Lions vs Sharks: Super Rugby live scores, blog

Need to watch what I say here . My previous response was nailed by the moderator filter which obviously recognizes words but not humour or context. Editors I was merely poking light hearted fun at my own people , myself included But yes Taylorman the obsession with lets call it cultural classification continues. The term coloured is in a fact translated from Kleurling and loses some context in translation. Neither is generally offensive (although some don't like it ) unless used in the incorrect context . Curwin Bosch can be coloured but can also have Khoi San or even Griqua origins . Only he would know . Who cares . What this boxing in of people does do is it continues to reinforce the "We are different to each other" complex rather that celebrating our diversity which is how things should be. Not going to change anytime soon either.

They still have that term? Coloured? Coloured what? Do they walk around with a label saying 'coloured'? Surely they're allowed to be described as something other than Coloured in this day and age?

40k, a very good crowd for a mid-season derby at Ellis Park. The Newlands crowd was disappointing though, they normally pride themselves on having the best support and I doubt that there were 20k there

Its a real pity about the timeslot for these matches because theres usually some great rugby played even amongst the lower sides, who run the ball almost out of desperation to get parity. South Africa continues to have a very high standard of athletes playing this game and its a crime that someone should be imprisoned for for not taking simply the best of the Super standard to the Bok jersey. Geez I'd lve to see what Hansen, Smith and co could do with Bok Rugby.

Agree cuw, watched the game this morning and I think the Sharks were unfortunate not to win. Was a good game though.

davSA So the quota would not really be a problem if more people opened up about their past? LOL

When you see two SA teams playing like this makes one wonder what the heck has gone so wrong at the next level ....

Ruan Botha's "high tackle" penalty as well as Etienne Oosthuizen's neck grab penalty is in line with the referee guidelines from World Rugby, which they have been instructed to apply even stricter this year. 2015: “High Tackles and Neck contact – Law 10.4(e) Every time the head or the neck is deliberately grabbed or choked, the offending player runs the risk of receiving a yellow or red card Cleanouts around the neck must be penalised Match officials should work together to ensure that foul play is strictly penalised and that player welfare is paramount.” 2017: "Reckless Tackle A player is deemed to have made reckless contact during a tackle or attempted tackle or during other phases of the game if in making contact, the player knew or should have known that there was a risk of making contact with the head of an opponent, but did so anyway. This sanction applies even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders. This type of contact also applies to grabbing and rolling/ twisting around the head/ neck area even if the contact starts below the line of the shoulders. Minimum sanction: Yellow card Maximum sanction: Red card Accidental Tackle When making contact with another player during a tackle or attempted tackle or during other phases of the game, if a player makes accidental contact with an opponent’s head, either directly or where the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders, the player MAY be sanctioned. This includes situations where the ball carrier slips into the tackle. Minimum sanction: Penalty"

Brett & Geoff, I have just come on this morning being in Ghana, West Africa. My concern is this; I have nothing against the SA Teams - but they have a weak conference. Watching the good teams of SA and the Kiwi Teams - the rugby is exhilarating, played skillfully and I se players with skills, brains and Rugby Nous - even some of the forwards. Where I despair is with the Aus Teams. In reality looking at the games played, the players are atrocious; no skills, basic skills very bad, no one on the field thinking, there appears to be no input from the Coaches - Stiles with the Reds - a waste of space. Players picked who should not be on the ground. Players playing who are past it - (not George Smith - but he is close to not being an 80 min player - but at 36 well accepted) - but others who really are not Brisbane or Sydney Club standard. This is where my interest is waning. I am sick and tired of seeing Australian sides play crap Rugby - and really no sign of improvement!! Dropping one team will not improve it. Aus Rugby has lost the ability to develop skillful players - from ARU to Schools to Grassroots Rugby - we are not producing the goods. So while the Aus SR Teams dish up rubbish - Rugby will never grow in this country and I do not see it coming back. And I do not see any Vision coming out of the ARU. My comment fro a Sunday morning.

Ha ha an awful lot of South Africans are a mix of everything . (Many just wont admit it though ). Damien De Allende is deemed to be coloured and a quota player much to the surprise of ( and I'm quoting Harry Jones here ) his Spanish parents. I have a friend who once decided to do the family tree thing . He stopped suddenly and would no longer discuss it with anyone .

It was borderline Charging Rhino. What the game has shown us is that the Lions are more dependant on a dominant pack for their game plan than many realise. When they come up against a pack like the sharks it throws a spanner in the works. Having said that they wont come up against too many packs this year as powerful as the Sharks. Janties and Pollard can take a back seat . There is a new game in town and its called Curwin Bosch. Brings a full house to the table. Great effort with that commentary Vusi.

Bosch is coloured. He has been to the Bok training camp a week or so ago and is in the Junior Boks squad as well. Madosh Tambwe, standing in for Ruan Combrinck as the Lions #14, is also in the Junior Boks squad

Hello GP If games like that would be the standard in Super Rugby, I like to think that a lot more neutrals would watch and follow this competition much more close. Sanzaars focus should be, how do we replicate that? Night after night after night. Year after year after year. If they can crack that nut, they will have something special to sell to both fans and TV-companys.

Curwin Bosch was a real treat to watch (again). Will he be catapulted into the Springboks? We shall see, but he sure look like a special talent. And sorry for a stupid question, but is what race is Bosch considered to be in SA? To me he look like a mix of everything :)

Agree, and especially about the engagement. I often get the feeling that ARU/Fox advertising is aimed at existing supporters, most of whom are really only interested in knowing when it is on. The sales job and hype should be for neophytes, which means it has to emphasise the narrative...who the teams are and why the match matters, etc. They don't really do that well.

yes biltongbek , this is a recurring theme for me - that the Lions always get help from the ref, even last year. u watch the game and look for the so called high tackle before the lion's 2nd penalty score. before that watch out for the disallowed sharks try and in a corner u will see a shark wing getting lifted and dumped. these are just a couple of decisions - if i try to go on it will take me 4 pages of writing !!! it seemed as if the tmo was determined to stop any shark scores no matter what. and shark no 4 seemed to be a marked man - by ref and the tmo. he got carded and was lucky not to get red - by the way he was being reffed. the high point(s) of course was the dead and drop kicking of shrak fly half - he narrowly missed a 50m drop ., kicked a 60m penalty and then hit the post with a 55m drop. that was in - effing - sane :)

Precisely Geoff. Sometimes, you just find a cracking game of rugby to watch..

You're preaching to the converted, mate. Some of the Kiwi and South African (and the Jaguars) derbies have been fantastic - and I very much look forward to seeing the Kiwis take on the Lions and Jags. It's just a shame there aren't more Aussie teams playing like this ?

Andy, Fionn, regardless of the valid points you make, what Brett and I are saying is that not every game has to be meangingful in terms of the sides playing and the competition table, for it to be an enjoyable experience. For example I'm a Richmond fan in the AFL, I watched the GF replay on Friday night between the Dogs and the Swans, not invested in either side, and got a real kick out of it. I agree that SANZAAR needs to find the secret to engaging potential fans better. And that it would be be far better for Australian rugby fans if their sides were more competitive. But sometimes it's possible just to relax and enjoy great rugby at face value, regardless of who's playing.

But it is also the fundamental flaw with any conference system, including any domestic + Champions League arrangement. Results in one country have no real significance in the others, which will quickly mean they have no real value to broadcasters. They may be watched by the die hards, but that is generally not a big enough audience. As good as it was, that game was no more meaningful to the bulk of the audience here than a really good game between Italian sides. More than anything else, it is that loss of viewership that has caused the current tribulations. Sanzar wouldn't be changing if people were watching.