IRB Sevens 2007/2008
RWC Sevens places at stake in Punta del Este

(IRB.COM) Thursday 17 January 2008
The first Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 regional qualifier gets underway in Uruguay on Friday with eight nations contesting the men's and women's events.


Total Rugby Radio

Future of Pumas kicks off IRB Debate Series
(IRB.COM) Thursday 17 January 2008

Gus Pichot is on the panel as the first in a new series of IRB Debates tackles the way forward for Argentina, plus the second part of our Dallaglio exclusive.


Women's Rugby
Lady luck shining on Brazil

(IRB.COM) Thursday 17 January 2008
Brazil's women are closing in on their dream of RWC Sevens 2009 qualification, an achievement which could really boost rugby's popularity in the country.


Features

Dallaglio: The early years
(IRB.COM) Wednesday 16 January 2008

From early school days on the wing to Lions honours and the England captaincy, Lawrence Dallaglio's rugby story has never been dull.


IRB Sevens - New Zealand
Record Sevens star returns for England

(IRB.COM) Tuesday 15 January 2008
IRB Sevens all-time leading point scorer Ben Gollings returns for England alongside other exciting game-breakers in Ayoola Erinle and Danny Care.


IRB Sevens - Hong Kong

Zimbabwe return to Hong Kong Sevens stage
(IRB.COM) Tuesday 15 January 2008

Zimbabwe will end a 10-year absence from the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens after being named in the 24-team field for the 28-30 March showpiece.


Features
Gatland looks to the future for Wales

(IRB.COM) Tuesday 15 January 2008
Warren Gatland reveals that Wales hosting the IRB Junior World Championship 2008 will help him shape his plans for the next four years.


IRB Sevens 2007/2008

RWC Sevens qualifier process set for kick off
(IRB.COM) Tuesday 15 January 2008

The first of seven regional qualifiers for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 will take place in Punta del Este, Uruguay, this weekend.


IRB Sevens - New Zealand
Pelenise and Ioasa named in trial squad

(IRB.COM) Monday 14 January 2008
Afeleke Pelenise and Tafai Ioasa are among 27 players selected by New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens to attend a four-day trial camp in Mt Maunganui.


IRB Sevens - New Zealand

Amor facing new Sevens challenge
(IRB.COM) Sunday 13 January 2008

Simon Amor rules himself out of this season's IRB Sevens World Series, but commits to England's women as they begin their push for next year's World Cup.


IRB Sevens - New Zealand
Familiar faces return for South Africa

(IRB.COM) Saturday 12 January 2008
Jonathan Mokuena and Tobela Mdaka return to South Africa's 12-man squad for the IRB Sevens World Series events in New Zealand and USA.

1 The joy on coach Jake White's face as he relaxed after finally delivering a World Cup for South Africa after the most difficult four years of his life. Good guys sometimes come first.


Mick Cleary: French festival will be a hard act to follow

The Amateur: Drowning the sorrows in Paris


2 Moses Rauluni, Fiji's scrum-half and captain, producing the finest individual performance of the World Cup during Fiji's defeat against South Africa.


3 Georgia captain Ilia Zedginidze, on one leg with a chronic knee injury, giving his all against Ireland before announcing his retirement. Dignified but unheralded rugby warrior.


4 The England fans' celebrations in Paris after defeating France in the semi-final. Long, raucous, very alcoholic but supremely grateful and disbelieving.


5 Pumas fly-half Juan-Martin Hernandez throwing out the most sumptuous, long left-handed spin pass to help create Argentina's wonder try against France last Friday.


6 Fiji v Wales at Nantes: 80 minutes of rugby bliss for the neutral, heart-attack territory for the partisan. One of the maddest and most exciting games ever.


7 Mathew Tait's run against South Africa in the final and his subsequent assurance when switched to full-back. A major talent is beginning to blossom.


8 Sebastien Chabal's look of total menacing disdain as the New Zealand haka advanced on the French at Cardiff. The rest is history.


Day-to-day living was our key says Ashton
Will Greenwood: Springboks show real style

Champions' future is still in the mix


9 Agustin Pichot saying farewell to international rugby with a slow walk around Parc des Princes with his two children after the Pumas second win over France.


10 My big breakout: visiting the little-known German U-Boat pens in Bordeaux and stumbling on a rehearsal of Carmen in the bowels. Totally awesome.


Source: Brendan Gallagher in The Telegraph

A funny thing happened on the way to the Rugby World Cup final. One of the teams was mildly chided by their coach for playing rugby.


England's coach Brian Ashton is 80 minutes of 10-man rugby away from becoming Sir Brian Ashton – the reward for Clive Woodward and Alf Ramsey in taking England to World Cup glory.


I heard a radio grab of a comment he made yesterday which was so positively anti-rugby that any uncommitted rugby lover could have no business barracking for England to win the final against South Africa on Saturday.

"We back players to be able to adapt (in style), and this is what we did," Ashton said of England's semi-final win over France. "In fact, we played too much rugby."

Most chillingly for people who truly love rugby union, it didn't sound as if he was joking either.

Ashton explained:

"About 10 minutes into the second half we were throwing the ball around our 10m line. But why not kick for position and see what France could do with it?"

Played "too much rugby"? Isn't rugby what should be played at a Rugby World Cup?

Read more »

New Zealand's last man standing at the World Cup, Steve Walsh, was cut off at the knees by Argentina, who accused the Kiwi whistleblower of performing inconsistently during their 37-13 semifinal loss to South Africa yesterday.


Walsh dished out two yellow cards in the fiery match for foul play and his performance appeared sound. But that didn't stop Pumas coach Marcelo Loffreda from giving him a tongue lashing.

"We could not understand the referee in the first half," Loffreda said.
"I think that they never explained what was going to happen in the mauling and two times we were called for obstruction.
"South Africa did (the same thing) in the second half and they were not called for obstruction and we could not understand it."

Walsh penalised the Pumas for truck-and-trailer infringements twice. This negated Argentina's powerful mauling game but the penalties appeared legitimate and, tellingly, South Africa voiced no complaints.


Referees have been the focal point for much criticism during the tournament.

Read more »

In a World Cup where Argentina have emerged from the status of dark horses for qualification from the pool stage to potential winners of the competition, they have impressed more than they did today but even a substandard performance was enough to end Scotland’s hopes of making the semi-finals.


Marcello Loffreda's side began the match relying on Garryowens from the gilded boot of Juan Martin Hernandez, the tactic that undid the France in the opening game of the tournament, and completed it by setting up a now-familiar unimpeachable defence. In the interim they profited from a Scotland display undermined by bad errors and limited by a lack of imagination.



The opening try resulted from one such mistake. His side 6-3 trailing after three converted tries, Dan Parks had a clearance kick charged down from a defensive lineout and Gonzalo Longo darted between two Scottish defenders to touch down - why Rory Lamont did not dive on the ball only he can explain.

Read more »