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KingCase Leather Flag Hard Case for iPhone 3G / 3GS - South Africa

Snap a KingCase on your iPhone 3G or 3GS today! This stylish, super slim, hard case provides the ultimate complement of looks & function. This case will make your phone look brand new at the same time it protects it from drops, scrapes, and scratches. The case propels dust yet still slides easily in and our of your pocket. The case is made from synthetic leather. All KingCase products come with lifetime replacement guarantee.

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The Dream Team of the Rugby World Cup 1995 - The Final

Golden Moments: NZL v ENG RWC 1995
Jonah Lomu scores one of the tries of Rugby World Cup 1995 against England….

 The final, played at Johannesburg's Ellis Park under clear blue skies - and a passing South African Airways jumbo jet bearing the words 'Good Luck Bokke' - pitched the hosts against the favourites. England's Ed Morrison refereed South Africa against New Zealand on June 24 in front of 65,000 spectators, and the All Blacks' running flair met the superb organisation and will to win of the side coached by Kitch Christie, managed by Morne du Plessis and captained by flanker Francois Pienaar. The Springboks devised a plan to deal with Lomu long before 'rush defence' become a vogue expression, with two or three tacklers ganging up on the huge wing and denying him any space. There were no tries in the first five-point-try World Cup final; instead the scores were tied 9-9 after 80 minutes, with two penalties and a dropped goal each by Stransky and the 22-year-old New Zealand fly-half, Andrew Mehrtens. Each man kicked a penalty in the first half of extra time then Stransky dropped a goal with eight minutes remaining. A dangerous-looking pass to Lomu from New Zealand No 8. Zinzan Brooke - who had dropped a goal against England - failed to stick and South Africa won 15-12.

Matches:
South Africa 15 - 12 New Zealand
England 29 - 45 New Zealand
South Africa 19 - 15 France
Australia 22 - 25 England

Players/Officials: Rob Andrew | Max Brito | Frank Bunce | James Dalton | Pieter Hendriks | Josh Kronfeld | Jonah Lomu | Andrew Mehrtens | Francois Pienaar | Joel Stransky | Chester Williams

Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup

Final: South Africa 15-12 New Zealand

World Cup No. 3  May 25 - June 24, 1995  Hosts: South Africa  Teams: 16
Format  Sixteen national sides mustered in South Africa for the third Rugby World Cup - and the first to be hosted by one nation - in May 1995. There were 32 matches at nine stadiums which included some of the game's most famous venues such as Ellis Park, Newlands and Loftus Versfeld. The teams were arranged in four pools of four teams with representation from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Teams played each other in a league format in the pool stages, and were awarded three points for a win and one for a defeat. The top two nations of each pool advanced to the quarter-finals, with a pool-winning side matched against a runner-up from a different pool - followed by two semi-finals, a third/fourth place play-off and the final.
Pre-tournament hype  England had won the Grand Slam under captain Will Carling earlier in the year and were regarded as favourites or joint-favourites with the southern hemisphere powers. The media at large voiced concerns about the crime rate in South African cities and no one knew quite what reception the so-called Rainbow Nation would give to a rugby tournament so soon after the end of the hated apartheid regime. However, the hosts, South Africa, were taking part in a World Cup for the first time after their official re-admission to the worldwide rugby family in 1992, and were bound to put up a huge challenge to take the title of world champions which many in the Republic had claimed for themselves in the long years before and during their sporting isolation.
Pool stages  Most of the doubts were dispelled by the rapturous reception given to the third Rugby World Cup by a multi-cultural crowd at the opening fixture in Cape Town. The fact that South Africa kicked off Pool A by defeating the holders, Australia, at Newlands, certainly helped. Joel Stransky, the fly-half, kicked 17 points in a foretaste of later success. Both teams would qualify for the quarter-finals. The All Blacks rampaged through Pool C in which a dire deciding match between Five Nations rivals Ireland and Wales went the way of the Irish. England's mostly first-choice line-up laboured to narrow wins over Argentina and Italy before seeing off Western Samoa 44-22 to win Pool C. And France pipped Scotland 22-19 to edge Pool D, the same pool in which a tragic injury occurred to Ivory Coast wing Max Brito while playing against Tonga which left him paralysed below the neck.
Knock-out stages  Jonah Lomu's performances in the pool had marked New Zealand as the team to beat and they duly hammered Scotland 48-30 in Pretoria. The Springboks had lost hooker James Dalton and wing Pieter Hendriks to suspension after an all-in fight in the pool win over Canada but held off a highly physical challenge from Western Samoa to get through to the last four. There the hosts defeated France in a semi-final in stormy Durban which only narrowly escaped being rained off. The French had comfortably disposed of Ireland in their quarter-final, while the most exciting match in the last eight was England's nerve-jangling 25-22 win over their 1991 conquerors Australia, settled by Rob Andrew's dropped goal in Cape Town. The semi-final was an entirely different story as Lomu put four tries past England in a stunning individual performance as the All Blacks won 45-29, again in Cape Town.

Player of the tournament  The quietly authoritative captaincy of Francois Pienaar was a big factor in South Africa's victory, and the wing Chester Williams's four tries in the quarter-final was an extraordinary personal achievement. Williams had been omitted from the original squad with a hamstring injury but benefited from the slightly dubious regulation that a suspended player could be replaced when Hendriks was cited and banned after the Canada punch-up. But Lomu, who had turned 20 just before the World Cup, was the star. He had revealed some of his unique talent previously at the Hong Kong Sevens but was dropped by New Zealand after his debut against France in 1994. On the hard grounds of South Africa the Tongan-descended, 6ft 5in colossus ran riot. Big wings had been seen before but Lomu broke the mould. He bounced off would-be tacklers with ease and turned innocuous looking situations into outrageous tries. Aided by the clever openside flanker Josh Kronfeld and centre Frank Bunce, Lomu shattered England with four tries in the semi-final, famously running over Mike Catt and swatting off Tony Underwood along the way. He was termed 'a freak' by Will Carling but the world hailed a new sporting hero.
Frozen in time  New Zealand's final defeat - blamed by some on an unsubstantiated claim that some of their players suffered food poisoning due to dodgy practice at the team hotel - took some of the gloss off Lomu's legacy. Stransky's nerveless dropped goal to win the Webb Ellis Cup might have lived on in the same way as Jonny Wilkinson's would do in 2003. But when Pienaar, the openside flanker (who in South Africa wears the No 6) was presented with the trophy by the country's president Nelson Mandela - wearing an identical green Springbok jersey - an iconic image was created which will recall forever South Africa's World Cup. Thanks scrumdotcom!
Also, next weekend in Wellington NZ has the Boks facing off against the Welsh side, I still have access to a double room at a hotel which is literally 5 minutes walk to the stadium, so please forward this if you know of someone struggling to find a place, I must get rid of it this weekend, I only wish we could be there ourselves! http://rugbyworldcupfever2011.blogspot.com/p/rugby-world-cup-2011.html

This is the semi-final match for the World Cup in Rugby, 1999. Taped and licensed by the Rugby World Cup.
Price:

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Leinster field all-Ireland backline v Ospreys – team confirmed!

Leinster fans will face Ospreys during round 13 of the Magners League

The Leinster team to face the Ospreys in Friday night’s Magners League clash in the RDS (KO: 7.35pm) has been named. Luke Fitzgerald starts at full-back in an all-Ireland qualified backline for the visit of the Ospreys in a game which will mark the province’s 50th competitive encounter in the RDS. Fitzgerald lines up in a back three which includes Shane Horgan and Fergus McFadden, with Brian O’Driscoll partnering Gordon D’Arcy at centre and Jonathan Sexton partnering Eoin Reddan at half-back.
Leo Cullen skippers the side and lines up at second row with Devin Toner, with Dominic Ryan coming into the back-row alongside Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip.

Isaac Boss, Nathan Hines and Rhys Ruddock are named on a bench which contains a mix of youth and experience and adecision on the final outside back replacement will be made closer to kick off.

As part of a special promotion, any supporters who have a match ticket for Friday’s game or a valid season ticket membership card for this year and are driving a Volkswagen car can park in the Simmonscourt Car Park for free.

Ticket sales are approaching the 16,000 mark and are on sale online from www.leinsterrugby.ie, Spar (Donnybrook), the Leinster Rugby Store (Donnybrook), Champion Sports (Grafton Street) as well as Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. Tickets will also be on sale from outlets on Simmonscourt Road and Anglesea Road from 4.30pm on Friday.

LEINSTER:
15: Luke Fitzgerald
14: Shane Horgan
13: Brian O’Driscoll
12: Gordon D’Arcy
11: Fergus McFadden
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan
1: Cian Healy
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Devin Toner
6: Dominic Ryan
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:
16: Jason Harris-Wright
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Clint Newland
19: Nathan Hines
20: Rhys Ruddock
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: Eoin O’Malley/Isa Nacewa

Like Rugby World? Subscribe to the magazine for the latest comprehensive content. Tags: Leinster, luke fitzgerald, Magners League, ospreys, rugby, rugby union

Player Diary - Tony Woodcock

Friday 5th November 2010

Dear Diary

I have always loved being a loose head prop even though when I first started playing I was put at lock or number 8. I have to admit it wasn’t too long before I was put in the front row. I enjoyed it straight away and have pretty much stayed there ever since.

In the game of rugby, there’s not too many positions where you get to take on your opponent so directly. I just get enjoyment out of my role in a team too, all the little things I do add to the greater good of the team. I know prop is an important role in the game.

I am in London with the All Blacks at the moment. We are preparing to face England on the weekend. It’s always a pretty tough test, you know they are going to come at you physically, they’ll be direct. It’s always good fun playing against the English. They pride themselves on trying to physically dominate you.

I have been fortunate enough to play 70 tests for the All Blacks. My favourite team to play against is probably the French, especially if we manage to dominate them. It’s always quite an enjoyable task taking on any pack that rate themselves. We back ourselves as well, so it usually makes for a good clash. The more physical the better.

Even playing against mates is good fun though. There’s usually a little bit of banter before we get down to the business of scrummaging, maybe something a bit personal to spark it up. But you know it’s not really personal, it’s just a wee bit of fun.

My body type doesn’t allow for it, but if I had to wear another number on my back it would be a loose forward position, probably number six. They seem to get a lot of freedom on the park which I obviously don’t get to do. In saying that though I thoroughly enjoy my role in the team and what I get to do at loosehead prop.

Cheers,

Tony Woodcock

Thursday, January 13, 2011

New Zealand teams gear up for 2011 pre-season matches

With the exception of some All Blacks who are still to return to their franchises, all five New Zealand teams are gearing up for eight pre-season games, before the 2011 Investec Super Rugby competition begins on 18 February.

The Hurricanes will host the Highlanders in round one at Westpac Trust Stadium on the Friday night, while the Blues will host the Crusaders at Eden Park on Saturday.

The Chiefs begin their season with a tough match against the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium, with the Waikato based franchise hitting the road for their first two matches.

The pre-season matches will be played in the heartlands, as Mangatainoka, Balclutha, Kerikeri, Taupo, Oamaru and Pukekohe will all experience rugby action.

The match at Mangatainoka will take place for the second year, and has become arguably the small region's flagship event, with the January 29 match between the Hurricanes and Chiefs set to sell out with 10,000 spectators.

Tui Brewery commercial manager, Nick Rogers, said the match was a special occasion.

"This will not only be a great game between two of Super Rugby's most passionate franchises, but it will be an event because we are taking New Zealand rugby back to the heartland again," Rogers said.

"The 2010 game, which was the Hurricanes biggest attendance at a pre-season game ever and the only pre-season game that has ever sold out, proved that people are still passionate about rugby and passionate about supporting their team."

On the final Saturday of January the Crusaders will travel to flood ravaged Queensland to play the Reds in Cairns, while the Highlanders and the Blues head to Balclutha.

The Blues and Hurricanes will play each other in Kerikeri on Friday 4 February, while the Crusaders play the Melbourne Rebels in their first match at the new AAMI Park in Melbourne.

The final weekend will see the Brumbies host the Hurricanes in Canberra on Thursday 10 February, on Friday 11 February the Highlanders and Crusaders head to Oamaru, while two old foes do battle as the Chiefs and Blues clash at Bayer Growers Stadium in Pukekohe.

The NZ Investec Super Rugby pre-season fixtures:

Saturday 29 January

Reds v Crusaders TBC Barlow Park, Cairns
Highlanders v Blues 13:00 AMP Showgrounds, Balclutha
Hurricanes v Chiefs 15:00 Mangatainoka RFC, Mangatainoka

Friday 4 February

Blues v Hurricanes 17:00 Kerikeri Domain, Kerikeri

Saturday 5 February

Rebels v Crusaders 20:00 AAMI Park, Melbourne
Chiefs v Highlanders 14:30 Owen Delany Park, Taupo

Thursday 10 February

Brumbies v Hurricanes 19:40 Viking Park, Canberra

Friday 11 February

Highlanders v Crusaders 16:30 Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru

World Cup plans won't change

Rob Andrew insisted on Friday that England's 2011 World Cup campaign would not be derailed by the major managerial overhaul taking place at Twickenham.

Andrew's current role as director of elite rugby is to be scrapped and he is still deciding whether to apply for the newly-created position of rugby operations director.

Under the new structure being implemented by Rugby Football Union chief executive John Steele, responsibility for the England team would shift from Andrew to the new performance director.

In the meantime, Andrew insisted he is happy to stay involved at Twickenham and he took part in the selection meetings ahead of tthe Six Nations squad announcement.

"I have a job to do now and I am doing that job. We will go where we go in the future. The important thing for now is that everybody at the RFU is 100 percent behind [England team manager] Martin [Johnson]," Andrew said.

"We are planning meticulously around the start of the Six Nations.

"We know what the plan is through the summer, through the training camp and to the World Cup in September. That is all we are focusing on."

Martin Johnson is contracted until the World Cup and Andrew confirmed his position as England team manager will be unaffected by the reshuffle.

"The strategy for Martin is that he is taking this team to the World Cup. He will take the coaches he wants to take and he is building a squad," said Andrew.

"Everybody can see the squad is developing nicely."

Andrew's biggest challenge as elite rugby director was to broker a
complex agreement with the Premiership clubs over England access and the development of young English players.

Both systems have proved to be a success for the RFU, with 14 of the current 33-man elite squad aged 25 or under while 67.1 percent of Premiership players qualify for England.

The new position Andrew has been invited to apply for covers the continued management of the system plus tournaments, referees and coaching development.

"We have some very good players coming through the system," Andrew told the BBC.

"Joe Simpson has pushed into the senior squad. Joe Marler and James Gaskell, who were the outstanding players in the under-20s for the last two years, have come into the Saxons.

"The pipeline is the strongest it has ever been."

McCaw happy for All Blacks to enter Cup year as number one team

While the World Cup will be the topic on everyones lips in 2011, All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has said that he would rather enter such a season as the top ranked team in world rugby, as maintaining the All Blacks performance is as crucial as potentially breaking a 24 year drought.

McCaw, who led his team to 13 from 14 test wins last year, cleansweeped the Investec Tri Nations, became the first captain to lead a team to two Grand Slams, became the most capped New Zealand test captain and with Mils Muliaina became the most capped All Black of all time - had a stellar season in 2010.

He also won the International Rugby Board's (IRB) World Player of the Year award for a third time.

In a wide ranging interview with Sunday News, McCaw said that the World Cup was now a focus, but that all seasons in between are as important as far as the All Blacks are concerned.

McCaw believed that while other teams focused on the four year cycle and building their team for a World Cup, the All Blacks needed to perform and were proud of their status as the number one ranked nation in world rugby.

The All Blacks finished 2010 ranked by the IRB as the best side, closing the year on 93.19 ranking points, with Australia (87.45) second and South Africa third (86.44). England finished as the highest ranked Northern side, placed fourth (82.48).

Even if the All Blacks did not win the World Cup, McCaw said nothing would wipe years such as 2010 from the history books.

"It will never count for nothing, because for the All Blacks every year – no matter whether it's a World Cup year or not – they've got to go out and perform," McCaw said to Sunday News.

"Other teams probably get a bit of scope to not have to do that but with the All Blacks you don't.

"Yes, this year is going to be the year that's in the front of everyone's mind but what will be will be and we'll give ourselves every opportunity and do everything we can to win the thing."

"I'm still bloody proud of what we did last year. We had a bit of a hiccup in 2009 but we rectified that. In 2008 we were pretty good also. That's the type of thing I'm proud of. I want to make sure we do the years inbetween right and then I want to win the World Cup and I'll be doing everything I can to make that happen.

"I would hate to win the World Cup when we've had crap years leading up to it.

"It's never just for nothing. We've kept the All Blacks at the top and at No 1 in the world. This year will have its challenges but I'd hate to be No 3 or No 4 and think it's still all right to win the World Cup. That's not the way Kiwis operate."

While others, including coach Graham Henry, did not like to be drawn into questions on how the All Blacks were placed coming into a World Cup year (or in comparison to the tournament in France), McCaw was happy to put across his view.

"It's different. We played really well at the end of 2006, we went into 2007 in good nick and were probably in the same shape as we are now," he said.

"But you've got to remember that there are a lot of players around who were there at the beginning of 2007 and they understand that whatever we've done [on the end-of-year tour] means bugger all for this year.

"We go into this year knowing we've got to be on the job, just like we were at the beginning of last year when we were thinking about how we can play better and what we need to do.

"You've just got to get excited about it and see it as an opportunity. A lot of us are bloody lucky to get another go at it but nothing is for sure on that.

"Right up to the end of Super Rugby there will be players who played in the team last year who might not make it back into the squad.

"You've got to see it as an opportunity and once you get there, you give it everything you've got.

"But I would have been bloody disappointed if we had been prepared to accept losses and poor performances last year just so we could prepare for the World Cup."

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Leicester Tigers do the crossbar challenge – Video

Leicester are getting ready for the biggest game of their season this weekend, when they host Northampton in the Aviva Premiership top of the table clash. But recently Scott Quinnell went into the Tigers’ lair of their training ground at Oadby to challenge the Leicester boys to his famous Crossbar Challenge. So click before if you want to see Rod Stewart (we mean Jordan Crane), Tom Croft, Ben Youngs and the rest try to defeat Big Scott!

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Fitzgerald gets a start for Leinster

Leinster have named a strong side for their Magners League clash with defending champions, the Ospreys, in a match that will mark the province’s 50th competitive encounter in the RDS.

Luke Fitzgerald starts at fullback in an all-Ireland qualified backline, as wings Shane Horgan and Fergus McFadden make up the rest of the back three, with Brian O’Driscoll partnering Gordon D’Arcy at centre and Jonathan Sexton and Eoin Reddan as the two halfbacks.

Leo Cullen skippers the side and lines up at second row with Devin Toner, with Dominic Ryan coming into the back row alongside Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip.

In the front row, Heinke van der Merwe and Clint Newland have made way for Ireland internationals Cian Healy and Mike Ross.

Isaac Boss, Nathan Hines and Rhys Ruddock have been named on a replacements bench which contains a mix of youth and experience and a decision on the final outside back replacement will be made closer to kick-off.

Leinster forwards coach Jono Gibbes said: "They [the Ospreys] have shown they have grown and developed and can withstand a bit of pressure.

"They were also able to get back into the game through the scrum, which seems to have grown another arm and a leg. They seem to have gained confidence out of it.

"We have had a nice little bit of growth with our scrum this season but every game is a little bit different. They could come with different tactics.

"The referee could interpret things a little bit differently. We need to be adaptable but we need to be focused or we could get embarrassed at home."

Emphasising that point, flanker Shane Jennings added: "If we take our eye off the Ospreys, they will do a job on us. The last time they came over here, they won the league. It's a game we're looking forward to.

"The Ospreys also beat us over there a few weeks ago. So we're up for a big, big game. They have a very good team, a very good squad.

"Whatever lads come over we know we are in for a tough game. Every game for us is big because we are fighting to get into those top-four positions."

Leinster: 15 Luke Fitzgerald, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O’Driscoll, 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Fergus McFadden, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Dominic Ryan, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Leo Cullen (Captain), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Clint Newland, 19 Nathan Hines, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Eoin O’Malley/Isa Nacewa.

Date: Friday, January 7
Venue: Royal Dublin Society
Kick-off: 19.35 (19.35 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Simon McDowell (Ireland), Mark Hermin (Ireland)
TMO: Sean Flannery (Ireland)

Rugby World Cup Greatest Tries

There is nothing more exciting in rugby than a well-worked try. It might come from a flowing move the length of the field. It may be produced by the strength of the forwards, by the brilliance of a back, or by the speed of a winger. The Rugby World Cup has produced well over a 1000 tries in its 20-year history, and this DVD contains almost 100 of the very best. Each one of rugby's top nations is featured, and all the best names are included. Think Jonah Lomu, the one-man wrecking ball, demolishing the England defense in 1995. What about David Campese, Australia s world cup winner, ghosting past Ireland and New Zealand four years previously. There's Serge Blanco s famous last minute try putting France into the 1987 final. And there s John Kirwan's length-of-the-field treat in the World Cup's very first game. This DVD is a treat for any fan of the oval ball game. Including: Jonah Lomu for New Zealand against England 1995 David Campese for Australia against New Zealand 1991 Jason Robinson for England against Australia 1993 Philippe Bernat-Salles for France against New Zealand 1999 Gordon Hamilton for Ireland against Australia 1991 Stephen Jones for Wales against England 2003 John Kirwan for New Zealand against Italy 1987

Price: $29.95

2GB Rugby Football USB Flash Drive

Why carry around dull and boring USB Flash Drives? Use the Rugby Football USB flash drive and be the envy of all your friends (okay, some of your friends!).

Price: $39.99

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Sports Betting Solutions - The Beast Is Here!

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Steele's changes to RFU structure unanimously confirmed

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) and their board have confirmed that chief executive John Steele will be able to go ahead and make widespread changes to the organisation after he delivered his proposals in a lengthy session on Wednesday.

It is believed that among the changes, elite rugby director Rob Andrew will have his role altered.

There will also be a new post created, essentially as a performance director, who will govern the playing structure from the grassroots through to the test team, and ensure that the production line for English rugby is kept strong.

While it has been denied by the RFU, it is believed that former coach Sir Clive Woodward may eventually come onboard in some capacity, while former Springbok coach Jake White and former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones are names also being mentioned in the English media.

Current England coach Martin Johnson and his assistants will remain in their positions at least till the World Cup, although there is a general feeling that results will need to be achieved over the next year considering that Steele is being tasked to ensure the team is competitive at the highest level.

Steele replaced Francis Baron last September, and has been given the responsibility to look at rugby, rather than the business.

Baron was credited with turning the RFU and England rugby into a financial powerhouse, with the union recording revenues last year of £112?million ($229.6 million NZD), with a profit of £25.8?million ($52.9 million NZD).

Yet focus now will shift away from the bottom line and move towards rugby, and this timeline will essentially be judged in 2015, when England host the Rugby World Cup.

Steele, a former Northampton first five-eighth that helped win the Heineken Cup for the club when he was their director of rugby in 2000, has impressed since stepping into the role.

“John has absolutely vindicated our decision to appoint him as CEO,” said RFU chairman, Martyn Thomas.

“The new approach shows a real appreciation of how rugby works. John has our total support.”

Since winning the World Cup in 2003, England's most notable achievement was reaching the final of the 2007 tournament against the odds, yet then coach Brian Ashton was dumped in favour of Martin Johnson.

England's current Six Nations drought is far from their worst ever, with the team unable to win the original Home Nations from 1892 to 1910, or the Five Nations from 1981 till 1991.

Yet seven years without tasting success is considered unacceptable by many considering that from 1991 to 2003 England won the championship seven times, four with a Grand Slam.

Lawrence Dallalgio told the Telegraph that the review and coming changes would be good for the game.

“England have a very successful structure from the bottom up but not from the top down,” he said.

“With the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, clearly the onus is now going to shift back towards the top end of the game and the team. John has come in with a fresh pair of eyes and is a rugby man who does understand the game.

"We live in a business of high performance which is results-driven. It constantly reviews itself and looks for ways to improve. That can sometimes mean changing people.”

Sharks win the battle of Beast

Tendai Mtawarira will be a Shark for the next three years, as the long saga over his domestic home has all but come to an end, with the KZNRU (KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union) fighting off an audacious bid from the Golden Lions.

However the battle for his services may not be at an end, with the Sharks lodging a formal complaint against the Lions with the South African Rugby Union (SARU), with claims that a contract was offered to 'the Beast' despite being formally bound to the Durban based union.

If this is proven true, it is in breach of SARU reguations.

Mtawarira was targeted as the Lions new poster boy, after the union was taken over by Robert Gumede.

The wooden spoon winners of last year's Investec Super Rugby competition have been rebuilding, starting with the recruitment of former All Blacks, Waikato and Western Force coach John Mitchell.

The great underachievers of the competition lost all 13 games last year, and have not finished higher than 11th since 2002.

While large sums of money have been thrown around, both to Springboks at home and abroad, the Lions have still not signed a marquee player who they could build a team around.

Sharks CEO Brian van Zyl said that the matter was not over.

“We had already signed Tendai and although there were a few addendums to his contract that he still had to initial, the basic contract had been signed," he said.

“The Lions believed they had seen a gap and vigorously pursued our player, even though we had signed him. We obviously are not happy with this and will be taking appropriate action against the Lions.”

It is not the first time the two unions have crossed swords.

Last year there was a battle over the contracts of 2009 Lions players Willem Alberts and Louis Ludik, and eventually the Sharks won with the two being key players for the Durbanites, while Alberts went onto represent his country.

Over a decade ago there was a similar dispute over the services of AJ Venter, who eventually left the Lions and became a veteran of the Sharks for many years.

The Sharks have long maintained they have been a key reason why Mtawarira is one of the more noted props in world rugby, having been spotted by Sharks Academy scouts when he was 16.

2011 Investec Super Rugby preview - The Crusaders

It is a remarkable statistic to think that if the Crusaders do not win their eighth Super Rugby crown this season it will constitute their longest drought without claiming the championship.

With seven titles to their name in 15 years, the most successful franchise in the competition’s history has never gone more than two years without winning the title.

Indeed, the greatest dynasty in Super Rugby has of late been usurped by the Bulls, who have not only won three of the last four titles, but on all occasions the South Africans have claimed the title, they have beaten the Crusaders in the semi finals.

However there has been a feeling in ‘title town’ that the Crusaders have not been quite the imposing machine that has seen them win almost half of the titles on offer in Super Rugby.

But history has proven that the red and blacks never lie dormant for long, and with Canterbury proving their status as the strongest province in New Zealand rugby, one feels that the Crusaders could make a statement this year.

Especially with far more derby matches in the revamped Super Rugby format.

On paper the Crusaders squad is typically strong, yet while they have their usual collection of All Blacks, there more menace to even their elite contingent.

Richie McCaw will begin the season with his reputation as one of the great captains the game has ever seen confirmed after a landmark season in 2010.

He is also the senior Crusader with 103 caps.

Dan Carter will begin the season not only the Super Rugby point’s record holder, but also as test rugby’s all time highest point’s scorer.

Both men will be crucial to the Crusaders campaign, but as was seen with the All Blacks last season, they are not the only two kingpins in the squad.

Kieran Read will enter the campaign a player whose status is beginning to rival that of his partner in the flank and the nation’s premier first five-eighth. The New Zealand player of the year is generally regarded as the best number eight globally, and will be crucial to the Crusaders hopes.

The list continues with ageless workhorse Brad Thorn, one of the top locks in world rugby last year, who gets better with age.

Supporting the senior players are rising All Blacks Sam Whitelock and Ben and Owen Franks.

Veterans such as Chris Jack, who will likely become a Crusaders centurion (with 98 caps), Andy Ellis and Corey Flynn will also play their parts.

The enviable squad list is bolstered with two new additions, and two more All Blacks – bring their international contingent to 12 players – in Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Dagg.

Both players, likely to play key roles in Graham Henry's selections this year, add considerably to the Crusaders backline arsenal, and to a team that could at full strength field a pack with past or present All Blacks from 1 to 8.

But the Crusaders strength is not only present with their test players, but also in their production line. Scrumhalf Willi Heinz, prop Andrew Olorenshaw, lock Joe Wheeler, hooker Quentin MacDonald and flanker Matt Todd were in the Crusaders wider training group last season and have made the step up to the full squad for 2011.

And finally the lure of the region is as strong as always, with first-five Matt Berquist and hooker David Hall (from the Highlanders) new additions.

While new Super Rugby players come in the form of Tasman five-eighth Tom Marshall, Southland prop Nick Barrett, Canterbury lock Luke Romano and Canterbury Colt and New Zealand Under-19 captain Tyler Bleyendaal.

Todd Blackadder will commence his third season as coach, and would dearly love to win a Super Rugby title, with the last crown coming in 2008 under Robbie Deans (who has won a record five championships).

His new forwards coach will be Dave Hewett, former manager of the Canterbury team last year, taking over from Mark Hammett who moves to take charge of the Hurricanes.

The Crusaders will play the Queensland Reds (Jan 29 in Cairns), the Melbourne Rebels (Feb 5 at AAMI Park) and the Highlanders (Feb 11 in Oamaru) as part of their pre-season programme.

They will kick off their regular season with two blockbuster derby matches, against the Blues and the Hurricanes, both away from home. They return home to host the Waratahs and Brumbies.

They will take their first bye in week seven.

Roll of honour: Champions 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, Finalists 2003, 2004, only three times in 15 years haven’t reached the top four
Last season: 4th (8 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses)
In 2010: second best attack, fourth best defence

Notable results:
home team first

Crusaders 35 – 6 Sharks (round three)
Western Force 24 – 16 Crusaders (round eleven)
Crusaders 40 – 22 Brumbies (round fourteen)

CRUSADERS

Fullbacks: Israel Dagg
Wingers: Zac Guildford, Sean Maitland, Adam Whitelock
Midfield: Ryan Crotty, Robbie Fruean, Tom Marshall, Sonny Bill Williams
First five-eigths: Matt Berquist, Tyler Bleyendaal, Daniel Carter
Halfbacks: Andy Ellis, Kahn Fotuali'i, Willi Heinz
Loose forwards: Richie McCaw, Jonathan Poff, Kieran Read, Matt Todd, George Whitelock
Locks: Chris Jack, Luke Romano, Brad Thorn, Joe Wheeler, Sam Whitelock
Props: Nicholas Barrett, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Andrew Olorenshaw
Hookers: Corey Flynn, David Hall, Quentin MacDonald

Wasps, Quins head offshore

Wasps and Harlequins have confirmed they will break new ground by staging their forthcoming LV= Cup fixture in Abu Dhabi.

The London rivals will be the first English clubs to stage a competitive match outside of the country.

The match, nominally a home fixture for Wasps, will be played under floodlights in a specially constructed 5000 capacity stadium at the Emirates Palace hotel.

Wasps board director Lawrence Dallaglio said: "To be the first club to take a competitive game of rugby overseas really reflects Wasps desire to be innovative and try new things.

"We want to ensure that Wasps has a long term future and it is steps like this that strengthen the club and develop a global brand.

"We know that there will be some disappointment for those fans that cannot travel, but we know our supporters want long term success and stability and one-off opportunities like these can only help build our profile, appeal and reach."

The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and Wasps are hoping to appease season-ticket holders who now cannot attend the game by staging an open day with players later in the year.

Wasps owner Steve Hayes and Dallaglio came up with the idea after visiting the region last year as part of their research into stadium development.

Wasps and Harlequins have both already enjoyed success in engaging new supporters by attracting big crowds to club matches at Twickenham.

Harlequins' Big Game 3 against London Irish on December 27 drew a crowd of 74,212 and both clubs are keen to build on that with this landmark initiative.

Reigning champion Bulls announce 2011 pre-season matches

The Bulls, Investec Super Rugby's newest dynasty, will play warm-up matches against the Eastern Province Kings and a Premier selection XV as they countdown to their title defence.

The Pretoria based side, winners of three of the last four titles, are gearing up for the expanded season, with the squad assembling yesterday after their Christmas break.

They had a training camp in George, without their international contingent, before dispersing for 2010.

Wynand Olivier, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Fourie du Preez, Victor Matfield, Gary Botha and Danie Rossouw, who all carried injuries and niggles into the New Year, will be assessed by Bulls medical staff before taking part in the first training sessions of the year.

Bjorn Basson and Chiliboy Ralepelle will not link up with the Bulls yet, as they await the outcome of a South African Rugby Union (SARU) judiciary.

Both tested positive to a banned substance while touring with the Springboks on their failed Grand Slam tour.

The Bulls first pre-season match will be against the Kings in Port Elizabeth on January 29, and a week later will play the Premier XV (consisting primarily of players from the Mpumalanga Pumas) at Nelspruit’s Mbombela Stadium on February 5.

The champions will travel to Johannesburg to open their campaign against the Lions on February 19.

Match promoter Willem Strauss, speaking to the Bulls official site at thebulls.co.za, said the Premier XV match will be an exciting one.

“The Pumas did beat the Blue Bulls and Golden Lions in Currie Cup, so will be good competition," he said.

"They also made the Sharks and Lions work real hard in warm-up fixtures last year. The match also gives the thousands of Bulls fans in the Lowveld a great opportunity to see their favourite team in action and we expect a sell-out crowd at this iconic stadium.”

The Kings are expected to enter Super Rugby in 2012, and the match is part of SARU's efforts to prepare the new franchise.

Wilhelm Steenkamp (Cheetahs), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Sharks), Pedrie Wannenburg (Ulster), Heini Adams (Bordeaux), Jaco Engels (Kings), Bandise Maku (Lions) and John Mametsa (retired) will not be involved with the Bulls this year.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

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Dave Attwood receives nine week suspension – with video

dave attwood gloucester David Attwood, the Gloucester Rugby player (No 4), appeared before an independent Disciplinary Hearing in Dublin today (Thursday, 6 January, 2011) as a result of the citing complaint arising from the Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 5 match against La Rochelle at Kingsholm on Sunday, 19 December, 2010.

The citing complaint made by the Citing Commissioner for the match, Tom McCormack (Ireland), was for stamping on La Rochelle prop Petrisor Toderasc (No 1) 15 minutes into the first half. As a result of the incident, Mr Toderasc sustained injuries to his face.

Mr Attwood pleaded guilty to the citing complaint but maintained that he had not intended to make contact with Mr Toderasc’s face. The independent Judicial Officer, Robert Williams (Wales), considered all of the evidence, including video footage of the incident, medical reports relating to Mr Toderasc’s injuries and testimony from Mr Attwood.

The Judicial Officer heard submissions on behalf of ERC Disciplinary Officer, Roger O’Connor, and on behalf of Mr Attwood from his legal representative, Richard Smith QC, and from Gloucester Rugby coach, Carl Hogg.

The Judicial Officer did not find that Mr Attwood intended to make contact with Mr Toderasc’s face, but he determined that Mr Attwood was guilty of foul play in contravention of Law 10.4(b) in that he had stamped on Mr Toderasc. Having also concluded that the stamp was intentional and that it had caused injury, the Judicial Officer found that the offence was in the top-end range of the level of seriousness for an offence of this type and decided on an entry point of 18 weeks.

Having taken into account mitigating factors, including Mr Attwood’s guilty plea, clean record, clear remorse and exemplary conduct at the hearing, the Judicial Officer reduced the period of suspension by the maximum amount of 50 per cent and suspended the player for a period of nine weeks.

The period of suspension was back-dated to begin on the day of the match in order to take into account that Mr Attwood had been suspended by his club soon after the match as a result of the incident. Mr Attwood is free to play again on Monday, 21 February, 2011.

Under the IRB Recommended Sanctions for Offences Committed within the Playing Enclosure in contravention of Law 10.4(b), ‘A player must not stamp on an opponent,’ carries the following recommended sanctions – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid Range: 5 weeks; Top End: 9 to 52 weeks

See the incident below

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Player Diary - Dan Carter

Thursday 17th July 2010

Dear Diary

We had a photo shoot on the schedule today. We were allocated a 5min time slot where we were photographed from every angle. Jimmy (Cowan) was one of the first on the list, so he had to do his early in the morning. I was still in bed when he came back to the room. As he walked in I could see he was gutted. When I asked him what was wrong he said he had been caught off guard. When I said, “How come?” he told me, “Man we had to take our shirts off!” I think he would have cracked out a few press ups and sit ups beforehand if he had realised. He stood in front of the mirror and said to me, “I’m not that bad, am I?” It was a funny way to start the day.

The coaches delayed naming the team this week because there were a few injuries. The 15 starting players have to do a media session on Thursday mornings, but because of the delay we had to wait to find out the team too. I got a text about 7.30am to tell me I was in the starting XV to face South Africa and that I was required for the media session at 8.30am. It was unusual because we normally get that information in the meeting on Tuesday.

The media session wasn’t too busy for me actually. It was fantastic because they can be pretty full on sessions. I only had one request because Rene Ranger has got his first start and Piri (Weepu) is starting too. Tom Donnelly got quite a few requests because lineouts are always a big part of the game when we play the Springboks. So the focus was really shared around, which is good. I try to go into the media sessions with a few key messages to get across to the fans who are reading or watching, stuff I’d like them to know.

We had a busy training day, with two team sessions and a gym session. The first team session Ted (Graham Henry) likes to call the ‘cerebral session’. We went through our game strategy and key points. It’s all about the details. After that session all the guys had real clarity. Then in the afternoon we went really physical and put the whole plan together at full speed. In between team runs, most of the guys did a short, sharp power session at the gym, but I’m getting a bit old now so I had to do a rehab and stretch session.

Playing the same team two weeks in a row is unusual. I think it makes for a tougher challenge, especially when we had such a good win last week. I know what we’re like after a loss. You get really motivated to turn things around and I know that’s what the South Africans will be feeling. It means we have to perform better the second time around. We played pretty well at Eden Park, but we’ve got a real job ahead of us to be able to do the same again.

Cheers,

Dan Carter

More Stories: | All Blacks | ITM Cup | Super Rugby | Heartland

Matt Giteau to focus on year ahead before deciding on future

Matt Giteau, whose star fell somewhat with a bench position in the Wallabies final test of 2010, is only focusing on the Brumbies Investec Super Rugby campaign and the World Cup for now.

The 28-year old has said that he wishes to enjoy the year ahead, after being criticised by Australian media last season, and has said that key to his success will be 'not worrying' about his future.

The Brumbies playmaker has been linked with numerous French clubs after reports from Europe speculated he had met with numerous Top 14 sides, most notably Toulon.

But for now, he is looking at the new season, and will need to fight to cement his position in Robbie Deans' Wallabies World Cup squad. If he is named in the Australian test squad, it will be his third World Cup.

"I want to be heavily involved in both the new season with the Brumbies and the Wallabies because it's a World Cup year as well," Giteau told the Canberra Times.

"For me, it's about worrying about this year and seeing how my enjoyment and things like that go.

"Talk and speculation about my future doesn't worry me. I'll see if I need something fresh and wait to see how this year pans out."

The Brumbies could be overhauled next season, with a massive 14 players off contract at the end of the 2011 season.

For Giteau the focus is to try and push for Wallabies selection, after he was put on the reserve bench in favour of Berrick Barnes at second five-eighth towards the end of the year.

Giteau has allegedly been in pre-season training already, although the Brumbies' Wallabies are not officially due back at training until Monday next week.

"I feel really good, I've got no injuries and on the (Wallabies end of year) tour I probably didn't play as many games as I have previously so that probably freshened me up," Giteau said.

"For me the hunger is still there. I've been doing training before I'm due back and that's how you know the hunger is there.

"I think if (the Brumbies) can play some good rugby, we're as good as anyone. I'm just focusing on the Brumbies and then whatever happens, happens."

Friday, January 7, 2011

Reds prepare for Crusaders and Brumbies

The Queensland Reds are in full training after their Christmas break, and the surprise packet of last year's Investec Super Rugby season is making sure that their intensity is at a high level with the expanded season less than a month and a half away.

They will play the Crusaders in Northern Queensland in Cairns on January 29 to kick off their pre-season matches. They will stay in the upper most region of their state and travel to Darwin to play the Brumbies on February 5.

Both centres have been in the grip of high temperatures, with the mercury expected to hover around 30 degrees for both games.

Coach Ewen McKenzie, speaking to Queensland Rugby's official site at qru.com.au, said that training would be a crucial first stage in the 2011 season.

“As coaches we demand a high level of intensity and execution in every aspect of our training and so far the squad has obliged,” McKenzie said.

“There is a really strong vibe and I’ve been impressed with their energy levels and their effort. However we understand there is a lot we need to get right before the season starts.

“It’s a new year and we can’t rely on last year. The good history won’t count for much and we need to reinvent ourselves and make sure we are ultra competitive from day one.”

All of the Reds Wallabies are back in training, with the exception of Will Genia, who will return on Monday.

Quade Cooper has been running the plays, while injured Wallabies Digby Ioane and regular captain James Horwill have been running freely.

The Reds have a limited warm-up schedule, as compared to some Super Rugby teams that are playing three or four matches, so McKenzie has stressed that it is important his squad hits their straps immediately.

“We only have two formal trial games so training performance is going to count,” he said.

“The countdown is on for our trial in Cairns. We know the people up north are excited and we’re expecting a big crowd. It’s a great way to kick off the year, going against one of the competition favourites first up.”

Preview: 2011 New Zealand National Sevens

Bay of Plenty look potent enough to end a remarkable drought at the national sevens rugby tournament in Queenstown this weekend.

Despite regularly providing one of the stronger teams at the event, Bay of Plenty are yet to taste success at the 34 previous editions of the tournament dating back to 1975.

They were runners up last year, pipped 21-14 on the hooter in the final when Waikato scored a brilliant 90m try through Tim Mikkelson.

This year the Peter Woods-coached team have already flexed their muscles by winning last weekend's 12-team provincial tournament at Mt Maunganui, heading off other leading sides including Waikato, who they pummelled 47-26 in the final to defend their title after racing 26-0 up.

The pace of Sekeli Bola promises to be a threat at Queenstown, allied with the playmaking skills of Ruki Tipuna and grunt of veteran New Zealand international forward Solomon King.

Waikato, Auckland, North Harbour, Counties Manukau and Taranaki loom as the main threats, with the powerbase of New Zealand sevens firmly in the upper North Island.

The tournament is the last chance for hopefuls to impress national sevens coach Gordon Tietjens before he finalises his squad for the next leg of the International Rugby Board series, in Wellington on February 4-5.

For financial reasons, the cash-strapped Southland union will not be fielding a team at the tournament for the first time since it was hosted in Queenstown in 2004.

Pools

Pool A: Waikato, Otago, Horowhenua Kapiti, North Otago

Pool B: Bay of Plenty, Manawatu, Auckland, Canterbury

Pool C: Counties Manukau, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, South Canterbury

Pool D: Taranaki, North Harbour, Tasman, Northland

South Africans gear up for 2011 Investec Super Rugby pre-season

The Sharks, Stormers and Lions will play in the Neo Africa Tri-Series at the end of the month, a tournament which effectively constitutes those three teams pre-season matches before the 2011 Investec Super Rugby season starts.

The tournament will be hosted at Newlands, and the Western Force, who played in the three team series last year, will be replaced by the Lions.

The Tri-Series takes place from January 28 to February 5, kicking off with the Stormers hosting the Lions.

On February 1 the Sharks and Lions play, while the third and final match will be a replay of the 2010 Currie CUp final, with the home team taking on the Durban based side.

Three time and reigning champions the Bulls and the Cheetahs have not confirmed any pre-season matches at this stage.

The season proper will begin with two South African derbies, with the Lions hosting the Bulls on February 19, while earlier that night the Sharks will entertain the Cheetahs.

The Stormers have a first round bye before hosting the Lions on February 26.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

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All Blacks position analysis - First five-eighth

It is often the case when a rugby team has a player of such class that he is considered the best in the world, such as Dan Carter, that any player in his shadow is judged with a harsh and almost unreasonable glare.

A nation’s hopes of winning will be dramatically reduced (either in reality or by assumption) without the presence of such players. Understudies to such stars will always be considered inferior, and the thought of life without such men in the future is nothing short of a crisis.

If Jonny Wilkinson was not part of England when they were in their pomp one imagines they would have struggled to have dominated world rugby and win the Webb Ellis trophy.

When Grant Fox played his last test match against Samoa on July 31 1993, many felt that the All Blacks would struggle to replace him.

While it took nearly two years, the emergence of Andrew Mehrtons started a chain of succession that was then followed by Carlos Spencer, and then by a young Southbridge product called Dan Carter.

Carter is now generally regarded as the best All Blacks number ten ever, and some pundits believe that he could be considered arguably the finest playmaker to have graced the game.

But unlike Fox, who had Frano Botica as a classy backup (some considered the North Harbour playmaker to be better with ball in hand), in recent years no one has been able to stamp the required authority as Carter’s understudy.

Many, including former All Blacks Colin Meads and Andy Haden, feel that without Carter the All Blacks cannot win the World Cup.

So it is equally fair to say that if the Canterbury first five-eighth is fit, that the All Blacks chances of winning on home soil are dramatically increased.

The biggest question though inevitably comes back towards who else could fill the test point’s world record holder shoes, both if he was injured and in the long term future.

Some feel, with former All Black Zinzan Brooke recently adding his voice, that the All Blacks best bet would be somehow to get Harlequins Nick Evans back to New Zealand. Yet while the former Otago playmaker is class and in brilliant form, there is realistically no chance of him featuring in New Zealand colours this year.

The most recent backup number ten was Stephen Donald, selected in the All Blacks Telecom Backing Black tour to Asia and Europe after a remarkable return from injury in which he was undoubtedly the form playmaker of the ITM Cup.

Yet he was criticised for his performance in the All Blacks 26-24 loss to the Wallabies, their only reverse of 2010, with his missed kick for touch inadvertently leading to James O’Connor’s match winning try.

Coach Graham Henry said that such censure was part of the role.

“Yeah, well before that another bloke (Aaron Cruden) played first-five and he copped criticism, so that's just the nature of some of the New Zealand people I'm afraid,” Henry said.

He's (Donald) played some outstanding football lately, but he had a difficult 20 minutes on Saturday (in Hong Kong). He knows that, we know that, but I think he's good enough to overcome that and it'll be interesting to see how he handles that."

Cruden, who was the 'number two' first five during the Investec Tri Nations, received similar disapproval after a mixed showing against the Wallabies in the All Blacks 23-22 win.

Closer examination of both Cruden and Donald in their performances did reveal that the All Blacks as an overall unit was below par.

Rugby doctrine states that a number ten is only as good as his supporting cast.

Wilkinson played behind a supremely dominant English pack, while Carter has enjoyed similar luxuries both with the Crusaders and the All Blacks.

Yet by the same measure, a team’s navigator is expected to be able to settle a game down if his side is under pressure, something that Carter has demonstrated repeatedly throughout his career.

Another talented playmaker is Colin Slade, who shined when he replaced Cruden in Sydney.

Again though statistics showed that when he came off the bench, with the All Blacks down 22-9, the team began to fire up, with the New Zealand pack particularly dominant as Richie McCaw and Kieran Read took control with well taken tries.

There will though be much interest on Slade’s performance during the Investec Super Rugby season with the Highlanders, with his Southern move intended to ensure he is not in the crowded Crusaders playmaker queue with Carter, Matt Berquist, Tyler Bleyendaal and Tom Marshall.

For one feels that the backup first five-eighth position for the All Blacks is up for grabs.

Based on last year’s squads, it will primarily be a battle between Donald, Cruden and Slade, who will be hoping to spark the Chiefs, Hurricanes and Highlanders respectively.

A dark horse could be Stephen Brett, who will be the Blues key playmaker, while capped All Black Mike Delany could have something to offer as well.