Super Rugby draws White to Canberra
by Steve McMorran, 2013-10-09 08:17:19.0
WELLINGTON — Former Springbok coach and new Sharks coaching director Jake White is heading back to Canberra — for his first Super Rugby match in charge of the Durban-based team on May 10.
The World Cup-winning coach recently severed ties with the Canberra-based Brumbies — two years early — to return to South Africa.
The Lions, returning to Super Rugby after a year in the wilderness, also have a tough draw. They will mark their return with a derby clash against the dangerous Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs in an all-South African round which opens the 2014 season.
The Lions were dropped from the southern hemisphere tournament in 2012 but won back their place among South Africa’s five franchises in a promotion-relegation contest with the Southern Kings at the end of last season.
They will play the first match of the new season at Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium on February 15, according to the draw released on Tuesday by the tournament’s governing body, Sanzar.
The Sharks, will play the Pretoria-based Bulls in the other match of the opening round, while the Cape Town-based Stormers have a bye.
The Hamilton-based Chiefs begin their bid for a third straight title in a compelling New Zealand clash with the Christchurch-based Crusaders in the first full round of the series on the weekend of February 21-23.
That round also features a clash between the two top Australian teams of last season, the Brumbies and the Reds, who meet in Canberra on February 22.
The Lions take on the Stormers in the same round in their first home match of the season at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park.
The Waratahs meet the Perth-based Western Force in the first round and on the first of four Sunday matches spread throughout the regular season. The Chiefs and Brumbies meet for the first time, in a repeat of the 2012 final, on Friday, April 25 — the Anzac Day holiday commemorating all Australians and New Zealanders killed in wars.
The Auckland-based Blues play the Waratahs and the Dunedin-based Highlanders play the Sharks as part of a tripleheader that Friday.
The tournament will break after its 16th round on May 31, to make way for June Test matches in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It resumes on June 27 with a round involving only New Zealand and Australia while the Springboks continue with their international commitments.
The final series will take place over three weeks from July 18, with quarterfinals, semifinals and a final on August 2.
"With the draw now confirmed, teams and fans alike can start preparing for what promises to be another exciting Super Rugby season," said Sanzar CE Greg Peters.
The season features 125 matches between February 15 and August 2 and each team plays 16 games — eight of them at home.
The Reds, the 2011 champions, have just one home match in the opening six rounds, a tough assignment for Richard Graham, who took over as coach when Ewen McKenzie departed to take the Wallabies job.
"We’ve got tough assignments away to two of our traditional Australian rivals to begin the season, which will provide a challenge and an opportunity to start strongly," Graham said.
"Four out of our first five games will be on the road, which will give this young group the chance to spend a lot of time together and develop a good understanding of the direction on and off the field."
The Waratahs do not leave Australia until the seventh round, when they take on the Sharks in Durban.
Sapa-AP
Greg Peters. Picture: GALLO IMAGES
WELLINGTON — Former Springbok coach and new Sharks coaching director Jake White is heading back to Canberra — for his first Super Rugby match in charge of the Durban-based team on May 10.
The World Cup-winning coach recently severed ties with the Canberra-based Brumbies — two years early — to return to South Africa.
The Lions, returning to Super Rugby after a year in the wilderness, also have a tough draw. They will mark their return with a derby clash against the dangerous Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs in an all-South African round which opens the 2014 season.
The Lions were dropped from the southern hemisphere tournament in 2012 but won back their place among South Africa’s five franchises in a promotion-relegation contest with the Southern Kings at the end of last season.
They will play the first match of the new season at Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium on February 15, according to the draw released on Tuesday by the tournament’s governing body, Sanzar.
The Sharks, will play the Pretoria-based Bulls in the other match of the opening round, while the Cape Town-based Stormers have a bye.
The Hamilton-based Chiefs begin their bid for a third straight title in a compelling New Zealand clash with the Christchurch-based Crusaders in the first full round of the series on the weekend of February 21-23.
That round also features a clash between the two top Australian teams of last season, the Brumbies and the Reds, who meet in Canberra on February 22.
The Lions take on the Stormers in the same round in their first home match of the season at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park.
The Waratahs meet the Perth-based Western Force in the first round and on the first of four Sunday matches spread throughout the regular season. The Chiefs and Brumbies meet for the first time, in a repeat of the 2012 final, on Friday, April 25 — the Anzac Day holiday commemorating all Australians and New Zealanders killed in wars.
The Auckland-based Blues play the Waratahs and the Dunedin-based Highlanders play the Sharks as part of a tripleheader that Friday.
The tournament will break after its 16th round on May 31, to make way for June Test matches in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It resumes on June 27 with a round involving only New Zealand and Australia while the Springboks continue with their international commitments.
The final series will take place over three weeks from July 18, with quarterfinals, semifinals and a final on August 2.
"With the draw now confirmed, teams and fans alike can start preparing for what promises to be another exciting Super Rugby season," said Sanzar CE Greg Peters.
The season features 125 matches between February 15 and August 2 and each team plays 16 games — eight of them at home.
The Reds, the 2011 champions, have just one home match in the opening six rounds, a tough assignment for Richard Graham, who took over as coach when Ewen McKenzie departed to take the Wallabies job.
"We’ve got tough assignments away to two of our traditional Australian rivals to begin the season, which will provide a challenge and an opportunity to start strongly," Graham said.
"Four out of our first five games will be on the road, which will give this young group the chance to spend a lot of time together and develop a good understanding of the direction on and off the field."
The Waratahs do not leave Australia until the seventh round, when they take on the Sharks in Durban.
Sapa-AP
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