Boom!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words… What would the last one be saying…? “Oh F@ck!” [Zimbio]

All three sides are currently on 28 log points after the defending champions and the Bloemfontein side both recorded crucial victories in this weekend’s action. However only four points now separate the sixth-positioned GWK Griquas and Vodacom WP who are in second place.

Griquas 28 vs 33 Free State Cheetahs

GWK Griquas pivot Naas Olivier is currently in second position with 129 after he notched up 18 points during his side’s 33-28 defeat against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in Kimberley on Friday evening.

Winger Joni Nokwe ran in a brace of tries for the Bloemfontein side while No 8 Ashley Johnson added his side’s third. Louis Strydom kicked three penalties and three conversions, while Meyer Bosman also added one penalty. Captain Olivier, Cecil Kemp and Burger Schoeman ran in tries for the GWK Griquas.

GWK Griquas

• Tries: Naas Olivier, Cecil Kemp, Burger Schoeman
• Conversions: Olivier (2)
• Penalties: Olivier (2)
• Drop goal: Olivier. 

Vodacom Free State Cheetahs

• Tries: Jongi Nokwe (2), Ashley Johnson
• Conversions: Louis Strydom (3)
• Penalties: Strydom (3), Meyer Bosman.

Xerox Lions 46 vs 28 Western Province

In Johannesburg, former SA Under-20 flyhalf Elton Jantjies scored 31 points as the Xerox Lions secured their fifth victory of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup following their 46-28 win over Vodacom WP at Coca-Cola Park on Friday night.

The Xerox Lions pivot scored a try, kicked six penalties and converted all four of his side’s five-pointers as they notched up their fifth win of the season. Michael Killian scored a brace while the Johannesburg side’s other try was scored by Derick Minnie.

Vodacom Western Province, who conceded their third consecutive loss in their 2010 campaign, have now only managed to secure one log point in their last three outings in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.

JJ Engelbrecht, Duane Vermeulen and Conrad Hoffmann who recently confirmed that he will be furthering his rugby career in Durban from next year, scored Province’s tries at Coca-Cola Park. Vodacom WP flyhalf Willem de Waal who surrendered his status as the competition’s leading points’ scorer for the first time this season kicked three penalties and two conversions. De Waal is currently in third position on 128 points.

2010 Absa Currie Cup Round 9: Lions VS WP [WRNrugbynews]

Xerox Lions

• Tries: Michael Killian (2), Derick Minnie, Elton Jantjies
• Conversions: Jantjies (4)
• Penalties: Jantjies (6). 

Vodacom WP

• Tries: JJ Engelbrecht, Duane Vermeulen, Conrad Hoffmann
• Conversions: Willem de Waal (2)
• Penalties: De Waal (3).

Leopards 26 vs 27 Pumas

The Platinum Leopards’ winless run in the 2010 competition continued as they suffered a 27-26 defeat against the Barloworld Toyota Pumas in Potchefstroom on Friday.

Braam Pretorius, who kicked one penalty and two conversions, Shaun Venter, Johan Jackson and Tiaan Meyer were the points’ scorers for the visitors who bagged their third win of the season.

Theo van Wyk and Dumisani Matyeshana ran in tries for the Platinum Leopards, while Clayton Durand kicked four penalties and two conversions. Unfortunately their efforts were not enough to consign their side to their nine consecutive loss of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.

Platinum Leopards

• Tries: Theo van Wyk, Dumisani Matyeshana
• Conversions: Clayton Durand (2)
• Penalties: Durand (4). 

Barloworld Toyota Pumas

• Tries: Braam Pretorius, Shaun Venter, Johan Jackson, Tiaan Meyer
• Conversions: Pretorius (2)
• Penalty: Pretorius.

Blue Bulls 40 vs 34 The Sharks

The Vodacom Blue Bulls achieved maximum points in Pretoria as they returned to winning ways on Saturday evening following their 40-34 result over The Sharks at Loftus Versfeld. The Durban side are currently in first position on the log with 36 points.

The hosts outscored the log-leaders with four tries to three in this fixture.  Springbok centre Wynand Olivier, Juandre Kruger, Ruan Snyman and Jaco Engels added tries for the Vodacom Blue Bulls while winger Lwazi Mvovo, centre Stefan Terblanche and lock Alistair Hargreaves ran in five-pointers for The Sharks.

Jacques-Louis Potgieter kicked four penalties and three conversions and Zane Kirchner slotted one penalty for the Pretoria outfit. The Sharks flyhalf Patrick Lambie added five penalties and converted two of his side’s tries to end the game with a personal points haul of 19.

Lambie’s individual performance with the boot for the Durban side ensured that he ended week nine as the leading points’ scorer in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup -132 points.

2010 Absa Currie Cup Round 9: Blue Bulls VS The Sharks [WRNrugbynews]

Vodacom Blue Bulls

• Tries: Juandre Kruger, Ruan Snyman, Jaco Engels, Wynand Olivier
• Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (3), Zane Kirchner
• Penalties: Potgieter (4). 

The Sharks

• Tries: Lwazi Mvovo, Stefan Terblanche, Alistair Hargreaves
• Conversions: Patrick Lambie (2)
• Penalties: Lambie (5).

Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Log:

The following from the NZRU:

Colin Slade comes into the squad, replacing Dan Carter who is recuperating following surgery on his right ankle. Slade, who was drafted into the All Blacks squad as injury cover in 2009, has played for Canterbury and the Crusaders and appeared for the New Zealand Barbarians against the New Zealand Maori in the opening game of the Sealord New Zealand Maori Centenary Series in June. He will assemble with the squad when it travels to Sydney on Sunday.

All Blacks Investec Tri Nations squad for Sydney

Forwards: John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Tom Donnelly, Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Keven Mealamu, Kieran Read, Brad Thorn, Victor Vito, Samuel Whitelock and Tony Woodcock.

Backs: Jimmy Cowan, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Mils Muliaina, Ma’a Nonu, Rene Ranger, Josevata Rokocoko, Colin Slade, Conrad Smith, Benson Stanley and Piri Weepu.

Saturday 4 September 2010

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Kickoff 19h15

The Sharks were the only team that defeated the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld during the 2009 Absa Currie Cup and will be hoping that history repeats itself when these sides meet in Pretoria on Saturday at 19h15.

The Durban side are currently in first position on the log with 35 points and are 12 clear of the defending champions who are in fourth place on 23. The visitors, who have won their last seven consecutive games in the 2010 competition after going down to the GWK Griquas (40-34) in week one, have been labelled the most consistent attacking side this season.

The Sharks are the leading try-scoring side in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup after accumulating 36 tries and have also notched up more points than any other team after eight games – 294. They also boast the second best defensive record this season after conceding 169 points. Only Vodacom Western Province (118) has conceded fewer points in this year’s competition.

However the Vodacom Blue Bulls, who conceded their fourth defeat in this season’s competition during their 22-21 defeat to the Barloworld Toyota Pumas in Nelspruit last Friday, will be desperate to get back to winning ways to keep their aspirations of hosting a semi-final alive.

The defending champions suffered a 25-23 defeat to the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in week three, but have secured victories over the GWK Griquas (39-38), Platinum Leopards (43-28) and the Barloworld Toyota Pumas (38-15) at Loftus Versfeld this year.

Head to Head: Vodacom Blue Bulls v The Sharks (since 2005)

“The Sharks consigned the Vodacom Blue Bulls to their first defeat in their 2010 Absa Currie Cup title defence when these sides met in Durban in week two following their 34-28 victory at The Absa Stadium.”

Vodacom Blue Bulls’ recent form at home:

• The defending champions have lost only three Absa Currie Cup games in the last two seasons at Loftus Versfeld.

• The Vodacom Blue Bulls suffered a 25-23 defeat to the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in week three, conceded a 29-23 loss to The Sharks in Pretoria last year and also conceded a 30-27 home defeat to the Lions in 2008.

• The hosts though have secured victories over the GWK Griquas (39-38), Platinum Leopards (43-28) and the Barloworld Toyota Pumas (38-15) at Loftus Versfeld this year.

The Sharks’ recent form on the road:

• The Durban side conceded only one away defeat (40-34) against the GWK Griquas in week one and secured victories on the road against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (25-13) and Platinum Leopards (51-6) in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.

• The Sharks suffered one defeat on the road during the 2009 Absa Currie Cup against Vodacom Western Province. They were also the only team to defeat the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld during last year’s competition.

Additional information:

• Prop Jaco Engels has played a combined total of 91 Absa Currie Cup games for the Vodacom Blue Bulls, Boland Cavaliers and the Platinum Leopards.

• The Sharks centre Patrick Lambie represented the SA Under-20s during this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina. He also won the Absa Currie Cup Player of the Month award for July.

• Vodacom Blue Bulls winger Mametsa has played 136 games for the Pretoria side since 2002. He has scored 43 Absa Currie Cup tries in his career for the Loftus Versfeld team.

• The Sharks flanker Keegan Daniel scored a hat-trick of tries during his side’s 27-17 victory over the Barloworld Toyota Pumas in week three of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.

• Vodacom Blue Bulls loose forward CJ Stander captained the SA U20s during this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina and was a member of the Baby Boks’ squad of 2009 in Japan. He also captained the SA Schools team in 2008.
• Vodacom Blue Bulls reserve flyhalf Francois Brummer and winger Gerhard van den Heever both competed at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan for the SA Under-20s.
• SARRA referee Jonathan Kaplan will handle this game between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and The Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (SARRA)

Assistant referees: T Jonker (AR 1), J Greeff (AR2)

TMO: Shaun Veldsman (Boland)

Xerox Lions vs Vodacom Western Province

Friday 3 September 2010

Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg

Kickoff: 19h10

In Johannesburg, the Xerox Lions will also be hoping that history repeats itself when they host Vodacom Western Province in this Absa Currie Cup Premier Division match played at Coca-Cola Park on Friday at 19h10.

While the Cape side outclassed their Gauteng opponents during their 32-0 win at Newlands earlier this year, it was the Xerox Lions who were victorious (27-25) when these sides last met at Coca-Coca Park in October 2009.

Vodacom WP will however be desperate to avoid a third consecutive defeat in this season’s competition. The Capetonians are currently in second position on the log with 28 points, seven behind The Sharks. They conceded defeats against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (29-24) and the Durban franchise (27-16) during the last two weekends.

The Xerox Lions are currently in sixth position on the log with 20 points and will be looking to secure their fourth consecutive victory of the season by toppling Province on Friday evening. The Johannesburg side recently defeated the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (30-26), Barloworld Toyota Pumas (33-30) and the Platinum Leopards (45-22).

Head to Head: Xerox Lions v Vodacom WP (since 2005)

“Vodacom Western Province dominated every facet of play and powered to an easy 32-0 win over the Xerox Lions when these met in week two of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup at Newlands in Cape Town.”

Xerox Lions’ recent form at home:

• The hosts secured a 30-26 win over the Xerox Lions in week six at Coca-Cola Park but suffered a 32-18 defeat against the Vodacom Blue Bulls in their other home game of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup season.

• The Xerox Lions conceded two defeats at Coca-Cola Park during last year’s competition against The Sharks (30-19) and the GWK Griquas (23-19).

Vodacom Western Province’s recent form on the road:

• The Cape side has secured three wins on the road during this season’s competition against the GWK Griquas (50-3), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (25-11) in week 1 and against the Platinum Leopards (42-23) in week three of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.

• Vodacom WP achieved three away victories against the Boland Kavaliers, Platinum Leopards and The Sharks in last year’s Absa Currie Cup.

• In 2008, they recorded two wins on the road against the Boland Kavaliers and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.

Additional information:

• Vodacom Western Province flyhalf Willem de Waal has accumulated 1328 points in his Absa Currie Cup career. He added 259 points for the Platinum Leopards, 811 for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs, and since joining Province in 2008, has notched up 258.

• De Waal has twice scored 212 points in a season, back in 2006 and 2007, for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.

• The Xerox Lions’ Edgar Marutlulle earned his SA Schools colours in 2005, competed for the SA U19s in 2006 and played for the SA Students in 2008 and 2009.

• Vodacom WP scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage represented the Baby Boks during the 2008 IRB Junior World Championships.

• The Xerox Lions fullback Jaco Taute and reserve flyhalf Elton Jantjies both represented the Baby Boks at this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina.

• Vodacom WP flyhalf Lionel Cronje represented the SA Under-20s during the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.
• SARRA referee Mark Lawrence will handle the game between the Xerox Lions and Vodacom Western Province on Friday evening.

Referee: Mark Lawrence (SARRA)

Assistant referees: A Sehlako (AR 1), L Burger (AR 2)

TMO: G Coetzee

GWK Griquas vs Vodacom Free State Cheetahs

Friday 3 September 2010

GWK Park, Kimberley

Kickoff: 17h00

The GWK Griquas will be aiming to stay in touch with the Absa Currie Cup log-leaders and record their fifth win of the competition when they host the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs at GWK Park on Friday at 17h00.

Head to Head: GWK Griquas v Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (since 2005)

“Vodacom Free State Cheetahs prop Coenie Oosthuizen scored a hat-trick of tries to steer his side to 33-26 win over the GWK Griquas in Bloemfontein when these sides met in week two of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.”

GWK Griquas’ recent form at home:

• The hosts suffered their first home defeat in this season’s competition last Saturday following their 50-3 loss to Vodacom Western Province. They have recorded two home wins over The Sharks (40-34) in week one and the Xerox Lions (26-20) in week three in this year’s Absa Currie Cup.

• The GWK Griquas had a mix season in terms of results in Kimberley during last year’s competition. They recorded four wins and three defeats at GWK Park including victories over semi-finalists Vodacom Western Province and finalists Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.

• The Kimberley side however suffered home defeats against the Xerox Lions and the Vodacom Blue Bulls last year.

Vodacom Free State Cheetahs’ recent form on the road:

• The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs recorded a 25-23 victory over the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in week three and a 45-30 win over the Barloworld Toyota Pumas during last weekend’s action in this year’s competition. They however conceded a 30-26 defeat against the Xerox Lions in week six’s action of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.

• The visitors won four games on the road during last year’s Absa Currie Cup including their semi-final win over The Sharks in Durban.

Additional information:

• GWK flyhalf Naas Olivier has scored 650 points in his Absa Currie Cup career. The pivot has added 220 for Vodacom Western Province, 163 for the Platinum Leopards and 267 for his current side.

• Vodacom Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Louis Strydom has played 107 Absa Currie Cup games and has scored 789 career points in the competition.

• Winger Bjorn Basson (GWK Griquas) made his international Test debut for the Springboks against Wales earlier this year and is the leading try-scorer in this season’s Absa Currie Cup with 13.

• Springbok winger Jongi Nokwe has scored 44 Absa Currie Cup tries in his career.

• Lock Hendrik Roodt (GWK Griquas), who represented the NSW Waratahs during this year’s Vodacom Super 14, represented the SA Schools in 2005.

• Robert Ebersohn (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs) captained the SA Under-20s during the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.
• SARRA referee Sandile Mayende will handle this match between the GWK Griquas and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.

Referee: Sandile Mayende (SARRA)

Assistant referees: F Veldsman (AR 1), D Haasbroek (AR 2)

TMO: N/A

Platinum Leopards vs Barloworld Toyota Pumas

Friday 3 September 2010

Profert Olien Park, Potchefstroom

Kick off: 19h00

In the other Absa Currie Cup game of the weekend, the Barloworld Toyota Pumas will be looking to build on last weekend’s 22-21 victory over the Vodacom Blue Bulls when they take on the Platinum Leopards in Potchefstroom on Friday at 19h00.

The hosts are the only side in this season’s competition that are still in search of their first win of the season while the visitors will be out to secure their third victory of the competition.

The Barloworld Toyota Pumas achieved a 37-32 victory over the Platinum Leopards during week two in this season’s Absa Currie Cup.

Head to Head: Platinum Leopards v Barloworld Toyota Pumas (since 2005):

“Barloworld Toyota Pumas flyhalf Elgar Watts scored a first-half hat-trick to steer his side to a thrilling 37-32 victory over the Platinum Leopards during week two of the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division.”

Platinum Leopards’ recent form at home:

• The hosts have already suffered three home defeats – against Vodacom Western Province (42-23), GWK Griquas (41-27) and the Xerox Lions (43-13) in this season’s competition.

• The Platinum Leopards won only one home game during last year’s Absa Currie Cup Premier Division, a 50-16 victory over the Boland Cavaliers.

Barloworld Toyota Pumas’ recent form on the road:

• The visitors have already conceded three defeats on the road during the 2010 Absa Currie Cup against the Vodacom Western Province (54-13), Vodacom Blue Bulls (38-15) and The Sharks (27-17).

• The Barloworld Toyota Pumas won all five of their away games during last year’s Absa Currie Cup First Division.

Additional information:

• Michael Bondesio, Wilhelm Koch and Anthonie Gronum will all be playing in their 50th matches for the Platinum Leopards on Friday night. This includes all games played in the Absa Currie Cup, Vodacom Cup and Competition friendlies.

• Barloworld Toyota Pumas winger Allistair Kettledas scored 18 tries in the 2009 Absa Currie Cup First Division, just one short of Colin Lloyd’s record of 19 in 2006.

• The Platinum Leopards’ Philip Lemmer achieved his SA Colours in amateur wrestling.

• The Pumas’ Hannes Franklin and Jacques Coetzee represented the Auto & General Lions during the 2010 Vodacom Super 14.
• Flyhalf Cecil Dumond (Platinum Leopards) is the brother of The Sharks flyhalf Monty Dumond.

• Shaun Venter (Barloworld Toyota Pumas) represented the Springbok Sevens during the 2009/ 2010 IRB Sevens World Series.

• SARRA referee Pro Legoete will handle the game between the Barloworld Toyota Pumas and the Platinum Leopards.

Referee: Pro Legoete (SARRA)

Assistant referees: J Jaftha (AR1), P de Villiers (AR2)

TMO: N/A

Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Log:

Absa Currie Cup Premier Division – Leading points’ scorers:

Absa Currie Cup Premier Division – Leading try-scorers:

04 September 2010 17h00 [GMT+2]

Vodacom Park – Bloemfontein

Springboks: 15. Francois Steyn, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Jaque Fourie, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Juan Smith, 6. Schalk Burger, 5. Victor Matfield, 4. Danie Rossouw, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. John Smit (capt), 1. Gurthro Steenkamp.

Reserves: 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Ryan Kankowski, 20. Ricky Januarie, 21. Juan de Jongh, 22. Gio Aplon.

Wallabies: 15. Kurtley Beale, 14. James O’Connor, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12. Matt Giteau, 11. Drew Mitchell, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Will Genia, 8. Ben McCalman, 7. David Pocock, 6. Rocky Elsom (capt), 5. Nathan Sharpe, 4. Mark Chisholm, 3. Salesi Ma’afu, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson.

Replacements: 16. Saia Fainga’a, 17. James Slipper, 18. Dean Mumm, 19. Richard Brown, 20. Luke Burgess, 21. Berrick Barnes, 22. Anthony Fainga’a.

• Date: Saturday 4 September 2010
• Venue: Vodacom Park – Bloemfontein
• Kick-off: 17h00 [GMT+2]
• Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
• Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
• TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

A history of Australia VS South Africa in South Africa:

• This will be the 74th meeting between Australia and South Africa at all venues. Australia has won 28 and South Africa 44, while one match has been drawn.
• Just eight of Australia’s previous wins have been attained on South African soil, with the Springboks taking the other 30 matches that have been played.
• Australia has won just twice previously at high veldt venues: 15-4 in 1933 at Bloemfontein and 11-9 in 1963 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
• The Wallabies have been beaten on their two most recent visits to Bloemfontein, including their first ever Tri Nations match in the Republic in 1996, which was lost 19-25.
• Australia’s 11-point win over South Africa at Bloemfontein in 1933 is one of just three defeats suffered by the Springboks from 16 Tests played in the Free State capital.
• Vodacom Park is home to the Free State Cheetahs in the domestic South African Currie Cup competition. It is also the home of the Cheetahs in Super Rugby.
• The ground witnessed a then record score during the 1995 Rugby World Cup when New Zealand beat Japan 145-17, with flyhalf Simon Culhane scoring 45 points while winger Marc Ellis totalled six tries. Both still stand as tournament records for one match.
• A year later, Bloemfontein hosted Australia’s maiden match on South African soil in the newly inaugurated Tri Nations tournament featuring Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. This year’s Test will be the Qantas Wallabies’ first visit to Vodacom Park since that match 14 years ago.
• The ground was a host venue for six matches during the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup held in South Africa.
• South Africa hasn’t lost a Test match at Vodacom Park since 2000 when it was edged out 27-22 by England.
• Australia’s most recent win on South African soil was a 27-15 win at Durban in 2008 which secured the Mandela Plate. That success was the first achieved by the Wallabies in the Republic for eight years.
• Prior to South Africa’s readmission to international sport in 1992, Australia had won just seven of the 31 matches played.
• The scoreboard stands at 21 wins to Australia and 20 to South Africa, with one drawn, for the period since then.

The following from the GLRU: Golden Lions president Kevin de Klerk and CEO Manie Reyneke announced on Thursday that Mitchell had been released from the final year of his contract with the Western Force in Perth, thus allowing the former All Black loose forward to accept the offer of an extended stay with the Lions.

“Since John has been with us on a consultancy arrangement, we have been most impressed with his ability across our entire coaching structure,” said a delighted De Klerk.

“It has been no secret that we wanted to engage John Mitchell on a longer term basis, but we realised this was always going to be subject to the Western Force agreeing to provide him with a release. We are thankful and appreciative that the Western Force gave us the green light.”

“In John we are getting not only a man of high ethics who cherishes the history, culture and camaraderie of rugby but who boasts an exceptional coaching pedigree at the very highest level. We at the Lions are extremely excited at being able to pull this off and look forward to John building on the already very positive impact he has had on the Lions,” added the former Springbok lock.

De Klerk said Lions coach Dick Muir had been a part of and conversant with the process of contracting Mitchell. “Dick, who is obviously now involved with the Springboks, is still the Director of Rugby at the Lions with John as the Head Coach. Dick was instrumental in helping us secure the services of John and will play a role in our plans going forward.”

De Klerk said Mitchell would base himself in Johannesburg for the greater part of the year and be in charge of the Lions in both the Absa Currie Cup and the Vodacom Super 15.

Rugby WA (Western Australia) chairman Geoff Stooke said the Western Force and rugby in Western Australia owed a great deal to Mitchell who started with a blank sheet of paper on his arrival six years ago and built a strong foundation for long term success.

Mitchell will be succeeded at the Force by Richard Graham, presently the Wallabies’ skills coach.

A surprise appointee when he was named to coach the Lions in the Currie Cup on a temporary basis in the absence of Springbok assistant Dick Muir at the beginning of the season, Mitchell has instilled a new spirit in a Lions team who go into tomorrow night’s crucial Currie Cup match at Coca-Cola Park against traditional foes Western Province on the back of three successive victories.

Mitchell follows in the footsteps of another former All Black coach Laurie Mains who guided the composite Cats to Super 12 semi-finals in 2000 and 2001.

Mitchell has crossed swords with the Springboks on numerous occasions. In 1994 he captained a Waikato side against Francois Pienaar’s touring side that contained Warren Gatland, recently re-appointed as coach of Wales, and other All Blacks in Matthew Cooper, Duane Monkley and Mark Cooksley.

Mitchell’s “Mooloos” were defeated 38-17 by a Springboks side captained by Tiaan Strauss and containing a core of players who wore the red-and-white Lions jersey in their careers in James Small, Chester Williams, Japie Mulder, Hennie le Roux, Johan Roux, Rudolf Straeuli and Johan le Roux.

However as a coach of the All Blacks Mitchell tasted success against his country’s arch-rivals with a 100 percent record of seven wins in seven matches – including a 52-16 drubbing at Loftus Versfeld in 2003 and a comprehensive 29-9 defeat in the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup in Melbourne in 2003.

“Mitch,” as he is known throughout the rugby world, ended up with an All Black coaching record of 23 test wins from 27 games – an 85% winning record, the highest of any All Black coach in the professional era. In addition he coached the All Blacks to five out of five wins in mid-week matches.

His vast coaching pedigree includes stints as Clive Woodward’s assistant with the England team from 1997 to 2000, the Waikato National Provincial Championship side, the Chiefs Super 12 side and most recently taking the difficult job of establishing the Western Force in the Super 14 and creating a rugby union culture in Perth.

As a player Mitchell gained All Black colours on the 1993 tour to Great Britain. He was not capped but played in six victorious mid-week games; captaining the All Blacks on three occasions.

In Waikato he was a legend, having played 134 times and captaining them a record 86 times, in a career highlighted by many other achievements.

“When I took over as president of the Lions I said I was only interested in leading a province of winners,” concluded De Klerk. “The appointment of a coach of John Mitchell’s stature confirms that goal.”

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The new face on the block

The following from SARU: The South African Rugby Union (SARU) jointly announced a ground-breaking rights deal for Springbok players’ image rights with the Springbok Players’ Trust on Tuesday.

The new arrangement – the first of its kind in rugby – ends months of negotiation and crucially clarifies commercial access by SARU and sponsors to the image rights of Springbok players.

“The players ceded their image rights to a Players’ Trust at the start of the 2009, removing them from their Springbok contracts,” explained Dr Jan Marais, chairman of the Executive Council of SARU. “We then entered into a long negotiation about what we would pay them for using their image rights in executing our sponsorship deals.

“I’m happy to say that we have now come to an amicable arrangement that will benefit both parties by allowing SARU to honour its commercial commitments and by rewarding the players for using their images in advertisements and for making personal appearances.”

Eugene Henning, executive director of the commercial division of SARPA, who are managing agents of the Springbok Players’ Trust, said that the deal was the first of its kind in South African rugby.

“The new arrangement creates a sophisticated and elegant landscape to govern the use of these rights in future and differentiate between the rugby playing services and the general commercial services rendered by a player” he said. “It is aligned with the best practices developed in other sporting codes nationally and internationally.

“The conclusion of the agreement underlines the commitment of both national players and SARU to continuously develop and promote professional rugby in South Africa. It was a robust and challenging negotiation process and the amount of commercial responsibility showed by the national players during this process should be recognised and applauded.”

Dr Marias said: “We have agreed upon a certain amount per appearance by players. Sponsors pay for an association with the Springbok team but there are faces that go with the team and we are now able to ensure that we can give them those faces.”

The players’ trust will also be paid a lump sum for the use of their images in sponsorship activations.

“This is a new departure and clarifies what was a complicated relationship based on assumption and expectation in the past,” said Andy Marinos, SARU manger of national teams.

“We’re now in the happy position that both the players and SARU know exactly where they stand and we can confidently deliver on the rights that have been granted to our commercial partners. The long-term expectation is that both the Union and players will benefit from the arrangement.”