“We rested 18 players, and I know people don’t like manoeuvring around of Springbok teams for Test matches. If we lost this one, I know I would have sat here and be gutted, and people would get into me.” - Springbok Coach Rassie Erasmus Volume 19, Number 31 22 August 2019 Register to receive your own free weekly newsletter at www.rugbyrsa.co.za Boks Down Argentina Again, in a “Friendly” It’s a strange term that: “friendly”. It’s hard to imagine two teams playing a “friendly” match of a brutal game like rugby but, in reality, all it mean is that the match is one that has taken place outside the structure of a formal series or competition format. We know this because the results do count for World Rugby’s ranking points system. We learned that when England was elevated past South Africa in the rankings after both teams won the week before last. England was playing a “friendly” against Wales but the Springboks were wrapping up their successful Rugby Championship campaign. Sibusiso (Sbu) Nkosi was the stand-out performer, scoring two tries that few other wings would have And, this past weekend when South Africa won scored from the same position. The first try was again, in a “friendly” while England lost to Wales in special but the second was pure gold (you can find a another “friendly”, the two teams switched places clip of it here along with Herman Mostert’s five again. But enough about the rankings and the talking points about the game on Sport24). concept of “friendly” rugby matches. Coach Rassie Erasmus will be thrilled about that The Springbok team that ran out this week was performance but probably just satisfied with the rest. completely different to the week before: only two He said after the match: “We rested 18 players, and I players from the Salta match were in the match day know people don’t like manoeuvring around of 23 at Loftus: Kwagga Smith and RG Snyman. Springbok teams for Test matches. If we lost this one, Snyman was on the bench last week and Smith came I know I would have sat here and be gutted, and on as a replacement this week – early, after Marcel people would get into me.” Coetzee’s World Cup dreams were shattered. He’s very close to naming his 31-man squad for the The match itself was a scrappy affair, with most World Cup. Last Sunday he announced his players in the unenviable position of nothing to win 36-man final training squad for the camp in (it was a “friendly”) and everything to lose (a place Bloemfontein. From that group, he has to drop five in the 31-man World Cup squad). Even so, several players. The World Cup squad announcement will be players seized the opportunity by speaking loudly on Monday. with their actions. KEY TOPICS IN THIS NEWSLETTER SA Schools Wins U18 International Series Semifinal Weekend for SA Rugby U20 Champs One Round of Pool Matches Left in CCPD Crunch Time in the SA Rugby U21 Champs CCFD to Semifinals But Only One Winner Likely Women’s Rugby IPL Gets to the Sharp End Page 1 SA Schools Wins U18 International Series Something that we missed before it began this year was SA Rugby’s U18 International Series, which has in previous years involved an SA Schools team and U18 teams from England, France and Wales. This year two more teams were added: Argentina and SA Schools A. The tournament ran over three rounds, which meant that each of the teams were drawn to play only three of the other five teams. At the end of it all, the SA Schools team emerged on top (with 14 points) after three wins from three matches. In their first appearance at the tournament, Argentina (on 10 points) finished second with two wins, beating The SA U18 first team beat Wales (23-13) – England (29-19) in the first round and thumping SA highlights here, despatched Argentina (48-14) and Schools A (32-12) in the last round. came from behind to beat England (33-27). That last result was significant because the Baby Boks France (8), Wales (7) and England (7) all managed one had to overcome two yellow cards and a penalty try win apiece from three. Wales and England both beat to take the victory – highlights here. France narrowly while the French thrashed the SA Schools second team (43-19). Wales were held to a draw by the self-same SA Schools A team, which was the best result for the second local team but it didn’t prevent them propping up the table in last position. One wonders what would have happened if SA Rugby had dispensed with the second local team and elected to have four rounds instead. That would have enabled all five teams to play each other instead of missing one potentially tournament-changing game. Perhaps the administrators will do that next year. Then again, maybe not. It’s far too sensible a thing to do. Page 2 Page 3 One Round of Pool Matches Left in CCPD CCFD to Semifinals But Only One Winner Likely Our dear, and sometimes addled, editor stormed into It’s rare in any rugby competition with bonus point the newsroom this past Monday fuming at injustices rules that a team will emerge at the end of the pool of epic proportion. How, he demanded to know, is it stages with a full house of points). But that’s exactly possible for a team to beat the best teams in the what Jaguares have done: seven bonus point wins competition and lose to the worst? from seven matches in the Currie Cup First Division (CCFD) 2019. He was talking about the Currie Cup Premier Division (CCPD) and the fact that, this past Sunday, his beloved Golden Lions lost to “a bunch of mercenaries temporarily based in Durban”. We didn’t answer him except to point out that his team is still in with a good shot at a semifinal slot thanks some favourable other results this past weekend. To report on that, last Friday night Griquas hosted Western Province in Kimberley in a match that the visitors had to win to be sure of a semifinal place. But it wasn’t to be; the home team held on for the win (27-23) after surviving a two-try blitzkrieg in the The Argentinian team completed its clean sweep last last five minutes. Friday night at its home base in Pochefstroom by putting Leopards (42-10) to the sword. And on Then, on Saturday, Pumas saw their hopes of Saturday in Saldanha Bay, Boland Cavaliers fought avoiding a relegation battle evaporate as they lost to back to hold Griffons to the latter’s third draw of the Cheetahs at home (37-43). Having played all six of season (20-all). their matches, they’re rooted to the bottom of the log and will probably have to play Jaguares for the right Also on Saturday, Border Bulldogs finally put one in to remain in CCPD next year (see story alongside). the win column by beating SWD Eagles (31-26) at Police Park, East London. In the final match of the Looking at the log with only one pool round left, weekend EP Elephants confirmed their semifinal Griquas are on top (19 points) with Free State (17) place against Valke (22-14). and Golden Lions (17) in second and third. All three are in the semifinals while Sharks (14) and Western These results put Jaguares well clear at the top of the Province (13) are fighting for that last spot. (See page log on 35 points, with Griffons (24) the nearest eight for the fixtures this weekend - Ed) challenger by virtue of three wins and three draws. EP Elephants (20) and Valke (20) ended third and fourth respectively. Although the semifinal schedule had not been announced before we “went to print”, the likely match-ups are Jaguares versus Valke in Potchefstroom and Griffons versus EP Elephants in Welkom. The winners will meet in the final next weekend. After that, the CCFD 2019 champions, will have a promotion-relegation match to play against Pumas, who finished last in the CCPD. As suggested alongside, that clean sweep of dominating wins leaves us expecting to see Pumas back in the CCFD next year. Page 4 Page 5 Semifinal Weekend for SA Rugby U20 Champs Crunch Time in the SA Rugby U21 Champs We’ve been puzzling over the structure of this The penultimate round of the SA Rugby U21 competition all season and had been unable to find Championship this past weekend saw a couple of the competition rules anywhere on the internet. We surprise results. On Friday, Blue Bulls travelled to did reach out to SA Rugby but perhaps the Durban to put Sharks to the sword, running out 25-44 busybodies who inhabit those offices were busy with winners. No surprises there. other stuff. But on Saturday, bottom of the log Leopards hosted However, looking back at the season the structure has Golden Lions in Potchefstroom and pulled off an now become apparent: three pools of three teams, unlikely 33-28 victory. Also on Saturday, Free State each playing home and away against the other two travelled to Cape Town to confront Western Province teams in their pool. At the end of the pool stage, the but the home team came away with the pool winners and best ranked second place team comprehensive 40-17 win.