The Rugby World Cup 2007

Lee Coan wrote this article.
'No more experimentation Gareth'
There are not many occasions where I’d agree with Stephen Jones, The Times doyen of rugby writers, but this is one of them.
The ELV ’short arm’ sanctions were not adopted by the IRB this season after a vociferous campaign by the northern unions and journo fellow […]

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Lee Coan wrote this article.
Ahhh memories.
I am a bit of a believer in the Recency Factor when it comes to many things, but particularly when it comes to sporting memories. The Recency Factor is basically that you (or is it just I?) tend to overlook events or players that have happened more recently […]

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Lee Coan wrote this article.
He was Samo player!
The Blind Side Flanker position has been an interesting one for Australia, not only over the last decade, but in the last few decades. Whereas we’ve usually gone for out and out poachers at Open Side; Strong running Number 8s; Ball playing inside centres, and big […]

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Lee Coan wrote this article.
Pocock - the future or the now?
Wow. Only five players have worn the Number 7 Wallaby jersey in the last 123 tests.  That’s quite a record.  It is the same sort of record as scrum half and in both scenarios the position is dominated by a test centurion.
The list […]

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newsfeeds@nzherald.co.nz wrote this article.
The Six Nations is well and truly underway, the Tri-Nations will be smashing its way into our rugby lives this summer, and even Asia has set up its very own competition.  Meanwhile, Argentina sit alone in their bedroom with no-one to talk to, sending hopeful emails via Facebook and the […]

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Lee Coan wrote this article. Poor Argentina, with Six Nations, Tri Nations and now an Asian Five Nations, the Argies remain stuck without a tournament.
The brand spanking new Asian Five Nations series kicks off in April, and will feature five 15-a-side Asian teams including top-ranked Japan, the Arabian Gulf, Hong Kong, South Korea and […]

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Lee Coan wrote this article. I have no idea what’s going on here (my Spanish only stretches to “paella”) but this rugby team in Argentina have developed a pre-match ritual that might actually be more petrifying than New Zealand’s Haka. It’s half haka / half “the bumps”, but completely odd…
Read the rest of this […]

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Lee Coan wrote this article. This is a tricky one. Part of me loved the five nations, when it was just that five nations. Have Italy really brought much to the mix? What is the benefit of adding another side to an already busy international schedule.
However, on the other hand, the pumas are a […]

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Pip Smith wrote this article. French dicked
Argentina 34
France 10
For those of us who thought this game would be a damp squibb - wrong. Both sides turned up ready to rumble, as evidenced by the constant niggle and sniping throughout. But […]

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Jon Jones wrote this article. Boks 37
Pumas 13
If you look at the scorelines of the last couple of South Africa wins, you figure they’ve had it easy. But that’s not the case. For large parts of this game the Pumas controlled the ball (49% possession and 54% territory) and built some great momentum, to […]

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Matt @ Green and Gold Rugby wrote this article. Boks 37
Pumas 13
If you look at the scorelines of the last couple of South Africa wins, you figure they’ve had it easy. But that’s not the case. For large parts of this game the Pumas controlled the ball (49% possession and 54% territory) and built […]

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Jon Jones wrote this article. It’s all about momentum
Article by Sportsfreak, G&GR comments in green
The Southern Hemisphere’s Triumphant Weekend. The weekend that the upstarts come to Europe and show the gin-drinkers just who’s boss. Cue the start of 4 years of patronising the 6 Nations. Take that Stephen Jones you funny looking man.
Well that’s […]

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Jon Jones wrote this article. The Sunday Hangover
by Sportsfreak G&G comments in green
While all focus has been on Saturday’s quarter-finals featuring all 4 semi-finalists from last time around, there is another side of the draw. And they all play on Sunday. Sportsfreak looks forward to the matches which form the prelude to next weekend’s […]

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Jon Jones wrote this article. Islanders do themselves proud
Yesterday Tonga and Samoa brought some good old fashioned passion and excitement to the Rugby World Cup, while Argentina continued to justify their new world ranking. Here are the scores and a few thoughts on the games.
South Africa 30
Tongan torpedos 25
Tonga came within a gnat’s chuff […]

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Matt @ Green and Gold Rugby wrote this article. There are plenty of places where you can get the scoop on what happened over the weekend - Sportsfreak did a great job. So what I’m going to do here is a give a quick spray of the key talking points as I see ‘em.
France, […]

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