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/ 15 October 2007
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South Africa are ready for a penalty shoot-out should the World Cup final against England be called a stalemate. Jonny Wilkinson won the 2003 final against Australia with an injury-time drop-goal, but Springboks coach Jake White said he was unconcerned that the number 10 had rediscovered his form with the boot.
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/ 13 October 2007
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Jonny Wilkinson booted defending champions England into the World Cup final with a late penalty and trademark drop-goal against France in a gritty 14-9 semifinal in Paris on Saturday. England struggled to convert their massive territorial domination over France into points.
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South Africa progressed to the Rugby World Cup semifinals on Sunday by eking out a hard-fought 37-20 victory over Fiji in a brutal but enthralling game in which no quarter was given. Some monumental hits were exchanged between two immensely physical sides.
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South Africa play Fiji in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals in Marseilles on Sunday with a game plan based around a return to basics in a bid to nullify the Pacific Islanders’ flair and raw talent. The Springboks are sure to dominate the set-piece, Fiji having suffered in the scrum throughout their pool games against Japan (35-31), Canada (29-16), Australia (lost 55-12) and Wales (38-34).
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South Africa coach Jake White said that hatching a victory over Fiji in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal in Marseilles on Sunday was not ”rocket science”. Possession of the ball in contact against Fiji, an area where South Africa suffered in their narrow 30-25 pool victory over Tonga, was essential, said White.
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Fiji are braced for a titanic forward battle when they take on South Africa in the World Cup quarterfinals in Marseille on Sunday. The Pacific Islanders, shock 38-34 winners over Wales in their decisive pool game, are expecting the Springboks to target their set-piece play, according to coach Ilie Tabua.
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/ 22 September 2007
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Argentina hammered Namibia 63-3 in Marseille on Saturday, winning a vital bonus point to take pole position in pool D and a big step towards qualifying for the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. The Pumas’ place as either number one or two in the group will now be decided by the result of their game against Ireland on September 30.
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/ 18 September 2007
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New Zealand star Dan Carter says he is happy to be surrounded by friends, family and teammates who help keep his feet firmly on the ground despite all the hype surrounding him. The 25-year-old flyhalf is the pin-up of All Black rugby, a player widely regarded as one of the best in the world.
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/ 15 September 2007
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Odds-on World Cup favourites New Zealand brushed aside a spirited but hopelessly outclassed Portugal 108-13 in a Pool C game on Saturday, but it was not all plain sailing for the All Blacks. Portugal, the last of the 20 teams to qualify for the World Cup and with only three professionals in the match-day squad of 22, never gave up in the blistering heat at Stade Gerland.
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/ 14 September 2007
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All Black coach Graham Henry on Friday called for consistency from the International Rugby Board (IRB) when it dealt with incidents of foul play after a severe clampdown in the opening games of the World Cup. With the tournament barely into its second week, the IRB has sent out a firm message to the teams that foul play will not be tolerated.