SUPER 14: Rugby Lessons 4 Beginners

February 2, 2010 by  

Leave a comment

super-14-logo7

  1. Do you fake a coma each time the boss invites you to the company box to watch rugby – only to return to work to find some loser occupying the corner office you were destined for?
  2. Does your relationship take strain between February and May – because you live with a rugby freak and YOU don’t know the difference between scoring and converting a try?
  3. Do you miss out on those lekker, lekker, lekker “Rugby Saturday” braai  invitations -  because you don’t know the difference between John Smit and Juan Smith?

If you answered YES to any of those questions -  then Super 14 Rugby for Beginners is just what you need.

Ok, maybe that was a bit dramatic, in a Verimark kinda way – the truth is rugby is an awesome sport – we just want you to be able to sit through and enjoy a good game of RUGGA now and then. What better way to get you started than the best club competition in the Southern Hemisphere (best in the world, actually) – it’s the Super 14 baby!

This is a crash course for beginners – if you’re an intermediate or an expert…there’s nothing for you to see here…move right along – unless off course you want to share some of your knowledge with us.

LESSON 1 : KNOW YOUR TEAMS :

As you’ve probably guessed – the Super 14 is a tournament between 14 teams – 4 from Australia (Force, Waratahs, Brumbies, Reds) – 5 from New Zealand (Chiefs, Crusaders, Hurricanes, Highlanders, Blues) – and 5 teams from South Africa.

We’re going to introduce the South Africans teams in detail – just to get you started on your first step – which is PICKING A TEAM. Now you might want to wait till you’ve seen some action before you pick your colours – but most people just pick a team from or near the place where they were born or grew up and then stick with it through thick and thin. It sounds silly – but it works. It’s called LOYALTY.

So here we go, we present Mzansi’s finest :

Vodacom+bullsVODACOM BULLS:

Based in: Tshwane / Pretoria

Colours: Blue

Captain: Victor Matfield

Stadium: Loftus Versfeld Stadium

Best Results: Champions 2007, 2009. Losing semifinalists 1996, 2005, 2006

Website : www.bluebulls.co.za

______________________

sharks

THE SHARKS:

Based in: Durban, KZN

Colours: Black & White

Captain: John Smit

Stadium: ABSA Stadium – Kings Park

Best Results: Runners-up 1996, 2001, 2007. Losing semifinalists  1997, 1998, 2008

Website : www.sharksrugby.co.za

Fansite: www.sharksworld.co.za

___________________________

vodacom_stormersVODACOM STORMERS:

Based in: Cape Town, Western Province

Colours: Navy Blue & White

Captain: Schalk Burger

Stadium: Newlands Rugby Stadium

Best Results: Losing semifinalists 1999, 2004

Website: www.iamastormer.co.za

____________________________

vodacom-cheetah-logo-medium2VODACOM CHEETAHS:

Based in: Bloemfontein, Free State

Colours: Orange & White

Captain: Juan Smith

Stadium: Vodacom Park

Best Results: 10th place 2006

Website: www.vodacomcheetahs.com


________________________


s14-lions-logo

THE LIONS:

Based in: Johannesburg, Gauteng

Colours: Red & White

Captain: Cobus Grobbelaar

Stadium: Coca – Cola Park formerly Ellis Park

Best Results: Losing Semifinalists 2000, 2001

Website: www.lionsrugby.co.za

Fansite: www.lionsworld.co.za

__________________________

So there you go – the 5 South African teams that complete the Super14 – three of them sponsored by Vodacom (as if they don’t spend enough money on Chiefs, Pirates and Celtics)

Have you found yours –or are you still taking your time?

Now I know there are some weird people who support Aussie or Kiwi (NZ) teams – but The SportLite finds that practice absolutely appalling. Please do not be tempted into joining those cults!

Coming up soon :-

LESSON 2 : KNOW YOUR SCORING METHODS & BASIC RULES

It’s about to get really interesting! Don’t miss it.

Questions are most welcome. Class dismissed.

By The SportLite ©

Related Stories:

A Conversation With Connie Ferguson
2011 SA Music Awards Nominees
Dinner In The Sky At SilverStar

Comments

38 Comments on "SUPER 14: Rugby Lessons 4 Beginners"

  1. LoveYouToo on Tue, 2nd Feb 2010 11:42 pm 

    LOVE IT! i’ve been counting down- 10 days left! proud Sharks supporter!

  2. Brown Shuga on Tue, 2nd Feb 2010 11:47 pm 

    Dear SportLite.
    Based on your lecture (very nice by the way), I’ve decided that even though I’m from the Free State, ain’t no way I’m supporting those losing Cheetahs, loyalty se voet!
    Their best result is 10th place??? In 2006? LMAO! Sounds so much like Pirates.

    Anway, thanks to you, I now support the Blue Bulls lol. They look very very good on paper. Does our tuition include a free live rugby game? Coz I’ve NEVER been to a rugby game in my life.

    I don’t know the first thing about “Rugga” so thanks for the lesson and I’m looking forward to lesson 2. Hope you will explain why they all leave the ball alone and form a circle around nothing.

    Thanks hey :-)

  3. pinana on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 12:40 am 

    Thank you so much SportLite.. I officially enrol myself in this class. I’ve needed someone to teach me the step by step stuff about Rugby for ages… Cant wait for the next lesson on basic rules.

    I didnt need this one much coz, even though i have no clue what happens on the pitch, I chose my team long ago already.. Blue Bulls… and i love the Afrikaans sound of it, Blou Bulle!! You should hear me screaming “my blood is blue” each time ‘I hear’ theres a game. lol

    Now, when is the next lesson??
    You are a godsent, now with this Super 14 Im going to be all knowledgeable…

  4. pinana on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 12:41 am 

    Hope you will explain why they all leave the ball alone and form a circle around nothing.

    LOL

  5. MissB on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 1:25 am 

    Dear Sportlife,

    I’d also like to enroll in this Rugga Course although I believe I am an intermediate. I am a Sharky all the way baby. Blou Bulle se voet!!!

    And Lelo girl you haven’t seen a match??? Honey! You owe yourself. It’s a rush you MUST experience.

    Lookin forward to future lectures. MNCWAH!

  6. Sinenhlanhla on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 7:15 am 

    Nice One,but Rugby just ain’t for me.

  7. The SportLite on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 7:19 am 

    Ha ha ha…it’s probably illegal to make a person laugh this much in the morning…but yes BS… I will explain “why they leave the ball alone and form a circle around nothing”. Hahahahah

  8. The SportLite on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 7:44 am 

    @LYT @MissB Hello Sharkies! Now hopefully we’ll see some Lions, Stormers and Vrystaat up in here soon.

    @pinana – LOL @ (everytime I “hear” there’s a game.) Well from now on you’ll read all about it right here on JC.

    @Sinenhlanhla – please take the class. If u still feel that way about rugby at the end of the course then…

  9. Rockfuzzy on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 7:51 am 

    B.S. can i just correct you that the OFFICIAL Sharks website is actually http://www.sharksrugby.co.za, I should know, I use to work for them, just a heads up!

  10. Makgotso on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 8:14 am 

    I am a Sharks fan,tjo looking forward into seeing my collegues faces when the Blue Bull lost the match.

  11. Gee on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 8:22 am 

    I absolutely love Rugby. My fav sport to watch.

    Im a bulls supporter. Lucky for me my man is an all round sport fanatic so we good.

    @SportLife:

    One thing that I could never understand thought is the scrum. What is the purpose? A friend once explained it to me and I understood it but once alone I had forgotten what he said. Please explain to me

  12. The SportLite on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 8:34 am 

    @Rockfuzzy – I believe that’s what we have… sharksrugby.co.za …unless you are fussy about the “http://” … :-)

    @Gee – worry not – we’re getting to the scrum – or the “circle around nothing” – as BS calls it. LOL!

  13. J-Girl on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 8:35 am 

    @ pinana hahaahahahahahahahaahaha!!!
    I am a sharks supporter through and through, Bulls also very strong side though. Australian very biased commentators make it a bore to watch some of the games though!!

  14. Sasha Fierce on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 8:45 am 

    hahahahha!!!!why they leave the ball and form a circle around nothing….Its a great blog but il pass,,Some sports are just too “white” for me…Rugby,golf,cricket
    It had to take me discovring Robinho at the confed cup last year for me to watch and tolerate soccer and it took me the entire cup to understand what an “off-side” is so i dont wanna pile rugby onto my limited knowledge of sport

  15. Rockfuzzy on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 9:40 am 

    No, SportLite u guys actually have Sharksworld which is a fan site, read up…

  16. Rockfuzzy on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 9:40 am 

    I see, nevermind… teehee (blush)

  17. Miss H on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 9:40 am 

    Thank you SportLite, you have no idea how informative this lesson was. Especially because I am tryin to win over a guy who happens to love rugby. Now he has no excuse to not invite me to those rugby braais.

    I am torn between the Sharks and the Bulls. But if I have to be loyal, the Stormers would be the team that I SHOULD pick. But nobody wants to bet on a losing horse.

    Looking forward to lesson 2-hope its before he (the guy), finds out that I have limited knowledge about the Super 14.

  18. sponono on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 9:56 am 

    thanks ,,…Sportlife I’ve just printed this coz I love rugby and prefer it to cricket…

  19. bonangmubishame on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 9:56 am 

    The Sharks are teh ish… The Bulls and Stormers are overrated and most of the Bok’s come form The Sharks!!!

    @BS your website is the ish. Seriously I like it. You even cater to sports junkies!!! Wow…

    Are you guys following the Varsity Cup? You should coz that’s where all the new talent is gonna come from.

  20. RiGGs on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 10:31 am 

    mmmh my blood is BLUE

  21. robdylan on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 11:08 am 

    Awesome piece. The Sharks are always looking for new supporters. Head on over to http://www.sharksworld.co.za and we’re sure to make you feel at home, while trying to share our love of the game

  22. The SportLite on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 11:25 am 

    The “myth” that rugby is a white sport is one we hope to dispel faster than Caster did that 800m in Berlin. It may have started out as such in England back in the 19th century – but it stopped many, many moons ago.

    The number of people of colour that enjoy rugby, be it on the field, on the stands or on the telly grows everyday. We hope we’ll do our bit to accelerate the growth of rugby..in our own little way… :-)

  23. Lwandie on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 11:36 am 

    Kudos SportLite!!! I really enjoyed your article…my desktop has a lovely scrum formation of the lovely Boks from the last world cup, with the caption”Real Man Play Rugby”(lol oFootie lover to the left ,to the left…)..I love Rugby man,have been watchng it since Junior High and I still feel the same thrill now that I felt when I went to my first match.

    Hopefully after the informative rugby lessons you will throw in a Cricket beginners guide-shem I’ve tried hopelessly to get that game.

  24. J-Girl on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 12:07 pm 

    @robdylan – i know, i’m always looking for fellow supporters, being down in the cape, all you hear is the province and stormer and the odd bulls supporters. never the sharks unless i chill with the zulu boys…

  25. GA on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 12:25 pm 

    Very nice thank you. Its time i became passionate about some type of sport. Especially this days, i feel very left out. And quite honesty Rugby is the onluy sport i try to follow sometimes so im in…!

  26. Blue Bull WAGS on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 12:53 pm 

    The Bulls rock guys,I’m a supporter through n through and living in PTA the atmosphere is always amazing when there is a big game! Its awesome stuff!

  27. kazisongo on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 2:08 pm 

    Thanks for the lesson although I’m abit clued up cause i always watch when the boks are playing so at least i know the basics. I agree with Lwandie that you must throw in cricket lessons as well because although i understand the scores when watching 1 day matches, I was confused in December when we were playing test matches with England and the result would be a draw though we scored more than them.While u r at it may u please throw in tennis lessons, I really don’t understand the scores

  28. Brown Shuga on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 4:41 pm 

    Tjo, nabo ke abodarkie! Now they want cricket and tennis lessons too, lol! Sportlite, I think ngizokuxosha before I have to change this site to Just Sporting! Lol

  29. robdylan on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 4:55 pm 

    @J-girl pull into Sharksworld. We’ll try hook you up with some other Sharks fans in the fairest Cape

  30. Normajay on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 5:05 pm 

    BS you also killed me on that comment “Hope you will explain why they all leave the ball alone and form a circle around nothing” ROTFLMAO

    Ive just recently started paying attention to this Rugby thing myself so i’ll also be needing the lessons too. Keep them coming SportLite! Youre a funny character yourself!

  31. Lwandie on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 5:11 pm 

    lol B.S. uyazi vele thina oDarkie sishesha sifudumale-next sizobe sesibuza if uSportlite can coach us for free on Sundays in our back yards-lol and not even offer him/her a drink after that.

  32. GA on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 5:32 pm 

    haibo BS…i thought it was only natural that this lessons will carry on to cricket,tennis…water polo…and free coaching as Lwandie says..except i dont mind bringing skaftin for spotlite :-)

  33. Brown Shuga on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 5:38 pm 

    Hahahahahh niphiwa isandla nifuna ingalo yonke! Lol! It’s okay anyway, what Sportlite started, Sportlite must finish :-)

  34. xaluva on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 5:50 pm 

    Born n bred in pta, had no choice but to love this beautiful game.
    Played it in primary school, n the club ekasi.
    The atmosphere here is amazing around hatfield when its rugby season.
    There’s whites or blacks, as long as the draughts are flowing n the game is on.. We one happy family.

    Nice one!
    Lol@BS…

  35. The SportLite on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 9:10 pm 

    Heheh…

    Not sure about Water Polo – but as for Cricket and Tennis… I got ya… :-)

  36. kazisongo on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 8:22 am 

    Thank you Mr Sir

    @BS awukahle ukusimoshela!

  37. Rugby Lessons 4 Beginners: Part 3 | Just Curious on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 1:21 am 

    [...] Rugby Lesson 1 [...]

  38. Final Edition: Rugby Lessons No.5 | Just Curious on Fri, 12th Feb 2010 12:51 am 

    [...] Rugby Lesson 1 [...]

Tell us what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!

Click here to register in order to prevent re-entering your details the next time you leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.