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/ 15 October 2007
South Africa may have reached the World Cup final, but they will have achieved nothing if they don’t beat England in Saturday’s showdown, said coach Jake White on Sunday following the Springboks’ 37-13 victory over Argentina. The 43-year-old also insisted that the 36-0 walloping of England four weeks ago counted for nothing.
In 1995, Max Brito, a dashing, 24-year-old dreadlocked winger, arrived at the Rugby World Cup full of hope for himself and his Côte d’Ivoire team. But after just three minutes of the group game against Tonga in Rustenburg in South Africa, he collapsed under a crunching tackle from flanker Inoke Afeaki and was crushed beneath an avalanche of bodies.
Scottish giants Rangers led the way with a 3-0 victory over six-time French champions Lyon on a superb night for British clubs in the latest Champions League action on Tuesday. English powerhouses Arsenal and Manchester United both won 1-0 — Arsenal away at Steaua Bucharest and United with Wayne Rooney’s first goal of the season at home to Roma.
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/ 21 September 2007
Hosts France kept their nerve and their hopes alive of landing their first World Cup title in Paris on Friday as they beat Ireland 25-3 in their crunch group-D clash at the Stade de France. Two second-half tries by winger Vincent Clerc and 15 points from man-of-the-match Jean-Baptiste Elissalde were enough to see the Irish off.
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/ 19 September 2007
France have traditionally had an iconic player in their flair-filled rugby ranks, whether it be Jean-Pierre Rives, Jo Maso or Serge Blanco. And to these ranks can now be added Sebastien Chabal, such has been the adulation from the French spectators for the 29-year-old.
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/ 17 September 2007
A few months ago Fourie du Preez could have been forgiven for having given up hope of playing in the World Cup. How England must have wished that had been the case as he once again showed why he is regarded as the best scrumhalf in world rugby.
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/ 16 September 2007
There is no question of the South Africans taking their feet off the pedal after two convincing victories in their opening World Cup matches said coach Jake White on Sunday. The inspirational 43-year-old handler admitted they were on a high but would not now lose their way.
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/ 14 September 2007
South Africa humiliated world champions England in Paris on Friday as they inflicted a record World Cup defeat on them winning 36-0 to avenge their 2003 World Cup loss to the English. Two tries to JP Pietersen (taking his total to three), one from Juan Smith and 18 points from Percy Montgomery handed England defeat.
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/ 13 September 2007
South Africa and England have quite a Rugby World Cup history and their clash at the Stade de France on Friday promises to be yet another enthralling chapter. It was here eight years ago that the Springboks — then the defending champions — ended England hopes of landing the William Webb Ellis trophy and ridiculed Clive Woodward’s statement of ”judge me on the World Cup”.
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/ 11 September 2007
Percy Montgomery almost sounds like he should have been sitting with King Arthur and his knights but instead the fullback will be chasing his own Holy Grail of the Rugby World Cup. Montgomery is the national side’s record points scorer with 797 and if selected for Friday’s match will join Joost van der Westhuizen as the leading cap winner with 89.