Hurricanes centre Ma’a Nonu will appear before a SANZAR judicial officer in Cape Town on Monday after being cited for a dangerous tackle following Saturday’s Super 14 match against the Stormers in Cape Town.

Nonu was cited under Law 10.4 (e) – tackling a player above the line of the shoulders – for a tackle on Stormers flyhalf Peter Grant in the 71st minute of the match. The Stormers won the match 37-13.

Nonu’s hearing will take at the offices of the Western Province Rugby Union at 15h00 on Monday.

Issued by SANZAR

Former Wallaby Julian Huxley has returned to the playing field for the first time in two years following a brain tumor, setting up three tries in a win for the ACT Brumbies reserves.

Fullback Huxley played for the Brumby Runners when they beat the Junior Waratahs 36-16 on Sunday.

Huxley's Super 14 and test career was suspended in 2008 after routine scans following a head injury detected a brain tumor. The nine-test veteran pursued a medical clearance for the past two years which allowed him to take his place for the Runners.

Contracted to the Brumbies to the end of this year, the 30-year-old Huxley ran, kicked and passed with assurance, although he admitted being concerned about heavy contact.

Huxley said Sunday he still had aspirations to play again for the Brumbies and Wallabies.

"I've stayed pretty fit through the last couple of years and I knew what I could do," Huxley said after the match.

"I never got too worried about it because I couldn't expect after what I've been through for people to know how I was feeling.

I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think I could get back and be as good if not better."

He cleared the last bureaucratic hurdle to playing when he signed a clearance with Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan on Saturday morning.

Huxley was told in March 2008 that he had a benign brain tumor and underwent surgery. Three months later, he was named kicking coach of the Brumbies, but said he hoped to return to playing.

A veteran of 53 Super tournament games, Huxley was part of Australia's World Cup squad in 2007 after making his test debut against Wales earlier in the season.

SUPERRUGBY

Lions boss Kevin de Klerk will fly to New Zealand next week in the hope that he can help coach Dick Muir salvage a sinking ship, but he told this website - in an exclusive interview - that no heads would roll as a result of his visit.

Speaking to rugby365.com after the Lions team's record 12-73 loss to the Waratahs in Sydney on Friday, De Klerk - the Golden Lions Rugby Union President - revealed that he would join up with the team in Christchurch next week ahead of the final leg of their marathon five-match tour.

However, he dismissed the notion that the time had come for some drastic measures - despite the latest stream of records being scored against the under-performing Lions franchise this season.

It is the second time this year that they have conceded more than 70 points - 72 against the Chiefs in Week Two and 73 on Friday; giving them a total amount of 228 points conceded in just five games.

At the same time, the Lions have now conceded 29 tries - an average of six tries per game.

Against the Chiefs there was some measure of pride in the record loss - as the Lions also scored nine tries in an 18-try feast.

In Sydney, on Friday, the Waratahs racked up the following records in their one-sided romp:
* Drew Mitchell scored four tries - the most tries in a game by a Waratahs player in Super Rugby
* Berrick Barnes kicked nine conversions - the most conversions in a game by a Waratahs player in Super Rugby
* The 73 points the 'Tahs scored are the most points in a game by the Waratahs in a Super Rugby match
* The 61-point winning margin is the highest in a game by the 'Tahs in Super Rugby
* The 11 tries are also the most team tries in a game by the 'Tahs in Super Rugby
* The nine conversions are the most team conversions in a game by the 'Tahs Super Rugby

Despite all this, De Klerk put up a brave front and said he would be flying to New Zealand, ahead of the games against the Crusaders and Highlanders, to "provide moral support" and see how he could possibly help the team.

"Let's not take anything away from the Waratahs, they played very well," an obviously disappointed De Klerk told rugby365.com on Friday.

The Lions boss admitted that "the wheels fell off" in Sydney and he will see how he can help when he gets there.

"I am planning to join the team in Christchurch to get a better idea of what is happening [in the squad]," he said.

He dismissed the suggestion of "crisis talks" and "emergency meetings", but admitted that something urgently needs to be done to help the ailing team.

Much like the 'ambulance job' the late Kitch Christy became famous for with the Springbok team of the mid-1990s, De Klerk said he wanted to see where he could, possibly, be of help.

He stressed, however, that nobody would be fired or axed. "It is far too early for something as drastic as that," he said, adding: "I am going to give my support to the team.

"We must remember that we have the Bok backline coach and if anybody can fix this, it will be Dick Muir."

The Lions boss admitted that the team's form took a dramatic slump in the last fortnight, despite coach Dick Muir's promise that there would be a "steady improvement" as the season progresses.

"We must accept that this is a very tough tour ," he said of a tour that will see them cross the Tasman Sea thee times.

They flew from South Africa, via Australia and across the Tasman, to play the Hurricanes. They then headed back to Australia to play the Brumbies and 'Tahs, and will now cross the Tasman again to complete the five-week venture against the Crusaders and Highlanders.

"The Sharks and ourselves have a similar trip and we both are finding ourselves at the wrong end of the table," De Klerk said.

"I think better times will come when we return home," he said of a schedule that will see them play four of their last six matches in Johannesburg.

He admitted that some of the combinations are not gelling yet, but also described the team as their "own worst enemies".

"We play into the opposition's hands - like Carlos Spencer's chip-kick into the lock's hands that handed the Waratahs a try," he said.

He also admitted that some of the team's basics were not on par at present. "We are making poor judgment calls, like not getting the ball into touch when we are under pressure. Also, our attack was not as good as it has been in the earlier rounds.

"It is as if the team has dropped off the pace in the last two weeks, after a very admirable start. In the first three weeks I felt we were playing a decent game, but in the last two we dropped off the pace."

He also dismissed that the signing of All Black Carlos Spencer, at great cost, has been a waste of money.

"He has played only two and a bit games for us," De Klerk said.

"We still haven't found each other yet, but he is a player of great skill. Maybe his type of game and our game are not gelling yet, but it can't get worse, it can only improve. He [Spencer] has immense talent."

He conceded that their all-out attacking game was leaving them vulnerable on defence, but is supporting coach Dick Muir's drive to continue playing an attractive brand of rugby.

"Yes, if you start playing an attacking game, your chances of scoring tries improve, but so does the risk of conceding tries. But you want to produce attractive rugby."

At the same time, however, De Klerk admitted that winning was more important than just running around scoring tries.

"There is no doubt, it all revolves around winning and we have to start introducing the winning factor into the picture," he said, adding that nobody felt the pain of defeat more acutely than he did.

"I can guarantee you that I feel the pain," he concluded.

By Jan de Koning

RUGBY365

Phil Waugh's Waratahs scored an emphatic 73-12 victory over the Lions in their Super 14 Round Five match in Sydney to celebrate their captain's 119th appearance for New South Wales.

Waugh's 119th outing passed the previous record of 118 matches set by former Waratahs and Wallaby scrumhalf Chris Whitaker.

It was also Waugh's 41st appearance for the Waratahs as captain, which also passed Whitaker's record for the most appearances as New South Wales captain.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls and the Pampas XVs from Argentina are the only undefeated teams in the 2010 Vodacom Cup following their victories over the Golden Lions and the Border Bulldogs this weekend.

The Pretoria outfit ensured that the Golden Lions suffered their first defeat in the North section after securing a 30-22 win at the Raiders Rugby Club on Saturday while in the South section, the Pampas XVs comprehensively defeated the Border Bulldogs 73-14 at Newlands.

In Empangeni, the Sharks XV bounced back to winning ways following their 26-23 defeat to Vodacom Western Province last weekend when they defeated the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 26-17. The victory for the hosts ensured that they ended round three in pole position on the South section log.

The Pumas continued their impressive 10 year undefeated run over the Griffons in Witbank on Friday evening following their 66-14 win. The defending champions – GWK Griquas were also victorious this weekend. They defeated the Welwitschias 29-27 in Windhoek on Saturday.

Vodacom Western Province recorded their first away win in the 2010 Vodacom Cup following their 28-23 victory over Eastern Province in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

The Boland Kavaliers recorded their second win in the 2010 Vodacom Cup after defeating the SWD Eagles 25-24 while in Phokeng, the Platinum Leopards convincingly defeated the Valke 59-8 to move in to second position in the North section log.

Weekend results:

The 2009 Vodacom Cup Player of the Year Alistair Kettledas scored a brace of tries for the Pumas when they comprehensively defeated the Griffons 66-14 in Witbank on Friday evening.
Scorers: Pumas – Tries: Alistair Kettledas (2), Tian Meyer (2), Nicky Kritzinger, Ronnie Uys, Tiaan Marx, Willem Serfontein, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Jaco Bouwer; Conversions: Ricardo Croy (8). Griffons – Tries: Thabang Molefe, Glen Mafumo; Conversions: Tiaan van Wyk (2).

The Platinum Leopards convincingly defeated the Valke 59-8 after scoring seven tries and a penalty try in this Vodacom Cup North section game played in Phokeng on Friday.
Scorers: Platinum Leopards – Tries: Shuaib Samaai (2), Anthonie Gronum, Dumisani Matyeshana, Christo van Niekerk, Pellow van der Westhuizen, Deon Scholtz, Penalty try; Conversions: Clayton Durand (4), Cecil Dumond; Penalties: Durand (3). Valke – Try: Warren Perkins; Penalty: Deon Anderson.

Dries van Schalkwyk scored a brace of tries as the Vodacom Blue Bulls secured their third win in the 2010 Vodacom Cup after defeating the Golden Lions 30-22 in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Scorers: Golden Lions – Try: Hans van Dyk; Conversion: Herkie Kruger; Penalties: Kruger (5). Vodacom Blue Bulls – Tries: Dries van Schalkwyk (2), Devin Oosthuizen; Conversions: Francois Brummer (3); Penalties: Brummer (2), Marnitz Boshoff.

Kyle Cooper and Charl McLeod both scored tries as the Sharks XV handed the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs their first defeat of the 2010 season in Empangeni on Saturday.
Scorers: Sharks XV – Tries: Kyle Cooper, Charl McLeod; Conversions: Monty Dumond (2); Penalties: Dumond (3), Jacques Venter. Vodacom Free State Cheetahs – Try: George Whitehead; Penalties: Louis Strydom (4).

Eastern Province’s Siyanda Grey scored a brace of tries, but it was not enough to deny Vodacom Western Province their first Vodacom Cup win on the road in the 2010 competition.
Scorers: Eastern Province – Tries: Siyanda Grey (2), Justin Peach; Conversion: Peach; Penalties: Peach (2). Vodacom Western Province - Tries: Yaasir Hartzenberg, Dylan des Fountain, Willem de Waal; Conversions: De Waal (2); Penalties: De Waal (3).

The Boland Kavaliers held their nerve to edge SWD Eagles 25-24 in their Vodacom Cup South section match played in Saldanha on Saturday.
Scorers: Boland – Tries: Willie le Roux, Zandré Jordaan, Hyron Thyse; Conversions: Jaquin Jansen (2); Penalties: Jansen (2). Eagles – Tries: Shawn Raubenheimer, Wayne Bennett; Conversion: Jandré Blom; Penalties: Blom (3), Eric Zana.

GWK Griquas winger Bjorn Basson scored a brace of tries as the Kimberley side handed the Namibians their third defeat of the 2010 Vodacom Cup in Windhoek on Saturday.
Scorers: Namibia – Tries: Bradley Langenhoven, Jané du Toit, Johnny Redelinghuys; Conversions: Chrysander Botha (3); Penalties: Botha (2). Griquas – Tries: Bjorn Basson (2), Zhahier Ryland, Wesley Wilkins; Conversions: Divan van Zyl, Donald Stevens (2); Penalty: Stevens.

The Pampas XV played some exciting, running and attacking rugby at Newlands on Saturday to comprehensively defeat the Border Bulldogs 73-14.
Agustín Oscar Gosio scored a hat trick of tries while Miguel Avramovic and Martin Bustos Moyano added a brace.
Scorers: Pampas XV – Tries: Agustín Oscar Gosio (3), Miguel Avramovic (2), Martin Bustos Moyano (2), Benjamín Macome, Santiago Fernández, Guillermo Roan, Juan Pablo Estelles; Conversions: Martín Rodríguez (6), Bustos Moyano (3); Border – Tries: Bonga Mntunjani, Samora Fihlani; Conversions: Chumani Booi (2).

Issued by SARU Communications

The Reds continued their impressive 2010 form, also scoring their first back-to-back triumphs in four years, when they smashed a feeble Western Force 50-10 in Brisbane on Sunday.

The Reds made their own bit of history at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday. They posted their biggest winning margin ever in Super Rugby, and if the truth be told it could have been much better.

At half-time they led 36-3 but it rained at half-time and a bit during the match and then they suffered two sin-binnings. The second half was less impressive and as a result the difference in class between the two sides is understated.

The Western Force also suffered a yellow card but that was almost a positive - a felix culpa - as it moved James O'Connor to flyhalf and the Western Force looked more functional.

Their biggest problem was the line outs in the first half. Of the ten times they threw into line-outs in the first half four were lost and three were skew. That makes life hard especially in a match when there are more line-outs - 38 in all - than any other stoppage. It also did not help that they missed tackles.

For the Reds their victory was built on the platform the forwards built and then the artistry of its halfbacks, Will Genia and Quade Cooper.

After a robust start from the Western Force, the first try for the enthusiastic Reds came from a missed tackle. They attacked and Saia Faingaa did well, Cooper cut back and quick ball was given to Anthony Faingaa who simply ran past the feeblest of tackles by fullback Dane Haylett-Petty. Cooper goaled.. 7-0 after seven minutes.

Their second try was a splendid affair as forwards and back combined in a sweeping movement downfield. Peter Hynes broke and as he was tackled popped a pass to Digby Ioane. As Ioane was tackled to the ground he popped a pass to Luke Morahan who had no difficulty scoring. 12-0 after 11 minutes.

A minute later Saia Faingaa was penalised at a tackle and James O'Connor goaled. 12-3 after 16 minutes. This is as close as the Western Force got for the rest of the match.

From a scrum Cooper went left and right-footed a dab ion a diagonal to his left. Ioane had a kind bounce, cut inside Haylett-Petty and galloped a long way for a try which delighted everybody. 19-3.

From a five-metre line-out the Reds were over but held up, leaving combative Brett Sheehan with a bloodied nose. But they were rewarded with three more points when Nic Henderson was penalised at a scrum and Cooper had the easiest kick of the year.

The bonus-point try was exquisite. Going right Cooper, whose distribution is magic, passed a long ball back towards the forwards and straight to Ioane who powered past Henderson and O'Connor and over as Sheehan tried to stop him. 29-3 after 34 minutes.

Two minutes later Cooper was again clever and his pass the best. From a scrum for a skew throw, he shaped for a long pass and then popped the gentlest of passes to Anthony Faingaa who cut straight through to the posts. 36-3 at half-time.

As they did in the first half, the Western Force started the half well. They attacked and Nathan Sharpe was close. Peter Hynes was sent to the sin for an infringement at a tackle and from a scrum Matt Hodgson, who was prominent throughout, gof close after Cooper was penalised for a high tackle on All Black David Hill, a loan player from Japan, the Western Force went left with some sweet passing to Nick Cummins who had nobody in front of him because Hynes was resting. He scored in the left corner and O'Connor, far and away the best of the Western Force, converted. 36-10 after 46 minutes.

That did not spark a Western Force comeback as they did not score again. The Reds did. Haylett-Petty took a quick drop-out to himself and ran. He passed to his right and Scott Higginbotham intercepted, beat Sharpe and scored. Cooper converted from far out. 43-10

There was an amusing moment when Cooper somehow burgled a ball near his 22 and raced off down the right touch-line as his good friend O'Connor covered. Cooper tried to distract him with some funny stepping but dropped the ball in the process.

Anthony Faingaa was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle but the Reds attacked. From a five-metre line-out they bashed and Genia lost the ball as he went over,

The rain came and Hill went to the sin bin for yet another penalty at tackle - the eight against the Western Force.

From a tackle/ruck Genia shot away and gave to Higginbotham who enjoyed scoring a try. Cooper was off and Ben Lucas converted to bring up the half century with five minutes to play.

Man of the Match: The obvious choice was of one of the halfbacks, Will Genia and Quade Cooper, and this time our vote goes to Quade Cooper who played like a genius.

The scorers:

For the Reds:
Tries: A Faingaa 2, Morahan, Ioane 2, Higginbotham 2
Cons: Cooper 5, Lucas
Pens: Cooper

For the Western Force:
Try: Cross
Con: O'Connor
Pen: O'Connor

Yellow cards: Peter Hynes (Reds, 44 - professional foul, killing the ball deliberately), Anthony Faingaa (Reds, 62 - foul play, high tackle), David Hill (Western Force, 71 - repeated infringements by the team at the breakdown)

RUGBY365

The Stormers ran out deserving 37-13 winners on the back of a spectacular first half display against the Hurricanes in a Super 14 clash at the Newlands Rugby Stadium on Saturday evening, after leading 20-3 at the break.

Three first-half tries set up the Stormers for their second successive bonus point victory, which materialised when prop Brok Harris crashed over for the home side's fourth try of the match. Jaque Fourie scored the Stormers' fifth try near the end.

Some 32 seconds into the match, the Stormers were gifted a penalty 35 metres out when the Hurricanes went offside after they kicked ahead. Fullback Joe Pietersen punished the offence with an excellent kick (3-0).

The Hurricanes managed to secure ample possession after this early setback.

However, they repeatedly chose to run the ball from inside their half, rather than kick upfield to improve their field position.

The ploy backfired because the Stormers' defence seldom allowed them to progress beyond the halfway line. On the few occasions they looked like making headway, infringements crept into their game and the Stormers replied with counter-attacks which were sprung with interesting variations as forwards and backs dovetailed splendidly.

It was only a matter of time before the enterprising Stormers would breach the opposition defence and a ninth minute attack produced a deserving try which was magnificently rounded off by rightwing Sereli Naqelevuki who took a scoring pass from Pietersen. The conversion failed (8-0).

Whatever thoughts the Hurricanes may have had of forcing their way back into the picture were quickly dispelled by the hard tackling Stormers but the New Zealand visitors did manage to open their scoring account in the 19th minute via a Piri Weepu penalty (8-3).

The Stormers bounced back with a superb pressure spell which the Hurricanes found hard to contain and they enjoyed a let-off when Naqelevuki's 28th minute touch-down was disallowed because of a forward pass in the build-up work.

But by this time the Stormers were rampant much to the delight of the 44 500 strong-crowd and, in a wave of attacks, they played wide several times. In the space of nine minutes ahead of the halftime break they breached the defence twice close to the corner flags through Pietersen and eighthman Duane Vermeulen. Pietersen managed one conversion to give the Stormers a commanding 20-3 lead at the break.

The Hurricanes made a brave effort to break down the stubborn Stormers' defence after the break when they ran hard with ball in hand but after nine minutes of trying they came away empty handed. Thrice they managed to take play up to the Stormers' tryline.

Once the Stormers saw off that threat they regrouped in spectacular fashion and the Hurricanes' defence were again sorely tested.

The Stormers were denied a 53rd minute try after TV replays proved inconclusive but five minutes later flyhalf Peter Grant intervened in spectacular fashion to pave the way for prop Brok Harris to snatch the Stormers' bonus point try. Pietersen added the conversion to open up a 24-point margin (27-3).

A few minutes later the Stormers' brainstrust decided to clear their substitutes bench and straight away the home side lost its look of invincibility and, in the 68th minute, they leaked a try with Hurricanes leftwing David Smith scampering in at the corner for an unconverted try (27-8).

But there was more to come from the home side when their substitutes found their rhythm and after Pietersen goaled a late penalty for a 30-8 lead, Jacque Fourie helped himself to a try - his second in a Stormers jersey - a minute before the final whistle. Pietersen added the conversion (37-8).

The Hurricanes had one last run at the Stormers' defence and the ploy paid off when substitute wing Alapati Leiua scored an unconverted try to round off the scoring in the match at 37-13.

Scorers:

Stormers:
Tries: Sireli Naqelevuki, Joe Pietersen, Duane Vermeulen, Brok Harris and Jaque Foruire.
Conversions: Pietersen (3).
Penalties: Pietersen (2).

Hurricanes:
Tries: David Smith and Alapati.
Penalty: Piri Weepu.

NEWS24

The Bulls beat the Highlanders 50-35 to set up their fourth "fifty" in five matches in a Super 14 match at Loftus on Saturday - but again there will be a few questions about the defending champions’ ability to retain their concentration for 80 minutes.

Too easily they conceded five tries when they were exposed out wide and from turnover ball - and despite, leading at half-time (33-21) for the first time in the present campaign, they were pinned in their own territory too often to feel comfortable about tough opposition waiting on them.

With last year’s final against the Chiefs included, only the 48 points against the Waratahs two weeks ago did not exceed the 50-mark.

The Bulls were outstanding for just a little more than the first quarter and good thereafter - but their defence again leaked five tries as they struggled to bury a willing but very average Highlanders team.

The Bulls for a change started off in top gear, and Gerhard van den Heever’s 70 metres run of sheer speed on the outside set up what should have been a huge win after Gary Botha and Francois Hougaard had earlier scored. It was 21-0 after 12 minutes.

When a wonderful Bulls try followed to set up their try-bonus point in the 23rd minute, the gates were expected to open. The Highlanders kicked from their 22, Zane Kirchner fielded on his own 10 metres line, kicked high and tapped back as the visitors awaited the ball.

Dewald Potgieter fielded and when tackled off-loaded to Derick Kun who sent out an overhead pass for Wynand Olivier to score in the corner.

Amazingly, Morne Steyn missed the difficult conversion, but converted six minutes later after a pick-up from Dewald Potgieter was moved on for Pierre Spies to dot down under the posts.

After 29 minutes, it was 33-7 and the Bulls had equalled the Stormers final tally of last week.

In between, a set move from the Bulls backfired in the Highlanders 22 and Israel Dagg finished after a 60 metre run with a conversion from Matt Berquist making it 21-7. It was the first of Dagg’s three tries, two of them handed to him on a platter.

With the Bulls slightly off the boil, probably because of their big lead, the visitors scored again after 37 minutes. From an attacking scrum in the centre of the Bulls 22, scrumhalf Romans used the pop-up off the back of the scrum to run wide and give the reverse pass to Dagg who crossed the line unchallenged for his second try under the posts (33-14).

Steyn added a penalty on the half-time whistle for the Bulls to go into the change room at 36-14.

A six-minute attack from the Highlanders early in the second period was effectively quelled, but then some half-hearted Bulls tackling saw Tim Boys get the ball with no opponent to stop him. With Berquist converting, the 36-21 scoreline did justice to some Highlanders perseverance and the Bulls’ lethargy on defence.

But there was nothing wrong with the Bulls’ ability to score tries, and when a rolling lineout maul was halted on the tryline Fourie du Preez off-loaded sublimely to Hougaard who had run a perfect line for his second try. Steyn, who had just returned from the blood bin, made it 43-21.

The frailties on defence, for whatever reasons, were again exposed when the Highlanders created an overlap and with replacement James Paterson kicking ahead Robbie Robinson ran in their Highlanders’ fourth try. Again Berquist converted (43-28) before the second Spies try took it to 50-28.

The Highlanders took it wide whenever possible, and despite second tries from Man of the Match Spies and Hougaard, who both touched down for their brace in the second half, the Highlanders "won" the second half 21-14.

Scorers:

Bulls (RSA) 50

Highlanders (NZL) 35

H-t: 36-14

Bulls:
Tries - Gary Botha, Francois Hougaard (2), Gerhard van den Heever, Wynand Olivier, Pierre Spies (2).
Conversions - Morne Steyn (6).
Penalty - Steyn

Highlanders:
Tries - Israel Dagg (3), Tim Boys, Robbie Robinson.
Conversions - Matt Berquist (3), Dagg (2)

Man-of-the-Match: Pierre Spies

NEWS24