Welcome to RWC2011 Blog!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Collins hit on Chabal

"You are in my house now, we speak Samoan!"

All Blacks Best Rugby Tries Ever

All Blacks Best Rugby Tries Ever

Bring back Buck!

Huge Rugby Moments

SUPER UGLY RUGBY

Starting XV in the G&GR Super Rugby Ugly team:

1. Gurthrö Steenkamp (Bulls) Looks like Jabba The Hutt on a bad day and outclasses Wyatt Crockett and even Jamie Mackintosh.

2. Jason Rutledge (Highlanders) This position was the hardest to pick because of the outstanding depth of ugly hookers in Super Rugby, but Jason has impeccable bloodlines. His dad, Lester, an All Black flanker, was also facially challenged. Honourable mentiosn to Gary Botha, Andrew Hore, Aled de Malmanche, Ged Robinson and Chilliboy Ralepelle, who must be wondering what they have to do to get picked.

3. Salesi Ma’afu (Brumbies) His team nickname is “Gorilla” and it’s not because of his animal grunt on the rugby field. Guys like Werner Kruger, who has a moosh like a potato with a few slits in it, are unlucky to miss out, but Salesi is a natural .

4. Andries Bekker (Stormers) Put a couple of bolts in the neck of this ugly sonofabitch and he could star in the next Frankenstein movie.

5. Kane Douglas (Waratahs) The young bloke may have a good bod but has a head like a robber’s dog. Mentioned in despatches: Pat O’Connor and James Horwill, for obvious reasons.

6. Adam Thomson (Highlanders) A true boofhead who could not get a date off a calendar. Jarrod “Zombie” Saffy is unlucky.

7. Phil Waugh (Waratahs) Honourable mentions to Beau Robinson, Julian Salvi and Pieter Louw, but Waugh got a part-time job once as an Orc in a Lord of the Rings movie and they didn’t have to bother with makeup.

8. Nasi Manu (Highlanders) Scares small-to-medium sized kids as he walks down the street, and they shout “Boogieman” and run away crying. I know what you are going to say: what about Kieran Read, who was offered a leading role in a Saw movie? But somebody had to miss out.

9. Brendon Leonard (Chiefs) There was outstanding depth in this spot too. Januarie, Kockott and Sheehan had strong claims and McKibbin could even have got the nod, but he hasn’t started a game this year. Surely the gong has to go to a guy who shows consistency in being a truly ugly fucker week to week.

10. Aaron Cruden (Hurricanes) Outstanding talent: has a head like a busted crab yet it still has about 10 years to go getting bashed up. Could be world class by the end of his career.

11. Luke Rooney (Rebels) is so fucking ugly that his dog closes its eyes when it humps his leg.

12. Tana Umaga (Chiefs) Lots of candidates here but nobody else gets the bags under their eyes checked by Customs. Honourable mention to young Robbie Coleman, who looks like Woody from Toy Story.

13. Stirling Mortlock (Rebels) All time great in the position and has kept his form since that wonderful banjo sequence in the Deliverance movie.

14. Bjorn Basson (Bulls) Every team has to have a bolter and young Basson is the smokey in this team. But, I ask you, who else looks more like an undertaker whose haemorrhoids are flaring up? Sorry Sivi, but you have to make way for a younger bloke this year.

15. Gio Aplon (Stormers) Talk about shifty eyes: ever noticed that the guys who slip a knife into your ribs every now and then look just like Aplon? Pat McCabe was a chance, but shave away the bum-fluff from his face and he looks almost homely. Never mind, Pat: a few more years of running into brick walls as you do on the footie field and you could be in the Ones.

What do you think of our starting fifteen? Any truly world-class ugly fuckers who missed out?

World Cup Year - Wallabies Wildcards in the Pack

As World Cup approaches a number of Super Rugby players are pushing for wildcard selection

Wallabies
World Cup year ... which players are putting their hand up for a Wallabeis wildcard selection? Source: Vincent Yu / AFP
Melbourne Rebels winger Cooper Vuna is bullocking his way into the reckoning as a World Cup year wildcard, the sort of rugby meteor that flashes into the picture with perfect timing every four years.
The convert from the NRL has a long way to go to force a place in the 30-man squad for the showpiece event in September-October but Wallaby history is flecked with numerous examples of where "no way" has become "no way we can leave him out".
You only have to look as far as Wallabies team manager Rob Egerton to be a true believer that anything is possible in a World Cup year.
Egerton was 28 and a socks-down Sydney University club fullback with an attacking streak when given his break as a winger for NSW in 1991.
He rode the dream all the way to a World Cup Year triumph at Twickenham in a whirlwind Wallaby career of less than four months.
Rewind four years and it was Julian Huxley who started 2007 as a rank outsider for the World Cup yet was a worthy tourist to France.

Who do you think is in with a chance for a Wallabies wildcard? Have your say by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.

Troy Coker (1987), a young Joe Roff (1995), John Roe (2003) and Berrick Barnes (2007) are others who had the stars align just right so they made their Test debuts at World Cups.
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans has made it harder than ever to pinpoint potential wildcard selections for 2011 because he studied so many himself in 2010 when more than 40 players were used in Test sides or the midweek games on last year's European tour.
Look how far full-blooded power and a big motor took Ben McCalman as 2010's Test bolter because he started the year on the bench for the Western Force.
Here are the wildcards to have flashed onto Deans' radar during the early weeks of Super Rugby:
Cooper Vuna (Rebels): Has rough edges but his confidence to beat a man on the outside or simply run over him has been a feature. Has an appealing try-flavour.
Nick Phipps (Rebels): Halfback with a sharp running game and pass. Deans made him his bolter on last year's Wallaby tour after watching him at the Commonwealth Games sevens.
Rod Davies (Reds): Deans loves pure, brakes-off finishing speed and Davies has it. The try he scored against the Cheetahs when he used his pace to shrug off three defenders, operating in just 2m of space on the touchline, was Test class.
Luke Morahan (Reds): Two Wallaby tours and still only 20. If he takes this month's chances in the Reds starting line-up, 2011 could be anything for the strapping finisher.
Pat McCabe (Brumbies): Runs hard and straight all day. His versatility as a fullback-winger is a big plus. Played first Test minutes off the bench against Italy last November so Deans has an eye on him.
Nick Cummins (Force): Looks like he should be on guitar in a Kiss revival band with that big hair. An improver on wing who wants to play with the aggression of an African honey badger (his words).
Dan Vickerman (mid-year Waratahs): The former top Test lock played four games for English club Northampton in February and has to stay in nick for his June return for Waratahs. Tough 2.03m locks don't grow on trees.

SBW a nice headache for All Blacks

Crusaders star Sonny Bill Williams is one of the top two centres in Super Rugby, Tim Horan says

Sonny BIll Williams
Damaging ... Williams is causing oppositiong defences problems with his off-loading ability. Source: AFP
Sonny Bill Williams is creating an enjoyable selection headache for the All Blacks selectors ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Super Rugby Live on Fox Sports

Friday 15 April

Chiefs v Crusaders, 5.35pm
Fox Sports 3HD and Fox Sports 3

Rebels v Highlanders, 7.40pm
Fox Sports 3HD and Fox Sports 3

Saturday 16 April

Blues v Waratahs, 5.35pm
Fox Sports 3HD and Fox Sports 3

Reds v Bulls, 7.40pm
Fox Sports 3HD and Fox Sports 3

Sunday 17 April

Lions v Stormers, 01.05am
Fox Sports 2HD and Fox Sports 2

Cheetahs v Hurricanes, 03.10am
Fox Sports 2HD and Fox Sports 2

Brumbies v Force, 4.10pm
Fox Sports 2HD and Fox Sports 2
Williams turned in another dominant display for the Crusaders early Monday morning as he helped the Kiwis dispatch the Sharks 44-28 in a one-off match at Twickenham.
The entertaining spectacle was labelled "rugby to make you drool" and had British press gushing about both Super Rugby and SBW, after the former NRL star featured heavily in the five-try win with his trademark run and offload skills.
After returning from France to New Zealand with the goal of playing in the World Cup, all questions about whether Williams could adapt to the centres in rugby are now well and truly answered and his selection in the All Blacks squad is already a formality after five weeks.
Former Wallabies inside centre Tim Horan, a two-time World Cup winner at No. 12, believes Williams would currently still be on Graham Henry's bench but doesn't discount the giant centre changing the coach's mind.

Do you think Sonny Bill Williams will be one of the All Blacks starting centres at the World Cup or will they stick with Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith? Have your say at the bottom.

"The Kiwis have Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith and they tend to show loyalty and pick the incumbents first off, but Sonny Bill is starting to put a lot of pressure on," Horan said.
"He would be in the top two centres in the competition and the more he plays with Dan Carter and understands the game, he'll keep improving."
The form of Williams has jogged the memories of many Australians and Kiwis, who hadn't seen him play since leaving the NRL in 2008.
But Horan said the "apprenticeship" Williams had served in French rugby last year had helped educate the 108kg centre on how to transfer his skill and imposing size into rugby.
Williams's league instincts haven't fully disappeared - he was penalised for a shoulder charge on Ryan Kankowski - but a pre-match directive from the on-looking Henry to cut loose definitely worked.
"Ted [Henry] wants me to run the ball more, and I was trying to take that on board," Williams said.
Such was their collective brilliance in London, the Crusaders backline could comfortably swap red for black jumpers.
Led by star No. 10 Carter - who scored 22 points - they combined to tear apart the Sharks with four first-half tries that took the Kiwis to a lead of 34-10 before the Africans fought back.
With 35,000 in attendance the match raised over $NZ370,000 for earthquake-related charity, and was the perfect advertisement for Super Rugby.

Irish win tight London Derby

London Irish grabbed a 25-12 win over London Wasps at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday, keeping the former Premiership champions scoreless in the second half.

Irish led 15-12 at the break, having conceded two first-half tries, but a try by replacement hooker David Paice - coupled with their miserly defence and good discipline - saw them creep ahead of Harlequins on the Aviva Premiership log.

Wasps' tries were scored by centre Riki Flutey and hooker Rob Webber, with Exiles winger Tom Homer slotting one conversions and six penalties as the 2008/09 losing finalists remained in serious semifinal contention with this victory.

The scorers:

For London Irish:
Try: Paice
Con: Homer
Pens: Homer 6

For London Wasps:
Tries:
Flutey, Webber
Con: Walder

The teams:

London Irish: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Elvis Seveali'i, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Tom Homer, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 George Stowers, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Jamie Gibson, 5 Bob Casey, 4 Nick Kennedy, 3 Faan Rautenbach, 2 James Buckland, 1 Clarke Dermody (captain).     
Replacements: 16 David Paice, 17 Alex Corbisiero, 18 Paulica Ion, 19 Gary Johnson, 20 Richard Thorpe, 21 Adam Thompstone, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Darren Allinson

Wasps: 15 Mark van Gisbergen, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Dom Waldouck, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 David Lemi, 10 Dave Walder, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Will Matthews, 6 John Hart (captain), 5 Marty Veale, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Zak Taulafo, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Tom Lindsay, 17 Charlie Beech, 18 Ben Broster, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 Dan Ward-Smith, 21 Nic Berry, 22 Josh Lewsey.

Referee: Chris White
Assistant referees: Peter Huckle, Ashley Rowden


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