Archive for ‘Match Previews’
Saturday, October 20th, 2007
Martin Corry has revealed England’s “major motivation” for their showdown against South Africa on Saturday - fear of failing to do justice to the tag of world champions.
England, remarkably, have arrived as World Cup finalists despite losing 25 of their 46 Tests since Martin Johnson held aloft the Webb Ellis Trophy four years ago.
The 25th defeat - and unquestionably the most painful - came just five weeks ago when they crashed 36-0 to Pool A winners South Africa.
But despite facing overwhelming odds, they now find themselves one win away from creating rugby history as the first country to be crowned world champions twice in succession.
Leicester flanker Corry, captain in the absence of a suspended Phil Vickery against South Africa last time out, said: “Since 2003, we haven’t done the crown of world champions justice.
“That has been our major motivation.
“But it is not about what we’ve done between the World Cups, it’s about now, going into this game and doing it purely for ourselves.
“It cannot come around quickly enough. Playing in a final is everything.
“It’s like you spend your whole life dreaming and waiting to play in a World Cup final, but when you get there you try to downplay it because you don’t want to let the occasion get to you.
“When you reach a World Cup final, you want to be playing your best rugby.”
While England recovered from the Springboks drubbing by reeling off successive wins against Samoa, Tonga, Australia and France, South Africa continued on an unbeaten march, which included brushing aside Fiji and Argentina in the knockout stages.
They have scored 263 points in six games, compared with England’s 134, and posted 33 tries - 21 more than Corry and company.
On top of that, South Africa also possess the competition’s top points scorer and try scorer in Percy Montgomery and Bryan Habana, respectively.
Corry added: “I think what they (South Africa) have done is enhance their reputation even more.
“They’ve always had a direct physical game, but in the last year or two they’ve started playing a wider attacking style of play.
“There is a big physical confrontation up front. We didn’t match that in the pool game, but we’ve got another chance at it now.
“Where we have made strides is in our perception of ourselves.
“It is all very well sitting here talking about our progression though, but it means nothing if we don’t produce on Saturday.
One of the biggest challenges for England will be counting down the clock to a 9pm kick-off, local time.
Corry said: “With a nine o’clock kick-off, there is a lot of down-time.
“If I had the choice, every kick-off would be at 12 (noon), when you can just get up, have breakfast, get on the bus and go to the game.”
Mark Cueto has replaced the injured Josh Lewsey in the England team for Saturday’s clash - the only team change.
South Africa flanker Schalk Burger believes playing “hero rugby” would be the worst route for his side to take in the final.
The Springboks go into the Stade de France clash as favourites following their unbeaten run to the final and a melange of power up front and cutting edge in the backs has made Jake White’s men the stand-out team in this competition.
Burger is confident that “keeping it simple” and playing the percentages is the way to go against England.
“We don’t have to do anything new,” said the Stormers flanker, who was suspended for the meeting between the two countries last month.
“We just have to stick to the same gameplan, but maybe do it a little bit better.
“Jake has just told us to keep it simple and do what we have been doing over the past few weeks. And that’s what we are going to try to do.
“There is no room for hero rugby on Saturday, it’s just about doing the basics well. Hopefully that will be enough.”
“We know what they can offer because we have faced them before. So we are pretty well prepared for this,” he added.
“We just have to go out there are play good rugby like we have been doing.
A South Africa win on Saturday will end a long 12-year wait for world glory for the rainbow nation.
Burger wa
s a fresh-faced 12-year-old when the class of 1995, led by Francois Pienaar, defeated the All Blacks in Johannesburg to raise aloft the Webb Ellis Trophy for the first time.
He knows the whole country is pushing the team on this weekend.
“It’s been crazy back home - I think South Africans are wearing green to work!” he said.
“Twelve years ago, I didn’t understand what was going on. I had my face painted in green and after the final whistle, we didn’t watch the presentation - we just went out and played rugby on the lawn.
“We won that day and I hope we can do the same on Saturday.”
Jake White has named an unchanged starting XV for the Paris encounter.
Tags: rugby betting, rugby union betting, rugby world cup
Posted in Match Previews |
Friday, October 19th, 2007
France captain Raphael Ibanez insists the stakes remain high going into his side’s World Cup bronze-medal match against Argentina.
The tournament’s play-off for third and fourth place is seen by many as a non-event - but it has some added spice this time round.
Les Bleus took a blow to their pride in losing to the Pumas 17-12 on the opening night of the competition, and the hosts will be gunning for revenge.
It also signifies the last match as France coach for Bernard Laporte, while a number of the team’s players - such as Fabien Pelous and Ibanez - will probably be bidding farewell to the international game.
From Argentina’s point of view, they will be looking to again show they are worthy of a place on rugby’s top table and are a force to be reckoned with.
Both teams appear to be taking it seriously, with Ibanez labelling it a “special match”.
“Any match for the French team should be treated with due respect,” said the Wasps hooker, whose side lost to England in heartbreaking fashion in last Saturday’s semi-final.
“I’ll be happy to be there. I’m not the sort to run away, even after a loss in a World Cup semi-final on French soil.
“Argentina hurt us during the opening match, so it’s obviously going to be a special match.
“I felt privileged to see my name on the list as I wasn’t really expecting it. Now I’m ready for a good match - we need it.”
The mood in the French camp will have been downbeat all week, considering the manner of their defeat to England.
“We’re kind of in-between at the moment - we’re halfway between the loss in the semi-final and the bronze-medal match,” added Ibanez.
“But that’s normal; it takes time to deal with that kind of thing.”
Laporte, who will take up a role as junior minister for sport in Nicolas Sarkozy’s French government after the World Cup, believes the match is important in view of the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations Championship.
“The players have their pride, their will to win,” he said.
“Many of them will be eager to put on a good show as their career is continuing. In three months’ time, there’s the Six Nations.
“So this third-place match is a step in their career.”
He added: “We’ve got a heavy heart but we owe it to ourselves to finish well. We played a great quarter-final against New Zealand and narrowly lost the semi-final.
“Now we must secure this third place.”
Laporte has made a host of changes to the side that lost 14-9 to England.
The likes of Clement Poitrenaud, Aurelien Rougerie and David Skrela return in the backs, with the latter lining up at centre.
He was originally set to partner Damien Traille in midfield, but the Biarritz man has today been ruled out with a knee injury, his place going to David Marty.
In the pack, only Ibanez, prop Pieter de Villiers, lock Jerome Thion and flanker Thierry Dusautoir keep their places.
Argentina have made five changes to their starting XV, four coming up front.
Hooker Alberto Vernet Basualdo, prop Omar Hasan, lock Rimas Alvarez Kairelis and flanker Martin Durand are the forwards recalled, while winger Federico Martin Aramburu comes in behind the scrum.
Captain Agustin Pichot keeps his place at scrum-half, although the veteran hinted he may have another international game in him after the bronze-medal match.
“It could be my last game, but I would very much like to do that in Argentina,” he said.
Coach Marcelo Loffreda will move to Leicester Tigers after the World Cup, and he admits he is approaching tomorrow’s clash with a heavy heart.
“It is not only my end, it is the end of a long cycle and all these years have been a part of me,” he said.
“The fact that I have been able to share so many hours with the players means I will leave all this with huge pain and nostalgia.”
Tags: rugby world cup odds, world cup rugby, rwc betting
Posted in Match Previews |
Sunday, October 14th, 2007
South Africa have never lost a Test match against Argentina - but Springboks skipper John Smit is wary of a powerful Pumas challenge in their World Cup semi-final.
Both teams will arrive at Stade de France with unbeaten tournament records.
South Africa comfortably topped England’s qualifying pool, smashing the world champions 36-0 on their way through, while Argentina dominated a group that also included France and Ireland.
All 11 previous games between South Africa and Argentina went the the Springboks’ way, including seven wins in Buenos Aires, where teams like England and France have previously come unstuck.
Smit though, has urged caution as South Africa look to reach their first World Cup final since 1995.
He said: “We have tweaked one or two things for this game, and Sunday will tell whether we’ve analysed them (Argentina) in the right way.
“Time will tell if we have done enough homework.
“We are under no illusions that it will be tough after what they have done in this World Cup.
“What I like about them is they don’t rely on individuals.
“They have some fantastic individuals, but the way they play, they work as a team. They have fantastic forwards and backs that chase the ball and put their bodies on the line.”
Springboks coach Jake White has made one change for the game, recalling fit-again prop CJ van der Linde following his recovery from a knee injury, while Argentina retain the side that accounted for quarter-final opponents Scotland.
South Africa would realistically expected to meet Australia or New Zealand in the final next Saturday, but both made quarter-final exits at the respective hands of England and France.
And Smit added: “It makes you realise what the World Cup means when you get to the knockout phase.
“The quarter-finals are one of the hardest rounds to play. Of the eight teams involved, I don’t think anyone played their best rugby.
“To see the two top teams go out, it makes you realise there is a lot to play for. They were beaten by two teams who are still in, and who can play under pressure.”
Performing under pressure was something South Africa successfully managed during the closing quarter of a tricky quarter-final against Fiji, scoring 17 unanswered points, and they have now replaced New Zealand as tournament favourites.
Springboks full-back Percy Montgomery said: “There has been a lot of planning since 2004. Jake (White) has done a lot of building for this match at the Stade de France.
“We’ve just got to keep the ball on Sunday, that’s the most important bit.
“Argentina’s strength is their forwards, but they have pretty good backs too. Anything can happen.
“We’ve got to get them to play the way we want to play, and force them to play the way we want to play.”
Felipe Contepomi insists Argentina’s long-term future must be as part of an expanded Tri-Nations tournament to ensure their World Cup legacy is not wasted.
In Contepomi and fly-half Juan-Martin Hernandez, Argentina boast two of the five-man shortlist nominated for the International Rugby Board’s player of the year award.
And this week IRB chairman Dr Syd Millar reacted to Argentina’s rise - which has included wins over England, France, Ireland and Scotland in the last 12 months - by declaring they cannot be “neglected” anymore.
But the question is: Where do the Pumas fit?
In a new Seven Nations tournament on the basis their players are all based in Europe, or alongside southern hemisphere powers Australia, New Zealand and South Africa?
Contepomi accepts the short-term answer would be to join the Six Nations - but he does not think that would help the development of Argentinian rugby.
He is anxious Argentina build on the legacy of their recent achievements to ensure this World Cup campaign is not remembered as a flash in the pan.
“I think if we go to the southern hemisphere we have to be based in the southern hemisphere. We have to have a professional tournament at home and develop a professional structure,” said Contepomi.
“If it is in the northern hemisphere it could be good for the short term, for this team of the Pumas, but you will be depending on many European teams contracting Argentine players.
“If, in 20 years’ time, that doesn’t happen then you will have a very big problem. You have to make the way of growing Argentinian rugby, just not putting the Pumas in the competition.”
Argentina will continue their “Latino dream” - as John Eales described it this week - against the Springboks in Paris.
Win or lose, the run to the semi-finals has made a huge impression back home, where `Puma-mania’ is even sidelining football which can only be good for rugby.
“This is an opportunity that I don’t know when Argentinian rugby will have again,” said Contepomi.
“It is great news to know that rugby is the main subject for this month back home.
“We know that people have always been very supportive and now there is a lot of people who have never seen rugby and they see something in this team and that is good for Argentina.”
The Pumas were jaded in the closing stages of their quarter-final win over Scotland last weekend after two huge performances in the pool victories against France and Ireland.
The players have admitted as much and coach Marcelo Loffreda eased the load this week to help the squad recharge their batteries.
Fatigue could prove a key factor but no-one who has watched Argentina through this World Cup could deny their levels of passion and commitment - and that includes Springboks coach Jake White.
“They are not just playing for the Rugby World Cup, they are playing for rugby in Argentina. Everyone knows they are looking for opportunities to play internationally and keep their players on top,” he said.
Tags: rugby world cup, 2007 rugby world cup, rugby union betting
Posted in Match Previews, Rugby World Cup News |
Saturday, October 13th, 2007
England captain Phil Vickery has called for “a sacrifice of body and soul” from his players when they target a second successive World Cup final appearance on Saturday.
The reigning world champions - tournament no-hopers a month ago after South Africa humiliated them in record-breaking 36-0 fashion - now head back to Stade de France as one of only four countries still chasing rugby’s golden prize.
Successive victories over Samoa, Tonga and latterly arch-enemies Australia has revived hope that England could achieve mission improbable and retain the Webb Ellis Trophy.
It would represent a unique feat, and a considerable one at that as resurgent host nation France - conquerors of tournament favourites New Zealand last weekend - now block their path to glory.
But Vickery has total belief in a squad that has dragged itself from the depths of despair to emerge as credible contenders.
And that stunning revival will be reflected in the volume of red rose support on Saturday, with an expected 40,000 English fans having already started to flood the French capital.
Vickery said: “The circumstances have changed. Suddenly there is anticipation from outside the camp of what is going to happen. It is a huge game, but as a group of players we have kept things very simple.
“As I said after the (Australia) game, to lose this weekend means nothing. It is totally different - we are playing the host nation in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
“We know we will have to perform better, so there is a lot of pressure on us as players. It is going to be a huge challenge.
“France are favourites, but I have got confidence in my team. It won’t be easy, but if we didn’t think we could win the game, we wouldn’t be here. People are going to have to find performances within themselves they never thought they had.
“I don’t want to go home, getting a pat on the back saying we nearly did it, I want to go home as part of a team that has achieved something, and it all comes down to 80 minutes.
“If you haven’t got that will to sacrifice your body and soul for the cause, then things won’t happen. I am just very proud of the guys, because when all is said and done, you think back and there are some absolute heroes in this team.”
England field five survivors from their 2003 World Cup final team - Wilkinson, Vickery, Jason Robinson, Josh Lewsey and Ben Kay - with that victory over Australia coming just a week after they sunk semi-final opponents France 24-7.
France flanker Serge Betsen has dubbed Wilkinson “an example of professionalism and perseverance” as he prepares to renew hostilities with his old England rival.
Wilkinson and Betsen know each other well, and have had more than one battle royal in recent years.
Betsen gave the Newcastle fly-half the roughest of rides in an RBS 6 Nations match in 2002, harrying him from start to finish in a masterful back-row performance at the Stade de France.
Wilkinson got his own back in the World Cup semi-final a year later, booting Les Bleus out of the competition in the Sydney rain in a match that saw Betsen yellow-carded for a late hit on the England playmaker.
Wilkinson has recovered from persistent injury problems over the past four years to became England’s mainstay once again. And it is his boot that has guided the world champions into the semi-finals here against the odds.
Betsen, who will look to stop Wilkinson dead in his tracks, still regards his old foe as the “best number 10 in the world” and has nothing but respect for the way he has fought back from injury.
“He has shown everybody he is still the best, simply the best,” Betsen said. “He has shown to everybody he has been out of action for three or four years but he is still able to be ready for the World Cup.
“That is great for him. I congratulate him for this. It’s an example of professionalism and perseverance.”
England and France have laid their cards on the table by selecting unchanged teams for the semi-final.
Kicking is set to dominate the contest and, with Wilkinson around, that will more than suit the world champions.
Betsen knows it will be a battle of the boot, adding: “Four years ago, their game was focused on this direction, and they planned their game on that strategy. We saw that last week against Australia, and I think it will be the same again.”
Tags: rugby betting, 2007 rugby world cup, rwc
Posted in Match Previews, Rugby World Cup News |
Friday, September 28th, 2007
England boss Brian Ashton has “total confidence” in his players to keep their World Cup dream alive on Friday night and book a knockout clash against Australia.
The Wallabies showdown in Marseille on Saturday week will not materialise though, unless England topple tournament surprise package Tonga.
England are faced with a simple equation - beat Tonga at Parc des Princes and they march on; lose, and a weekend flight home beckons.
No reigning champion has exited at the pool stage in five previous Rugby World Cups, and England do not intend creating a humiliating piece of history.
There were signs during last Saturday’s victory over Samoa that England have started to turn a corner following their record 36-0 World Cup defeat against South Africa eight days previously.
With fly-half Jonny Wilkinson again in the driving seat, their next stop should be the south of France, rather than Heathrow.
Head coach Ashton said: “If we don’t win this game, we go home.
“I think Tonga are probably a stronger side at the moment than Samoa, and it is going to be a tough game.
“But there is a sense of anticipation, as opposed to anxiety, this week. I think it is fair to say all the players are really anticipating the match.
“I have got total confidence in the 22 players who are going out there that they are going to do the job.”
England expect a far sterner challenge in the set-pieces from Tonga than Samoa mustered, with the back-row presence of skipper Nili Latu and number eight Finau Maka posing a considerable twin threat.
England skipper Martin Corry added: “We’ve looked at them very closely, and certainly Maka and Latu, their defensive work and handling of the ball in this competition, we haven’t seen anything better.
“It would be wrong to single out those two if you look at the pack, their lineout play, their lineout drive, the way they pick and go and the way they turn slow ball into fast ball.
“They’ve posed every single team in the group a lot of problems by doing that. That is something we have to stop because it is a real threat.
“We are going to have to win the game, and we expect to win the game, but that is taking nothing away from Tonga.
“They are coming into this game full of confidence, but we are just focusing on ourselves.
“We are a team which also has momentum, which in terms of our expectations and ambitions, we are looking to improve on what we did against Samoa.”
Ashton’s bold call in selection means no starting place for World Cup captain Phil Vickery, who features among the replacements after serving a two-match ban.
Corry retains the leadership role, with Matt Stevens staying at tighthead prop despite Vickery’s re-emergence, and two changes from the Samoa encounter see lock Steve Borthwick and flanker Lewis Moody gain start ahead of Simon Shaw and Joe Worsley, respectively.
Vickery, Worsley and Lawrence Dallaglio give the England bench a powerful feel, and it is that strength in reserve which could ultimately negate Tongan hopes of causing a monumental upset.
Tonga, meanwhile, are ready to “throw the kitchen sink” at England.
The Pacific Islanders, rated as pre-tournament cannon fodder for the likes of England and South Africa, are one win away from their first World Cup quarter-final appearance.
While England still start as favourites, Tonga intend making life distinctly uncomfortable as the reigning world champions target the runners-up spot in Pool A behind South Africa.
Tonga captain Latu memorably claimed his team had thrown “the petrol tank - and the car included” at South Africa in Lens last Saturday after they came within a converted try of claiming an astounding victory over the Springboks.
“We are going to throw the kitchen sink at England,” said Latu, who is still battling a hamstring injury that restricted his training this week.
“People back home have been over the moon with what we have done in this tournament, and it is rewarding for us to see where the country is now.
“Even being here is bringing Tongans together as one, but it’s not just for us.
“We are here to do a job an
d change the face of rugby in the Islands, and in Tonga especially. This is going to benefit the country.”
Tonga are boosted by the return from suspension of New Zealand-based flanker Hale T Pole, who packs down in the back-row alongside Latu and Toulouse number eight Finau Maka.
Behind the scrum, meanwhile, Tonga can call on their experienced fly-half Pierre Hola and former Newcastle centre Epi Taione to attempt to make in-roads.
Tags: rwc 2007, rugby union betting, rugby world cup betting
Posted in Match Previews |
