffs.
The Sharks play the Chiefs this weekend before enjoying a bye next week, so there is a good chance Tendai could be involved in the next clash against the Highlanders on May 5.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer must be a pleased man with these news.
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