Rugby Union Thread

[JammieJam]

this post is related to matt stevens, the prop who was on the bench vs IRELAND>

The 21-year-old Stevens, a former student at the University of Cape Town, hails from Durban in South Africa, but he moved to the United Kingdom in September 2002 - primarily to study at Bath University.


Having played for SA at Under-19 level and narrowly missing out on the World Cup-winning SA U21 side in 2002, rugby was obviously also on Stevens's mind when he left for England and it certainly came to the forefront quite early after his arrival in the UK, with the England U21 scouts snapping him up pretty quickly.

"England gave Matt an opportunity," continued Stevens senior. "It was a difficult choice for him to make, but it's a professional game and it seems South Africa woke up only after they saw they would be losing Matt to England.

"English rugby is very professional - and that's the difference between them and South Africa. They have nurtured Matt at Bath and he was never thrown to the wolves."

Stevens, of course, follows in the footsteps of many South Africans who have played for England, with two of the most recent - Stuart Abbott and Mike Catt - having been part of England's victorious Rugby World Cup squad last year.

The first South African to play for England was Frederick John van der Byl Hopley, in 1907/08, while Catt is the most-capped SA-born English player.

yet another good sa rugby player lost to sa rugby.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

Thats interesting, thats good news for him.

[JammieJam]

Springbok centre Gcobani Bobo has labeled the internal investigation into the Geo Cronje/Quinton Davids saga an insult to black players in South Africa.

Bobo is one of several black Springboks who have come out since the World Cup and admitted that the reports of racism within the camp were correct

Dale Santon said this week that skipper Corne Krige had addressed the black players after the Cronje/Davids incident and had promised to sort it out by saying that "racism would not be tolerated in the team".

So the RACISM saga continues to haunt SA rugby


Meanwhile

Springbok fullback Jaco van der Westhuyzen has echoed national coach Jake White's view that South Africans playing abroad, specifically in the Northern Hemisphere, were benefiting from the experience.
Van der Westhuyzen said from the UK on Wednesday that he had learnt a lot since he started playing for Leicester.

British rugby writers have been singing Van der Westhuyzen's praises, especially after the player was moved to flyhalf and lent a new dimension to the club's backline play.

"I've learnt a lot about rugby in the Northern Hemisphere. The fields are wet over here in winter and, as a result, the tempo is slower than on hard surfaces. Therefore, play is concentrated more around your pack.

"By gaining first-hand experience of highly-rated international opponents and the difficult playing conditions in Britain, you're getting better-equipped for the eventuality of taking the field against England some day," said the modest Van der Westhuyzen.


Adding value to British rugby

He laughed when reminded that he was being referred to as "a sensation" in UK club rugby. "I'm enjoying my rugby because I can do my own thing. That doesn't always happen in South Africa. Over here, I can do what I want (on the playing field), and that's challenging."

He said most South Africans plying their rugby trade in the UK were adding value to British rugby. "Our rugby is innovating, instinctive and less predictable."

Referring to his meeting with White after last week's match against the Barbarians - in which Van der Westhuyzen performed excellently - the fleet-footed South African player said: "Jake and I discussed South African rugby in broad terms.

"I made it clear that I'm still available for my country. I would dearly love to play for the Boks again. It's in my blood."

He also confirmed that he would join Japanese club NEC in June. He said Leicester had tried their utmost to retain his services, "but I have a contractual obligation to play for NEC."

Fortunately, Van der Westhuyzen's contract with the Japanese side contains a clause that provides for him to be released to play for the Springboks, if selected.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

I hate seeing racism in todays rugby.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

Wales have revealed that Gwent Dragons coach Mike Ruddock will take charge of the national team at the end of the current Six Nations campaign.

Ruddock is the surprise choice to replace Steve Hansen, with both Gareth Jenkins or Mark Evans being widely tipped to land the role in recent weeks.

Ruddock is a former Wales A coach, while he also enjoyed successful spells Leinster and Welsh outfit Swansea.

Hansen will step down as Wales coach after the Six Nations Championship - Wales have games against England and Italy to come - to be New Zealand assistant coach under current All Blacks coach and former Wales supremo Graham Henry.

Ruddock expressed his delight at the offer and said: "When the Union asked me on Monday to make a presentation, I was excited by the opportunity. It is certainly something I have always wanted to do, and it is something I want to do my best at."

Ruddock also revealed that he is prepared to tempt Scott Quinnell and Rob Howley out of international retirement, he said: "There is every chance that I might speak to Scott Quinnell and Rob Howley to see what their situation is like. I think I ought to phone them up and have a chat."

[JammieJam]

"Ruddock also revealed that he is prepared to tempt Scott Quinnell and Rob Howley out of international retirement"

that would be brilliant for wales, especially if quinnell gets back, cause he is fantastic.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

He is a great player, be good to see him on the international stage again.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

England coach Clive Woodward admitted Thursday that last weekend's defeat by Ireland had been the "reality check" his under-performing world champions had needed.

But after seeing his team's 22 Test match unbeaten home run ended in a 19-13 reverse against Ireland, Woodward vowed England would bounce back in their Six Nations game against Wales here at Twickenham on March 20.

"It was the reality check, the wake up-call we needed. But we will be a lot better. You'll see a different England team next weekend," Woodward insisted at a Twickenham media conference after unveiling a 28-man training squad for the Wales game.

He added that England had been struggling to maintain their standards after defeating Australia in November's Sydney World Cup Final.

"We won the World Cup because we did a hundred things one percent better than everyone else; since the World Cup we've done a hundred things one percent worse. We just could not keep that momentum going.

"Saturday's result was waiting to happen... We didn't play well in Rome, didn't play well in Edinburgh and we didn't play that well at the World Cup," Woodward said.

"Against Ireland, it was like skiing uphill. But that's not to take anything away from Ireland. That we lost by only six points was the interesting thing."

He added: "It's been difficult to say no to things since the World Cup. From me downwards there are a lot of little things that we've not been doing right."

[JammieJam]

he says: ". But that's not to take anything away from Ireland. "

but to me, clearly he is saying ireland won because England played badly.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

I think thats what most of the media think also and that isnt the case. They lost because they were not GOOD enough.