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SA Rugby issues warning as tightheads blamed for latest Unlocked cancellation

17 Nov 2020

(Photo by Frikkie Kapp/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Players and team managements in South Africa have been warned over their behaviour after a third match of the Super Rugby Unlocked tournament was cancelled on Tuesday – the Sharks were due to host the Stormers in Durban on Saturday but it has been called off following positive tests among the Sharks tighthead props.

The cancellation is the third in recent weeks following the cancellation of the Lions matches against the Cheetahs and the Pumas, and the evolving situation has resulted in a caution being issued by SA Rugby to practice strict Covid-compliance measures to minimise the risk of further infection.

“Players and management are urged to employ extreme caution in their social engagement,” said Jurie Roux, SA Rugby CEO.

A toast to Argentina following their win over the All Blacks

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A toast to Argentina following their win over the All Blacks

“It only takes one careless interaction by a single player to have the knock-on effect that impacts on 45 other players, team managements, the schedule and potentially the destination of the title.

“As fit young athletes, it may be tempting to think that they are ‘immune’ to infection and are free of comorbidities that make them vulnerable. But a positive test for one of them can have massive repercussions. I trust that team managements will underline that message on a daily basis to their playing personnel.”

Latest standings for the 2020 Rugby Championship. pic.twitter.com/v2CzZP0XuH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 16, 2020

Elsewhere, the Pumas match against the Bulls – scheduled for Friday evening in Pretoria – has been pushed back until Saturday for player welfare reasons (kick-off time to be confirmed).

The Pumas squad, which returned several positive tests last week, will be re-tested on Thursday. The results will be known on Friday, allowing time for a training session after ten days in isolation before meeting the Bulls on Saturday.

The Bulls currently lead the way in the seven-team Super Rugby tournament with four wins from five outings, two points clear of the second-place Stormers and the third-place Sharks who are now both idle next weekend.

"To suggest that the legacy of the black jersey has been tarnished because of [the loss to Australia] and this subsequent loss to Argentina … feels like a bit of a stretch."@realmikepulman urges #AllBlacks critics to put away the pitchforks. https://t.co/44ntjlfAeY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 17, 2020

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Comments on RugbyPass

pc 19 minutes ago

Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

Would not say that at all. I was at the game and there was basic mistakes at penalty kicks leaving lines uncovered and poor tackles that resulting in the lions scoring freely when in territory.

111 Go to comments

CM 50 minutes ago

Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

Unfortunately as an Aussie, I only foresee further decline for the sport in Aus. The AFL and NRL are both looking to expand and are both as wealthy as ever. Any bit of talent is going to be eaten up by those behemoths and what will be left over for Aus rugby is likely going to be not much better then the talent we currently have, which is substandard.

111 Go to comments

CM 1 hour ago

Andy Goode: Aussie comments didn't cover them in glory

As an Australian, I can cop the loss, they were just too good the Lions. They probably werent ready mentally for what Aus threw at them but credit to them, they come back beautifully. It was a great performance by the Wallabies and hopefully that will endear themselves to the Aussie public after a long streak of poor results.

10 Go to comments

CM 1 hour ago

Andy Goode: Aussie comments didn't cover them in glory

No they wouldnt you tool, were you even alive in 2005? This Lions squad is one of the strongest Ive ever seen and they would seriously challenge the Boks and All Blacks as evidenced by their last tours. Dont talk rubbish son.

10 Go to comments

GM 1 hour ago

Andy Goode: Aussie comments didn't cover them in glory

Even Martin Johnson admitted that Morgan’s cleanout might have been a penalty in minute one, but not in minute 80, given it would decide the test (and series). I don’t get that. If it’s a penalty, it’s a penalty, no matter the timing. Its does seem that, after the debacle of the last few minutes in 2017, when there was a clear off-side by the Lions, giving a game and series winning penalty to the All Blacks right in front of the sticks, that the rugby powers have decided that the Lions cannot lose. That’s okay, but please let the fans know before they waste their money watching what is supposed to be an even playing field.

10 Go to comments

cw 1 hour ago

'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

Rules dont work that way. Its a bit like driving - Tizzano was there first, and has right of way. If he cant be moved legally, he cant be moved and he wins the penalty.

28 Go to comments

BA 1 hour ago

Carlo Tizzano jackal lingers over Lions series win

If you listen to ref the contact is illegal in that he makes contact with neck and went in with arms out doesn’t tuck but deemed mitigation as a rugby collision as the arrive at the same time ..now Tizzano is def there first imo

53 Go to comments

BA 2 hours ago

Carlo Tizzano jackal lingers over Lions series win

He is to the side and slightly to the back of Porter not ref obstruction if ref ain’t in front

53 Go to comments

sf 2 hours ago

Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

The boks played 3 easy games to start the year off and struggled to beat a unproven All Blacks team with new coaching staff at home. Nobody knows how they are going to play this year as they haven’t had a proper challenge yet.

111 Go to comments

BA 2 hours ago

British & Irish Lions player ratings vs Wallabies | 2nd Test 2025 Lions series

Missed multiple kicks at goal threw that pass out kicked one out on the full 6 is fair go I reckon

22 Go to comments

Utiku Old Boy 3 hours ago

'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

That is a load of BS.

28 Go to comments

Utiku Old Boy 3 hours ago

'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

Too right.

28 Go to comments

BA 3 hours ago

'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

If you listen to the ref the contact is a “rugby collision” because they arrive at the ball instantaneously with his eye (along with other refs) but if Morgan is a sec later that is def a penalty on the “contact” but was unavoidable due to both players going down to the collision at same time , now in your eye who was there first?

28 Go to comments

BH 3 hours ago

Andy Goode: Aussie comments didn't cover them in glory

Everybody knows that if the Wallabies won in similar circumstances, all those UK journalists and former players would be throwing their toys out of the cot and crying like babies. So don’t act holier than thou.

And this is an A+ 9.5/10 Lions team with world-class depth made up of multiple standout players in every single position. On paper they should absolutely flog the bajeezus out of the woeful Wallabies and so far they’ve been barely above average in the two tests.

10 Go to comments

BA 3 hours ago

'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

With you on this “instantaneous “ even live I saw Tizzano there first and at the ball easy, Morgan gets there 1 sec later and we not even having this argument as he does hit him on the neck, Joes “gutted” but I don’t think he is upset reckon he is bloody proud

28 Go to comments

SM 3 hours ago

Michael Hooper weighs in on Jac Morgan clear-out

Huh. That's interesting. So how do any of the other 29 players who were cleared out like that during the match manage to get right back up and keep on going. Weird it affected him so badly at that specific time, when Aus really needed a penalty. Very peculiar indeed!

77 Go to comments

BA 3 hours ago

'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

Would Rassie have bookended it with ? “ players make errors officials make errors we just have to accept that “ if he said exactly what Joe has Rassie would be in exactly the same position nothing to answer for, Joe was clear on his opinion but ultimately spoke little about it, all in all with the different aspects of the clean out the decision comes down to one thing was it instantaneous? If Morgan did the same thing 1 second later that is def a penalty