Author archives: nelio@15.co.za

  • Springboks nominated for 2010 Laureus Awards

    Feb 15, 10 • 1620 Views • InternationalComments Off on Springboks nominated for 2010 Laureus Awards

    The Boks claimed their second Vodacom Tri-Nations crown last year and were triumphant series winners (2-1) over the British & Irish Lions during the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series. The Laureus World Team of the Year Award could be the most...

  • Mallet makes 2 changes to Italy team

    Feb 12, 10 • 1825 Views • Six Nations, Six Nations NewsComments Off on Mallet makes 2 changes to Italy team

    Italy coach Nick Mallett has made two changes to his starting line-up for their second Six Nations match against England in Rome on Sunday. Kaine Robertson drops to the bench with Andrea Masi taking his place at number 14, while Gloucester lock Marco...

  • Added pressure expected at scrum time between Vodacom Cheetahs and Bulls

    Feb 12, 10 • 2115 Views • InternationalComments Off on Added pressure expected at scrum time between Vodacom Cheetahs and Bulls

    Even before the Currie Cup final there has been much anticipation of the battle in the scrums. The Vodacom Cheetahs front row has destroyed most opposition in the scrums and has benefitted from the assistance of legendary Os Du Randt. There was great...

  • Hurricanes early Super 14 leaders

    Feb 12, 10 • 1770 Views • InternationalComments Off on Hurricanes early Super 14 leaders

    The Hurricanes are deserved leaders of the Super 14 after beating the Blues 34-20 at Albany’s North Harbour Stadium. The Hurricanes kicked nine penalties and only scored via an intercept try to Hosea Gear, but were the far superior team in the second half...

  • Preview: Lions v Stormers

    Feb 12, 10 • 3184 Views • InternationalComments Off on Preview: Lions v Stormers

    The Lions v Stormers clash might well be the most attractive game for the South African Super 14 teams. While the Bloemfontein match between the Vodacom Cheetahs and the Vodacom Bulls is expected to be a tough forward battle, we might well see a more...

  • Dick Muir gives Lions license to play expansive

    Feb 12, 10 • 1819 Views • InternationalComments Off on Dick Muir gives Lions license to play expansive

    Johannesburg – The Auto and General Lions are set to play an expansive game this season, with coach Dick Muir taking off the shackles of structure that may have hampered the franchise for too long. But in a competition as tough and uncompromising as the...

  • Drotské expects referee to reward scrumming

    Feb 12, 10 • 1452 Views • InternationalComments Off on Drotské expects referee to reward scrumming

    The Cheetahs are hoping that referee Jonathan Kaplan rewards the stronger scrum in Friday’s Super 14 battle against the Bulls. Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské is of the view that teams with more scrumming power are often penalised and plans to have a chat with...

  • Vodacom Park ready for Vodacom Cheetahs v Vodacom Bulls Clash

    Feb 11, 10 • 1413 Views • InternationalComments Off on Vodacom Park ready for Vodacom Cheetahs v Vodacom Bulls Clash

    Rugby15 was fortunate to attend a media session earlier today at the Vodacom Park Free State Stadium. Vodacom coach Naka Drotske and assistant coach Hawies Fourie answered the questions from media representatives on the upcoming clash against the Vodacom...

  • Reds ready to take on the Waratahs

    Feb 11, 10 • 1588 Views • InternationalComments Off on Reds ready to take on the Waratahs

    The Queensland Reds Team to face the Waratahs has been announced. James Horwill is set to play out of position in the back row for the Reds opening Super clash with the Waratahs on Saturday Qantas Wallabies lock James Horwill has switched to the backrow in a...

  • Giteau ruled out of Force match by quad strain

    Feb 11, 10 • 2764 Views • InternationalComments Off on Giteau ruled out of Force match by quad strain

    CA Brumbies playmaker Matt Giteau has been ruled out of the CA Brumbies’ opening Investec Super 14 fixture against the Western Force in Perth tomorrow night. Giteau sustained a quad strain almost three weeks ago and has been racing the clock to be available...

  • Injury blow for Italy team to play against England

    Feb 10, 10 • 1796 Views • Six Nations, Six Nations NewsComments Off on Injury blow for Italy team to play against England

    Italy have suffered a huge blow to their RBS Six Nations campaign, with second-row Carlo Antonio Del Fava expected to be out for at least four weeks. The 28-year-old injured his knee in a training session on Tuesday and will require minor surgery. With the...

  • England team announced to play Italy in RBS Six Nations

    Feb 10, 10 • 3237 Views • Six Nations, Six Nations NewsComments Off on England team announced to play Italy in RBS Six Nations

    RBS SIX NATIONS – ITALY v ENGLAND Venue: Stadio Flaminio, Rome Date: Sunday, 14 February Kick-off: 1430 GMT Leicester prop Dan Cole will make his first Test start as one of two changes to the England side for Sunday’s RBS Six Nations game with...

  • 6 New faces amongst Blues Team for clash with Hurricanes

    Feb 10, 10 • 1863 Views • InternationalComments Off on 6 New faces amongst Blues Team for clash with Hurricanes

    The scrum pairing of first five-eighth Stephen Brett and halfback Alby Mathewson are among six new Blues named tonight for the Rebel Sport Super 14 rugby match against the Hurricanes on Friday night. Brett was recruited from the Crusaders and Mathewson from...

  • Hurricanes announce team to face Blues in Super 14

    Feb 10, 10 • 3907 Views • InternationalComments Off on Hurricanes announce team to face Blues in Super 14

    Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper has selected Willie Ripia at 10 for the Hurricanes with rising star Aaron Cruden on the bench for Friday night’s Super 14 opener against the Blues at Albany. ‘Canes coach Colin Cooper has backed his plan to ease...

  • Varsitycup 2010 Koshuis fixtures announced

    Feb 10, 10 • 2091 Views • Varsity & ClubComments Off on Varsitycup 2010 Koshuis fixtures announced

    It is with great pleasure that we share the fixtures for 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships as announced on the website of Varsitycup.co.za. Koshuisrugby has been the starting place for many great rugby careers over past years and we need to...

  • Sharks say they are ready for Super 14!

    Feb 10, 10 • 4780 Views • InternationalComments Off on Sharks say they are ready for Super 14!

    After a few less than impressive performances in the warm-up games, there is good news from the Sharks Tank. It appears that the Sharks are confident of a strong Super 14 campaign and the plans are falling in place. Johan Bishop in a article on Sport 24...

  • Matfield to captain Vodacom Bulls against Vodacom Cheetahs

    Feb 9, 10 • 2027 Views • InternationalComments Off on Matfield to captain Vodacom Bulls against Vodacom Cheetahs

    There were few surprises in a strong Bulls Team to travel to Bloemfontein for the First Round of the Super 14 on Friday evening against the Vodacom Cheetahs. Victor Matfield will captain a side that includes fourteen players that represented the Bulls in last...

  • Scotland name side to face Wales in RBS Six Nations

    Feb 9, 10 • 2642 Views • Six Nations, Six Nations NewsComments Off on Scotland name side to face Wales in RBS Six Nations

    Phil Godman is one of three casualties from the defeat by Scotland in the opening RBS 6 Nations match against  France. The new Blues signing Dan Parks was recalled at fly-half for Saturday’s trip to Wales. Parks’ return was one of three changes from...

  • SAULS selects experienced players for Baby Bok against French Selection XV

    Feb 9, 10 • 4178 Views • World RugbyComments Off on SAULS selects experienced players for Baby Bok against French Selection XV

    Coach Eric Sauls made 14 changes to his starting team following their 10-5 defeat to the French Invitational XV in Biarritz on Saturday with loose-forward CJ Stander being the sole survivor for the team to take on a French Selection XV in an international...

  • Strong Brumbies side picked for Super 14 opener

    Feb 9, 10 • 2750 Views • InternationalComments Off on Strong Brumbies side picked for Super 14 opener

    A Brumbies side featuring numerous Internationals have been selected for the opener against the Western Force on Friday. Wallaby captain Rocky Elsom and playmaker Matt Giteau have been named for the Brumbies despite injury concerns. Injury concerns could...

  • Player Of The Week

    Feb 8, 10 • 2107 Views • SchoolComments Off on Player Of The Week

    William Small-Smith One of South Africa’s brightest young rugby stars are William Small-Smith of Grey College in Bloemfontein. Small-Smith is head boy of South Africa’s premier rugby school for 2010. He will be one of Grey College’s stalwarts during the...

  • Vodacom Cheetahs Team to face Vodacom Bulls

    Feb 8, 10 • 4522 Views • InternationalComments Off on Vodacom Cheetahs Team to face Vodacom Bulls

    Vodacom Cheetahs Team to face Vodacom Bulls 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Corné Uys, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico...

  • Top Springboks rewarded with World Cup contracts

    Feb 8, 10 • 3508 Views • InternationalComments Off on Top Springboks rewarded with World Cup contracts

    Who are the key Springbok players? We need not look further that the latest contracts to be rewarded to 10 of our Springbok rugby players. These are the player regarded as key to World Cup success in 2011. It has been revealed on Sunday that Captain John...

  • Solid start for France with win over Scotland in Six Nations

    Feb 8, 10 • 1706 Views • International, Six Nations, Six Nations NewsComments Off on Solid start for France with win over Scotland in Six Nations

    France got their Six Nations off to a comfortable start with a 18-9 win over Scotland at Murrayfield. Scotland seldom looked like scoring against a less than full strength French side. The score is perhaps not a fair reflection of a game where France should...

  • Who will shine in the Varsity Cup 2nd Round?

    Feb 8, 10 • 1579 Views • Varsity & ClubComments Off on Who will shine in the Varsity Cup 2nd Round?

    Last week we experienced the start of a Varsity Cup promising to deliver exciting rugby and many future stars of South African rugby. The referees have indicated their confidence and optimism that the revised interpretation of the laws at breakdown is now...