The Rugby World Cup 2007

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Ratepayers are being asked to underwrite about $40 million to cover the cost of redeveloping Eden Park which is being revamped for the 2011 rugby World Cup.Radio New Zealand reported today that the Government has refused to increase…

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Auckland City Council (ACC) will not respond to requests for funding to underwrite some of the cost of the Eden Park revamp until it has seen a business case, Mayor John Banks says.The stadium is being redeveloped for the 2011…

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newsfeeds@nzherald.co.nz wrote this article.
Ratepayers are being asked to underwrite about $40 million to cover the cost of redeveloping Eden Park which is being revamped for the 2011 rugby World Cup.Radio New Zealand reported today that the Government has refused to increase…

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Planet Rugby | Rugby Union News wrote this article.
Georgia and Russia edge closer to RWC 2011 qualification, while Scotland’s defeat by France results in the only change to the latest IRB World Rankings.

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Planet Rugby | Rugby Union News wrote this article.
Georgia and Russia edge closer to RWC 2011 qualification, while Scotland’s defeat by France results in the only change to the latest IRB World Rankings.

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A fine-tuned version of the proposal to revamp Queens Wharf has received approval from three Auckland mayors.Auckland Transition Agency chairman Mark Ford - in charge of salvaging last year’s Government bid to sell civic leaders…

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There is still 18 months to go - but sharp homeowners are already queuing up to rent out their properties during the Rugby World Cup.And wealthy visitors can enjoy a personal chef, host and driver as long as they are willing to…

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admin wrote this article.
There is still 18 months to go - but sharp homeowners are already queuing up to rent out their properties during the Rugby World Cup.And wealthy visitors can enjoy a personal chef, host and driver as long as they are willing to…

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Planet Rugby | Rugby Union News wrote this article.
Russia’s dream of a first ever Rugby World Cup appearance could move a step closer when the European Nations Cup resumes this weekend.

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Flanker George Smith, one of only four Australians to reach the 100-test milestone, announced his retirement from international rugby on Friday.The 110-test veteran recently approached Australian Rugby Union and ACT Brumbies officials…

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Lee Coan wrote this article.

It's time to say goodbye!

Wallaby Legend George Smith is leaving the building.  In this odd metaphor, harking back to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the King is George Smith and the ‘building’ is the Wallaby team. In a somewhat surprising development, we today learn that we will never get the chance to see George Smith play for the Wallabies again. Effective the end of the Super 14 season this year, Smith will no longer play rugby in Australia, having been granted a release by both the Brumbies and the ARU.
It is a stunning development for someone who has achieved everything in world rugby – except for a World Cup win.  Given his retirement will commence a little over 12 months prior to the kick of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the decision seems even more staggering.  Now, Australia are by no means certainties to bring home the Web Ellis Cup, but we’re in with a shot. And regardless of the emergence of David Pocock, Smith is still a valuable and almost indispensable part of this Wallaby team.
But it is his decision and the ARU and the Brumbies should be commended for granting him the release.  There is no one who deserves it more for George Smith has been an absolute servant of the game in this country, being one of our most recognisable properties, whilst also being our most consistent performer and one of our few World Class players in this last decade.  A fact realised by him being named G&GR’s Wallaby Player of the Decade, earlier this year.
He’s done it all. Super 12 titles. Bledisloe Cups. Tri-Nations wins. He’s even been apart of a series victory over the British and Irish Lions, and their aint many Wallabies who can lay claim to that!
For me, he’s been one of those players who had the ability to simply amaze me with his play. Whether it be is ability to make the covering tackle and secure the turnover all in the one movement. Or some of his sublime try making passes. And the kicks. Oh the kicks.
I remember his test debut in France, watching it late at night, and being amazed at this teenager’s abilities to mix it with the tough French pack. He got a yellow card that game.  But won man of the match and we won the test. Nice start. Not long after he was playing a crucial role in that amazing series win over the Lions. What a baptism of fire.
And to his last test, which we didn’t know would be his last. Disappointedly, somewhat, he came off the bench. But it was still to be a phenomenal performance against the Welsh last year, a game we won on the back of a brilliant David Pocock performance in the first half and a brilliant George Smith performance in the 2nd.  And how fitting has that match turned out to be. Not only did it feature the man who is set to wear Smith’s 7 […]

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Lee Coan wrote this article.

But surely that's……

Brumbies
•  Matt To’omua was my MOTM.  I have never seen him have such a good running game as tonight.  He had a much better night than Lealiifano playing 12.  Nor did Mortlock look that special.
•  AAC – rather than write 2 paragraphs, here’s 2 words – sheer class.  Add a third: surety.
•  Frankie Fainifo looked bloody dangerous every time the Ponies got the ball to him which was not that often because they usually dropped it before it got out there.  Once he beat Carter when he got him going the wrong way and he dished it out for AAC to score.  He nearly scored a try himself when Carter came out of the line to snuff out an overlap but didn’t get there on time.  Fortunately for the Tahs both the pass and catch were inferior.  Alfi Mafi was quiet.
•  Stephen Hoiles had a brilliant 1st quarter with 2 long runs, one from a scrum palming off Burgess.  He had the whole Tahs team going backwards.
•  Stephen Moore was class but props Shepherdson and Ma’afu did not impress in any area.
•  Mark Chisholm had the angriest, highest work rate  for the Ponies, with Moore not far behind.
Waratahs

•  Cliffy Palu was hard to handle all night and if he wasn’t running over folks, TPN was, however Tatafu stills needs to work on passing the ball before he goes to ground, or before the tackle, as he’s losing too much pill.  Again.
•  Cam Jowitt looked very handy in the lineout  and was very aggressive in his play.  Looks like another Dean Mumm type; so watch this space.  Mowen was back to top form when he came off the bench too.
•  Chris Thomson had a good game when he came on and once jumped over a ruck with the ball and ran down touch and when challenged grubbered the ball for a good gain.  By contrast the form Tah lock of the 1st two trials, Kane Douglas, was quiet.  Dud Roodt didn’t have a big stint but a couple of times I watched for him he was moving people around in the ruck.  Looked trimmer than the photos.
•  Berrick Barnes was nothing special and had a ordinary kicking game for him and was putting the ball out on the full when he shouldn’t have, and not when he should have.  Nor was Daniel Halangahu much at 12, though to be fair the Brumbies defence was in his face most of the night.  Tom Carter had an ordinary night.
•  In the 3rd quarter Peter Betham ran through the Brumbies like a dose of salts.  It sparked up the game which was dead in the 2nd quarter after a willing 1st quarter.  I thought: wait a minute – Pete must be wearing no 21 not 29 – no that’s Pete over there – checked my list and it’s Ben Seymour – can’t be, it’s a brown lad.  Bloody hell, it was Kurtley Beale with a no.2 haircut, playing 12 […]

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Lee Coan wrote this article.

Big Kev Flanker? Bollocks

Here we are at the sharp end of the Super 14 trial phase and we’ve whittled down the contestants like an audition for So You Think You Can Dance.
The final trial between the Queensland Reds and the Western Force gets underway in Perth tomorrow night at ME Bank Stadium, a potential sandgroper version of the House of Pain.
Winning at home has been painful sometimes for the Force over the past four years but they’re hoping the move to their new rectangular stadium will bring with it a cauldron-like atmosphere and a change of luck.
I think the reality of this trial is that there’d be few positions up for grabs in both teams for next week’s Super 14 opener.
For the Force, there’s no appearance due to injury of André Pretorius, Haig Sare, Ryan Cross, Ryan Tyrell and of course Nick Cummins.
Why would they play Pretorius and risk their injury-prone marquee signing? They’ll be carefully managing him throughout the season, I have no doubt about that.
I’d imagine in the forwards the only spots up for grabs would be in finalising the props and hooker. Whittaker would have the early running due to Tyrell’s injury – Cowan is the reserve hooker tomorrow.
James Parsons, a Kiwi hooker from NPC side North Harbour, who has been over trialling for a development spot won’t be signed. He has a contractual dispute with his province and has never actually been a free agent.
I’d think Cowan and Dunning might have the starting prop positions sown up but it looks a pretty competitive race.
In the backs it’s all about James. It will depend on which position Rabbit is selected in as to the makeup of the backline. There are early signs that it could be at fullback but I think that would seriously deplete their attacking capacity.
Tomorrow, we’ll see Josh Tatupu, Mitch Inman and perhaps Sam Harris trial in the centres and they have three options at five eighths – Bartholomeusz, Harris again and Stefano Hunt (another young Queensland product).
For the Reds, Link has thrown a spanner in the works and named Big Kev Horwill on the flank. There’s been a lot of talk about his speed and athleticism, and wanting to get him more involved but I think its all a load of old bollocks.
I think they’re trying to decide who’s going to be his locking partner with Adam Byrnes finally stepping up and challenging Van Humphries.
They also want Kev on the park because he needs game time and he’s the bloody captain. Simple analysis, don’t you think?
Hanson is playing for a bench spot against Saia Faingaa, who’s turning out for the Seconds on Saturday. This will be a make or break season for Faingaa the Older.
I can’t see them going past Ezra Taylor, Higgo and Braid as their starting loose trio next week. The props also appear settled in Daley and Chubby Cheeks.
In the backs, it’s looking close to the real deal except I doubt Rodney Davies will last, especially with his paper-thin defence.
I […]

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Lee Coan wrote this article.
By Brumby Jack
The NSW Waratahs have beaten the ACT Brumbies 15- 7 at Viking Park Erindale in front of a healthy crowd, including interested onlookers Robbie Deans and John Mitchell.
The game was riddled with handling mistakes and the shrill (or thrill) of Steve Walsh’s whistle at every given opportunity.
The first 5 minutes was full of mindless midfield bombs from both teams, in particular Barnes for the Waratahs.
After about 7 mins a break down the right wing by the Brumbies led to a penalty to the Brumbies right in front. Surprisingly, a shot at goal was declined and the Brumbies took the scrum which resulted in a penalty to NSW. The Waratahs scrum was rather dominant on the night and pushed back the Brumbies on numerous occasions to the point where Steve Walsh was giving free kicks for delayed feeds by Valentine later in the game.
The first Waratahs adventure into the Brumbies 22 also led to a penalty and a kick for touch instead of taking a shot at goal. From the line out Phil Waugh got off the bottom of the pile and claimed a 5 pointer which was woefully unconverted by Berrick Barnes.
Not long after, Franky Fainifo made a midfield break for the Brumbies down the left side and left ‘returning Wallaby’ Tom Carter in all sorts of trouble and clutching at thin air as Ashley-Cooper went over in the corner, with Mortlock converting for a 7-5 lead.
At about the 20 minute mark, a Brumbies scrum just on their side of halfway was picked up by Hoiles at the back (only because it was going backwards at such a rate) and he went on run down the field which eventually led to a penalty right in front.
Once again, the Brumbies declined the shot at goal and went for a scrum which was poorly executed and was knocked on.  This was a feature of the Brumbies play all night, with numerous dropped ball in attacking positions.
The next 10 or so minutes was pretty much back and forth play with no real excitement to speak of.
After 28 mins, Barnes had a shot at a penalty goal, which was successful to make it 8-7.
Right at the end of the half NSW had atttacking scrums in the 22 but the Brumbies somehow held on and went into the sheds at 8-7.
The 2nd half was a little more exciting with long attacking moves made by both teams, but neither could finish off with a try. One particular move by the Brumbies was halted by Sosene Anesi ripping the ball out of a Brumbies players grasp within sight of the try line.
The middle part of the half was once again featuring midfield bombs by both teams which wasn’t really achieving anything. But once it stopped, the Waratahs led a play down the left which Josh Holmes finished off with a nice try. This was converted by Halangahu for the score of 15-7 which would end up being the final score because […]

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Lee Coan wrote this article.
We’re not covering it from the ground, but here are a few tweet feeds to keep you up to date.
ACT Brumbies vs NSW Waratahs trial match 2010

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