Author: Shaun Goosen

St Andrew’s College First XI fell by 95 runs to Grey High School from Port Elizabeth in Grahamstown on Saturday. The warm and sunny conditions at the St Andrew’s field would promote some entertaining cricket. The hosts, without a win in their last six encounters, opted to bowl first on the scorcher of a day, and looked to have their opponents in trouble after 41 overs, with Grey recording a paltry 124-3. Leading the charge for the boys from Port Elizabeth were Tristan Du Randt (48 off 95 balls) and Luke Beaufort (49 off 97), who produced fine knocks with the…

The 2017 edition of the Steinhoff International Rhodes University Internal League for 2017 culminated on Friday evening, when Dream Team saw off Troopers by 13-8. The final, which brought an end to weeks of internal league action, got off to a rather slow start. After a see-saw first 35-minutes of action, Dream Team’s Ryan Horne was put into space out wide, managing to finish off a well-worked effort after a scintillating break. Dylan Stephens’ successful conversion meant the “Green and Yellows” went out to an 8-0 lead. The second-half got off to a much more explosive start when, just two-minutes…

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee maintained a very measured approach when confronting the media following the Springbok’s 37-15 win over Argentina in Port Elizabeth yesterday. Coetzee stressed that, while pleased with his team’s progress, Saturday’s performance was far from the finished article, and that there is still plenty for his Bok side to work on. “We are very pleased with the win. It was definitely not a perfect performance, but to kick off the campaign with a win is very pleasing. A good start. The two-weeks in PE were fantastic, the players were great both on and off the field and…

Update #22 That’s it! The Boks win 37-15 at full-time. Update #21 20-year-old Curwin Bosch comes on to win his maiden Test cap with four-minutes left, replacing Jantjies. Update #20 Sub Pieter-Steph du Toit reaches over to grab the Boks’ fourth of the evening. Jantjies’ successful conversion makes it 37-15 with seven to play. Update #19 Siya Kolisi crashes over for another Saffa score. Jantjies converts. 30-15. Update #18 Emilliano Boffelli scores in the corner for the away side. Sanchez converts. 23-15. Update #17 Raymond Rhule scores for the Boks after a sweeping backline move. Jantjies’ conversion makes it 23-8.…

It was confirmed yesterday that Deon Davids, the man responsible for having guided the Southern Kings to their most successful Super Rugby finish to date, has penned a new three-year contract extension with the franchise. This comes in the wake of the build-up to the upcoming Guinness PRO14, which kicks-off next month. Charl Crous, the Southern Kings Chief Operations Officer, officially announced the appointment yesterday, stating that “[We] are pleased to have retained the services of Deon Davids as head coach for the next three years of our participation in the Guinness PRO14 Championship.” “Deon has proven himself as a…

The 2017 edition of The Rugby Championship (TRC) really does seem a tantalising prospect. After the British & Irish Lion’s series draw with the World Champion All Blacks in June, it feels as though the Kiwis will finally go into a TRC campaign with a point to prove. It would appear that their air of invincibility has taken a slight dive, and it will be fascinating to see how the remaining Southern Hemisphere contingent of South Africa, Australia and Argentina approach their Test matches against Kieran Read’s men. New Zealand Steve Hansen’s boys will be positively heartbroken at not having…

With the Crusaders’ victory in Johannesburg on the weekend bringing an end to the 2017 edition of Super Rugby, I have selected a team of players who I’ve felt have shone in the competition this year. The addition of four Southern Kings players underlines just how well they performed this season, while the lack of Australian representation tells a story on its own. Joe Moody – An integral cog in the most efficient pack in the competition, Moody’s scrummaging prowess and tireless work rate ensured his Crusaders boys stormed their way to the title. Malcolm Marx – Marx has been…

Centre, Matt More bagged four-tries, as the hosts saw off Kingswood 72-5, in an utter try-fest at St Andrews College on “K-Day Saturday”. The 2017 edition of this historic schoolboy rugby derby was one of the most hotly anticipated yet, with no less than 16-players from both sides selected for provincial representation in the upcoming Craven and Academy Weeks respectively. And the Eastern Province provincial coaches would have been particularly pleased with the performance of the St Andrews lads, as they produced some enthralling moments of Barbarians-esque attacking football. The home side got off the mark in quick-fashion, as first…

A sparkling attacking display, as well as an uncompromising showing on defence allowed South Africa to run four tries past France, on their way to an emphatic 37-14 victory at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. The Springboks, coming off of a four-Test match losing streak, were looking to start the international year in the best possible fashion after a rather calamitous 2016. France, on the other hand, were looking to claim victory in this, the first Test, to give themselves a chance at recording a first series win over South Africa since 1993. Loftus Versfeld hasn’t had much cause for celebration…

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee last Tuesday named his 31-man squad to do battle with the French in a three-match Test series, scheduled to kick-off in June. Coetzee unsurprisingly announced 29-year-old Lions captain Warren Whiteley as his skipper for the France series and beyond, as he looks to build a side capable of challenging for the Rugby World Cup title in three years’ time. Whiteley is set to become the 58th Springbok captain. The squad, which includes seven uncapped players, will meet up in Plettenberg Bay this week ahead of the first Test on 10 June. The uncapped brigade includes the…