“...when World Rugby decided earlier this week to release new guidelines on how dangerous tackles should be sanctioned, [Owen] Farrell’s attempt [on Andre Esterhuizen] was used to explain what a shoulder charge is.” - Johan Coetzee Volume 19, Number 19 30 May 2019 Register to receive your own free weekly newsletter at www.rugbyrsa.co.za Blitzbokke Crash out of London Sevens The South African Sevens team crashed out of the One interesting statistic did come up during the London Sevens at the quarter-final stage last weekend’s viewing of Sevens action. This season, weekend, against Australia. In the end, the convicts the Blitzbokke are the only team to have won their made it all the way to the final where they were pool at every one of the nine tournaments held so far. soundly thrashed by Fiji (43-7), as they should have Unfortunately, we’ve also had a number of been in the quarter-final. But there's a postscript: see embarrassing exits at the quarter-final stage – as we page six for details. did in London. The Blitzbokke, meanwhile, chalked up a measly ten Looking ahead to Paris, Fiji’s win in London puts points for finishing in joint seventh place with them two points ahead of USA in the standings, with Canada. However, since our closest challengers, New Zealand a further 19 points behind the England, did even worse by scoring only two points, Americans. the South African grip tightened on fourth place in the standings. So it’s a two-horse race again and USA needs a win in Paris to take the title for the very first time, which This is important because it is the last automatic would be the first new winner since Samoa in the qualifying place for the Tokyo Olympics next year. 2009/10 season. We’re now 22 points ahead of the English – meaning they would have to win Paris and we would have to But Fiji has been here before. Last year, the islanders score no points at all for them to draw level with us. It took a comfortable seven point advantage into Paris can happen but it’s not very likely. and tripped over the final hurdle. A disappointing fifth place in a tournament won by South Africa allowed the Blitzbokke to retain the title they’d won so comprehensively the year before. This year, Fiji’s margin is two points so the target is simple: finish ahead of or no more than one point behind USA and lift the fourth series title. Getting back to the Blitzbokke, this weekend they face Wales (11:44), Kenya (15:10) and Australia (18:58) on Saturday. KEY TOPICS IN THIS NEWSLETTER Another Poor TMO Call in Super Rugby More Bad News for Beleaguered Lions Fans Leinster Are Six-Time PRO14 Champions Claims of Illegality Against Fiji, Australia Lions Defensive Frailties Exposed Again SA Ref Sledging Allowance Under Threat Page 1 Another Poor TMO Call in Super Rugby Leinster Are Six-Time PRO14 Champions It was another terrible weekend of Super Rugby. It With the way that Glasgow Warriors dismantled began with a tight 19-13 win on Friday by the Chiefs Munster last weekend in the semifinal, Scottish fans over the Reds – although media reports would have us might have expected a different result on Saturday. believe that the scoreline should have been different But the Irish champions and this year’s losing due to yet another bizarre TMO decision. Decide for Champions Cup finalists, Leinster, got their noses in yourself. front and were typically obdurate in defence to win their sixth title. That was followed by a thrashing of the Bulls by the Brumbies. The Pretoria side began well and took a two- point deficit into the break. But the Bulls were unable to score at all in the second half and defensive frailties in the midfield cost them dearly, ending 22-10 down thanks primarily to a Kuridrani hat-trick. Saturday morning (our time) in Tokyo saw a lacklustre Sunwolves side take a hammering from the visiting Rebels, much to the disappointment of Japanese fans. The final score was 7-52 but the Australian franchise will be more than a little dismayed at the loss of star scrum half, Will Genia, to a head injury and possible Despite the low score (15-18) both sides scored two concussion. tries but the Glaswegians two came at the beginning and at the end of the match. In the middle passages, it Shortly thereafter, the Crusaders made heavy weather was the Irish team that controlled things. That said, it of defeating the Blues (19-11) and the Waratahs lost was never going to be a runaway victory for either another home game when they went down to the side. travelling Jaguares, 15-23. The win put the South Americans clear on top of the Africa conference. There was a certain amount of debate around a yellow card given to Irish fullback Rob Kearney at According to media reports, the Stormers rediscovered about the 65 minute mark, with fans on Twitter some form against the Highlanders at Newlands, insisting that it should have been red. Were not sure winning 34-22 in the end. But the biggest upset of the that the extra five minutes with only 14 men would weekend was a defenceless Lions teams losing for a have made much difference to the final result. But second time this season to a bunch of mercenaries that that said, Glasgow did score their second try while make their temporary home in Durban. Kearney was in the sin bin. It was an utterly pathetic display that should lead to Fans on Twitter also took issue with the way some of serious questions being asked of the coaching and the home fans booed the Irish kicker at every management structures in Johannesburg. opportunity. It’s a despicable element of the game these days that has also stuck its ugly head up at local matches. But getting back to the rugby, perhaps the most insightful comment spotted on social media in relation to the match on Saturday was from Andre Geel when he tweeted: “All SA teams will struggle vs these two #PRO14Final teams.” And based on Super Rugby this year, he's dead right. Page 2 Page 3 Lions Defensive Frailties Exposed Again As if it wasn't enough for a seemingly defenceless Lions first 15 in Durban last Saturday, it was even worse in Brakpan on Sunday. There, the second 15 was thrashed 62-24 by a rampaging Blue Bulls’ second team in the SuperSport Rugby Challenge (SRC). Clearly, the Lions have a problem that needs urgent attention. Also on Sunday in Brakpan, the home town Valke triumphed (41-31) over Griffons to secure only their second victory of the season. But the weekend’s SRC action began on Saturday with a Western Province win (27-13) over the EP Elephants at Newlands. And there are another five games on Saturday, taking place at various venues around the country: And up in Nelspruit, the table-topping Pumas defeated a very game Griquas side (37-28) to Golden Lions vs Griffons complete five wins out of five. Meanwhile, in Valke vs Blue Bulls Durban, the Sharks trounced a lacklustre Border Pumas vs Welwitschias Bulldogs side (82-24) and, in George, the Boland Boland Cavaliers vs Zimbabwe Academy Cavaliers were far too strong for the home-town Leopards vs Griquas SWD Eagles (28-43). Sunday is another of the double-headers, this time at Also on Saturday the two development sides in Wolfson Stadium in Ibhayi, just outside Port Elizabeth Namibia and Zimbabwe were given rugby lessons in in the Eastern Cape. their own back yards. The Zimbabwe academy went down (10-66) to the Free State Cheetahs while the Free State Cheetahs vs Western Province Namibian Welwitschias suffered a humiliating (8-81) EP Elephants vs Sharks defeat at the hands of the Leopards. There’s also a club game as a curtain raiser at 10:30: Motherwell vs Missionvals. If you’re in the area, you can make a day of it. This week, SWD Eagles entertain Border Bulldogs on Friday night at Outeniqua Park in the sleepy Western Cape town of George. Page 4 Page 5 More Bad News for Beleaguered Lions Fans Claims of Illegality Against Fiji, Australia One hope that disappointed Lions fans may have been As my grandfather used to say, frequently: “En nou clinging to until recently was that the current failings hier kom a ding.” in the defensive coaching department at the Johannesburg franchise could be addressed with the There’s a bit of angst and excitement being created return of Johan Ackermann. But that’s not going to ahead of the World Rugby Sevens Series finale in happen any time soon. Paris this weekend. A rival coach has made claims of illegality against both of last week’s finalists, Fiji and News came out this week that the Gloucester head Australia. coach has signed a contract extension at Kingsholm following what is regarded as an impressive 2018/19 campaign. The terrible news for Lions supporters is great news for Gloucester fans who are very happy with the impact Ackermann has made in that relatively short time. His first season saw the Cherry and Whites reach the Challenge Cup final and qualify for this season’s Champions Cup. And his second season at the helm, 2018/19, has seen Gloucester finish third in the Premiership table Writing on RugbyPass.com, Chris Jones, notes that compared to seventh 12 months ago.