Laporte`s latest trick

Wednesday 03rd October 2007

France coach Bernard Laporte has named a starting XV with a whiff of the improvisational about it for his team's quarter-final against New Zealand on Saturday.

Damien Traille, usually a centre and tried and unproven at fly-half, is now shifted to full-back, and there is a start for the - at this level - young and green Lionel Beauxis.

Fabien Pelous, so injury-prone as the years have rolled by, is also included in the second row ahead of folk hero Sébastian Chabal.

More to follow...

France: 15 Damien Traille, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 David Marty, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Cédric Heymans, 10 Lionel Beauxis, 9 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Serge Betsen, 5 Jérôme Thion, 4 Fabien Pelous, 3 Pieter de Villiers, 2 Raphaël Ibanez (c), 1 Olivier Milloud.
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Sébastien Chabal, 19 Imañol Harinordoquy, 20 Frédéric Michalak, 21 Christophe Dominici, 22 Clément Poitrenaud.

Date: Saturday, October 6
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 20:00 BST (19:00 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Touch judges: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Tony Spreadbury (England)
Television match official: Chris White (England)
Assessor: Steve Hilditch (Ireland)

www.planetrugby.com

In the words of the dearly departed

Wednesday 03rd October 2007

Whoopee doo. We now know the identity of the World Cup quarter-finalists. But France seems a sadder place for the loss of the twelve sides that fell at the first hurdle.

They gave their all, played with passion and scored some wonderful tries. So let's hear it for the so-called 'minnows' - the likes of the Portuguese, the Namibians, the Welsh and the Irish.

What's more, they were as entertaining off the pitch as they were with ball in hand.

Whilst the big boys droned on about taking it "game by game, one day at a time", the tournament's real entertainers had all the sad hacks in stitches with their take on life at the cutting edge of world rugby.

We've compiled a list of our favourite quotes, all taken the mouths of our fallen friends. But can you attach names and situations to the quips? Scroll to the bottom of the page for answers.

QUOTES:

1: "It is difficult - it is like taking me and putting me in Wimbledon to play Roger Federer."

2: "I'm not sure that I actually out-paced him, I just made him stop and possibly hesitate. I would never have run on the outside of anybody so these games must be giving me confidence."

3: "We are fitter and stronger than we have ever been before and are set to peak our conditioning levels just as the competition starts."

4: "Wow! I am honoured that there's a comparison between us, but we are very different players. I am Portuguese, he is French. He's professional, I am amateur."

5: "The window for the World Cup is in September and that puts the northern hemisphere sides under severe pressure to get themselves together."

6: "The majority of my players work in intense jobs where they are under a great deal of pressure - it makes them doubly professional."

7: "Isn't it Jones, Jones, Jones and Jones, with Williams, Williams and Williams? It is a huge Welsh law firm. It will be a huge hurdle for us and hopefully we will surprise the Welsh lawyers."

8: "Maybe the Argentines are a little cocky right now. There is one game played in the World Cup and we're talking about points and point-spreads already - it's a bit early.''

9: "I listen to [my country's] national music, it always helps and keeps me happy. It's the same music that we have always played before wars in the middle ages."

10: "It is difficult because it will be early in the morning back home, but I promise you that everyone will be up. They will track down televisions to the ends of the earth. That's why we have to perform."

11: "I listen to some music - loud, loud music - and watch a few of the moves of my opposition players. Then music again."

12: "It will be awesome. I was crying during the anthem - I've never seen so many people in front of me. It's was a dream of a lifetime."

13: "We can compete against the top teams. We're not shy about what we want to achieve and we'll keep backing ourselves no matter what all the critics say or all the naysayers say about the segregation of rugby. They can stuff themselves."

14: "With [Stirling] Mortlock and [Tom] Shanklin both in my pool, I'm really excited about that - to get a chance to play against them and see where I come up."

15: "It's like when a person jumps from the eighth floor. Before he hits, everything's fine. But I do have a parachute. I just hope it will open."

16: "Part of the segregation is that we keep being called 'two-tier' and they should stop calling us 'two-tier' countries. We're all playing for the same trophy and as long as they keep labelling us like that then people keep looking at us like that, and that's not what we should be about. We do deserve to be here."

17: "Injuries to the left, injuries to the right - we have a good political balance."

18: "We used to just lift coconuts and banana trees, now we've got dieticians, weights, everything! The players look after their bodies now. Once we go fully professional, once we get a big company to sponsor us, we'll have 15 Michael Joneses, so look out!"

19: "Bro, I wasn't out cold, but the game's just coming back to me now. I can remember the first but not the second."

20: "Yes, I understand all that - and I would describe it as a crisis, yes."

21: "We always sing it with that passion. It is our battle cry that tells the opposition we are ready to die on the pitch."

22: "I would like to think that you would never see a 'cool' Samoa team ever again. It's something we've really had to address this week. That was the difference between winning and losing. It's not our normal style. It's been a pretty painful week for us."

23: "Sébastien Chabal did a good impression of a soccer player. He put on a good show, then got up and was running again."

24: "We haven't become a bad team in a week and it is not like the guys have been out drinking and smoking. There is a good mood and we want to go places. It has not panned out but we just have to win our next game."

25: "There's been a real negativity around us at the moment. It's disappointing. We're strong in spirit and very positive. We don't understand what's going on. The country's behind us, the supporters are behind us, but the press is not supporting us. There's a disparity somewhere."

26: "I was saying to my parents that it' has been two weeks now and I haven't been out of my hotel apart from going to training. It does become a bit groundhog-ish."

27: "We threw the petrol tanks - and the car included - at the South Africans. My job was made easy by the boys; when I asked them to step up for their country they did."

28: "The boys are enjoying the World Cup experience. It's a tight group anyway. It's a relaxed mood here in France and the weather's been great."

29: "I would like to see in my life time a Pacific team in the semi-final of a Rugby World Cup."

30: "We go into games wanting to start well. It's not a plan of ours to start poorly and lull them into a false sense of security and then run all over them. If we could do that, brilliant, but obviously we can't."

31: "I have had two wonderful years. I would like to thank Italian rugby for having allowed me to work with the national team. Now I wish them very well. It's been an amazing experience for me."

32: "Luck? No, not really. I think they made less errors. However, we had the ball the most so we had the opportunity to make the most errors."

33: "People don't realise how disappointing this is. I mean, people use the word 'disappointment' but they've never experienced what we're feeling at the moment. We've just hit the biggest low."

34: "There are parades back home, schools are wearing red and the supporters in New Zealand have gone crazy. All the pain we have gone through in this tournament has brought us together as a nation."

35: "You've got four years to recover from any injuries so give it your all."

36: "No way - if I cut my hair I lose my strength."

37: "A coach with plans for playing against the All Blacks is maybe being a little pretentious. We need to be proud to play New Zealand and to not embarrass ourselves."

38: "I'm excited, but I'm not going to be asking for their autographs after the game."

39: "We don't even know what to expect of our celebrations. It's our first victory - we're amateurs at winning!"

40: "It will be good to get one over on Mr Andrew - he is still very boring."

41: "On the contrary, I think we actually gave them too much respect."

42: "We need to find the guy with the voodoo doll who keeps putting pins into our players. Injuries are part of the game but we've had eight or nine injuries to key players this year - I'm running out of fingers to count them on."

43: "We are running out of excuses - it's now time to deliver."

44: "When I arrived on the field I was speechless. It was a wonderful feeling. Also, to play my 100th international match at the Parc des Princes, a true rugby temple, it's really special. It's a night I'll never forget."

45: "Gaman [patience] - that has been the key word for us throughout the World Cup. That's one Japanese word which JK has been able to remember!"

46: "My hands were sweating because of what happened to Schalk and the American guy who got five weeks. I thought if it was more than one week, I should just go home."

47: "First of all it is their faith in themselves that they could. They believed and needed others to believe. Blessed is he who believes."

48: "I said to the boys before the game: 'today you either die or come back to the changing room with nothing'. I said 'let us prepare to go out there and die today to win' and that's how much it meant to us today, to lose our life."

49: "We had a big prayer this morning before our game and that's probably the secret."

50: "It's not as odd as it sounds. Pig farming is a good business back home. Pigs are used for lots of celebrations, weddings, birthdays. Put them in a pen, feed them and go from there."

ANSWERS:

1: Namibia coach Hakkies Husselman considers the prospect of amateurs playing professionals.

2: USA wing Takudzwa Ngwenya comes over all coy after skinning Bryan 'Beats Cheetah' Habana over forty metres.

3: Wales coach Gareth Jenkins - sorry, former Wales coach - speaks up his side's chances on the eve of battle.

4: Portugal captain Vasco Uva on being compared to former France star Olivier Magne.

5: Ireland boss Eddie O'Sullivan points a finger at the calendar.

6: Portugal coach Tomáz Morais on the benefits of 'real' work.

7: Canada coach Ric Suggitt scores some cheap points.

8: Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan refuses to panic after seeing France fall to Argentina.

9: Georgia's David Khinchagashvili on his psyche-out technique.

10: Samoa captain Semo Sititi feels the love from afar.

11: US wing Takudzwa Ngwenya prepares for a match.

12: Portugal hooker João Correia reflects on his encounter with Scotland.

13: Canada coach Ric Suggitt gets political.

14: Fiji centre Seru Rabeni limbers up for action.

15: Georgia coach Malkhaz Cheishvili describes his emotions on the eve of the tournament.

16: Canada coach Ric Suggitt gets even more political.

17: Italy manager Carlo Checchinato manages to see the funny side.

18: Samoa forwards coach Peter Fatialofa looks ahead with hope.

19: Japan flank Philip O'Reilly after his rather robust meeting with Vilimoni Delasau of Fiji.

20: An honest moment for Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

21: Portugal's Pedro Leal on that anthem.

22: Samoa coach Michael Jones admonishes his side for the performance against Tonga.

23: Namibia coach Hakkies Husselman accuses the big man of play-acting in the wake of a high hit.

24: Ireland hooker Frankie Sheahan looks ahead to the game against Argentina.

25: Wales coach Gareth Jenkins wags a finger at the hacks.

26: US captain Mike Hercus gets to grips with modern rugby.

27: Tonga captain Nili Latu after taking the Springboks to the wire.

28: Wales coach Gareth Jenkins fails to spot the storm clouds on the horizon.

29: Samoa coach Michael Jones looks ahead with hope.

30: Wales flank Colin Charvis at a loss to explain his side's slow starts.

31: Italy coach Pierre Berbizier signs off after the defeat to Scotland.

32: Italy centre Mirco Bergamasco on how Scotland won.

33: Wales coach Gareth Jenkins on defeat to Fiji.

34: Tonga captain Nili Latu on his nation's best World Cup showing yet.

35: US centre Thretton Palamo gees up his mates.

36: Tonga star Finau Maka - he of the mountainous 'fro - hands off the barbers.

37: Romania coach Daniel Santamans decides not to kid himself.

38: Portugal lock Gonçalo Uva refuses to swoon in the presence of the All Blacks.

39: Georgia flank Rati Urushadze is taken aback by his side's win over Namibia.

40: Tonga centre Epeli Taione, the former Newcastle Falcons star, gets even with his old boss on the eve of the England game.

41: Italy captain Marco Bortolami responds to accusations from the All Blacks after he chose a huddle over the haka.

42: Japan coach John Kirwan feels the pain.

43: Ireland star Gordon D'Arcy on the eve of the Argentina game.

44: Italy captain Alessandro Troncon on becoming a centurion.

45: Japan centre Shotaro Onisha pokes fun at John Kirwan.

46: Namibia loose forward Jacques Nieuwenhuis on his one-week ban (and red card) for his high hit on Sébastien Chabal.

47: Georgia coach Malkhaz Cheishvili explains his side's win over Namibia.

48: A moment of melodrama for Tonga captain Nili Latu following the win over Samoa.

49: Tonga coach Quddus Fielea's take on that win over Samoa.

50: Tonga flank Hale T Pole talks about life after rugby - as a pig farmer.

Compiled by Andy Jackson www.planetrugby.com

Giteau wary of Wilkinson

Tuesday 02nd October 2007

Australia centre Matt Giteau believes World Cup quarter-final opponents England are a far more dangerous team now Jonny Wilkinson is back.

The Wallabies view the defending champions as a growing force and put much of that down to the return of Wilkinson, their drop-goal nemesis from the 2003 final.

Wilkinson missed England's first two matches of the tournament with an ankle injury before returning for the wins over Samoa and Tonga.

"The reason England are looking more dangerous is that they are starting to build into the competition nicely," said Giteau.

"Their backline has been improving since the South Africa game and they get a lot of confidence with Jonny in the side.

"He provides a lot for the team, not only his kicking and general play but just him being in the team.

"He is definitely a key player there. When Jonny is in the team, they feel they can try things. When they play without him, they lack of confidence."

Australia are playing down suggestions of revenge for the 2003 final, which England won in the dying seconds of extra-time thanks to Wilkinson's drop-goal.

But they have learned their lessons from the defeat.

Defence coach John Muggleton has been drilling into his men the need to cut down the time and space in which Wilkinson has to work.

England have scored the fewest tries of the eight quarter-finalists but have landed the most drop-goals, with Wilkinson slotting four in the last two games.

"There's not a great deal of difference to any other number ten, like Dan Carter. We want to put them under pressure and it is the same with Jonny Wilkinson," said Muggleton.

"All number tens like extra space and time. We want to cut down their time, if we can do that.

"We've got to make sure space is something they don't get. We've got to respect the halfway line as our try-line.

"We don't want them to get in our half and have the opportunity to kick penalty goals and keep the scoreboard ticking over."

Giteau will be an interested observer when England head coach Brian Ashton reveals whether Olly Barkley or Andy Farrell will start opposite him at inside centre.

"They obviously provide different things and which centre they choose will say a fair bit about how they will play the game," said Giteau.

"Barkley is very skilful, fast on his feet and more of an evasive player. Andy Farrell is a bit more dominant and a more aggressive player.

"It would be like the difference between Stirling Mortlock and myself."

www.planetrugby.com

Refs look to the final

Tuesday 02nd October 2007

Naturally there is speculation about the appointment of a referee to the World Cup Final - a rare honour for a referee.

So far only four men have refereed a World Cup final - Kerry Fitzgerald of Australia, Derek Bevan of Wales, Ed Morrison of England and André Watson of South Africa who did so twice.

The touch judges/TMOs have gone home and just the dozen referees remains. They are Wayne Barnes (England), Stuart Dickinson (Australia), Paul Honiss (New Zealand), Marius Jonker (South Africa), Joël Jutge (France), Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Alan Lewis (Ireland), Nigel Owens (Wales), Alain Rolland (Ireland), Tony Spreadbury (England), Steve Walsh (New Zealand) and Chris White (England).

The men who do the appointments are the selectors. They did them for all the pool matches and then did the appointments for the quarter-finals on Monday. The appointments to the quarter-finals quite possibly give an idea of forward thinking.

The selectors are David Pickering (chairman), Kevin Bowring, Michel Lamoulie of France, Bob Francis of New Zealand, Tappe Henning of South Africa and Steve Hilditch of Ireland

The selectors have eight matches for the 12 referees. The likelihood is that two of the quarter-final referees are those whom they have in mind as possibles for the final. That means they would have to have six referees for the knock-out matches - the four quarter-finals, the two semi-finals, the 3rd/4th play-off and the final.

Refereeing the quarter-finals would keep the possible finalists tuned for the final, but it is unlikely that any of the quarter-final referees would referee a semi-final.

That means that the selectors possibly have the six earmarked referees in three groups of two referees each.

The referees appointed to the quarter-finals are Wayne Barnes, Joël Jutge, Alan Lewis and Alain Rolland. A betting man would suggest that two of those four will go on to do the last two matches - the 3rd/4th play-off and the final.

A betting man would perhaps bet on Jutge and Rolland. Jutge could be eliminated by nationality if France press on through to the last four, but Irish Rolland has no such constraint. If the selectors chose these four Rolland's Irishness would ensure his availability for either the final or the play-off.

If we follow our speculative train of thought, then the referees ranked as three and four would do the semi-finals. They would come from the eight referees not in the quarters - Dickinson, Honiss, Jonker, Kaplan, Owens, Spreadbury, Walsh and White.

The choice could come down to three - Kaplan, Walsh and White. Much may depend on which teams are playing in the semis.

Betting is that it will be South Africa against Argentina, which would make Walsh eligible and Kaplan therefor eligible for the other semi, regardless which two teams get through the quarters.

Not everybody is going to agree with the choice but the distillation of the best - the best distilled into the very best - will produce the best that rugby football can offer.

Imagine how this would look:

Quarter-final referees: Wayne Barnes, Joël Jutge, Alan Lewis and Alain Rolland

Semi-final referees: Jonathan Kaplan and Steve Walsh

3rd/4th and Final: Joël Jutge and Alain Rolland.

And the others all muck in as touch judges, touch-line monitors and TMOs.

And all of that is just speculation.

www.planetrugby.com

Du Plessis set for shock World Cup start

Tuesday 02nd October 2007

Tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis, who earlier this week received a 'miracle' Rugby World Cup call-up, is set for an even bigger gift when he is named in the Springbok starting XV to face Fiji in Sunday's RWC quarter-final at Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

The Springbok management on Tuesday confirmed that prop CJ van der Linde has been ruled out of the first weekend of play-off matches with a "bruised right knee", but he will not be returning home.

Van der Linde is the second Bok tighthead prop since Sunday to suffer a knee injury, with fellow tighthead BJ Botha returning to South Africa after damaging knee ligaments in the 64-15 victory over the United States at the weekend.

"CJ [van der Linde] hurt his knee during practice on Tuesday in the Stade Jean Bouin, Marseille," read a statement from the Bok management.

Coach Jake White confirmed that van der Linde would not be playing this weekend, although he will be "managed in camp" and is expected to recover in time to be in a position to participate in the semi-finals and possible final.

Du Plessis - who is expected to arrive in Marseille on Wednesday as a replacement for Botha - will step off the plane and onto the training field.

White also told the media in Marseille that Du Plessis was being considered as the starting tighthead, with the only other fit props - Os du Randt and Gurthro Steenkamp - both being specialist looseheads.

"Jannie [du Plessis] will have to start," White said.

"Gurthro [Steenkamp] will come on to the bench and we also have [hooker and captain] John Smit who can move over to prop if Jannie doesn't last the 80 minutes."

While coach White tried to remain positive about the situation, veteran prop Os du Randt was more realistic about first losing Botha and then Van der Linde in a matter of days.

"Suddenly losing two of our best tightheads is always a concern," Du Randt, a veteran of the victorious 1995 World Cup-winning Bok team, said.

"Injuries are part of the game. We have to adapt and make the best of a sad story."

Du Randt said he would be willing to move to the tighthead side if it became necessary, but he added: "I hope I won't have to.

"I have probably played at tighthead for no more than 30 or 40 minutes in my whole career. I am not comfortable on that side."

Du Plessis will join his younger brother, hooker Bismarck, in the matchday 22 to face Fiji, with the explosive Bismarck expected to start off the bench as captain Smit's understudy.

www.planetrugby.com

French want to put sand in gearbox

03/10/2007

Sportal.co.nz

France will be looking to knock the All Blacks machine out of synch in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff.

"Throwing some sand into the gearbox," was how French captain Raphael Ibanez summed his side's need to knock back what was perceived New Zealand confidence.

"When that happens, their beliefs can turn into doubts," he said.

Ibanez wasn't prepared to follow what has become a French connection with the grandeur of the 1999 semi-final when France came back from the dead to knock the All Blacks out of the final.

"You have to stop looking back into the past. Each match is different. We're looking to the future and that involves playing the All Blacks at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff," he said.

New Zealand was a side with world-class players in several positions, he said. That would make France's job harder.

Ibanez didn't think the fact New Zealand had an easier pool would be an issue.

"They didn't choose the pools, they played the way they had to play. They scored a lot of tries and were impressive," he said.

French coach Bernard Laporte warned: "A match of rugby is never won or lost until you've played it - and believe me, we're really going to play this match.

"We're neither worried, nor resigned to our fate," he said.

Since the opening round loss to Argentina the side had pulled together and he now sensed a great motivation and a great determination among his players.

In the side's build-up, analysis will be done of the two Test matches against the All Blacks at Lyon and Paris last year, and the Tri Nations games against Australia and South Africa this year.

"We are going to try to detect the cracks. After all, they're not supermen. They've got flaws," he said.

McCaw says gap not that wide to France

03/10/2007

Sportal.co.nz

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw does not think the gap between his side and its World Cup quarter-final opponent France is as great as recent results between the side might suggest.

Since the startling 45-6 win over France in 2004, New Zealand has had winning margins of 47-3 (2006-1), 23-11 (2006-2), 42-11 (2007-1) and 61-10 (2007-2) over France.

All of the games had been physical encounters, McCaw said, and to get the results, the All Blacks had to do things right. They had managed that but none of the wins had been easily achieved and the gap was not as big as some might expect.

The important thing for the All Blacks would be to contain France's ability to grow its confidence to unleash the sort of flair-based play that could undo the best sides.

"We have to try and not allow them the scope to use the ball," he said.

"We respect the skill they've got and their ability to use the ball. We always expect the unexpected, and when that happens you have to rely on your systems," he said.

That ability to counter the unexpected was achieved by doing analysis but the key was not to over-analyse and to work more on those systems to cope with whatever sides may throw at the All Blacks.

While there was a constant barrage of questions about events of 1999 and 2003 that conspired to deny the All Blacks their chance of the Cup, McCaw said the side had been through a lot of rugby experiences since then.

"We have to have faith in what we have done in the last couple of years. We have been getting better and better, and will hopefully be better on Saturday," he said.

The side would prepare in similar style to previous weeks for the game but would not be over-doing it.

"The French are going to be desperate and we've got to be just as desperate, and passionate," he said.

Hardest selection ever - Henry

03/10/2007

NZPA

This is the biggest Test in All Blacks coach Graham Henry's tenure so little wonder it was the most emotionally draining selection in which he has been involved.

Henry told his players exactly that when he read out the team to face France in the World Cup quarterfinal here on Sunday morning (NZ time), a team that features the presence of lock Keith Robinson and the absence of winger Doug Howlett.

Robinson and hooker Anton Oliver pushed world class forwards Chris Jack and Keven Mealamu respectively to the reserve bench while gamebreaking wingers Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu sprinted ahead of the in-form Howlett.

Mils Muliaina was named at centre, allowing Leon MacDonald to start at the back and no room for form options such as Nick Evans, Conrad Smith or Aaron Mauger.

"The hardest announcement for a long time was to announce the test team to play France on Saturday, which we did yesterday afternoon. I told the players that," Henry said after unveiling the side.

"We could have played any of the 14 backs for this particularly game.
"In the forwards, in some positions there's a bit of a gap between the top player and the second player. That's no criticism of the second player, that's just the fact of the matter.

"It's a great situation to be in but also difficult informing the guys who haven't been selected in the side."

An injury cloud still hangs over first five-eighth Daniel Carter, who took a limited part in today's training session.

Evans was on standby this week for Carter, a gifted playmaker the All Blacks will be desperate to field.

"It's just a matter of being wise," Henry said of Carter.

"Training at 100 percent now, that's just going to be suicidal. It's a matter of keeping him with reins on until later in the week."

Henry veiled any concerns about the importance of Carter, saying Evans would fill the role well given his form at the tournament.

"I think he's one guy who has moved more than most and we've been exceptionally pleased with the way he's played."

Henry found it hard to explain why Howlett had missed out, saying simply it was a gut call from the selectors to go with the Fijian-born pair who both average close to a try per Test.

"Sitiveni and Joe Rocks have played some outstanding rugby for New Zealand, their strike rates are really high," he said.

"It's a hell of a difficult decision.

"Other people may see it another way, which is fine. It's just the way that we saw it for this particular Test."

The selectors simply wanted to find room for both Muliaina and MacDonald because of their experience and history of performing at the top level.

Both missed last week's defeat of Romania, recovering from niggles, with Muliaina's hamstring strain limiting him to just 60 minutes at this tournament.

It was unfortunate for Smith and Isaia Toeava, who had both enjoyed strong tournaments to date, Henry added.

Robinson's selection was attributed in part to New Zealand's best interests in the semifinals and final if they were to advance that far.

The tough lock spent the first three weeks of the tournament recovering from a calf injury and played just 55 minutes in his return last weekend.

"If we don't play Keith Robinson in this game, he won't play on the rest of the tour," Henry said.

"We thought it was important that the three established lock forwards all played in the finals.

"If we do get through this game, he's got another 45-50 minutes under his belt and he's ready to play again.

"We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves but you've got to think about one or two of those sorts of things."

This morning's training was a vigorous affair, with Cardiff-based former All Blacks No 8 Xavier Rush called in to bolster numbers.

The only All Blacks players to sit out periods of it were Carter and captain Richie McCaw, whose hand was bandaged.

McCaw later indicated there was no concern about the knock.

All Blacks may yet wear black against France

03/10/2007

NZPA

French rugby coach Bernard Laporte couldn't suppress a grin as he ruminated on Sunday morning's World Cup quarterfinal against "Les Gris" at Cardiff.

The All Blacks look likely to wear their alternate grey jerseys after manager Darren Shand lost the toss to determine who gets first choice on playing uniforms.

Their only saviour could be Rugby World Cup organisers, who were today considering which New Zealand jersey looked least like the deep dark blue strip France have adopted for this tournament.

Trying to avoid the clash of similar outfits that marred the recent pool game against Scotland, organisers were today conducting tests to assess whether the All Blacks' traditional black jersey or the composite "away" strip would provide the best outcome.

A decision was expected tomorrow.

If the All Blacks are forced to wear grey -- or gris in French -- Laporte joked that it would justify his decision this week to refer to his opponents as New Zealand rather than the All Blacks.

"It's even more accurate given the fact they'll be playing in grey," he said through an interpreter.

French captain Raphael Ibanez took a more conciliatory stance.

"It's disappointing for the All Blacks and for us too because historically between us, when you imagine France against New Zealand, you see the French team in blue and New Zealand in black," Ibanez said.

"For me what's most important is what you've got inside your body, what you want to give to the team.

"It won't matter if they wear blue, pink or nothing."

Ibanez poured cold water on comments that the French team had deliberately selected a dark blue strip for this tournament to score psychological points if the All Blacks had to change.

"Sometimes you cannot control the aspect of marketing in this business, in professional rugby," he said.

"We have so much respect for this team, whatever you call them."

New Zealand coach Graham Henry is clearly not a believer in the power of a jersey colour, shoving the issue aside today.

"Quite frankly, I can't be bothered getting into that stuff, I don't think it's important," he said.

"It's information we don't need to worry about. We try to control what we can control.

"If we have to play in the alternative strip ... we'll just get on with it."

France`s date with destiny

Tuesday 02nd October 2007

They've beaten South Africa, they've beaten Australia, they've won the Six Nations crown for the past two years, but not since that famous day at Twickenham in 1999 have France laid waste to the All Blacks.

Moreover, the reverses against the All Blacks have frequently been utterly one-sided, particularly over the past four years when France - at full strength - have been smashed 45-6 and 47-3 in Paris and Lyon respectively.

Yet this French team is not without fight or discipline, and is eminently capable of springing a surprise - indeed, given that the formbooks all point to New Zealand, that the match is in Cardiff, that the French are still reeling from a defeat in the openieng match to Argentina and that New Zealand have not yet won by less than 40 points this tournament, it almost appears to be French destiny to do so.

Coach Bernard Laporte is not one given to bouts of unrealistic romance though, and said that the videos of past embarrassments at All Black hands would feature in his preparations for Saturday's match.

"We are going to analyse the videos of the two matches we lost to them at Lyon and Paris in 2006," he said on Tuesday.

"We are going to watch the Tri-Nations matches in which they struggled against Australia and South Africa. We are going to try to detect the cracks. After all they're not supermen. They've got flaws.

We want to win this World Cup and to do that we have to win three more matches. In any case we would have had to play New Zealand at one stage or another.

"We're getting ready to play the strongest team in the world. You can't hide from the fact, but we're neither worried nor resigned to our fate."

It has already been a blow of sorts for the French to lose 'home-ground advantage' for their World Cup quarter-final (although one senses it may lift the pressure on the team not to be in front of an expectant Parisian public), but the French have survived the Pool of death, which Laporte says represents a new-found spirit within his team.

That team - a squad of thirty, all with roles to play - is still working well, and still champing at the bit to right the wrongs of the disastrous opening night.

Laporte also hinted that there may be an ace up his sleeve, with young fly-half Lionel Beauxis apparently the men with the game to fit Laporte's plan.

"We all pulled together after the Argentina match. Moreover we knew it would only get more difficult. I sense a great motivation, a great determination amongst the players," continued Laporte.

"We continue to keep faith in the competition for places within the squad. Just as the New Zealanders do.

"Like them, we don't have a first XV. We realise one thing though, and that is we need either at fly-half or inside centre a player with a good kicking game, who can find their 22 from our 22. So, yes, we are thinking of (fly-half Lionel) Beauxis and (centre Damien) Traille. But you'll find out more Wednesday morning (when team is announced)."

He still has his sense of humour though. France team manager Jo Maso - and most of the rest of France - prefers to call Saturday's opposition the All Blacks, while Laporte prefers to talk about the New Zealanders. Why Laporte's idiosyncracy?

"It's even more accurate given the fact they'll be playing in grey," he quipped - thus clearing up any confusion as to what colours will be gracing the Cardiff turf on Saturday.

www.planetrugby.com

Carter back for ABs

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named a full-strength team for their quarter-final showdown with France in Cardiff on Saturday.

Dan Carter has been passed fit to take his place at fly-half, meaning Luke McAlister shifts across to inside centre. It was feared Carter may not recover from a calf strain in time, but the medical staff confirmed he was ready for action having passed various tests.

McAlister will be joined by fit again Mils Muliaina in the centres, whilst Leon MacDonald has also made a full recovery from his hamstring problem and will occupy the fifteen jersey. The only surprise in the back line sees Joe Rokocoko preferred to Doug Howlett on the wing.
The one surprise in the forward pack sees Keith Robinson retain his second row berth in place of Chris Jack. Jack will have to be content with a place on the bench, as will Chris Masoe, with Richie McCaw and Rodney So'oialo restored to the starting line-up.

New Zealand, who have had the easiest route to the quarter-finals, will face a stiff task against France. The last time the two sides met in the World Cup was back in 1999 when France caused a huge upset knocking the All Blacks out in the semi-finals.

Despite the prospect of another upset Graham Henry said their side is full of excitement going into the game.

"We are excited to play France. Sudden-death rugby obviously has its own tensions and that's the reality all eight teams face this weekend," said Henry.

"France probably weren't expected to be in this quarter-final so there may be some extra tension in this match particularly.

"As a team we have really enjoyed the big occasions over the last few years and we've enjoyed a good and thorough preparation for this match."

New Zealand: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Josevata Rokocoko, 13 Mils Muliaina, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Keith Robinson, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Anton Oliver, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Chris Jack, 19 Chris Masoe, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Nick Evans, 22 Isaia Toeava.

Date: Saturday September 6, 2007
Kick off: 20:00 BST (19:00)
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Touch judges: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Tony Spreadbury (England)
Television match official: Chris White (England)
Assessor: Steve Hilditch (Ireland)

www.planetrugby.com

ABs` silver lining

Tuesday 02nd October 2007

If you are looking for omens ahead of the quarter-final between France and New Zealand on Saturday then there may just be one, the fact New Zealand will again wear their change shirt.

New Zealand team manager Darren Shand lost the coin toss to decide which team would wear their usual first-choice jersey in the crunch class in Cardiff.

However, the IRB has the final say on who will wear what jersey, which means the All Blacks may just be that - all black - on Saturday. A strange decision to hold the coin toss in the first place, then.

The New Zealand Rugby Union was thought to have lobbied the IRB earlier this week in the event they lost the toss.

But it was only a faint hope and it appears the French have won a small but not insignificant advantage after getting the toss of the coin correct.

Shand's record has seen New Zealand lose every coin toss so far to decide jersey colour clashes, changing rooms and captain's runs as well as receiving the last pick of hotels during the play-offs.

Before the quarter-final toss, All Blacks backs coach Wayne Smith said Shand was determined to reverse the trend.

"I've never seen a man so nervous in my life," joked Smith.

"Shandy's getting himself keyed up tonight with a few practice sessions.

"We've also got a game of two-up going on to get him in a match-like situation."

But it was to no avail and he lost the toss and with it all but a glimmer of hope that New Zealand will wear their traditional shirts.

www.planetrugby.com

Laporte says All Blacks are beatable

02/10/2007

Sportal.co.nz

French coach Bernard Laporte believes the All Blacks are beatable, especially in a one-off game like Saturday's World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff.

Before the French leave for Cardiff on Tuesday, Laporte said that New Zealand had not been taking any risks and hadn't scored many tries off first-phase play with the tries being individual efforts but not collective.

Either he is attempting to obscure reality or develop mind games but some of the most significant tries scored by the All Blacks during the World Cup have been free-flowing team efforts, especially in the best handling performance of the competition against Romania on Saturday, but also in the spectacular first 20 minutes against Italy in the All Blacks' opening game.

"The All Blacks are very good and we respect them," he said.

"They are just like a myth.

"We will try to explain to the players that they have to be strong in the fight," he said.

Laporte said that he expected during the first half of the quarter-final the All Blacks will use a kicking game.

France had a 50 percent chance of winning, he said.

"We will have to be very good in every sector of our game.

"Even in the scrum they are very good now. We will have to rise to that level of rugby if we want to win.

"It is not only [Dan] Carter who is very good, there are a lot of quality players around him. They are a very collective team now," he said.

Laporte didn't know whether it was better having to play them in a quarter-final instead of the final.

"We have to play them. They have missed hard games [in the pool matches] so I don't know."

Laporte said the French have four training sessions planned this week. In their video analysis of the All Blacks they will be looking at their World Cup games and the Tri Nations games, as well as the Tests France lost to the All Blacks last year.

"We would have preferred Paris or Marseille in front of our fans, but we are going to Cardiff," he said.

Meanwhile, halfback Pierre Mignoni will not be eligible for consideration. He has an injured left leg and he will be examined next Monday to see if he will stay with the team should it advance to the semi-final.

Lock Fabien Pelous, who has also been suffering from a knee injury, is now 100 percent fit.

Both teams will be named on Wednesday.

All Blacks hoping for black strip

02/10/2007

NZPA

At a World Cup where the All Blacks reckon they've left no stone unturned, this, perhaps was the final pebble.

New Zealand manager Darren Shand was to have tossed a coin with a French counterpart earlier today (NZ time), with the losing team to wear an alternative strip for Sunday morning's quarterfinal in Cardiff.

France have darkened their blue jersey for this tournament, much to the annoyance of the New Zealand Rugby Union, meaning one of the teams will need to change their jersey colour as the All Blacks did for their pool game against Scotland.

However, the right people never crossed paths today, leaving the toss postponed 24 hours and a fidgety Shand with time to work on his technique.

`I've never seen a man so nervous in my life," assistant coach Wayne Smith said.

"Shandy's getting himself keyed up tonight with a few practice sessions."

The spotlight on Shand follows his performance with the coin at a pre-Cup meeting of managers in Paris.

There he lost every toss, which left New Zealand second to all other teams when matters such as jersey colours and choice of changing rooms were determined in pool play.

A game of two-up (tossing two coins) was underway inside the All Blacks camp today to create a "match-like situation", Smith deadpanned.

At the same press conference a more serious Smith addressed the more pressing issue of his team's readiness for the knockout phase.

He said all had fallen into place in pool play, including when France lost their first game against Argentina

It left the All Blacks coaches convinced from early on that the French would be this weekend's opposition.

"It was on the cards, wasn't it?" Smith said.

"It's given us a great opportunity over a number of weeks to watch them, to be really specific with our planning and be ready for them. And that's what we've done."

Smith said detailed preparation was a core part of the All Blacks' campaign, with few question marks left unattended since the current regime began planning for the tournament under head coach Graham Henry in 2004.

"The World Cup began for us three years ago," Smith said.

"We've had plenty of time to plan for it, we've road tested a lot of what's happening here (Europe), it feels like we're coming home half the time, to the places we've been."

Pro offers `flooding in` for Ngwenya

Monday 01st October 2007

Two scintillating tries in which he beat two of the most highly rated wingers in the world has ensured that European club scouts are lining up for the signature of United States flyer Takudzwa Ngwenya.

The 22-year-old Zimbabwean-born winger could soon be winging his way to English or French rugby, following his exploits at the World Cup tournament in France.

Having embarrassed Samoa and Leicester Tigers hardman Alesana Tuilagi during the US Eagles 21-25 loss to the Pacific Islanders last Wednesday, Ngwenya did the same to Springbok star Bryan Habana - arguably the world's top winger - in the Eagles' 15-64 defeat to South Africa in Pool A encounter on Sunday.

With those two performances the jet-heeled Ngwenya has ensured that agents line up for his signature, with two English clubs having already approached him.

And it is almost certain that the Dallas winger will complete a move to Europe - to either England or France - in the near future.

"Hopefully, we will see how it goes," said the softly-spoken Ngwenya.

"That's a killer question, England or France? It depends which team I'll be going to.

"It's hard to say now because I am not sure. But in England, so far I have got two [offers].

"It depends. I just want to play better rugby."

The duel between Ngwenya and Habana was always going to be a fascinating one, and it provided arguably the moment of the tournament in the first half of Sunday's clash in Montpellier.

Habana had just gone over in Ngwenya's corner to put South Africa 24-3 up when flanker Todd Clever intercepted inside the Eagles' 22.

Via Mike Hercus, the ball ended up in the hands of Ngwenya, who found himself one on one with Habana.

Ngwenya teased his opposite number by feinting inside, before dabbing on the accelerator and flying past Habana on the outside to ground under the posts.

It brought the crowd to their feet and was probably the try of the World Cup so far.

As Ngwenya celebrated with his team-mates, Habana remained on the floor, his head buried face-first into the ground knowing his reputation had been slightly marred by the US ace.

"I was thinking of kicking, but then I thought I would try and get him to stop, and then gas him out wide," recalled Ngwenya.

"And he did stop. It's not that I'm fast, I just got him to stop so that worked pretty well."

He added: "I knew he would be annoyed. If I got beaten by a slower person, I'd be annoyed.

"He is a great winger, the best in the world I think."

Ngwenya had done a similar job on Tuilagi last week in the Eagles' defeat to Samoa in St Etienne, when he cut inside and handed off the Tigers juggernaut before sprinting to the line.

It was a moment to savour for the US winger, but he bettered it on Sunday.

"He [Habana] is the best winger in the world," he repeated. "I was intimidated every time he got the ball.

"If you look at the video or saw the game live, I was just yelling 'come on, come on'.

"I was intimidated. I didn't want to leave him one on one with me - and luckily I didn't."

Habana went on to touch down a second time, taking him to six tries in the tournament, before he was replaced after a clash of heads with Ngwenya.

The American remained on the pitch, and - in a sense - won another battle.

Asked what Habana had said when the two sprinters embraced at the final whistle, Ngwenya added: "He just said, 'nice job', and 'sorry about the bump'."

Departing US coach Peter Thorburn must have been referring to Ngwenya when he said after the game: "A lot of my players are excellent, they just need good exposure.

"There are some pretty good players out there. Only two backs play professionally. So it's a pretty good effort from a bunch of amateurs.

"But it's a difficult situation for us. The more players that go away to play, that fact they are in Europe means they are away for 10 months of the year.

"That makes them unavailable for the American-based competitions, like the Churchill Cup.

"The clubs will not want to release them because they are paying their wages.

"The ideal is to get them over for short period of time, in concentrated situations, and to have them available for the American competitions."

Thorburn and the Eagles return home with four defeats, but they were not disgraced in any of their games.

They suffered narrow losses to England, Tonga and Samoa before succumbing to the Springboks.

It was a tough group, but Thorburn insists that only by playing the best in the world can the US improve.

"The IRB does do well for the tier-two nations, but it will never be enough. It's like social welfare - there will never be enough money," he said.

"We would like to have harder games, it's the only way we will get better."

And to those high-ranking officials contemplating trimming the World Cup down from 20 to 16 teams.

Thorburn said: "This was the biggest game many of my players will ever play in.

"How do teams like the USA, Georgia, Namibia and Portugal aim for the next World Cup if they are ruled out it?"

www.planetrugby.com

Meddler Benítez muddles along thanks to Benayoun

Steve Bierley at the JJB Stadium
Monday October 1, 2007
The Guardian

Continuity has been the key element, the touchstone, of virtually all successful teams, and it is impossible not to wonder what Bill Shankly or Bob Paisley would have said or thought about the way Rafa Benítez is attempting to juggle his way towards Liverpool's first league title since 1990. The chances are that neither would have been complimentary. As much as there was to admire individually against Wigan, there was an inherent lack of cohesion and, if the former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri was the tinker man, then Benítez is in danger of being remembered at Anfield more for his meddles than his medals.

He will not be budged, and Peter Crouch has let it be known that he is decidedly unhappy with the rotation of strikers that has currently spun him into oblivion. Benítez's antennae are fine-tuned to the increasingly sharp probing of his system. "All the players in a top side must be patient and keep working. I have a lot of confidence in my strikers but you cannot come away from home with four of them. They cannot play every game . . . especially with my idea, no?"

Benítez smiles. He knows full well that his "idea", his insistence on fresh legs for fresh causes, will forever remain the nub of controversy until the Premier League title is won. The shield that protects him is having won the Champions League; the amount of money now at his disposal may be his undoing, with the pressure having risen in a direct ratio to the money spent. Each miss by Fernando Torres, and they were numerous against Wigan, was accompanied by the tapping of mental calculators. So how much has each goal cost so far? Benítez was unconcerned. "If he has chances, normally he will score."

In defence of change on this occasion, Benítez had only to point to his second-half substitution that saw Yossi Benayoun replace Fabio Aurelio, and then go on to score the deciding goal with wonderful close control and flair.

"I brought him here for these kind of games," the Liverpool manager said of the Israeli international, bought for £5m from West Ham in the summer. "When you are trying to find a solution, you need players of creativity and quality, and Yossi gives us that.

"Now we have better players and we can change the game. I was calm in the second half because the team was controlling the game. It is always difficult to leave players out of the squad, but all of them need to understand that I am looking for fresh legs and quality. The situation is much better than one or two years ago. We are in a better position."

Benayoun was proof of that, although why John Arne Riise, patently uncomfortable and largely ineffective, was made to play on the left side of midfield at the beginning was less easy to fathom. Once he had dropped into his full-back position, Liverpool looked altogether more balanced, although for those who remember the days of Barnes, Beardsley, Rush, Dalglish and Hansen, this current side, for all that it has cost, bears no comparison.

When Steven Gerrard motored forward, Wigan were like chickens with a fox in the coop, yet for so much of the match he posed little danger or threat. Wigan continue to miss Emile Heskey badly, with strikers Julius Aghahowa and Marcus Bent playing too far apart to ever pose a constant threat on goal, however, this was far better home performance than their previous dire draw against Fulham. "If we keep playing like this we will get results," said Chris Hutchings, though when he described Wigan's next match, away to Manchester United, as "another tough one", the resultant laugh was understandably more than a touch strained, for only three points now separate Wigan from the bottom three clubs.

The rigid discipline that Paul Jewell instilled has been partly sacrificed for a greater attacking urgency by Hutchings and, although Benítez felt his side controlled the game, Liverpool's defence had many anxious moments, with Jason Koumas and Paul Scharner making late and dangerous runs on goal. Wigan might have had a penalty had not Scharner been already flagged for offside, while Bent was convinced he was onside when he beat José Reina with a fierce shot in the second half. Then came Aghahowa's awful miss in added time.

It was a performance that will have given Hutchings considerable encouragement, even though it counted for nothing, but he knows too well it must be reproduced against the Premier league's lesser lights if Wigan are to survive in the elite. Liverpool may rotate; Wigan must guard against an uncontrollable spiral.

Man of the match Jason Koumas (Wigan Athletic).

Mitchell ready for Wilko

Monday 01st October 2007

Australia wing Drew Mitchell is expecting to be targeted by England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final in Marseille.

Mitchell is arguably the form player of the tournament and has already scored seven tries in this tournament, just one short of Jonah Lomu's record for a World Cup, set in 1999.

But the young Western Force star is regarded by some opponents as being suspect under the high ball, and given England's predilection for kicking, Mitchell expects his nerves to be tested in the do-or-die clash.

"In the games they've played so far, that's the game plan they've gone in with - they've executed that," said Mitchell.

"If it's the high ball or whatever, we've just got to make sure we're on it at that time, and we execute it, and we get the ball and hold onto it.

"England are playing some good football at the moment, they're doing what they have to, and they'll be a tough opponent on Saturday."

Mitchell also acknowledged the speed and form of England wing Paul Sackey, who has collect four tries in his last two games.

"I guess he showed it against Tonga - iIf you give someone a small opportunity, he can run 80 metres and score," said the Australian.

Meanwhile, Wallaby lock Nathan Sharpe, who was cleared of an elbow injury suffered in the match against Canada, said revenge is not a motivator for the Australians in the rematch of the 2003 World Cup finalists.

"I think the pleasing thing about this quarter-final is that there is so much tradition between Australia and England. A lot of people talk about a rematch of the World Cup final I suppose, that will be spoken about during the week," Sharpe said.

"At the end of the week, that ledger's gone, we'll never get that back, it will be certainly nice to take England out of the World Cup

"That's the beauty of this World Cup, one of our two team will be heading home on Monday. We certainly don't want to be us."

www.planetrugby.com

Du Plessis to join Boks in France

Monday 01st October 2007

Cheetahs tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis has officially been called up to the Springbok team as replacement for the injured BJ Botha.

Du Plessis will join up with the Springboks in France on Wednesday and Thursday, as they look towards the play-offs - starting with their quarter-final encounter with Fiji in Marseille on Sunday.

Botha left the field midway through the first half of South Africa's 64-15 win over the United States in Montpellier on Sunday and it was confirmed that he will probably require surgery after damaging his knee ligaments.

Du Plessis, who made his Bok debut alongside brother Bismarck during the away leg of South Africa's Tri-Nations campaign, is a specialist tighthead prop - much like Botha.

It is expected that CJ van der Linde, who replaced Botha in the win over the US Eagles on Sunday, will start at tighthead against the Fijians.

That will allow Du Plessis time to settle back into the Springbok squad.

He has been playing mostly off the bench for the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup, with Cobus Calldo starting at tighthead in recent Currie Cup matches for the table-topping Cheetahs.

www.planetrugby.com

Ibañez takes faith to Cardiff

Monday 01st October 2007

France captain Raphaël Ibañez believes French pride will match New Zealand power when the two teams meet in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff.

The hosts were consigned to leaving their homeland and playing the tournament favourites when they came second to Argentina in Pool D, even though Les Bleus managed a 64-7 drubbing of Georgia in their last group match.

"We have reasons to believe - we have lived together for many weeks," said the Wasps hooker.

"This is an exciting week. We will play against one of the best teams, it's fantastic. But we don't think they are the favourites. We will go with pride.

"We've qualified for the quarter-finals and that was our first objective before the start of the competition."

The French have a good history against New Zealand, memorably beating them 43-31 in a semi-final at Twickenham in 1999 in what is considered to be the World Cup's greatest match.

And French coach Bernard Laporte, who knows his team have only themselves to blame for their Cardiff trip after messing up in their opening match against Argentina at the Stade de France, is certain the favourites can be toppled.

He said: "The All Blacks are not insurmountable. We will prepare for this match with great seriousness. New Zealand are a good team, as are Australia and South Africa. We will make an assessment of them next Saturday night. It's necessary that we fight."

"We did what we had to do to qualify, but we would have preferred to play in Paris or Marseille or in Toulouse. I don't know if there will be a lot of French supporters.

"Quarter-finals are 50/50, so we have to use all the qualities and strengths we've got and consider it a one-off match. Never think there's a favourite team and take your chances as they come. They're only human beings."

If France produce the form which saw them run in nine tries against Georgia, which included a brilliant double from Christophe Dominici, then Welsh rugby-lovers at least will have the opportunity to see a great match as consolation for their own side bowing out.

www.planetrugby.com

Gerrard desperate for title

Reds skipper wants to end 17-year title famine

By James Pearson   Last updated: 1st October 2007

Steven Gerrard is desperate to help Liverpool win the Premier League trophy for the first time.

Despite a number of near misses and seasons of expectation, The Reds have consistently fallen short in the race for the title.

The Merseysiders have gone 17 years since their last title and Gerrard is almost lost for words describing how much he wants to win the coveted trophy.

Although the scenes following Liverpool's UEFA Champions League success over Milan in Istanbul in 2005 were something to behold, Gerrard believes landing the title would eclipse those celebrations.

"They call it (the title) the bread and butter around here and we need to win it," he is quoted in the Times.

"I'm desperate for the league. I can't describe to you how much I want it.

"I think it will be bigger than the celebrations after Istanbul.

"Seventeen years? That's far too long and we feel we have all the tools now to pull it off.

"We've got the manager, the team, the new owners putting the money in and a stadium to come.

"The manager has strengthened in the right places, there's no doubt about that."

www.skysports.com

Quarter-final has been at back of Henry's mind

30/09/2007

Sportal.co.nz

For the first time All Blacks coach Graham Henry has admitted that the prospect of the knockout stages in the World Cup were always in the back of his mind.

Asked for the umpteenth time how the All Blacks felt about having to play France in the quarter-finals next week in Cardiff, Henry said at the press conference following the 85-8 demolition of Romania, "In the back of your mind you are always concerned about knockout rugby."

But finals were finals and the All Blacks would be up against some very good sides, he said.

"We understand we are going to have to step up against the French," he said.

The New Zealanders definitely had strength of character and mind and they needed to express themselves and play to their potential, he said.

Henry had been asked if the All Blacks were mentally stronger than when they lost to France in the semi-final in 1999.

"There is strength of mind, and a desire to play high quality rugby to win the tournament," he said.

Saturday's game had left him 'pretty happy'. The Romanians had put some pressure on in scrums and at the tackle, although they had also live on the off-side line.

But he described the win as an 'excellent performance' with the added bonus of their being no injuries out of the game.

"In the overall balance it was pleasing but there are still things to work on," he said.

The backs were more accurate in their play and he was pleased that lock Keith Robinson was able to get through his time on the field without problems.

Nick Evans had also performed well, firstly at fullback but then also at first five-eighths.

"He showed he's a quality player and he would get a place in most international sides," he said.

Both he and Luke McAlister, who started at first five-eighths, had put their hands up and if any problems should arise with Dan Carter New Zealand had two good players to fill the gap.

And on Carter he said: "To my amateur eye he looks pretty good." But he added it would be up to the medical staff to determine his readiness for the quarter-final.

Henry said he had been happy with the pool play, with the tries scored and the respective margins in the games.

"We are moving forward well, the attitude is great, the spirit is great and we are looking forward to the finals. We know we have challenges but our time in France has been outstanding and the French people have been superb," he said.

Captain Jerry Collins said it was always going to be a difficult week for the All Blacks with so little time to prepare and knowing they were already guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals.

But to score 80 points and come out of the game with some things to work on for next week was a bonus.

"We are happy but not content. We are looking forward to next week," he said.

Carter looking good for France

01/10/2007

NZPA

Fears that key All Blacks playmaker Daniel Carter will miss the World Cup quarterfinal against France are dissipating fast.

New Zealand medical staff were delighted at the result of a scan here today which showed no major tear in Carter's left calf muscle which tightened up at training last Thursday.

It was serious enough for the outstanding first five-eighth to be withdrawn from the match against Romania last Saturday but his progress has been good since.

Assistant coach Steve Hansen said the scan result was "really encouraging" but he did not want to commit to a prognosis ahead of the team naming on Wednesday morning (NZ time).

"A minor strain is the term that's being used so we feel that if we can manage him through the week then he hopefully will be available," Hansen said.

"If he's not, we've got some pretty good alternatives. Nick Evans' performance on Saturday was very encouraging."

Hansen said were Carter available, the All Blacks selectors should have 30 fit players to choose from for the quarterfinal on Sunday morning.

Fullbacks Mils Muliaina (hamstring) and Leon MacDonald (bruised thigh) are expected to be fully fit after being rested last weekend as a precaution.

Perhaps the biggest question mark now hangs over No 8 Sione Lauaki, who was to face a World Cup disciplinary hearing tonight (NZT) after being cited for a dangerous tackle on winger Romanian Gabriel Brezoianu.

Hansen did not want to discuss the finer details of the case so as to not prejudice the hearing involving the powerful Lauaki, a strong candidate for a reserve bench spot against France.

"We're reasonably comfortable with what happened and we'll go through the process and we'll cop whatever happens."

Few surprises are expected in the All Blacks starting 15.

If there were any problems, they were good ones because most players were in good form, Hansen said.

"Most people could pick the majority of the side but there are two or three positions that we're sleeping on," he said.

Both teams were to arrive in Cardiff tomorrow morning (NZT), with France to be based in the centre of the city and the All Blacks in the countryside at the Vale of Glamorgan, a resort-style setup used in recent seasons by the Welsh team.

France finished higher up than New Zealand in a pre-tournament lottery so had first preference on which of the two official World Cup hotels they wanted to stay in.

There was to be a coin toss tomorrow morning involving the managers of both sides to determine whose team will wear their alternate strip.

The rich, dark blue uniform being warn by France at this tournament clashes with the All Blacks' famous strip, meaning an alternate from one team was needed.

All Blacks embracing France match

01/10/2007

NZPA

Daunting? Far from it, say the All Blacks at the prospect of confronting France in the quarterfinals of the World Cup this weekend.

New Zealand's campaign enters a different realm at Cardiff, changing up a multitude of gears from the cruise control of pool play.

Global interest will boom for a fixture between a French side rediscovering their joie de vivre and an All Blacks outfit who have steamrolled four lightweight opponents in the manner expected of tournament favourites.

Disaster looms for one nation on Sunday morning (NZT) and the tournament will suffer as one of its premier attractions will not be seen over the final two weeks.

With the stakes so high, All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen was in a surprisingly chipper mood when he faced journalists at the team's hotel in a late-night press conference here.

The coaching staff had just returned from Parc de Princes in Paris where they saw Argentina beat Ireland 30-15. Before that was big screen coverage of France's 64-7 dissection of Georgia.

Those results threw up a quarterfinal that Hansen believed his players would embrace.

"It didn't matter who we got, we were going to get a good side. We've probably got one of the favourites for the tournament," he said.

"It's an exciting challenge for us, it's exactly what we need at this point of the competition.

"It's probably better to get France in Cardiff than France in Paris, it's going to be a great week."

Hansen said the All Blacks coaches had been keeping an eye on France since pool D winners Argentina upset them on the opening day of the tournament nearly a month ago, aware that les Blues were on course to finish second in the pool.

The All Blacks have beaten France in each of their last six meetings, mostly by handsome margins.

However, Hansen said the French had the sort of athletes and skill level capable of mounting a serious threat.

"On their day they can beat anybody, they've proven that time and time again," he said.

"We've been fortunate against them a few times but you only have to have a look at history.

"If you get too far ahead of yourself, you end up packing your bags and going home. We don't want to be doing that."

A quirk of fate would have it that this giant fixture will not be played out on French soil.

Hansen did not think that would affect French confidence, which had risen steadily through September since their loss to Argentina.

The 25-3 demolition of Ireland from their top lineup a week ago was particularly impressive as they returned to a more adventurous style of play.

"They're using the ball. When they play that style of game, I think they're more dangerous than when they play their kicking game," he said.

"They've got a lot of confidence out of these pool games by seeing how well they can run and pass and score tries."

One of the great mysteries heading into the match will be the level of crowd support for both teams.

A healthy chunk of New Zealanders are sure to have booked tickets on the assumption the All Blacks would top their pool but not such a high percentage of French supporters would have predicted a second-placed pool finish for their side.

It is hard to say who the typical Welsh fan will support, or whether they will even have the will to show up at Millennium Stadium.

Cardiff is a city grieving this week at the early exit of Wales, bundled out in pool play by Fiji.

Scots `not finished yet`

Saturday 29th September 2007

Scotland star Chris Paterson insists his boys "are not finished yet" after his flawless kicking display booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Italy.

The Gloucester utility back nailed six penalties out of six tonight as the Scots squeezed home 18-16 in a error-strewn, rain-sodden game to reach the tournament's last eight for the sixth successive occasion.

"We came together; we got what we are looking for," he said.

"It was close - but we have done it.

"We cut short holidays, some of the lads cut short honeymoons to prepare for the World Cup and it was all for tonight and we did it.

"I think the conditions played a part tonight. We knew we could win the game and we did - we are delighted to be in the quarter-final.

"We are burdened with the responsibility of 'progressing' the sport in our country. We have had a lot of hard times - this is the reward.

"There was a lot of pressure but we wanted to win for ourselves and the fans - we wanted to do it for everyone.

"We are not finished yet; we have a game next week that we are looking to win."

The Italians scored the game's only try - through Alessandro Troncon - and had 11 points from the boot of David Bortolussi.

But the latter missed a late penalty which would have sent the Azzurri through via this scrappy Pool C eliminator in St Etienne.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden paid tribute to the performance of his pack - and believes there is still plenty more to come from his side.

"Once the rain came down, we knew it would be a tough day - but I was delighted with the progress of our packs," he said.

"We know how good the Italians are - I don't know how anyone can be dismissive of the quality of their pack. The way we held our nerve was a tribute to the quality of our side.

"No longer can we be bullied by other teams. The Italians have a great pack but we matched them and held our nerve.

"We knew our defence would hold out. We had to make sure we made the right decisions when the opportunities came along.

"We are absolutely delighted that we have another opportunity to show the progress that we have made.

"We believe we can play better; now we have this one out of the way we can relax a bit more."

www.planetrugby.com

Wallabies lose Lyons

Sunday 30th September 2007

Australia star David Lyons has been ruled out of the World Cup after fracturing his left leg in the Wallabies' 37-6 win over Canada on Saturday, and is likely not to see action until the new year.

The number eight fell awkwardly early in the second half and was helped from the field before being sent for x-rays, which confirmed he suffered a fractured fibula.

"The normal recovery period for a fractured fibula is between three and four months," said Australia team doctor Martin Raftery.

"It would certainly be impossible for him to return to play during the World Cup."

The Wallabies are likely to send for a replacement before next weekend's quarter-final against England.

Loose forward Jone Tawake, veteran Matt Cockbain and lock James Horwill were all on the Wallabies' stand-by list.

But Australia have suffered major injury problems in their back division, and may yet decide to replace Lyons with a player from a different position.

The Wallabies currently have Stephen Larkham (knee), Stirling Mortlock (shoulder) and Scott Staniforth (shoulder) sidelined.

"We haven't yet thought about a replacement but we do have the option to bring someone else across, and we will consider that over the next 24 hours or so," said Australia coach John Connolly.

Lyons was making his first Test appearance since coming off the bench against South Africa in the Tri-Nations on July 7.

He was ruled out of the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup decider against New Zealand after suffering deep vein thrombosis and has been on blood-thinning medication ever since.

www.planetrugby.com

Wales coach sacked

Sunday 30th September 2007

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has sacked head coach Gareth Jenkins after Wales crashed out of the Rugby World Cup at the hands of Fiji on Saturday.

Jenkins, who was contracted until the end of the 2008 Six Nations, insisted after the match he would not resign from his post and urged against "panic" and "knee-jerk" reactions.

But the WRU board met in Nantes and felt they had no option but to act quickly and decisively.

Lewis and Pickering travelled down from Nantes to the team base in Pornichet on Sunday morning and informed Jenkins of the decision in a private meeting.

They then met with the coaching staff before informing the Wales players of the decision.

Jenkins was only in the job for 16 months - but he presided over Wales's worst World Cup performance in the professional era and leaves having won just six of 20 Tests in charge.

Lewis and Pickering are set to explain the decision and outline their plans for finding a replacement at a press conference at the Vale of Glamorgan this afternoon.

The hunt for a replacement head coach begins immediately - as do preparations for the 2011 World Cup. Lewis and Pickering are determined Wales must get the right man for the job, whatever nationality.

It is a bitter blow for Jenkins, whose ambition throughout a stellar 20-year coaching career with Llanelli was to take charge of the national team.

Jenkins had been the obvious choice and clear favourite when he took over from caretaker coach Scott Johnson in the spring of 2006.

Given a relatively short run-up, his plan was to focus everything on building for the World Cup.

Jenkins began the year by declaring his vision for Wales winning the World Cup 'the Welsh way' and he was convinced his side could at the very least emulate the achievements of the 1987 team that finished third.

But those ambitions were gradually scaled down as the results failed to materialise and the pressure began to rise.

Cracks began to appear over tactics during the World Cup, with senior players questioning Wales' approach following the defeat to Australia.

Jenkins appeared a man under huge pressure on the eve of the Fiji game. He took a huge amount of criticism from sections of the press and refused to talk to one Welsh newspaper throughout the tournament.

www.planetrugby.com

All Blacks seek perfection

Sunday 30th September 2007

The All Blacks cruised into the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a crushing 85-8 win over Romania on Saturday, and now seek perfection in the coming weeks.

Final pool stats of four bonus points, 309 points for and 46 tries scored makes for impressive reading, and Graham Henry, whilst pleased with the stats, knows his side need to improve.

"I think going in to this tournament if we had thought we were going to win by these margins and scoring that many tries we would have been very pleased," All Blacks coach Graham Henry told NZPA.

"I think we are moving forward well. There are some deficiencies we need to work on, but the attitude is great, the spirit's great, the players are enjoying their game and we have no complaints at all.

"We know there will be huge challenges ahead, but that's what World Cup rugby is about."

Despite a hat-trick of tries for Joe Rokocoko and some fine attacking rugby against Romania the All Blacks struggled in certain aspects of their game. Henry is confident that they can lift their game in the business stages of the World Cup.

"Of course we want perfection," he said. "We want zero turnovers and to win 250-0 and that's what we try and do. We try and play the perfect game.

"They contested well and played with passion and physicality. The overall balance was pleasing but there is obviously some room for improvement."

Henry was asked if he was concerned that his team had not been tested sufficiently ahead of a high-powered quarter-final as they bid to win their first World Cup since their triumph in the inaugural tournament 20 years ago.

"We have no control over the draw and we are pleased with our progress. We just do the best we can in the circumstances.

"Are we worried? In the back of your mind you are always concerned about knockout rugby," he said.

"We've been involved in knockout rugby for about 20 years and we haven't survived so there is some concern. Hopefully we'll play well in a huge knockout game in a week's time.

"We've got strength of character and strength of mind. Obviously the opposition will try and stop us doing it, but there is a desire to play a high quality game and to win this tournament."

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Pumas conquer Ireland

Sunday 30th September 2007

Argentina have made it through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup as the top finishers in Pool D after recording a clinical 30-15 victory over Ireland in Paris on Sunday.

The result at Parc des Princes sends Ireland crashing out of the tournament and consigns hosts France to a quarter-final on foreign soil in Cardiff against New Zealand next weekend.

Argentina face Scotland in the Stade de France next Sunday, and must surely now be favourites to take a semi-final spot, most likely against South Africa.

Ireland fought gamely but Argentina's aggressive defence proved too much for the stuttering green attack.

The Pumas also managed two fine first-half tries, one from each wing, as the team proved its competence in all areas of the pitch.

Ireland went into the group eliminator needing a bonus-point victory, but only managed two tries through Brian O'Driscoll and Geordan Murphy.

Unbeaten Argentina never looked like losing, with wings Lucas Borges and Horacio Agulla claiming touchdowns, while masterly fly-half Juan Martín Hernández dropped three goals and cucumber-like centre Felipe Contepomi kicked 11 points.

And so Ireland follow Wales home, but not exactly following in red footsteps. The Welsh were equal to Fiji in all areas of play; Ireland came off a distinct second in all facets of play.

"It's hard to play against a side that refuses to play in their own half," lamented O'Driscoll in the wake of battle, and it's hard to argue with the man.

Argentina forced Ireland to build from deep, but never allowed them time to play the ball, let alone time to think about what to do with the thing.

The Pumas' ravenous defence gobbled up just about everything Ireland had to offer - it would take the local gendarmerie a week just to log the number of stolen green balls.

But the remarkable truth is that Ireland didn't play that badly. They showed good composure in the early stages of the game and glimpses of brilliance in first-phase play.

With Argentina looking slightly nervous from the off, Ireland set out their stall by sending their first penalty - from a highly kickable spot - into the corner.

It was a move intended to shake the hitherto unshakable Latinos. It backfired. Argentina managed to steal the line-out ball and clear their lines. And with that, Ireland's main weapon was spiked.

Buoyed by their defensive efforts, the Pumas strode into Irish territory - and there they remained for much of the match.

It was Argentina who had the first shot at goal as a moment of mindless Irish hot-potato combined with ruthless Argentine tackling to cough up an opportunity for Contepomi, but his kick at the sticks sailed wide.

The Leinster star then almost made amends by scoring after hacking on a loose ball, but his old friend Denis Hickie showed great pace to beat him to the touch-down.

Suddenly the tables had turned and the Pumas were in complete control.

Argentina plugged on, sparking up a rolling maul that almost had them over the whitewash.

That attack earned them a five-metre scrum from which Agustín Pichot picked up and went blind. He dragged in three would-be tacklers before feeding wing Lucas Borges who scooted over to score.

Contepomi missed the conversion, but first blood had been drawn - and Ireland's confident start added extra weight to the try.

The men in green managed to put the score to one side and responded well, with Brian O'Driscoll showing one of his trademark flashs of brilliance that have been in short supply in France. His raid won a penalty which O'Gara duly converted into three points, and Ireland's crusade was up and running.

But the Argentinians were in no mood to allow Irish dreams to take root. Hernández stamped out the green seed of hope by dropping a goal in the very next phase of play.

And from there they pushed and they pushed, keeping O'Gara teetering on his dead-ball line. Only heroic defence kept Ireland honest, but heroic defence was not at the top of Ireland's agenda: they still needed four tries and, with 30 minutes played, there was neither hide nor hair of a single one.

Every vague Irish skirmish across the half-way line was repelled by the ferocious Pumas, with scrum-half Eoin Reddan having particular trouble with the blue and white rash that was the offensive defence of the South Americans.

With patient phase-play patently not paying dividends for the Irish, it was time to turn to magic, and O'Driscoll took a peek up his sleeve.

O'Gara sent out a flat miss-pass from the back of an innocuous line-out outside Argentina's 22 and the Ireland captain meet the ball at full speed. Argentina's flat-footed defence could not stop the runaway centre as he jigged through and Ireland had their first try.

"It has started! It has started!" O'Driscoll yelled to the Pumas as they assembled under the sticks for O'Gara's successful conversion, but the Argentinians begged to differ.

Hernández, surely an Inuit in a previous life, dropped a nonchalant long-range goal before setting up his side's second try.

After collecting his own bomb he set the Pumas loose with a wonderful backhand flip that left the Irish clawing at air. The move was punctuated by Horacio Agulla in the right-hand corner, but not before the ball had passed through at least a dozen pairs of Argentine hands, with the impressive Gonzalo Longo delivering the final pass.

And so, at the break, Ireland were just a quarter of the way to only partial safety. Argentina, meanwhile, were coasting to the summit of the World Cup's toughest pool. Just two more tries would have put the Irish out of their misery instantly - perhaps it would have been a better way to go.

Ireland needed early points in the second half - instead they coughed up a penalty that Contepomi converted into three more coffin nails.

But a good-looking Irish attack soon had the crowd's green contingent on their feet and Murphy then had them dancing as he slid over the whitewash for Ireland's second.

Again, it was a deft miss-pass from O'Gara to O'Driscoll that did the damage. The Irish skipper then found David Wallace on his shoulder and the flank supplied the final pass.

O'Gara missed the conversion, but Ireland's dream began to flicker once more. They had kippered the Pumas with two first-phase tries that came straight off the blackboard. Could they learn from this? Could they build on this?

Straws loom like logs to drowning men, and O'Driscoll was soon thrashing around like he was on his last lungful. His troops duly followed suit and Argentina began to look fallible.

But only for a moment. A long punt downfield from Hernández was met by more Argentinians than Irish, and Contepomi soon had another kick at goal which he duly dispatched.

More Argentine pressure spawned another penalty opportunity for Contepomi which he duly cashed in as Eddie O'Sullivan played his last card by emptying his bench onto the pitch.

When up 27-15 and with 15 minutes to play, most sides would err on the side of caution. Not Argentina. They fought on as if they were chasing the game, hounding the Irish off the ball at every junction.

Their lust for contact finally began to rub off on the Irish and, with ten minutes to go, they began to look menacing at the breakdown.

A green penalty was soon dispatched into the corner but Argentina's impeccable defence nipped the raid in the bud.

The Irish faithful at Parc des Princes began to murmur a mournful rendition of the 'Fields of Athenry'. They knew the game was up, but no one had bothered to inform the Pumas. They continued to boss and bully and cajole before Hernández delivered the coup de grace in the shape of his third drop-goal.

The message could not have been more clear. Surviving the 'pool of death' without a scratch was no less than the mighty Argentinians had expected - they crave nothing less than total world domination. With Scotland up next, who would bet against them going all the way?

Man of the match: Ireland talisman Brian O'Driscoll finally showed his class and his absence from the play-offs is a blow for rugby-lovers the world over. Paul O'Connell also finally proved his worth, and Ronan O'Gara punctuated a difficult campaign with some merit. Meanwhile, the Argentinians were heroes to a man. Their greatest strength is their collective will, but - as always - a few individuals stood out. Gonzalo Longo and Rodrigo Roncero got through a heap of work, whilst Felipe Contepomi added structure and the points. Meanwhile, Agustín Pichot once again proved himself to be a leader of rare ability. But our award goes to the ice-cool Juan Martín Hernández. The Scots will need to pin some great jailable crime on the immaculate pivot if they wish to return to Paris for a semi-final.

Moment of the match: Ireland's two tries were beautifully executed, but we'll opt for the build-up to Horacio Agulla's try. It was 'total rugby' at it's very best.

Villain of the match: Perhaps a little too much shirt-pulling from the Argentinians, but we'll reserve judgement until we've studied the videos. No award - yet.

The scorers:

For Argentina:
Tries: Borges, Agulla
Con: Contempomi
Pens: Contempomi 3
Drop goals: Hernandez 3

For Ireland:
Tries: O'Driscoll, Murphy
Con: O'Gara
Pen: O'Gara

Argentina: 15 Ignacio Corleto, 14 Lucas Borges, 13 Manuel Contepomi, 12 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martín Hernández, 9 Agustín Pichot (c), 8 Gonzalo Longo, 7 Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Lucas Ostiglia, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Carlos Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 3 Juan Martín Scelzo, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: 16 Alberto Vernet Basualdo, 17 Omar Hasan, 18 Rimas Álvarez Kairelis, 19 Martín Durand, 20 Nicolás Fernandez Miranda, 21 Federico Todeschini, 22 Hernán Senillosa.

Ireland:15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Denis Hickie, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Denis Leamy, 7 David Wallace, 6 Simon Easterby, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donnacha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Marcus Horan,
Replacement: 16 Rory Best, 17 Bryan Young, 18 Malcolm O'Kelly, 19 Neil Best, 20 Isaac Boss, 21 Paddy Wallace, 22 Gavin Duffy.

Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa), Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Television match official: Christophe Berdos (France)
Assessor: Steve Hilditch

By Andy Jackson www.planetrugby.com