Springboks 2009 Record Achievement in rugby

[PaarlBok]

The Springbokke have raised their bar to record heights this year and difficult to keep this up in future.

Year World Cup Tri-Nations B&I Lions Super Rugby 7s Ranked 1
2003 England New Zealand Australia New Zealand New Zealand England
2004 England South Africa Australia Australia New Zealand New Zealand
2005 England New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand
2006 England New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand Fiji New Zealand
2007 South Africa New Zealand New Zealand South Africa New Zealand New Zealand
2008 South Africa New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand
2009 South Africa South Africa South Africa South Africa South Africa South Africa

 

[PaarlBok]

Look like we hit record crowds also this year in the TriNations test

SARugby.net

Springbok Test audience bucks economic downturn

The Springboks enjoyed their best average home attendance in more than a decade in 2009 – apart from one year – despite the global economic downturn.

SA Rugby announced on Wednesday that 288 551 people watched the Springboks’ six home Test matches at that an average of 48 085 fans per Test in 2009 – an average exceeded only by the 48 550 who attended matches in 2004 – the last occasion the Springboks won the Vodacom Tri-Nations title. Springbok average attendances had hovered around the 40 000 mark in the intervening four seasons.

In addition, 90 percent of all tickets were sold for the matches, despite the fact that matches were held at venues with capacities of 45 500 or more – the best return for four seasons and bettered in only three seasons in the past decade.

“The pulling power of the Springboks and the success they have enjoyed in 2009, led to satisfactory attendances overall, despite the economic downturn and soft demand at the start of the Vodacom Tri-Nations,” said Andy Marinos, acting managing director of SA Rugby.

“To have more than a quarter of a million people watch the team in the space of two months is a testimony to the enduring appeal of the Springboks, but we are not complacent and we are listening to the public.”

The Tests against the British & Irish Lions in Pretoria and Australia at Newlands in the Vodacom Tri-Nations were both sold out, but the other four matches saw tickets go unsold. Marinos launched an investigation into the issue at the end of July.

“Pricing is one of the key concerns in any business,” said Marinos. “And the question of affordability dominated the soundings we took and in our monitoring of the rugby blogs.

“People strongly felt that pricing in the Vodacom Tri-Nations was to blame for the lower than expected attendances in Bloemfontein and Durban but among other factors identified by the survey were ‘event fatigue’ in a busy sporting year; the difficulty of obtaining tickets online and the outcome of the final Lions Test.”

Marinos explained that Test match ticket prices were set by provinces. Part of the price – approximately one third – is paid to SA Rugby as a rights fee to cover Springbok expenses and other running costs.

“The balance is retained by provinces to assist in funding their annual wage bill and own running costs,” said Marinos. “Retaining the best players in South Africa is not cheap and as much as we’d all like to cut prices in half, the fact is that if we did that we’d be losing a lot more players to overseas clubs.

“Vodacom Tri-Nations prices were frozen at 2008 levels this year and have lagged behind inflation for the past 11 years. This year’s price of R425 would have been R513 if tickets had been pegged to inflation since 1998.

“But we’re fully appreciative of the tough economic times and have already had discussions with the provinces on the financial model.”

Marinos said his goal was to ensure that every Springbok Test was sold out and that he would be making recommendations to assist in achieving that goal to the board of SA Rugby.

Compare the CC semi tickets for Newlands over a week

WP Rugby site

Seating
R130.00 - Grand Stand Level 1,2,3; Railway Stand & Danie Craven Stand
R110.00 - Jan Pickard Stand
R85.00 - Grand Stand Ramp Seating

Standing:
R50.00 - Danie Craven Stand


ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT

No wonder Newlands attrack the biggest crowds in SA.

 

[PaarlBok]

Another achievement SA Rugby had surely have to be our Varsity Cup Competition. This Competition not only add value in profits but also is busy producing some SA Rugby players getting contracts as professionals. Think the brain child behind it, Francois Pienaar deserve every accolade coming his way for this one.

This one from Rugby365 picking a team of players going the Varsity Cup root and busy or on their way to CC level
Rugby365

Varsity Cup v Currie Cup

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:46:00 +0200

As Boland and the Leopards prepare themselves for their annual promotion/relegation scraps against the best of the Currie Cup First Division, ask yourself this question - would a 'Best of' Varsity Cup XV have fared any worse than either of those two teams in the 2009 Currie Cup?

The answer to that question would have to be a firm 'No', especially with the likes of De Kock Steenkamp, Kyle Brown, Derick Minnie, JJ Gagiano, Juan de Jongh, Robert Ebersohn and Mat Turner - to name just a few - having gone on to bigger and better things since the inaugural Varsity Cup last year.

What we have done, however, is picked a Currie Cup XV based purely on the 2009 Varsity Cup - therefore only players that played in the 2009 Varsity Cup, and then went on to feature in some way in the 2009 Currie Cup, will be considered for this selection.

For example, new Western Province lock Steenkamp did not play Varsity Cup rugby this year, so he cannot be selected for our composite team, and neither did former UJ star Minnie, who has been in fine form for the Lions this season.

Another man not considered in our Varsity Cup XV is silky Ikeys back Tiger Bax, as he did not play Currie Cup rugby - he featured in the Super 14 'only' and this selection is purely for the Currie Cup. (Potatoe, potatoe we know - but we're sticklers for consistency here at varsitycup.co.za!)

As one would come to expect, the Maties - the back-to-back Varsity Cup champions - produced six new Currie Cup players this season alone.

Interestingly, however, is the fact that just two of those six players played for Western Province (Maties' home union); the other four 'transferring' to Boland and Griquas for their taste of Currie Cup action.
The Lions, in a rebuilding phase under former Springbok coach Jake White, benefitted from the Varsity Cup this year; with Earl Lewis (pictured, top right), Pieter Engelbrecht and Johan Jackson all graduating to the Currie Cup via the Varsity Cup in 2009.

However, of the three, only Lewis is a local player, with Engelbrecht (Cape Town) and Jackson (Pretoria) being head-hunted from other Provinces.

The Varsity Cup has helped increase the depth in South African rugby and either way you look at it, this team - based purely on the 2009 season - is a pretty damn strong unit.
Strong enough to beat a Currie Cup union?
Well, why don't you decide for yourself...

Varsity Cup-based Currie Cup XV:
(Based on the 2009 season alone.)

15 Earl Lewis (Lions & UJ):
The hot-stepping UJ ace made an assured start to his Currie Cup career as a replacement for an out-of-sorts Earl Rose in the Lions No.15 shirt. A knee injury cut short his 2009 season, but remember this kid's name for the future.

14 JJ Engelbrecht (WP & Maties):
The young Maties speed merchant scored a try on debut against Boland, having come on as a replacement just a few minutes earlier. An ankle injury picked up during a pre-game warm-up ended his 2009 season prematurely, but it was a solid enough start and there is more to come from him.

13 Paul Bosch (WP & Maties):
The powerful former Pukke star has had limited game time in WP's Blue & White hoops since making the move from Potchefstroom to Stellenbosch. However, he remains a prospect and will feature again for WP - and maybe even the Stormers? - in 2010.

12 Pieter Engelbrecht (Lions & UCT):
Engelbrecht took his chances when he was snapped up by Lions coaching 'consultant' Jake White - who helped out at UCT during the 2009 Varsity Cup. The powerful Ikeys back impressed from the bench and in the few starts for his new team.

11 Johan Jackson (Lions & Tuks):
One of the success stories of the struggling Lions, the speedster will be hoping for Super 14 game time in 2010.

10 Cecil Dumond (Leopards & Pukke):
The (joint) second highest points-scorer in the 2009 Varsity Cup was a shining light for the otherwise struggling Leopards during the 2009 Currie Cup season.

9 Donald Stevens (Griquas & Maties):
Stevens, the 2009 Varsity Cup Player of the Tournament, transferred to Griquas during the Currie Cup season. The livewire No.9 found his game time limited, however, due to the presence of Sarel Potgieter - Griquas' most influential player.

8 JJ Gagiano (WP & UCT):
The USA international was part of the greater Western Province Currie Cup training group, but never got to play in the Blue & White hoops due to his Test duties. No other No.8 from the 2009 Varsity Cup played in the Currie Cup, however.

7 Wesley Wilkins (Griquas & Maties):
The hard-working Maties skipper made his Currie Cup debut for Griquas against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. His opponents in the Bulls back row? Two Boks (Pierre Spies and Pedrie Wannenburg) and two future Boks (Dewald Potgieter and Deon Stegmann)... talk about a baptism of fire!

6 Enoch Panya (Mighty Elephants & UCT):
A vital cog in the UCT pack in 2008 and 2009, Panya spent the latter part of the 2009 season campaigning for the Mighty Elephants in the Currie Cup First Division.

5 Martin Muller (WP & UCT):
The giant former Bishops scholar played Super 14 rugby for the Stormers before making his Currie Cup debut for Western Province later in the year. A lot is expected from him in 2010.

4 Grant le Roux (Boland & Pukke):
Le Roux, the 2008 Potchefstroom University Player of the Year, made the move to Boland at the start of the 2009 Currie Cup season.

3 Michael de Neuilly-Rice (Boland & Maties):
Having come through the ranks at Western Province, the two times Varsity Cup winner eventually made his Currie Cup debut for neighbours, Boland. (De Neuilly-Rice is primarily a loosehead prop by trade, but we have selected him to do the job at tighthead prop in our team.)

2 Dayne Jans (Lions - trial & UCT):
The joker in our pack - literally. The naughty Ikey had a trial with the Lions during mid-year, having been asked to do so by Jake White. Jans did not feature for the Lions, instead returning to Cape Town (and the WP Under-21 team) after his trial period, but - amazingly - he came the closest of all Varsity Cup hookers (2008 and 2009 included) to playing Currie Cup rugby.

1 Johan Roets (Boland & Maties):
Maties powerhouse Roets, like De Neuilly-Rice, made the short trip from Stellenbosch to Wellington in order to earn his Currie Cup spurs.

Coach - Robbie Fleck (WP & UCT):
'Fleckie' has made giant strides in the coaching world since last year's Varsity Cup when, along with head coach John Dobson, the Ikeys caught everyone else napping with their exciting brand of running rugby. Judging by WP's Currie Cup success this year (and his involvement), Fleck seems destined to be involved in the 2010 Super 14 with the Stormers, which means the Varsity Cup will be that much poorer without him.

The 2009 Varsity Cup Currie Cup XV: 15 Earl Lewis, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 Paul Bosch, 12 Pieter Engelbrecht, 11 Johan Jackson, 10 Cecil Dumond, 9 Donald Stevens, 8 JJ Gagiano, 7 Wesley Wilkins, 6 Enoch Panya, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Grant le Roux, 3 Michael de Neuilly-Rice, 2 Dayne Jans, 1 Johan Roets.

 

[PaarlBok]

Finding enough time over the weekend to watch the Bokke shoot against the BIL "Hunt for Glory".

Some interesting stuff:

Smit qouting the Bokke try to arrange a cold one after the matches with the Lion players in the cloak rooms after tests and them refusing it. Hell that was a stupid one from the Lion players and management. Ignoring the spirit of rugby.

Snor calling the Bokke at halftime in the second test, the Bokke is playing like pissies. They should go out and bliksem the Lions.

QA really good watch for a Bok supporter to say the least, wish they can make the same thing with the TriNations tests.

 

[PaarlBok]

OK I took this one specially from Snor in his Paarl office at home.

 

[James Buchanan]

The Springbokke have raised their bar to record heights this year and difficult to keep this up in future.

Year World Cup Tri-Nations B&I Lions Super Rugby 7s Ranked 1
2003 England New Zealand Australia New Zealand New Zealand England
2004 England South Africa Australia Australia New Zealand New Zealand
2005 England New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand
2006 England New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand Fiji New Zealand
2007 South Africa New Zealand New Zealand South Africa New Zealand New Zealand
2008 South Africa New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand
2009 South Africa South Africa South Africa South Africa South Africa South Africa

Well, I don't believe Australia had the 7s in 2001, and the rankings hadn't been introduced at that point (but we'd probably have been #1 aswell) but aside from that, it was a pretty similar situation for us.

We had World Cup, Super Rugby, Tri Nations, B&I Lions and arguably World #1. I'd say that's all of the important ones

 

[PaarlBok]

NZ had the 7s in 2001 and you right, no rankings at that time. Important ones? differ from supporter to supporter so obvious the 7s will fall away, still we have them all.

The most important one in my books dont show on the list, nothing beats winning the All Blacks at home, thats the one I love and to do it two years on the trott, something very special.

Now we have to do it twice in one year, that will be sweeter then a koeksister.

 

[PaarlBok]

Tim Noakes through his warning lights out again to SARugby.

SARugby.com

The Springboks could enter the 2011 Rugby World Cup year with a few 2010 defeats as the best team might not be selected for all Test matches leading up to the tournament.

Experts at a media workshop in Johannesburg on Wednesday agreed that a number of standout players will have to be carefully managed in the next two years.

Springbok fitness and conditioning coach Neels Liebel and sports scientist Tim Noakes said this would be vital to ensure top players were are fit and in peak condition for the World Cup in New Zealand September 9 in 2011.

Noakes showed a series of graphs on how players used excessively in a season tended to either get injured or under-perform the following year.

Liebel agreed senior players like Victor Matfield, 32, Bakkies Botha, 30, and John Smit, 31, should still be available for the 2011 World Cup --but on condition that they were properly managed. Noakes warned that John Smit collapsed in 2008 after a strenuous season.

Fourie du Preez, he pointed out, played 1 835 minutes of rugby this season -- the equivalent of 24 matches. Du Preez still had three Tests on this year's outgoing tour ahead of him.

"It is highly unlikely that he won't be injured next season," said Noakes.

He pointed out that the form of former Springbok centre Marius Joubert, after a season of 38 matches, went downhill to the extent that he never played for South Africa again.

"Heinrich Brussow has to be watched," Noakes said, as had Morne Steyn.

All the players needed a single continuous break of at least eight weeks to recharge.

"Jake White was prepared, on our advice, to rest players for the away Tri-Nations series before the World Cup in 2007," said Noakes.

"The Springboks lost both the away Tri-Nations Tests against Australia and New Zealand, but that gave our players the chance to go into the World Cup rested, motivated, uninjured and in peak physical condition.

"In fact, Jake had 30 completely fit players he could pick from for the final against England."

Noakes said the Boks in 2006 had a poor year -- so much so that White's head as coach was called for. But it was necessary to give some players a break from the game.

"The saving grace of the Springboks is that they have (lately) cut down on training, but that is to a large extent offset by the players being trained into the ground by their provinces," said Noakes.

He warned that there would be a price to pay: for the player, the country and also in the psychological plane where it will give opponents the confidence that the Boks were on their way out.

Liebel said the Springbok management were in constant discussions with the unions,m but had to accept that the provincial and franchise coaches were measured by their results and would often opt for their best selections. How to counter that?

Noakes agreed with a suggestion that the only way to really monitor and control the game as well as the training time of players was for them to be contracted by SA Rugby.

Liebel said teams managing their players the best were also at the top of the tree in the provincial and Super 14 competitions.

The Bulls, who used only 28 players in their 15 Super 14 matches, were a prime example of good management of players.

The Springboks' success this year could also be contributed to good management of the players, with the injuries this year coming down significantly.

The recovery time of injuries within seven days was also much improved, and a cut-down on training time coupled with more attention to recovery were instrumental in that, Liebel said.

Still cant figure this out and also think the Sharks manage their Bokke even better then the Bulls. Think they should rest the Bokke after this tour and give them a good rest till the S14 starts. Its either this or rotating. Rotating at test level is a very dangerous ploy, ask Henry he know all about it.

 

[PaarlBok]

Saru decided to take a Champion Tour through the whole of SA early next year. Good oppertunity to spread the game through the country and place not use to get a bite from the rugby pizza.

SARugby.net

The Champion Tour – brought to you by the South African Rugby Union – will get rolling in Cape Town on Friday, 5 February 2010 and will visit no less than 36 towns in all 14 provincial unions across South Africa en route to the finish in Durban on Sunday, 21 March.
The Tour is designed to celebrate rugby in South Africa’s unprecedented success by a number of our top teams over the last few years.

Apart from winning the Rugby World Cup for a second time in 2007, South African rugby teams have added the following silverware to our trophy cabinets in 2009:

• IRB World Sevens Series
• Vodacom Super 14
• Castle South 2009 Lions Series
• Vodacom Tri-Nations
• Freedom Cup
• Mandela Plate

To celebrate these achievements and share the joy with our most prized possession, our fans, SARU will be taking all the trophies around South Africa in February and March to kick off an exciting new season, visiting schools and clubs with a giant trailer filed with rugby trophies and spending three days in each province with rugby tournaments and events planned around the visits.
After the start in Cape Town, the Champion Tour will follow the subsequent route – covering more than 6,000km across South Africa, visiting each of the nine provinces and travelling on most of the major routes.

February
Friday 5 to Sunday 7: In and around Cape Town
Monday 8: Stellenbosch and Paarl
Tuesday 9: Paarl and Worcester
Wednesday 10: Worcester and Saldanha
Thursday 11: Saldanha and Vredendal
Friday 12: Vredendal and Springbok
Saturday 13: Springbok and Upington
Sunday 14: Upington and Calvinia
Monday 15: Calvinia and Oudtshoorn
Tuesday 16: Oudtshoorn and Mosselbay
Wednesday 17: In and round George
Thursday 18: Knysna and Uitenhage
Friday 19 and Saturday 20: In and around Port Elizabeth
Sunday 21: Peddie and King William’s Town
Monday 22: King William’s Town and East London
Tuesday 23: East London and Queenstown
Wednesday 24: Queenstown and Kimberley
Thursday 25: In and around Kimberley
Friday 26: Kimberley and Bloemfontein
Saturday 27: In and around Bloemfontein
Sunday 28: Bloemfontein and Bethlehem

March
Monday 1: Bethlehem and Welkom
Tuesday 2: In and around Welkom
Wednesday 3: Welkom and Kroonstad
Thursday 4: Kroonstad and Klerksdorp
Friday 5: Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom
Saturday 6: Potchefstroom and Rustenburg
Sunday 7: Rustenburg and Johannesburg
Monday 8: Johannesburg and Sasolburg
Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11: In and around Johannesburg
Friday 12: Johannesburg and Pretoria
Saturday 13: In and around Pretoria
Sunday 14: Pretoria and Polokwane
Monday 15: Polokwane and Witbank
Tuesday 16: Wtibank and Nelspruit
Wednesday 17: Nelspruit and Ermelo
Thursday 18: Ermelo and Newcastle
Friday 19: Newcastle and Pietermaritzburg
Saturday 20: Pietermaritzburg and Durban
Sunday 21: In and around Durban

Snor promisewd when he started his reign as coach that he wants to take the game to the people, nice way to show just that! :thumb