The second most beautiful trophy in Rugby, not to mention the oldest provincial tournament in the world is up for grabs this Saturday. What makes this years final interesting is there will be no Blue it's Red and Black and the top two teams in this years tournament. The Blue Bulls never even made the Semi-Finals and a Springbok laden Western Province was comprehensively beaten last weekend by the Lions. These two have 55 Currie Cup Trophies between them (4 shared each) so its a rarity to not have at least one of them in the final. I think the favourites for Saturdays contest is the Golden Lions. Maybe not on paper because yes the Sharks have 7 current Springboks but as WP found out last week its continuity not Springboks that win you matches and though the Sharks have had an extra week to work on their continuity and the fact that they will be in Johannesburg not Durban I still see them tagged underdogs. Let's have a short look at statistics the Lions and Sharks have pla...

New Zealand media are branding this final as "in the bag" or the French "don't stand a chance". I even read that the bookies have given them 6-1 odds. A word of warning is that well in sport nothing is a given. When the Rugby World Cup draw took place on the 1st December 2008 I remember saying if France is in our pool we can only get them in our pool and in the Rugby World Cup Final. Never, to be honest, did I believe they would make the final. Especially after having lost two matches already in the tournament. Some say they don't deserve to be in the final having played one good match against England and not playing much against the Welsh and still winning so there hasn't been anything to talk about, besides their problems in the camp. Much like in 1987 this World Cup's last four was also France, Australia, Wales and New Zealand only France played Australia in the semi final and All Blacks (ABs) played Wales. The ABs also had their big "inj...

An interesting read I just had to post. The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently revised a few rules governing the One-Day game. These rules came into effect starting with the ongoing India-England ODI series, and will be applicable to every international match in the future. Here's a list of these changes: This article was written by  Harsh Kalan from the website www.guylife.com   - Two new balls will be used in every innings, i.e., a new ball will be introduced at either end. So both opening bowlers will now have the opportunity to bowl with a brand new ball. This will lead to lesser wear and tear of the ball. This works in favour of the batsmen as the ball would be more visible even during the death overs. Also, this move could mean reverse swing--which typically requires a 30 to 35-over-old ball--could become a thing of the past in ODIs. - A batsman will be given out if he obstructs the field. In other words, an umpire can declare a batsman out if he thinks ...

New Zealand and Australia would be relishing the opportunity to take on France in the Rugby World Cup (RWC) Final, but they first have to concern themselves with there neighbours. Xola Ntshinga said "These two know each other intimately" and I couldn't agree more. Its number 1 vs number 2 in what some dub as the RWC final one week in advance. Australia will take cognisance that they have never lost in a RWC semi final against their illustrious host and are the last team to beat the All Blacks (ABs) in the Tri Nations Decider. The ABs though are another type of animal in New Zealand having last lost to Australia at Eden Park 25 years ago. I could run through other stats like games played and points difference but I'm afraid that will have little barring on the out come of today's match. The loss of Millsy & Slade have somewhat strengthened the ABs and dropping utility back (Greame Henry referred to as a super sub) Sonny Bill Williams is I think genius. On th...

The first and only time the Welsh played in a Rugby World Cup Semi-Final was in 1987 and they lost out to the same team they meet today. France would love history to repeat itself, and since then they have reached two more finals. Wales have a terrible record against the French having lost 10 of the last 13. The two have played each other 88 times and the points difference is just 2, with Wales scoring 1,297 points in their 43 wins and France 1,295, in their 42 wins and 3 draws, talk about tight. The french have beaten the Welsh on three occasions in three consecutive test and currently sit on a three game streak. Another interesting fact I dug out is the team that went into half time has won 5 of the last 6 meetings and its been 3 years since the Welsh have beaten Les Bleus. The France squad have experience over the young welsh outfit, and would argue they have hit top form and pulled together as a team at the right time. I'm sure the pack that dominates will see their team int...

The fixture between Liverpool and Manchester United is one of the most significant sporting rivalries in football, sometimes referred to as the North West derby. The clubs are also the two most successful teams in England; between them they have won 118 honours: 60 for Manchester United and 58 for Liverpool. The rivalry between the two clubs has become so intense that since the 1964 transfer of Phil Chrisnall from United to Liverpool, no player has been transferred directly between the two clubs. Though Paul Ince, Peter Beardsley and more recently Micheal Owen have played for both clubs but played for another team in between. Manchester United go to Liverpool this weekend having not won there since December 2007, something the defending champions would like to change. The last ten fixtures at Anfield make better reading though with 5 United wins, 4 Liverpool and a solitary goalless draw. One draw in 10 fixtures shows that t...

New Zealand should win this but didn't the Irish and the English say that too. Nothing is a given in knockout rugby and as Dwight Langenhoven says its about who wants it more today. I think the loss of Carter for the All Blacks (ABs) is bordering on catastrophic which might not be felt so badly against the Puma's but should they meet the Boks or the Aussies as the ABs it is some what worry some. We talk about form teams and for me the Puma's are one of the form teams of the tournament they may lament the injuries to key players and their game against England was one of those occasions that springs to mind. Let's not forget their tight five more so their scrum are a formidable outfit. The conundrum for the Puma's is not the ABs explosive backline or tenacious loose trio or their tough as nails tight five its their fitness this ABs team can play rugby for 90 minutes if need be and with the same intensity in the first minute as in the last. So I do feel whatev...

I like the way Bobby Skinstad says the Boks (pronounced like Tocks), he would be hoping for a Boks win I'm sure. Two men that will have a say in that is Quade (10)& Will (9). The problem the Boks have is that they aren't playing well and more importantly the Australians are improving with every game and have been for the last two years. Form though goes out the window in knock out rugby, thankfully for the Boks since 4 of the last 5 meetings between these two have gone against the Boks. The Tri Nations Champions will wonder if there is a curse on the winners of the tournament in a World Cup year or if that just applies to the All Blacks, they'd like to think the later. Both teams will know anyone can win today it's just that close. My view is like it always is when you play Australia keep Quade Cooper & Will Genia quiet and you will win, the All Blacks can detest that pair can seriously hurt you, if given the space & time. I know rugby is a team sport bu...

The form book says easy English win, history says do not right the French off. That's the question everyone would love to know : "Which French team will show up?" They can be absolutely amazing and unbelievably awful as we all know having the worst record of the qualifying teams and not doing themselves any favours against Tonga, but with France you just don't know. Uncharacteristically Wilkinson has missed more than he has made and England still find themselves unbeaten. Whether or not this will be the English toughest test remains to be seen. Granted England haven't been great themselves but in World Cups winning is all that counts. Something that will concern England is that luck runs out and today might just be that day. So today I think this France team are due an amazing match, which is customary in every World Cup they participate in. No points for guessing my prediction is a France win and strangely enough I don't think it will be close, by m...

This could well be the best chance both these teams have of not just progressing to the semi finals but even to the final, let's be honest playing against Northern Hemisphere teams does give them that extra motivation. The Irish look a complete outfit and as we keep eluding to  haven't had a good run in coming to this World Cup, we'd all agree that has surely changed. The Welsh have a bright young fly-half Priestland that has impressed the world, especially since he was expected to be out of his depth in World Cup Rugby But this game might well be won or lost with the last kick of the game. Though I do feel the Irish might just have the edge in the tight five and have many 'been there before experience' which is critical, the Welsh have the explosiveness of youth and the history of knowing the last time they made the semi finals of the Rugby World Cup was in New Zealand in 87. The Welsh also could claim they were unlucky to lose their opener to SA and are a te...

Extract taken from the Official Rugby World Cup website. Thought it an interesting read that deserves a post on my blog. (I do this sometimes lol because I can) AUCKLAND, 5 Oct. - With Rugby World Cup 2011's pool phase over, the focus shifts to the knockout stages, starting with the quarter-finals that will keep four teams in the running for the Webb Ellis Cup and send four others packing. So what will be the difference between the teams making their way to the semi-finals at Eden Park and those heading home? History can provide us with some indicators. Surely outright firepower is useful? You would think a team that can blow opponents away with lots of tries and a mountain of points would probably be a good bet to be champions. Well, you would be wrong. Only once in six editions of the Rugby World Cup has the team with the most points at the end of the pool stage gone on to win. Interestingly, that one occasion was New Zealand at RWC 1987, and in that respect history has a ...