World Cup
A Scots rugby fan spoke of his anger after he was refused the sale of a scarf at the official Rugby World Cup store because he had a Scottish £ 20 note.
Peter Mechan had gone to see the Fiji vs Uruguay match on Tuesday and decided to browse the merchandise store for a souvenir.
He picked out a scarf and tried to pay with a Scottish £ 20 note he’d picked up on a recent visit to Edinburgh, but he said he was left “insulted” and upset when staff said they were not allowed to accept his cash.
Peter, 52, a senior IT project manager who lives in Milton Keynes, later returned to the store to try again and filmed his confrontation with the shop staff.
And after posting the video to Facebook, it was shared more than 4 500 times and scored 156 000 views in just 15 hours.
The Rugby News Service stats team have been doing their sums during the Pool phase of Rugby World Cup 2015 and have come up some intriguing and illuminating figures.
8 741 – Days between Japan’s 1st World Cup victory and their 2nd, against South Africa in Pool B on the opening weekend. They waited only 14 days to achieve their 3rd against Samoa.
2 020 – Points scored in the Pool phase at Rugby World Cup 2015, the lowest since the Rugby World Cup’s Pool phase was extended to 40 matches in 2003, an indication of the improving competitiveness of the 20 teams at the Rugby World Cup.
1 013 – Caps in the starting 15 of New Zealand’s team against Argentina, a world record for a test.
231 – Tries scored so far at Rugby World Cup 2015 in England, the fewest since the Rugby World Cup’s Pool phase was extended to 40 matches in 2003.
The agony etched on the face of Ireland’s iconic captain Paul O’Connell said it all. Clutching a hamstring during the 24 / 9 win against France on Sunday, the giant lock’s pain was physical and emotional. The group stages were where his Rugby World Cup 2015 would end.
As bruised and battered players take a deep breath, head for the ice baths and prepare to go again in the quarterfinals, some of their less-fortunate teammates will be forced to watch those matches from the stands, or on television.
The withdrawal of O’Connell on Tuesday, hard on the heels of fellow Ireland players Jared Payne and Peter O’Mahony, means that all 8 teams left in the competition will enter the knockout stages depleted, in some way, by injuries.
Ireland: Paul O’Connell replaced by Mike McCarthy:
Paul O’Connell’s 108-Test career is over after the Ireland captain sustained a severe hamstring injury in the victory over France in Cardiff on Sunday.
The 35-year-old lock will have surgery this week and not play again at Rugby World Cup 2015.
He led Ireland in 28 Tests and was also captain in 3 of his 7 Tests for the British and Irish Lions.
His replacement, Mike McCarthy, will join the squad in Cardiff on Tuesday.
The Springboks are likely to be at full strength when coach Heyneke Meyer picks his team to face Wales in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinal at Twickenham.
The Springboks reunited after going their separate ways for 4 days with their wives and girlfriends, exploring all parts of London – with 1 or 2 even heading across to France for their recess, and it was apparent that the Springboks would be able to select from all 31 in the squad when they make their team announcement on Wednesday.
While there were no new injuries, it seems Bok veterans JP Pietersen and Victor Matfield could also be fit for selection after overcoming their injuries that kept them out of the USA game.
Another player who missed that match, Jannie du Plessis, is also set to be fit for selection when the team is decided upon.
Ireland flanker Seán O’Brien and Argentina centre Marcelo Bosch have been cited for alleged acts of foul play.
Liam Williams injured against Australia
Liam Williams joined Wales’ World Cup casualty list after he was ruled out of the rest of the tournament on Sunday with a foot injury.
The 24-year-old Scarlets wing limped off with a foot problem during the 2nd half of Wales’ 15 / 6 Pool A defeat by Australia’s Wallabies at Twickenham on Saturday.
“Disappointing news out of camp this morning. Liam Williams ruled out of Rugby World Cup with foot injury,” said a statement on the Welsh Rugby Union’s Twitter feed on Sunday.
He is the 6th member of Wales’ original Rugby World Cup squad to be ruled out because of injury following Leigh Halfpenny, Rhys Webb, Scott Williams, Hallam Amos and Cory Allen.
Williams had to overcome a foot injury just to gain a place in coach Warren Gatland’s original 31-man squad.
Peter O’Mahony
Ireland flank Peter O’Mahony will play no further part in the Rugby World Cup after suffering knee ligament damage in his team’s victory over France.
There were continuing doubts over the future participation of captain and lock Paul O’Connell and flyhalf Jonny Sexton, who both went off injured in a ferocious 1st half of Sunday’s match won 24 / 9 by the Irish at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
“Peter O’Mahony suffered a knee ligament injury and is returning to Dublin. He will play no further part in the World Cup,” said Ireland team manager Michael Kearney.
“Paul O’Connell suffered a significant hamstring injury and was hospitalised overnight.”
Sexton, who limped off in the 25th minute, sustained a “groin injury” and was awaiting scans later Monday, Kearney said.
Jonny Gray
Ross Ford
Ross Ford and Jonny Gray are in danger of missing Scotland’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against the Australian Wallabies, after both were cited on Monday.
1st Choice hooker Ford and lock Gray, who forms an effective partnership with older brother Richie, have been cited for a lifting tackle during Scotland’s thrilling 36 / 33 win over Samoa on Saturday.
Their hearing will take place in London on Tuesday morning and will be heard by English lawyer Christopher Quinlan.
Kieran Read sitting on the ‘Naughty Chair” after being Yellow Carded in the Tonga game
The New Zealand All Blacks’ image as surefire Rugby World Cup winners is starting to fade.
Not only critics, but also the team’s fans, are beginning to question coach Steve Hansen’s master plan.
Even Kieran Read, the stand-in captain for Friday’s 47 / 9 win over Tonga, admitted there were problems to be addressed.
Hansen put on a bold front after the game, declaring himself “very happy” with the way things are going.
“What’s happening now is irrelevant. What happens next week will be and it’s about maintaining performances from here on in and winning,” he said after Tonga finally folded at St James’ Park.
“We had a plan and we stuck to that plan now we have to wait to see if it works.”
USA Eagles (8) 18 / 28 (17) Brave Blossoms (Final Score)
The United States Eagles and Japanese Brave Blossoms did battle in the 2015 Rugby World Cup at
Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester at 21:00 SA Time (20:00 BST, 19:00 GMT, 15:00 US Eastern Time, Monday 04:00 Japan Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Ireland (9) 24 / 9 (6) France (Final Score)
Ireland and France did battle in the 2015 Rugby World Cup at
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff at 17:45 SA Time (17:45 French Time, 16:45 BST, 15:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Italy (22) 32 / 22 (3) Romania (Final Score)
The Italian Azzurri and Romania did battle in the 2015 Rugby World Cup at
Sandy Park, Exeter, England at 15:30 SA Time (15:30 Italy Time, 16:30 EEST, 14:30 BST, 13:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Los Pumas (36) 64 / 19 (7) Namibia (Final Score)
The Argentinian Los Pumas and Namibia did battle in the 2015 Rugby World Cup at
Leicester City Stadium, Leicester, England at 13:00 SA Time (13:00 Namibia Time, 08:00 ARG Time, 12:00 BST, 11:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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England (21) 60 / 3 (3) Uruguay (Final Score)
England and Uruguay did battle in the 2015 Rugby World Cup at
Manchester City Stadium, Manchester, England at 21:00 SA Time (20:00 BST, 19:00 GMT, 16:00 Uruguay Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Wallabies (9) 15 / 6 (3) Wales (Final Score)
The Australian Wallabies and Wales did battle in the 2015 Rugby World Cup at
Twickenham Stadium, London, England at 17:45 SA Time (16:45 BST, 15:45 GMT, Sunday 02:45 AEST).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Samoa (26) 33 / 36 (23) Scotland (Final Score)
Samoa and Scotland did battle in the 2015 Rugby World Cup at
St James’ Park, Newcastle at 15:30 SA Time (14:30 BST, 13:30 GMT, Sunday 03:30 Samoa Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Leone Nakarawa
Leone Nakarawa and Fiji ended their RWC 2015 campaign with a 47 / 15 win over Uruguay, and with 32 pool matches completed across the tournament, the lists that measure individual performance in the tournament are almost all marked with a bit of the Glasgow Warriors’ lock.
As of 8 October, Nakarawa leads the tournament for offloads (10) and turnovers won (9), meaning the lock forward steals ball like David Pocock and offloads like Sonny Bill Williams. Or rather, they do it like he does, as he is ahead of both of them on the list of their respective specialities.
He is also 5th for most runs made (42), 7th for carries over the gainline (19), and in the top 20 of another 2 categories: 16th for most metres made (177m) and 20th for most tackles made (34). His presence in so many of the lists indicates a player who is, at the very least, central to the action in defence, and a huge threat in attack.
And huge is the right word. Nakarawa stands 1.98cm and weighs 117kg (6ft 6in, 18st 6lb), but his body frame is very much in proportion, which keeps him agile and quick. His agility allows him to stoop and steal ruck ball, and adjust his body shape for offloads; his speed allows him to utilise space and break the gainline when opportunities present themselves.
England coaches Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree will have restricted access to the England changing room and tunnel for England’s final Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool A match against Uruguay after being found to have breached the Match Officials Protocol that regulates communication between team members, coaches and match officials on match day. The breaches occurred during England’s match against Australia at Twickenham on 3 October.
Following submission of the usual post-match report, which identified the incident, members of the England coaching staff were investigated by the Rugby World Cup Disciplinary Officer for an alleged breach of the Match Officials Protocol, which prohibits unauthorised contact between coaches and team members with match officials on match day, in order to protect the integrity of the game. This includes the pre-match and halftime periods, which is when contact between Farrell, Rowntree and the assistant referees occurred.
All Blacks (14) 47 / 9 (3) Tonga (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks and Tonga did battle in the 2015 Rugby World Cup at
St James’ Park, Newcastle, England at 21:00 SA Time (20:00 BST, 19:00 GMT, Saturday 08:00 NZ & Tonga Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Mihai Macovei
Romanian captain Mihai Macovei will miss his country’s pivotal final Pool D match with Italy on Sunday after being suspended for a fortnight for a dangerous tackle.
The 28-year-old loose forward was hailed as a hero earlier in the week for his 2 tries in Romania’s superb comeback from 0 / 15 down to beat Canada 17 / 15 and set his team up for Sunday’s match where the winner will seal 3rd place and automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup.
However, he fell foul of the citing commissioner and has now been found guilty of a dangerous tackle during the Canada match.
“Mihai Macovei has been suspended for 2 weeks for a dangerous tackle contrary to Law 10(4)(e),” read the statement from the disciplinary commission.
Warren Gatland
Wales head coach, Warren Gatland, ruled himself out of the running to succeed England coach Stuart Lancaster by telling reporters: “I don’t think they can afford me.”
Although under contract until 2020, Lancaster’s time in his job could soon be up after England became the 1st Rugby World Cup hosts to be knocked out of the tournament at the group stages.
Wales played a key role in England’s demise with a thrilling 28 / 25 win over their old rivals at Twickenham.
Australia then delivered the telling blow to England’s hopes of getting out of the ‘Pool of Death’ with a comprehensive 33 / 13 win over Lancaster’s team last weekend.
Since England lost to the Wallabies, there has been plenty of speculation about how Lancaster could be out of a job following the team’s now ‘meaningless’ concluding Pool A match against Uruguay in Manchester on Saturday.
Gatland, whom England could have tried to appoint after the 2007 World Cup, the year before he oversaw his 1st match as Wales boss, has been 1 of several names linked with Lancaster’s job in recent days, along with Australia’s Eddie Jones and South Africa’s Jake White even though, as yet, there is no vacancy.
Stephen Betham, Samoa head coach
Samoa coach Stephen Betham claimed Thursday the Pacific island teams had been singled out over rough play and were warned about their discipline before the Rugby World Cup began.
As the penalties and Yellow Cards mount up against Samoa, Fiji and Tonga, Betham said the teams were “tainted. We were warned at the start.”
His outburst came as Samoa considered appealing a 5-week ban on Alesana Tuilagi for kneeing Harumichi Tatekawa as the Japanese player tried to tackle him.
The judicial ruling has been widely criticised on social media by former players as video replays indicated a problem with the technique of the much smaller Tatekawa as he tried to stop Tuilagi in full flight.
“We are feeling the pain,” Betham said of not being able to field the giant Newcastle wing in their final pool game against Scotland on Saturday.
Lwazi Mvovo, Greg Levendahl & Pat Lambie
After watching 2 of South Africa’s Rugby World Cup Pool B victories in England, Springbok bus driver Greg Levendahl, said he is leaving England knowing that Heyneke Meyer and his team will do well in the rest of the tournament.
The 62-year-old Levendahl, who has been driving the Springboks’ bus in South Africa for the last 8 seasons, supported the Springboks in their matches against Scotland in Newcastle and the USA in London.
It was his 1st trip abroad, made possible by the players, through their internal team fund, the South African Rugby Union and the Springbok team management, all of whom made contributions to pay for Levendahl to make the trip across to England.
Levendahl, whose nickname is ‘Getuie’ (Afrikaans for witness), is a firm favourite of all the players and he said it was wonderful to spend some time with them in England.
Bryan Habana scoring his hat trick try (64th Test try, 15th RWC try) against USA at the Rugby World Cup 2015
Bryan Habana’s hat-trick against the USA in their Rugby World Cup clash in London on Wednesday saw him tie not 1, but 2 try scoring records.
Habana’s feat saw him not only join All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu atop the all-time World Cup try scoring charts – with 15 – but also moved him into a tie with former Wallaby David Campese for 2nd spot in the overall Test try list (64).
Habana now trails Japan’s Daisuke Ohata (69) by 5 tries in the all-time list.
But who did Habana score his very 1st Test try against? And his 50th?
Lood de Jager… a truly smashing tournament for him!
With the South African Springboks now confirmed as topping their Pool B in the Rugby World Cup and thus making the quarters, we take a general peek at the news from the camp.
Today allegations surfaced that tighthead prop Frans Malherbe was involved in a “biting incident” during the USA game on Wednesday evening, but those rumours have been dismissed by World Rugby as unfounded.
Lood de Jager ranks high in all facets of play, with a host of tackles, many ball carries, great lineout statistics and all round inspired play. He is having a whale of a tournament and is growing in stature with every subsequent game.
The Springboks know that they still have plenty to work on, despite rebounding nicely after their bomb-shell loss against Japan in their 1st Rugby World Cup encounter. They now end No 1 in Pool B, whether Scotland win with a bonus point or not against Samoa on the weekend and whether Japan beat USA on the weekend as well. They feel that all aspects of their play must and should still improve.
In the meantime Jean de Villiers has re-joined the Springbok squad, after an operation on his broken jaw in South Africa, as adviser and not as player and he was seen supporting the Springboks on Wednesday evening from the stands, next to his other Springbok compatriots.
With England leaving the Rugby World Cup scene after their last Pool game, against Uruguay on the weekend, the rumour is now that the Springboks will take over and occupy their posh preparation base for the rest of their Rugby World Cup participation.
Gareth Anscombe
New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe will make his 1st international start after he was named in the Wales team for their crunch match against the Australia Wallabies.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made 6 personnel changes from the team that knocked out hosts England. Besides Anscombe’s inclusion to the starting 15, the team also sees star wing George North shift from the wing to outside centre to partner Jamie Roberts.
Anscombe forms part of a new-look back 3 alongside Alex Cuthbert and Liam Williams. Cuthbert will be making his 40th test appearance since making his debut against Australia back in 2011 whilst Williams returns from injury after missing the victory against Fiji.
Dan Biggar and Gareth Davies, who have collected the last 2 man-of-the-match awards in Wales’ victories continue their partnership at flyhalf and scrumhalf respectively.
Paul James returns from injury to start in the front row alongside hooker Scott Baldwin and prop Samson Lee. Luke Charteris comes into the starting line-up to partner Alun Wyn Jones, who makes his 99th Test appearance at lock.
Captain Sam Warburton switches to blindside flank and features alongside fellow British and Irish Lions Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.
Samoa coach Stephen Betham made 7 changes for the Pacific Islanders’ final Pool B game against Scotland in Newcastle on Saturday.
The 26 / 5 defeat against Japan in Samoa’s previous match prompted Betham to field new combinations in the midfield and among his loose forwards.
Rey Lee-Lo and George Pisi will form a new centre pairing, while Maurie Faasavalu, Jack Lam and Alafoti Faosiliva will be together in the loose forwards for the 1st time.
Samoa, who will be captained by scrumhalf Kahn Fotuali’i, cannot advance beyond the pool stages.
Jacques Burger
Namibia captain Jacques Burger has been ruled out of his country’s final Pool C game against Argentina on Sunday, thereby ending an illustrious international career.
Burger suffered a confirmed concussion, 9 minutes into the match against Georgia on Wednesday evening at Sandy Park in Exeter and will not be able to play against the Argentinian Pumas in Leicester.
Burger’s test career for Namibia spanned over 9 years and 36 caps, which included 3 Rugby World Cup appearances in 2007, 2011 and 2015. Last night he equalled Hugo Horn’s 11 Rugby World Cup appearances for his country.
Before the team’s departure for Leicester on Thursday morning, Burger reflected on his career.
“It was a huge disappointment that I could not complete last night’s match and an even bigger disappointment that I will not be able to play on Saturday. I am very proud of my team and it is not the way that you would want to end an international career. But that’s the game of rugby for you.”
Head Coach Vern Cotter today named the Scotland team to face Samoa in this Saturday’s decisive Rugby World Cup Pool B match at St James’ Park, Newcastle (kick-off 15:30 SA Time, 14:30 UK Time, 13:30 GMT).
A win would guarantee the Scots a place in the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup for the 7th time since the competition’s inauguration in 1987.
Standing in their way are the formidable Pacific Islanders who, despite being out of contention for the last 8, will look to end their campaign on a positive note.
Scotland Head Coach Vern Cotter, said: “Every Test match is a ‘must-win’ when you represent your country.
“We’ve put in a huge amount of work to get us to this point, and our performances and commitment have put us in a position to qualify for the last eight. We’ll need to be up to the challenge, enjoy the opportunity, and maintain the awareness needed to play to our strengths and impose our game.”
Namibia (6) 16 / 17 (0) Georgia (Final Score)
Namibia and Georgia did battle in the 2015 Rugby World Cup at
Sandy Park, Exeter, England at 21:00 SA Time (20:00 BST, 19:00 GMT, 23:00 Georgia Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Springboks (14) 64 / 0 (0) USA Eagles (Final Score)
The South African Springboks and United States Eagles did battle in the 2015 Rugby World Cup at
Olympic Park, London, England at 17:45 SA Time (16:45 BST, 15:45 GMT, 11:45 US EDT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Ma’a Nonu
Veteran midfielder Ma’a Nonu will play his 100th Test match for the New Zealand All Blacks, when they face Tonga in a Rugby World Cup Pool C match on Friday.
Nonu, who made his All Blacks Test debut in 2003, has had 83 Test starts in his stellar career, scored 29 tries and is the most capped All Blacks inside centre.
He will become the All Blacks 6th Test centurion on Friday and will line up alongside 3 of those centurions – hooker Keven Mealamu, prop Tony Woodcock and flyhalf Dan Carter.
“On behalf of the All Blacks, we would like to congratulate Ma’a on this special milestone,” All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said.
“He has been an incredibly valued member of our group for a very long time.
“He has been fully committed to enhancing the All Blacks jersey and the values that go with it.
Nili Latu
Tonga’s big-hitting captain, Nili Latu, is excited about facing up to his 1st and last All Blacks haka.
Having been controversially dropped from Tonga’s squad on the eve of the tournament 4 years ago, Latu was absent from the side beaten 10 / 41 by the hosts in the opening match of the 2011 Rugby World Cup at Eden Park in Auckland.
The only 3 previous meetings between the countries were before his time in the international arena – a 7 / 91 loss at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, the infamous 0 / 102 defeat at North Harbour in 2000, and a 45 / 9 win for the men in black at Bristol at the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
Jake White and Eddie Jones
In the aftermath of England’s dramatic fall from grace after becoming the 1st host nation which will not advance beyond the Pool stages of the Rugby World Cup, the speculation has been rife about the possible resignation or axing of England head coach, Stuart Lancaster.
Earlier in the week it was reported that Eddie Jones, high flying Japanese coach, has said he would listen to the English if he was approached for the job.
Now South Africa’s supreme mercenary coach and big friend of Eddie Jones, Jake White (who currently coaches Montpellier in France), has also thrown his name into the hat for the England job!
Like buzzards over a carcass, these coaches… I tell you!
Both mercenaries are currently employed or in Eddie Jones’ case about to enter into employment at the Stormers for the 2016 season, but both indicating that they are available!
Now that irks me to hell and gone and I’m sure it does not go down well in the rest of South Africa, specially in the Western Cape, where much is expected from Eddie Jones by the DHL Stormers and their supporters.