donnyboy

Little ruled out of tournament

Fiji first five-eighth icky Little, who played a major part in his team's upset victory over Wales to reach the rugby World Cup quarterfinals, has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament because of a knee injury

more here http://www.nzherald.co.nz/event/story.cfm?c_id=522&objectid=10466965

donnyboy

Laukai banned until final

All Black loose forward Sione Lauaki has been banned for two matches by a World Cup judicial committee.

The ban rubs the burly Waikato player out of Sunday's quarter-final against France in Cardiff and, if they beat the French, the semifinal against either Australia or England at Stade de France in Paris the following weekend.

Lauaki was found to have committed a dangerous tackle on a Romanian opponent in the All Blacks' 85-8 win in Toulouse last Sunday.

It was expected Lauaki would occupy a spot on the All Blacks reserve bench for the quarter-final.

The judicial officer, Christopher Quinlan, found the tackle to be reckless but lacking malice and the opponent had not been hurt, therefore Lauaki's punishment was at the lower end of the scale.

The All Blacks have 48 hours to appeal

donnyboy

the battle off-field has already commenced, arrogant buggers.

Coin toss decides who will lose shirt

New Zealand has been rebuffed repeatedly in its demands for teams to play in their traditional colours at the Rugby World Cup.

The latest appeal by NZRU chief executive Chris Moller during this tournament was met with another refusal by his International Rugby Board counterpart Mike Miller. Instead, the All Blacks overnight faced a coin toss against France to decide what jerseys they will wear for their Cardiff quarter-final.

If the All Blacks lost the toss they would play in their alternate silver strip unless the referee or match commissioner said there was no clash, Mr Moller said yesterday.

"France are not going to want to change their jersey and it seems the IRB are not going to be able to force them."

That decision was due early today when the All Blacks arrived in Cardiff for the start of the playoffs preparation. The NZRU is perplexed about the uniform clashes, aggravated when the All Blacks were told to wear their alternate silver strip against Scotland though that left greater confusion.

Mr Moller said all teams were asked to submit their tournament apparel to World Cup organisers last year and the All Blacks had five pieces of gear returned for modifications.

"I assume France did the same thing ... and I assume they submitted their blue-black jersey and it was approved."

France have regularly played in a lighter blue jersey but in what is seen by many as a cynical marketing ploy by Nike, the manufacturers of the French jersey, to provoke a conflict with the All Blacks' adidas clothing sponsor, they have produced an inky blue-black new kit.



Mr Moller said he first protested to RWC representatives and Miller about six months ago, without success, and then raised the topic again at a meeting of national chief executives in July: "There was no support ... for there to be a process to ensure that the jerseys or traditional values of the jerseys were maintained.

"I have re-raised our concern with Mike Miller again in the last week but there is nothing that can be done at the moment."

If France lose the toss and have to change their strip they will wear a white jersey broken by a blue diagonal slash.

The All Blacks suffered a setback well before they got to Cardiff.

Before the tournament, team managers drew marbles for their choice of hotels at quarter-final venues and the All Blacks earned the last pick.

The quarter-finalists in Cardiff were offered the choice of a city hotel the All Blacks have regularly stayed at or an out-of-town base at the Vale of Glamorgan used by Wales.

France have opted to stay in the city and the All Blacks will spend their week out of the city centre.

donnyboy

Sparky, the above post was posted by truebluefan, administrator for this site. I would have thought that I was a regular poster by now, since contributing some posts about the topic of Rugby.
So what is the official policy?? As you two have conflicting ideas.

I think I have added some insight to your forum, more than most other members that seem to just lurk here, and others can only post 2 sentences. Forums should be informative, thought provoking, and add some flavour how ever different to mine or your opinions. Thats how people learn and perhaps obtain a different perspective, no?

rant over.

Sparky

Truebluefan wasnt meaning to say that we accept spam, he was just saying that meaning he want everybody to be active.

So of course we do not accept spam.

Rugby Forums Staff

donnyboy

If Truebluefan wanted no spamming, why did he say it was ok if the member was active? If the message reads entirely different to you, could you please explain to me where Im wrong?
Im not looking for any apology but it seems that there are 2 rules on the spam issue on this forum.
As an aside, there is another post on this site, not mine, which is clearly spam and you have failed to detect.

Sparky

Well its a bit obvious we dont accept spam, there is no forum that accepts spam.

Stupid argument really.

Get back on topic.

donnyboy

then how come you have allowed spam on another thread on THIS forum?

Sparky

Well plese give me a link to that thread and I will delete it.

I cant keep an eye on every thread at once.

donnyboy

Fiji jumps in IRB rankings

Fiji have launched up the International Rugby Board rankings, following their win against Wales.
Prior to their victory, Fiji were languishing outside the top 10 - at number 11.