Lions Tour

We have seen some great rugby already from this Lions Tour.

Vs. Higveld VX

This was a joke of game for the Lions but was fun to watch a bunch of nobody's try and be Giant Killers in the End Ronan O'Gara pulled it with his boot and Irish Charm.

Vs. Lions

This game was a joke. It was similar to the Golden Lions season in the S14. Granted they lost their coach 3 days before and we missing most of their first chioce forward pack. That being said the Lions were on Fire. The wanted to avenge the Poor perforance against the Highveld XV and they certainly did. They played faster and hard and stephen jones, Jamie Robinson and Brian O'Driscoll formed quite a partnership with Ugo Monye looking like a blur every time he had the ball. Congrats to Todd Clever for being the first American to play against the B&I Lions.

Vs. The Cheetahs

The Lions were super lucky to get away with this one. The Cheetahs played with a fericious never say die attitude and gave the Lions more trouble than they Imagined. This game is slowly but surely proving my point - the Lions sturggle to play a middle table team - with out thier best players how are they going to beat the springboks?

Vs. The Sharks

The Lions got away this won easier than they should've helped by a very poor sharks performance. The sharks weren't helped by the loss of 10 springboks - but should have made this one closer.

Vs. Province

Again another close game for the Lions against and average provincial side. The Lions seem to have a hard team dealing with teams that play well at the breakdown and kick well - I can tell you this is exactly what the Spingboks will look like. But they most likley will not give up much in the scrum, I expect them to put enourmous pressure on the Lions in the Line out.

The interesting matchup shaping up here for me is with the Midfield Combinations - can Jean DeVilliers shut down Jamie Robinson? Will it be Jacque Foure or Adi Jacobs against BOD?

The Games where Jamie Robinson hasn't been contained the Lions have run wild. If they can get over the gainline, Brian O'Driscoll is capable of running wild and can link up with anybody - even me! If the Lions get this consitent go forward we will see a few things

- Tries from the lions
- Huge hits
- Games much closer than many anticipate.

Without Jamie Robinsion the lions lose their go forward ball an attacking platform.

Eagle Game

As I am watching the Eagle Gmae a few things are coming to mind

The Officating is a total and complete Joke
- Ireland is getting away with Murder at the Breakdown
- All the line throws were straight as can be
- Penalty try? Who are you kidding
- Why do they even have touch judges?
- Too much talk? Your useless ref why wouldn't we tell you?
- When the ball is two feet from your face how the hell do you miss the hands in the ruck you are uselss? Thats 14 points for the ref.

This is best forward performance in open play I've seen in years from the US. Its encouraging but is producing nothing.

They Eagles are breaking the gainline with regualrity again something new in the last few years.

While the Eagles are putting together phase after phase they're playing way too much rugby in the middle of the field.

Mike Hercus can't kick for post or from hand, his up and unders are useless, and he should be able to clear the ball and extra 15-20 meters with every kick. With Gaving Debartolo in the side why are you wasting time with a goal kicker who has never been consistent?

What a suprise as soon as he leaves the Eagles are on fire? Hercus is capeable of fantastic rugby - anyone who debates this must look no further than the EDF Energy Cup in 2006 where he cut up Wasps. We haven't seen this form from him since the second half of the Samoa game in the RWC. He has the ability to be a world class 10, but that isn't how he played today.

Kevin Swiryn Belongs in the centers, he should play 13.

The scrum has held up well all day.

There was very very little rugby played today thanks to an offical who cares more about his whistle than test in front of him. What a joke.

All in all the Eagles have improved many things that lacked in their performances from last year, most importantly getting over the gainline. They fought for the ball and put together many phases, and did not give away a lot of turnover ball from first phase - something that has been a habitual problem for the Eagles in the last season. I am looking forward to the Churchill Cup as we have to take baby steps in USA Rugby. With some goal kicking, some kicking to the corners, and some competent officating this becomes a very close game.

If the Eagles pack can keep building on this game we just may have a shot at Canada for the Rugby WC Qualifiers.

I am eagerly awaiting the Wales game next weekend. Good Luck boys.

Blue Bull Rampage

Bulls 61 Chiefs 17

As predicted - The Bulls ran away with this one. Some smart play in the start of the match quickly put the Chiefs behind and the Bulls never looked back. It seems like the Bulls got every bounce and every break and they took advantage of it all.

The Bulls had the advantage in the forwards - and with the lead they kicked the ball all day and kept the Chiefs out of the game. Playing behind for virtually the entire contest the Chiefs were forced to try and run it at all costs and the Bulls Punished them over and over for it.

This was the most lopsided victory in S14 history - I hope the Lions are ready.

For the Bulls:
Tries: Du Preez 2, Habana 2, Matfield, Olivier, Spies, Rossouw
Cons: Steyn 5, Francis
Pens: Steyn 2
DG: Steyn

For Chiefs:
Tries: Masaga, Muliaina
Cons: Donald 2
Pen: Donald

Eagles Name Team to face Ireland

Mike Petri comes in as captain for the Eagles against Ireland in Eddie O'Sullivan's first match in charge of the team. Hopefully he can lift the team like the small child about to great performance and build on his own solid performances he made in last years internationals. GO USA!!! More to come on this game later - but I can't wait to see how Petri plays against Peter Stringer.

1. Mike MacDonald (Leeds Carnegie)
2. Chris Biller (California) (Debut)
3. Will Johnson (Oxford University) (Debut)
4. John Van Der Giessen (Denver Barbarians)
5. Hayden Smith (Saracens)
6. Lou Stanfill (New York Athletic Club)
7. P Dahl (Belmont Shore) (Debut)
8. Nic Johnson (Denver Barbarians) (Debut)
9. Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club), captain
10. Mike Hercus (Sunshine Coast Stingrays)
11. Kevin Swiryn (Old Puget Sound Beach) (Debut)
12. Roland Suniula (Pearl City) (Debut)
13. Junior Sifa (Middleton)
14. Justin Boyd (Dallas Harlequins)
15. Chris Wyles (Saracens)

Replacements: 16. Joe Welch (Belmont Shore) 17. Mate Moeakiola (Park City Haggis) 18. Courtney Mackay (Counties Manukau) 19. JJ Gagiani (Univ. of Cape Town) 20. Tim Usasz (Nottingham) (Uncapped), 21 Ata Malifa (Belmont Shore) (Uncapped), 22. A Tuilevuka (Provo Steelers)

Lions Tour 1st Match vs. Royal Highveld XV

For all of the Lions fan out there this will be a great match to watch - because they are playing a team of second division rugby players in SA. As you will soon find out on continual basis I don't rate the Lions to highly but this game will be a joke. The Leopards and Griquas and second rates sqauds who get pumed by the other unions - even without their springboks. If the Lions win by less than 50 this is a failure for them. None the less it will yet another great spectacle of Rugby on this rugby awesome weekend!



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Royal Highveld XV: Russell Jeacocks (Leopards); Egon Seconds (Griquas), Deon van Rensburg (Leopards), Hanno Coetzee (Griquas), Bjorn Basson (Griquas); Naas Olivier (Griquas), Sarel Pretorius (Griquas); Albertus Buckle (Griquas), Rayno Barnes (Griquas), Bees Roux (Griquas), Rudi Mathee (Leopards), Jacques Lombard (Griquas), Wilhelm Koch (Leopards, capt), Devon Raubenheimer (Griquas), Jonathan Makoena (Griquas).
Replacements: Pellow van der Westhuizen (Leopards), Stef Roberts (Griquas), Rynard Landman (Leopards), RW Kember (Leopards), Jacques Coetzee (Pumas), Riaan Viljoen (Griquas), Jovan Bowles (Bulldogs).

Lions: Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland), Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales); Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland), Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland); Andrew Sheridan (Sales Sharks/England), Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales), Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England), Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland - captain), Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales).
Replacements: Lee Mears (Bath/England), Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Ferris (Ulster/Ireland), Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales), Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England).

Super 14 Final Bulls vs. Chiefs

Tomorrow is easily one of my favorite days of the year - so much intense rugby I almost don't know what to do - some how I will manage.

First we start with Bulls & Chiefs in the S14. As you see above the Bulls poses one of biggest freak shows in world Rugby - Pierre Spies. He just one of many world class players on the Bulls at the moment. To give you guys some stats on him to display his freakish abilities here we go

- 2 meters tall or 6'6"
- Weight 110kgs/242lbs and 6% body fat
- He can Bench Press 365lbs/165KG
- Deadlifts 530lbs/220kg
- Can do a standing jump onto a platform 1.4 meters high (4.6 Feet)
- Does Chin ups with 50kg/110lbs on his waist
- The most impressive stat is that he can sprint 835m before slowing

There is no one in world rugby even close to this, maybe even the world period. Did I mention he has already won the S14 once?

His try last week was easily the try of the season as the bulls simply thrashed the greatest rugby franchise in the world the crusaders.

I am sure the chiefs will come to play, but the bulls forwards will feel Fourie DePreez and Morne Steyn on the front foot, and the two half backs kicking will keep the Cheifs back pedaling all day. Also the Cheifs just flew 20 hours to play at attitude at Loftus Versfeld - I'm sorry no matter how good the Kiwis are there are just too many things going against them here.

I see another rugby spectacular tomorrow with the bulls coming out on top!

As a massive sharks supporter it pains me to talk up the bulls - but lets face it - this season they are awesome.

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Rayno Gerber, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Pedrie Wannenburg, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Marius Delport.

Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (captain), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Dwayne Sweeney, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Toby Morland, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 James McGougan, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Joe Savage, 18 Toby Lynn, 19 Serge Lilo, 20 David Bason, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Sosene Anesi.

Equipment Upgrade

The Blogging will continue again this evening with the new Laptop I have received today!

Out of the Loop!

Sorry - Due to technical difficulties I have been out of the loop for a couple months but we are now back and better than ever!

Stay tuned for new and continued updates!

Timmy Little in Italy

Timmy Little (Picture above on right), aka that wierd 6'6" Aussie guy who freaks everyone out, has now made a man of himself and is currently a full time rugby professional playing his Rugby in Sicily for San Gregorio Catina. This past weekend they had huge win against Treviso's A-Side in Italy's first division. It was a historic win as it is the first time ever a Sicilian team has beaten any grade of Treviso. Timmy was man of the match and ruffeled some feathers. I had a few minutes to speak to him via email.

R&L: Timmy why did you get a yellow card?

Timbo: Mate for being a C*** - I had been warned 3 or 4 times and I think i threw some one at the half back after the play.

R&L: Wow - you must be popular?

Timbo: Actually got punched in the face about 10 times, I had mutual friend of the opposing coach so I went to say hello after the game but he refused to speak to me!

R&L: How's the Pizza?

Timbo: Treating me well mate!

Here is a link to the write up translated by google;

"The victory of the heart, the group's victory, the victory of David against Goliath. It is a historic day for San Gregorio Catania Rugby who succeeded in defeat with a great merit over Benetton Treviso"

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.siciliatoday.net/quotidiano/sport/Rugby_San_Gregorio_Catania_-_Benetton_Treviso_25-13_11546.shtml&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=4&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DSan%2BGregorio%2Btreviso%2Brugby%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff

Another Bonus Pic! Here is the big man trying figure out the line calls in Italian! Good Luck!

Maha Rushie!

Great Article by Maha Rushie - read it and check it out!

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123318906638926749.html

Scott Johnson Gone?

http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3551_4867754,00.html

According to Planet Rugby Scott Johnson has quit USA Rugby - what a joke. All this guy did was come in and complain - and now he doesn't even have the gruff to stick it out.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out you loser!

Mike Lee & Murray Mexted Agree

Sharks fan everywhere can enjoy this clip of Ryan Kankowski showing Richie McCaw and the rest of the Crusaders whats what!

Hopefully just a taste of whats to come this year in the S14!

All Quiet on the Rugby Front

The dust has settled from the Heiniken Cup and the quarters are listed below

Cardiff vs. Toulouse
Munster vs. Ospreys
Quins vs. Leinster
Leicester vs. Bath

This will be continued at the conclusion of the six nations in Early April. The draw was announced today and I see the semi's as Toulouse vs. Bath & Quins vs. Ospreys, with a West Country final of Bath & Opsreys and Butch brining home the hardware.

The Super 14 just finished their first round of warm ups with two Americans in the fray - Chris Wyles and the Sarries going to down in Cape Town to the Stormers and Todd Clever getting a run in the Lions pummeling of the Bulls at Wits.

The Six nations starts next week and we like Wales in a repeat - they have two Angry men at the helm each of whom I can hardly understand a word they are saying. Having Mike Phillips back is going to give them the spark they were missing in Autumn Internationals. I will have a full Six nations preview next week.

There is very little rugby on TV this week - at least we have Jack Bauer to look forward to next Monday.

The Corner - Paki's Corner - What a beauty!

If you notice the upgrades on rugbyandlife its due to some help from a talented blogger - Dallen Stanford. USA Eagle's Dallen Stanford's Blog www.PAKISCORNER.com - the Corner, is a great source for awesome rugby info and is hysterical.

For his help I have dedicataded a personal favorate tune of mine - Andrew W.K.'s "She is Beautiful." Slightly un-realted but like the corner - it rocks!

Todd Clever - S14 Superstar!

USA Rugby has a new world Star; his name is Todd Clever. He has impressed for the eagles in 15's & 7's and started the famous try from the last world cup approrpatily deemed, "try of the world cup." He has now secured a contract with Golden Lions Rugby Union in South Africa and as all reports suggest is ripping it up. They love him in the Transvaal and has now become a high profile player on the biggest stage the Super 14. What makes this great is that Todd is an American born & bred rugger advancing through the Age grades. Tom Billups brought him to the 2003 World Cup to learn, and he was a star in the 2007 world cup, maybe the US can get 2 more from him. Todd gets his first run off the bench this weekend against Bulls in a trial match. The lions have some great prospects for this season vs. last year with the return of Jacque Foure, Andre Pretorious, and Ashwin Wilmense. Todd will add to the dynamic back row of Cobus "Baywatch" Groberlar and Wilem Alberts. The lions prospects are looking good for 2009 as are Mr. Clevers's. We wish him the best and will follow him closely all season.

In other news Mike Petri was named to the Barbaians sqaud to face the Scarlets in Wales. Mike is another born & bred USA Rugger - playing all the age grades, all americans and now is a the focal point of the eagles leading from halfback. This is a massive honor for another Eagle to be named to the famous side in recent seasons - with Mike McDonald, Mike Hercus and Paul Emerick all wearing the hoops of the BaaBaa's in recent seasons. Go Eagles!

Here are couple of links about Todd - enjoy
http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A922400
http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/Story/0,18259,3551_4828009,00.html
http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=86236,1,22
http://sport.iafrica.com/news/1455340.htm
http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/Story/0,18259,3551_4828009,00.html

Saries sign Justin Marshall

Eddie Jones has just pulled a rabbit out of his hat and signed Justin Marshall for the rest of the season to replace Neil DeKock. This is great news for the Sarries as Justin Marshall can still play. Reports of him being a dick head have circle through out Europe the most recent when he refused to go on the field as a replacement in a Top 14 League game for Montpellier.

Justin Marshall showed some great form for the Ospreys in Wales last season but did not like sharing the spotlight/game time with Mike Phillips and left for the South of France.

I think this is a huge positive for the Sarries and will help thier Premiership and Euro Challange Cup chances.

Great Quote

"We are getting a notoriously ambitious woman who made a fool of herself over Bosnia, at the time and during the recent campaign, and who otherwise has no command of foreign affairs except what she's picked up second-hand from an impeached ex-president, a disbarred lawyer, and a renter of the Lincoln Bedroom. If the Senate waves this through, it will have reinforced its recent image as the rubber-stamp chamber of a bankrupt banana republic. Not an especially good start to the brave new era."

Christopher Hitchens on Hillary Clinton's appointment as Sec of State for the United States.

Here is a link to the entire column http://www.slate.com/id/2208425/

Weekend of Insanity!

This weekend consisted of insanity on many many levels.

1. Smith Barney/Morgan Stanley rumors - It seems the goverment is forcing Citi to sell its best asset - Smith Barney. This would be a great move Morgan and would give some stability to the Brokers of Smith Barney. What seems as something that is "too bad," for Citi is almost, "too good," for Morgan.

2. The Giants lost. Cinderalla story no more - I got a huge tv to watch them win the Superbowl and with my luck its going to be the Steelers and Eagles - the two teams I hate the most in the NFL. What a joke.

3. Barrack Obama is taking office this week - as a die hard republican this is more insanity.

4. Northamton beat Leicester tigers - WTF? Ben Foden wants to play scrumhalf but he has serious wheels at 15 and created a fantastic try and scored one of his own. Not sure if he ready for Test rugby at 15 - the english will most likely do this - start him once against against Wales/France/Ireland - he'll have mare of a game in his first test (expected) then they'll drop him and he will flounder around and do nothing for England - Just like Anthony Allen. Nothing makes me laugh more or shows the insanity of English rugby the way they build players up just to rip them down. Danny Cipriani is the latest - the fact that he was even avialable for the Autumn internationals was nothing short of remarkable - he had some average performances with a test rookie at 12, and average 9 and a pack going backwards. All of sudden he's done - INSANITY!

5. Four weeks until Super 14 - Insanity!

6. The game I was looking forward to all week Bath vs. Wasps - cancelled due to frozen pitch - Insanity!

USA Rugby Coach to Wales?

Reports are going wild about USA Eagle coach Scott Johnson going to Wales. Here at Rugby & Life we have mixed feelings about this - mostly becuase details and rumors are running wild.

We've heard that he is going to forgo his salary to pay the players and in his new role could get some USA players playing rugby in 1st Division in Wales. These would all be positives of the move but nothing has been substantiated.

The negatives is that the Coach for the Eagles is not here.

However in the off season for the Eagles (7 months of the year) what does the Eagle coach do?

If he is available for the Eagle setups - put money in the players hands - and get some guys contracts - this will be a plus for USA Rugby.

Hopefully Clarity on this issue will soon follow!

Book Review - Monty

Percival Colin Montgomery was an exceptional rugby player and this book reads more like a list of stats/records because that is what this guy is - a walking record book.

This book as not as heart stoping as Jake Whites book but does give a quite a diffrent look into the fancy pants pretty boy monty was portrayed in the media.
(He was raised from humble beginnings and worked extreamly hard for everything he achieved.) He was constantly booded in Pretoria, Bloem and Joburg even though he was a better goal kicker than Naas Botha. He was instrumental in winning a world cup, won the currie cup several times and was within inches of winning the S14. He played fantastic in Wales, and has the most springbok caps of all time.

So goes the saying that "numbers don't lie," Percy Montgomery is one of the greatest rugby players ever to play the game.

For any rugby fan I highly suggest picking up this book as he is truly a legend of the game.

Here is another great picture of Percy