I've finally gotten around to setting up a new blog for Super 14 rugby - you can find it over here :) Super 14 Rugby. I'll be adding posts to it from now on, and leave this Super 12 Blog as the archive. Cheers!

It was a top day for my local rugby club yesterday! The Surfers Paradise Under15s picked up their first district premiership which I'm sure was a good omen for the seniors - both the second and first grade sides won their semis and so we'll all be off to Palm Beach next Saturday for the finals. I'm hoping the boys can do it again this year :) To top off the day, the Breakers beat Sunnybank 34-10 to take the Minor Premiership in the Telstra Premier Rugby. Ahhh.. it's all good!!

Meanwhile in rugby of more importance on a national scale.... after Mat Rogers' glowing words about Morgan Turunui last week, the media is touting Turunui as a possible future Wallaby captain. Maybe....

And... there's a new logo for the Tooheys Super 14 comp next year. You can find it here:- Super 14 logo -
it looks pretty good! Australians with compatible mobiles can order the logo as wallpaper for their phones - more details on the ARU's site here.

South Africa is mourning the loss of Bulls' centre Ettienne Botha who died after his car crashed and rolled on the highway outside Pretoria early Wednesday morning. Just 26 years old :( One of the Bulls' superstars Botha was the 2004 Currie Cup Player of the Year, and the Bulls Player of the Year last year. Condolences to all.

The Queensland Reds have signed Brumbies back Henari Veratau for their 2006 Super 14 campaign.

Along with a promising young back, the Reds have also appointed their backs coach for next season - Damon Emtage. Emtage has been the head coach at Sunnybank in Brisbane for the last three years. Under him, Sunnybank have done very well! Speaking of Sunnybank, I'm hoping that they go down big time to the Gold Coast Breakers tomorrow at Albert Park when they compete for the minor premiership. No offence Sunnybank, but you know... I will of course be barracking loudly for the local lads from the sideline tomorrow :) That is, of course on the proviso that I have any energy left after barracking for Surfers seniors to win the minor premiership game/s in the Gold Coast District comp :)) It's all good!

Have a good one!

For FUCK'S SAKE.... if there is ANY kiwi that I DON'T know who's living on the Gold Coast and hasn't done it YET - txt or email me within the next 24 hours or forever hold your ... peace/piece(?) I DO wish someone would teach that mob how to win gracefully, lord knows they have losing disgracefully down pat... heh :)

I think I should concentrate on the positives from last night's test...


which is.....

2007 is only <2 years away :) but.. wait.. the Kiwis won the first world cup.. back in 1987.. are they planning a twenty year anniversary? Bring it on..........................................

:))

I said the Kiwis by 9 points - I was just one short of the mark with the All Blacks getting up 34-24 over the Wallabies last night in Auckland. Mind you, nine of those points the All Blacks scored were gifted by Mat Dunning through 3 penalties. Argh!

The All Blacks came out fighting and were up 20-0 after the first quarter in a dominant display. Eddie Jones must have stuck it to the boys at half time though, and the Wallabies came out and bunged on 19 points to narrow the lead to just one point. Then Mat Dunning came on and gave away three penalties in relatively quick succession which were promptly converted into points. Doh! Still, Dunning can't shoulder the blame for the loss - it wasn't until the second half that the Australian forwards seemed to remember, as a group, what the term 'clean out' entails!

The highlight of the game was seeing Lloyd Johansson come on and score a try within minutes of making his test debut. Congratz! Johansson was brought on after Clyde Rathbone got smashed in a tackle. It looked painful!

Mat Rogers had a good game at Flyhalf, he sure has some heart. Lote had a great second half at centre, but for the Wallabies it wasn't to be - too many handling errors coughed up the ball. The Australian line out was abysmal, and the scrummaging left a lot to be desired. Still, it could have been a lot worse.

The win gives the Kiwis both the Bledisloe and the Tri Nations Cup for 2005. While South Africa's win/lose record for the series was the same as the Enzeders, the Kiwis take the cup on bonus points. That's probably a fitting result.

The fall out of Australia's 5th successive loss will no doubt continue.....

Later!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there :)

well it's 'D' Day for the Wallabies, or what's left of them :) The question on everybody's lips is whether or not the Australia/NZ test later today will be the swan song for George Gregan. When Gregan plays tonight he will equal England prop Justin Leonard's record of 114 Test match appearances - is that record what he's been hanging out for? I guess we'll know soon enough.

Mat Rogers at fly half - that should be interesting, Tuqiri apparently will be playing in the centres which should suit the big strong lad.... I'll be pleased to see local boy Lloyd Johannson take the field tonight - good luck!!

I hate to be a pessimist, but I think the All Blacks will get up by 9.

Later

The All Blacks and the Springboks have themselves set for a big clash tomorrow night in Dunedin. The Tri Nations cup is basically up for grabs. If the Boks win tomorrow night then they'll have the tri nations back to back. They will also zoom into the number 1 one team in the world position currently held by the Kiwis. Mind you, no South African side has won at the House of Pain since 1921. Yikes!

There's only two changes to the teams that last met in South Africa. De Wet Barry comes in for the Boks, and Leon McDonald takes over from Dan Carter who is injured. Should be a good game to watch!!

Poor old Eddie continues to wrestle with injury woes from the Wallabies - good news though for young Lloyd Johannson who's been called into the Wallaby squad. Cool! Give him a go! There's more where he came from too :))

Have a great rugby weekend.

Oh boy!! Tack Dan Vickerman and David Lyons to the end of the injured Wallaby list... Lyons needs a groin operation, while Vickerman needs shoulder surgery.

What WILL Eddie do?

Actually, I'm starting to feel a little bit sorry for him at the present. Jones has suggested maybe George Smith at #8 for the next game, while Daruda might get a gernsey as well. Line up the rookies! eenie, meenie, miney, mo'.

Lawrence Dallaglio is apparently considering a comeback. Bet some poms will be pleased to know that.

My stats tell me I'm not the only female who thinks Al Baxter's cute! Dan Carter gets more searches though....

The Wallabies' injury toll continues to mount:

Steve Larkham, Chris Latham, Stirling Mortlock, Wendell Sailor, Elton Flatley, Jeremy Paul, Mark Gerrard, Lachlan MacKay, Greg Holmes, Lloyd Johansson, and Cameron Shepherd are all battling injuries in one form or another. Sheesh!!

Some heartening news from Eddie Jones though in the Autralian newspaper - he's not going to rule out giving the young bloods a run in order to make sure he doesn't get the axe from his coaching job.

The same article tells us that Breyton Paulse copped 3 weeks for kicking Al Baxter in the head during the test last Saturday. Don't damage Al's head - it's way too cute :) Not many front rowers look that handsome!

Later