Month: March 2019

Lions back-row Kwagga Smith will leave the Johannesburg-based franchise on a temporary basis after joining Japanese club Yamaha Jubilo.

The 25-year-old, who made his Test debut for the Springboks against Wales last month, signed a short-term contract with the Top League outfit which means he will not be part of the Golden Lions’ Currie Cup campaign later this year.

Smith confirmed the news on Yamaha Jubilo’s official website on Friday.

“I am honoured to be joining the Yamaha family as the next step of my rugby career and am convinced that playing for a team like Yamaha will help me to grow as a player,” he said.

“I have visited Japan, it is a very beautiful country and I am very impressed with the culture. My wife is looking forward to living in Japan.

“I will try my best to make a big contribution to the team and to win the Top League.”

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Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd slammed Chiefs centre Johnny Faauli’s no-arms hit on Wes Goosen in their Super Rugby clash in Hamilton on Friday.

Boyd was fuming after the match, which the Chiefs won 28-24, as Faauli’s challenge to Goosen’s head could result in the Hurricanes utility back missing next weekend’s quarter-final between the teams in Wellington.

“He’s failed two HIAs so he’s probably somewhere less than 50-50 for next week, which is disappointing for him,” Boyd told Stuff.

“Probably don’t need to say more about that.”

But, when asked to elaborate, Boyd did not hold back and described the foul as “a deliberate act”.

“I mean, I don’t like to see a red card in any game, but red is red, and you don’t get a more obvious red card than that,” he added.

“That was shoulder, no arms, straight to the head, with force, with intent. There’s no butting out of any of that.

“So that was a deliberate act. The Chiefs will be disappointed with that action, I’m assuming the player will be disappointed with that action. And at the end of the day, he got, in the end, what was necessary.”

Chiefs boss Colin Cooper also expressed his disappointment with the incident.

“It’s disappointing,” he said.

“He’s (Fa’auli) better than that. He looks to stamp his mark defensively, but he’s got to do it within the rules, he just can’t drift up, particularly towards the head.”

Faauli has been punished in the past for some illegal hits but has worked on improving his tackle technique and Cooper feels the 22-year-old had improved on it it until his latest indiscretion.

“That’s the first one he let go (for some time),” added Cooper.

“If you go back to the Reds, he did that to their big power number eight. When he gets it right he can do some damage. And I thought he contained their 12 (Ngani Laumape), we moved him in to help defend that area, and I felt where they exposed the Blues they didn’t get through there. So he has to take a lot credit for that, and Anton (Lienert-Brown).”

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Watch the highlights from the final regular-season round of Super Rugby.

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The Sharks progressed to the Super Rugby play-offs at the expense of the Rebels as they saw off the Jaguares 20-10 at Kings Park on Saturday.

They will now face the table-topping Crusaders in Christchurch next week thanks to crossings from Akker van der Merwe and Kobus van Wyk.

The Jaguares, who travel to the Lions in their qualifier, scored through Sebastian Cancelliere, with Joaquín Díaz Bonilla kicking five points.

Entertainment was lacking in the opening half in Durban as the wet weather did not help the match as a spectacle. Throw in the Sharks only needing four points and the Jaguares being largely second string and it had all the ingredients of being a sluggish and fragmented contest.

The Sharks went 3-0 up on nine minutes when a huge scrum gave Robert du Preez the chance to strike. He made it 6-0 seven minutes later.

But the hosts were reduced to 14 men on 19 minutes when number eight Dan du Preez was yellow carded for a low, no-arm tackle. Diaz Bonilla made no mistake from in front as the Jaguares cut the lead in half. There was maybe a temptation that they should have chanced their arm.

And being conservative did come back to haunt them two minutes later as Sharks hooker Van der Merwe raced over from close to 40 metres out after popping out of a maul, showing good pace. Fly-half Du Preez added the extras to make it 13-3 which was how it remained going into the interval, after the Jaguares went agonisingly close to reducing the margin when Matias Moroni grounded the ball dead after a chase through.

The Sharks came out for the second-half looking to apply the squeeze and that they did but for no reward. After a series of shots at goal being snubbed Du Preez’s effort from out wide after a strong scrum struck the upright. The hosts, however, did seem likely to strike soon.

That they did on 53 minutes when, from a lovely set-piece move that started on halfway, Andre Esterhuizen put Van Wyk through and he raced over on the right wing for a superb finish. This time Du Preez made no mistake from the kicking tee as the Sharks held a 20-3 advantage.

The Jaguares did not roll over however and finally crossed on 66 minutes when a backline move on halfway led to the ball being kicked back inside for the chasing Cancelliere to gather and ground. Diaz Bonilla added the conversion to make it 20-10 and cause the Sharks to sweat.

They need not have worried though as 20-10 was how the game finished as the Sharks now pack their packs and head to Christchurch next week, consequently ending the Rebels’ season.

The scorers:

For Sharks:
Tries: Van der Merwe, Van Wyk
Cons: R du Preez 2
Pens: R du Preez 2
Yellow Card: D du Preez

For Jaguares:
Try: Cancelliere
Con: Diaz Bonilla
Pen: Diaz Bonilla

Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha (c), 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Wian Vosloo, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Makazole Mapimpi

Jaguares: 15 Ramiro Moyano, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Sebastian Cancelliere, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (c), 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Javier Diaz
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Javier Ortega Desio, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Nicolas Sanchez, 23 Emiliano Boffelli

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant Referees: Egon Seconds, Archie Sehlako
TMO: Willie Vos

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Samoa have qualified for Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan after winning the second leg of the Oceania/Europe play-off against Germany 42-28 in Heidelberg on Saturday.

The hard-fought victory, combined with the 66-15 first leg win in Apia, confirmed a 108-43 aggregate win and a place in Pool A alongside Ireland, Scotland, Japan and Russia.

Germany, 12 places behind their opponents in the World Rugby Rankings, will take great heart from a spirited performance that will give confidence ahead of their participation in the Repechage in Marseille in November.

In what promises to be a fascinating tournament, Germany will meet Canada, Hong Kong and the Rugby Africa Gold Cup runner-up in a round-robin format contested over three match days on November 11, 17 and 23.

Congratulating Samoa on his twitter account, World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “Congratulations to Samoa on Rugby World Cup 2019 qualification and a place in Pool A. Germany will be encouraged by a strong performance as they look ahead to November’s Repechage.”

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Melbourne Rebels number eight Amanaki Mafi has been charged by police in New Zealand after an alleged altercation with team-mate Lopeti Timani.

The incident happened after the Australian outfit’s 43-37 defeat to the Highlanders, a result which cost them their place in the end-of-season play-offs.

Mafi will now appear in Dunedin District Court on Monday charged with injuring with intent to injure.

“The alleged victim, also a 28-year-old man, received moderate injuries following the incident,” a police spokeswoman said.

“He did not require hospitalisation. The pair were known to each other. As the matter is now before the court, police are not in a position to comment further.”

Rugby Australia released a statement saying that they and the Rebels were aware of an incident which took place after their defeat to the Highlanders.

“Both players remain in New Zealand with Mafi currently in police custody following an altercation between the two players,” RA said.

“Rugby Australia understands that no other players were involved in the incident.”

Rebels chief executive Baden Stephenson added: “I am bitterly disappointed that an incident has occurred at the end of a season where we have taken pride in our on and off-field behaviour.

“We will respect the process and won’t be making further comments until all investigations have taken place.”

 

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Chiefs centre Johnny Faauli has been banned for six weeks for his dangerous tackle on Wes Goosen during their 28-24 victory over the Hurricanes.

The back was red carded and deemed to contravene Law 9.13 having connected with Goosen’s head after failing to wrap his arms around the ‘Canes man.

Faauli will therefore miss the game against the Hurricanes in the quarter-finals, as well as the rest of the Super Rugby season, should they emerge triumphant in Wellington.

In his finding, Nigel Hampton QC ruled the following: “Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles, additional evidence, a statement from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.13.

“With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid range entry point of 6 weeks.

“The Foul Play Review Committee added 2 weeks to the entry point as aggravation for the fact the Player has two previous offences of a similar nature on his Judicial record and as a personal deterrent to combat a pattern of such offending by the Player.

“However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player’s expressed remorse and his plea of guilty at the earliest possible opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 6 weeks.”

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Crusaders full-back Israel Dagg has effectively ruled himself out of All Blacks selection for the rest of the year after agreeing a deal with Japanese side Canon Eagles.

Dagg, who has garnered 66 caps for New Zealand, will represent the Eagles when the Crusaders’ Super Rugby season finishes.

Canon are currently coached by former South Africa boss Allister Coetzee and their season runs from August to January.

Dagg told stuff.co.nz: “For me it is just (a chance) to see a bit of the world, take my family to Tokyo. It is going to be an awesome adventure. What happens after that takes care of itself. I am happy with the decision I have made and just want to look forward to it.

“Before then, I have got a job to do here. My main focus is on doing that for this team.

“I have had a little conversation here and there (with the All Blacks selectors). I have made the decision and I am going. It is all good.”

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Wales international Liam Williams is surprised that Saracens team-mate Alex Goode has been constantly overlooked for England selection.

The 30-year-old has performed consistently well for the Londoners but has only picked up 21 caps for the Red Rose since making his debut in 2012.

And Williams, who has featured 48 times for Warren Gatland’s men, told the BBC that Goode was “the best 15 I have ever played with”.

“How he doesn’t get a look-in with England I haven’t a clue. His work rate, his hands, feet and all-round game is tremendous – it’s good to play alongside Alex.

“If he (England head coach Eddie Jones) does not pick him, that’s up to him.”

Williams and Goode will look to help continue the club’s recent success after Mark McCall’s charges won their third Premiership title in four years.

The Welshman joined the English outfit on a two-year deal in 2017 with the option of a third and the 27-year-old says that it is likely he will remain until 2020.

“I have spoken to Saracens and said I am 99% sure I want to take the third year,” he added. “I have just bought a house, we have just won the league, what more do you want? It is a great place.”

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Wales have named their squad for this weekend’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco and it will be one last hurrah for captain Adam Thomas.

Wales’ stalwart Thomas will be competing in the Principality Premiership next season. In Luke Morgan they can boast the second deadliest try-scorer in the world this year, scoring only four fewer than hosts USA’s Carlin Isles in the 2017/18 World Rugby Sevens Series.

Bolstering a squad of World Series regulars such as Ethan Davies, Owen Jenkins, Luke Treharne, Ben Roach and Will Talbot-Davies are Cardiff Blues’ Lloyd Williams and Ospreys’ Cory Allen. The duo – capped 23 and six times respectively for Wales in 15s – recently helped Wales to the Exeter Sevens quarter-final as part of their World Cup preparations.

One of the PRO14’s biggest young prospects, the Dragons and former Wales U20 back Jared Rosser, is selected; as is Tom Williams, who has made a strong impact in his final sevens season before returning to Ospreys on a full-time basis next season.

RGC’s Afon Bagshaw and Cai Devine have both captained Wales in Rugby Europe this season, their maturity and development impressing their coaches and cementing their place in the final tournament of the season.

Head coach Gareth Williams said: “This is a great culmination to our season. The World Cup has been an aim of ours for the past 18 months and we’re excited with the squad we have put together.

“We are building nicely towards the opening match versus Zimbabwe, and starting well against their physicality and elusiveness is a key aim of ours.

“The tournament structure is different, but exciting, and we are eager to get out there and get things started.”

Wales Sevens: Luke Treharne, Ethan Davies, Lloyd Williams, Luke Morgan, Owen Jenkins, Tom Williams, Cory Allen, Afon Bagshaw, Adam Thomas, Cai Devine, Jared Rosser, Ben Roach, Will Talbot-Davies

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