Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu
Samoan centre Eliota Fuimaono 
Sapolu was ordered to appear before an RFU disicplinary panel on Friday after being hit with three charges of “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game.”
Australia head coach Robbie Deans and Wales head coach Warren Gatland on Wednesday named their teams to play their Bronze Final of Rugby World Cup 2011 at Eden Park, Auckland, on Saturday 22 October at 09:30 SA Time.
Australia’s Wallabies have been left with a long injury list after their Rugby World Cup semifinal loss to New Zealand, with at least four players unavailable for Friday’s third-place playoff against Wales.
From a South African perspective the rugby calendar makes little sense. The way the international fixtures are currently set out does not really allow for any competition to run its course to completion, it has therefor been proposed that there will be a break in the Super Rugby competition next year to allow the June tour window, and then the Super Rugby competition will resume. In between all this, there is a Currie Cup that will now take a further step back to accommodate the Super Rugby and International fixtures.
Australian Rugby Union Chief executive John O’Neill has revealed that he will stand down in 2013 after the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
Though long have our Kiwi cousins walked in the shadow of the Valley of Death, through World Cup loss after World Cup loss, as an entire people plumbed the depths of despair, now, nowthe hour is upon them. The promised land is now just up ahead around the bend…
All Blacks (14) 20 / Wallabies (6) 6 (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks and Australian Wallabies did battle in the First Semi-Final of Rugby World Cup 2011 at Eden Park, Auckland 10:00 SA Time (21:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The All Blacks were ruthless and commited and deserve their place in next Sunday’s Final. It was however a brave effort by Australia but Quade Cooper should have clicked earlier for them to have any chance.
Tim Noakes has denied accusing anyone of match fixing or any claims that the Springboks’ quarterfinal match against Australia officiated by Bryce Lawrence was either ‘fixed’ or ‘bent’, as has been reported.
In a letter to Sport24, Noakes claimed that his statements had been misconstrued and taken out of context. Continue reading
Wallaby fullback Kurtley Beale has been named to start the Rugby World Cup Semi-final against New Zealand but will be given until l Saturday to prove his fitness.
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen has hosed down any speculation on Richie McCaw’s ability to play in New Zealand’s semi-final against Australia at Eden Park on Sunday. Continue reading
Australian fullback Kurtley Beale has a hamstring injury and is rated “touch and go” to play for Australia in Sunday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final with New Zealand at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Wallabies scrumhalf Will Genia says Australia will test the All Blacks new tarting flyhalf Aaron Cruden in their Rugby World Cup semifinal this weekend.
The “jackal at the tackle” has become common parlance at the World Cup, but it has never been better personified than in the shape of Australia flank David Pocock.
Retiring Springbok Captain John Smit and his outgoing coach Peter de Villiers have placed a large portion of the blame on New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence for their Rugby World Cup exit.
Australia are sweating on key Rugby World Cup injuries to Kurtley Beale, Pat McCabe and Sekope Kepu who will all undergo scans ahead of this weekend’s World Cup semi-final with New Zealand.
Springboks (3) 9 / Wallabies (8) 11 (Final Score)
The South African Springboks and the Australian Wallabies did battle in the Third Quarter Final in Wellington at 07:00 SA Time (18:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & 4, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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And so, the Springboks exit Rugby World Cup 2011….
The Wallabies will have to prove they are outstanding all-weather footballers as the anticipated wet and windy conditions during today’s quarter-final against the Springboks will play a major role in determining whether they stay at the World Cup or head home tomorrow.
In an exclusive column for the official Rugby World Cup 2011 match programme, South Africa’s RWC 2007 winning coach Jake White analyses this weekend’s epic quarter-finals.
Australia have all but restored the lineup they started the Rugby World Cup with for their Quarter final against South Africa.
At quarter-final time you play the game with your bags packed.
If you lose, you’re on the next flight out. It’s simple motivation to make sure you keep going for at least one more week.
Rugby’s equivalent of Hollywood’s famous “Brat Pack” went on show before a packed media contingent in downtown Wellington this morning, and while best mates James O’Connor, Kurtley Beale and Tatafu Polota-Nau attracted their share of interest, the spotlight was drawn to Quade Cooper, arguably the biggest gun in the World Cup west and certainly the Most Wanted.
If the old cliche about“Defence wins World Cups” applies, then the Wallabies and the All Blacks have cause for concern.
Winger Digby Ioane looks set to make a dramatic comeback for the Wallabies in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final against South Africa after fracturing his thumb last month.
Wallabies (47) 68 / Russia (5) 22 (Final Score)
The Australian Wallabies and Russia did battle in Nelson at 04:30 SA Time (15:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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After a very good first half it looked like the Wallabies were going to put over 100 points over the Russians, but the wheels came off a bit for the Wallabies in the second half and the brave Russians came back hard, almost outscoring the Wallabies in the second half.
The Wallabies also lost Drew Mitchell, with what looked like a bad hamstring injury, ahead of the looming quarter final.
Australia have been forced to name loose-forward Radike Samo on the wing against Russia and the only back reserves are two scrum-halves after they have been ravaged by injury.
Interpreting some games of rugby is akin to interpreting a Rorschach inkblot. The Rorschach Test was developed by Swiss psychologist Hermann Rorschach in 1921 to give insights into personality characteristics. It asks subjects to describe what they see in 10 symmetrical inkblots and the tester will make various assumptions about their personality according to the interpretation. – by John Eales
Wallabies (22) 67 / USA (5) 5 (Final Score)
The Australian Wallabies did battle with the USA Eagles in Wellington at 10:30 SA Time (20:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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The Wallabies scored 11 tries to a solitary try by the USA.
The injury toll on the Wallaby side will be worrysome for them, though.
Scrum-half Will Genia will captain an Australian side showing six changes from the one that lost to Ireland in Friday’s Pool C World Cup match against the United States.
Wallaby winger James O’Connor has been ruled out of Australia’s Rugby World Cup match against the USA with a strained hamstring.
Wallabies (6) 6 / Ireland (6) 15 (Final Score)
The Australian Wallabies did battle against Ireland at Eden Park, Auckland at 10:30 SA Time (20:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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In the first real upset in Rugby World Cup 2011, Ireland upset the apple cart and beat the Australian Wallabies.
No tries in the match, just hard, uncompromising rugby!
The Wallabies have suffered their first real Rugby World Cup blow as winger Digby Ioane has fractured his right thumb and will have an operation.
Wallabies (6) 32 / Italy (6) 6 (Final Score)
The Australian Wallabies did battle with the Italian Azurri in Albany at 05:30 SA Time (15:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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The Wallabies suddenly sprinted into life in the second half with a blitz of 4 tries, to put it well beyond the gutsy Italians.
At first glance this pool looks to be cut and dried, but when one looks deeper into each squad and the potential clashes, it soon becomes apparent that this group has the potential to throw up some HUGE upsets.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has retained the starting team that secured the Tri-Nations title two weeks ago and named James O’Connor on the bench.
It always intrigues me how partial and narrow-minded some of the New Zealand rugby commentators can be. The constant criticism of South Africa’s style of play and the ‘drooling’ over the New Zealand expansive game is something that irritates me immensely so as if there is only one way to play rugby and as if New Zealand has the perfect game.