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LINING UP: Springboks lock Victor Matfield talks about the All Blacks lineout tactics at a press conference in Johannesburg.

 

South African lock Victor Matfield will end his international career at next year's rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

On the eve of his 100th test at his home ground, Loftus Versfeld, Matfield today said the 2011 World Cup "will be the last for me. Nothing more than that."

Matfield, who made his debut in 2001, said his career highs were winning the 2007 World Cup, the series victory over the British and Irish Lions and beating New Zealand in three successive games in 2009.

The 33-year-old Matfield, who has established himself as the world's best lineout jumper, said: "Hopefully after my playing career I will stay in the game because this is my passion and what I love."

South Africa are looking for their first win of this year's Tri-Nations competition against Australia on Sunday morning (NZT).

 

via stuff.co.nz

New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter is set to undergo ankle surgery on Tuesday and will be out of action for up to eight weeks.

The Crusaders playmaker landed 14 points with the boot as the All Blacks secured the Tri-Nations title with a thrilling 29-22 win over South Africa in Soweto on Saturday but has opted for surgery after increasing trouble with his right ankle.

"It's reached the point now where it is restricting his ankle flexibility and, in turn, affecting his calf muscle strength, so now is the right time to have surgery," All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson said.

Carter will miss the All Blacks' final Tri-Nations Test, against Australia in Sydney on September 11, but there is optimism that he will be fit for their end-of-season tour to the northern hemisphere. The procedure will involve removing loose material from the joint at the back of his ankle while a bone spur would also be removed from the front.

"Given that movement in my foot is being affected, it's obviously in my best interests to have the surgery now. I've been in this situation before and understand what is involved so will get through the surgery and rehab and then look forward to getting back into rugby," he said.

Hurricanes fly-half Aaron Cruden has been providing back-up to Carter this season, making five appearances from the bench, but All Blacks coach Graham Henry is keeping his options open. He will take in some domestic action before deciding on Carter's replacement, with Cruden having been released to play for Manawatu in the coming weekends.

"Dan is the ultimate rugby professional when it comes to injury rehabilitation and, with the help of the All Blacks medical staff, he will be getting the best treatment possible and we look forward to his return to rugby," he said. "Looking ahead to the Sydney Test, the selectors will look at a replacement player for Dan so we will be watching a bit of ITM Cup rugby over the next two weekends and confirm the player in due course."

South Africa scrum-half Ruan Pienaar will officially become an Ulster player at the start of September after agreeing a release from his Natal Sharks contract.

The 26-year-old Rugby World Cup-winner, who is currently part of the Springboks squad competing in the Tri-Nations, agreed his move to the Ravenhill side back in May. His two-year deal will commence on September 1 although he will be allowed to play for South Africa if selected for their Tri-Nations finale against Australia on September 4, meaning he could miss Ulster's Magners League opener against the Ospreys.

Ulster operations director David Humphreys said, "We're delighted to have concluded the contract negotiations around Ruan's move to Ulster. I would like to thank the Natal Sharks for their help in the matter and for agreeing to Ruan's early release from his Sharks contract.

"We look forward to welcoming Ruan to Belfast in September, he is without doubt one of the biggest signings made in Ulster Rugby's history and I'm confident that he will be a key asset to us both on and off the pitch."

Pienaar, who will join fellow South Africa caps Johann Muller and Pedrie Wannenburg in Belfast, said, "I'm very excited about the change - I have been thinking about going to the Northern Hemisphere for a couple of seasons now and when the opportunity to join Ulster came up I was very interested."
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Scott Barbour's photo that caused all the fuss

New Zealand-born photographer Scott Barbour has been banned by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) from covering the All Blacks' Bledisloe Cup build-up after he deliberately exposed the team's game plan.

The NZRU's official photo agency Getty Images, which employs Barbour as a freelancer, also angered All Blacks management after his image of coach Graham Henry holding the team's tactical moves was reproduced in Australia media outlets on Wednesday.

Getty Images is not allowed to send a replacement photographer to the team's remaining practice sessions in Melbourne ahead of Saturday's Bundaberg Red Tri-Nations match.

The NZRU has no power to deny Getty's access to Etihad Stadium as the match is under the jurisdiction of the Australian Rugby Union, though its representatives may be barred from covering next Saturday's trans-Tasman match in Christchurch.

All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen described Barbour's actions as a "breach of trust" saying he broke an "unwritten rule" by photographing the blueprint displaying moves from lineouts and scrums.

Hansen maintained the leak would not jeopardise preparations or force a tactical review but that did not spare Christchurch-born Barbour from sanctions.

The Australian Rugby Union have confirmed that they will appeal against the two-week ban handed out to Quade Cooper for a dangerous tackle against South Africa.

Cooper received the suspension after he was adjudged to have lifted and dropped Morne Steyn in a tackle during the second half of the Wallabies' 30-13 victory over South Africa on Saturday.

As things stand, the fly-half will not be available for next weekend's Tri-Nations clash against great rivals New Zealand nor the clash the week after.

However, Australia are hoping to now see the ban reduced to allow Cooper to play in Christchurch.

The appeal, lodged on Monday, is likely to be heard via a phone link-up in Sydney on Wednesday by three judicial officers - one from each Tri-Nations country.

The Australians will appeal on the grounds that the other two players to be banned for the offence, Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie, have only missed one Tri-Nations match as a result of their bans, while Cooper misses two.

New Zealand currently lead the Tri-Nations tournament with 10 points after two bonus-point wins over South Africa and will be playing their first away match of the campaign when they travel to Melbourne on Saturday.

Australia stand second in the competition with four points, while defending champions South Africa are pointless after three defeats in their first three outings.

Wallabies fly-half Quade Cooper and Springbok centre Jaque Fourie have been cited for dangerous tackles in Brisbane on Saturday.

Australia went on to win 30-13 in their opening Tri-Nations Test.

Citing Commissioner Steve Hinds of New Zealand charged Cooper and Fourie under Law 10.4(e), over separate incidents which led to sin bin stints for the pair during the clash at Suncorp Stadium, the Australian Rugby Union said in a statement soon after the game.

Springbok Fourie was yellow-carded in the third minute of the Test and Australian playmaker Cooper suffered the same fate in the 54th minute.

Both cases will be heard by Judicial Officer Bruce Squire of New Zealand on Sunday in Brisbane.