donnyboy

Pumas plan for Paterson


Argentina utility back Federico Todeschini believes maintaining a high standard of discipline will be the key to defeating Scotland in Sunday's quarter-final in Paris.

The Pumas are the only team left in the tournament who did not receive either a red or yellow card in the group stages.

That is no mean achievement, given the fact that they endured red-hot encounters with Ireland and France in Pool D.

With flawless Scotland goal-kicker Chris Paterson ready to pounce on any Pumas infringements, the South Americans know they cannot afford to incur the wrath of referee Joël Jutge at the Stade de France this weekend.

"Our discipline has always been our strong point," said the Montpellier star.

"We have to maintain it and I don't think it will limit us.

"Maintaining discipline is fundamental because he [Paterson] is a great kicker."

Paterson has not missed in 15 attempts at goal this World Cup, and the Gloucester marksman certainly has a fan in Todeschini.

"He doesn't have the same style as [England's] Jonny Wilkinson, who kicks the ball very hard," he added.

"He does something like a golf swing when he kicks, and what I've really noticed is that he stands very parallel to the ball. When he kicks the ball, it's like he wraps himself around it.

"With him, it's more a question of quality than force."

In Felipe Contepomi, Argentina have a top-quality kicker themselves and the Leinster star - who has 53 tournament points to his name already - should recover from the 'flu in time to make this weekend.

If he does, he is set to partner twin brother Manuel in midfield.

The centre, the lesser-known of the Contepomi siblings, insists going into the game as favourites does not change things.

"There is no complacency in the team now that we have made it through the pool," he said.

"We are facing a great opportunity, and we have a good team. We might not have this chance again in the future.

"Argentina and Scotland both made it here the same way, with no-one taking them into account at the start.

"They are going to try to play a strong game, starting with their line-out, and the keys will be the penalties and their kickers, who have been 100 per cent effective."

Many believe both teams will adopt negative tactics, and look to gain the upper hand in the battle of the boot in the search for good field position.

Australia legend David Campese even claimed it is a match between teams who are "the dullest of the dull".

But Argentina full-back Ignacio Corleto, who scored a sensational try in the opening-night 17-12 win over France, is of a different opinion.

"Contrary to what David Campese said, I think it will be an historic event for world rugby," said the Stade Français flyer.

"Both teams are going into it in the same condition and with similar styles.

"People think that we are already in the semi-finals and that the match against Scotland is just a formality, but that's not true.

"We are Latinos, and being favourites could complicate things for us. That happened to France when they played us in the opening match.

"I think it will be tough."

donnyboy

Bismarck injury adds to Bok woes

The Springboks' front row crisis at the World Cup tournament took yet another turn for the worse on Thursday when replacement hooker Bismarck du Plessis joined the team's casualty list.

It was revealed that Du Plessis' "stiff back" has become a bigger headache for Springbok coach Jake White, with the Sharks hooker set to consult a neurologist on Friday to determine the full extent of his injury.

It is suspected that his ongoing back problem, which is not responding to treatment, may be nerve-related, but the South African coaching staff have dismissed reports that a decision has already been taken to send Du Plessis home.

However, if Du Plessis - himself a pre-tournament 'injury' replacement for Pierre Spies - is indeed ruled out, the Bok coach may call up a loose forward; where injuries have also had a devastating effect on the team's resources.

It is believed that Lions number eight Jacques Cronjé, who played in a series of World Cup warm-up matches, is on standby for Du Plessis, the younger brother of SA's newest squad addition, prop Jannie du Plessis, who joined up with the Boks in Marseille on Thursday - as a prop replacement for BJ Botha.

With possibly just two RWC matches to go after Sunday, White will be able to get by with just two hookers.

The latest potential setback follows on the injuries to tighthead props BJ Botha, who is already back home with knee ligament damage, and CJ van der Linde, who is being treated for a "bruised" knee which he suffered at training earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Bok coach Jake White confirmed on Thursday that London Irish prop Faan Rautenbach was on standby to replace Van der Linde - should the latter not make sufficient recovery from his injury to take part in the last two weeks of the tournament.

But Van der Linde's condition remains a concern, with White telling a media gathering that the tendons had been bruised, but that there was no ligament damage.

"We are still playing a waiting game with regards to CJ and we will play him against the Fijians if he is ready," White told reporters.

"With a bruise there is not much you can do, you just have to wait and see and give the injury time to recover. He is walking with crutches at the moment to take the load off the knee.

"Jannie [du Plessis] will join the squad [on Thursday] and we will be giving him a crash course over the next few days just in case he has to play in the quarter-final.

"But obviously we must think about what we will do if CJ [van der Linde] is not ready, and Faan [Rautenbach] has played for South Africa before and he has been part of our squad in the past. It's not ideal, because it would mean our two top props are out, but we need to be prepared."

The Bok coach said a call on whether Rautenbach would be needed would be made on Monday.

White was not concerned about Du Plessis' ability to step in at such short notice, even though he will have a few days only with the squad before Sunday's quarter-final meeting with Fiji.

"Jannie scrummed really well against [All Black prop] Tony Woodcock [in the Tri-Nations Test in Christchurch] and I don't think he will struggle against Fiji," White added.

donnyboy

Little change as Bai goes big
There will be no change in Fiji's approach to the game, when they face South Africa in a World Cup quarter-final match in Marseille on Sunday, even though they will be without veteran Fijian playmaker Nicky Little.

Little, who was one of the star performers throughout the World Cup, was instrumental in Fiji's shock 38-34 pool win over Wales last week - scoring 18 points.

However, he strained his knee ligaments late in that game and has been ruled out of the showdown with the Springboks at Stade Velodrome.

Veteran Fijian centre Seremaia Bai, who has put up his hand to fill the gap left at number 10, said the Pacific Islanders would follow the same game plan and play with the same intensity they have shown throughout the tournament.

Bai or 22-year-old Waisea Luveniyali, who played at fly-half in the pool match against Australia (a 12-55 defeat), will wear the Fijian number 10 jersey against the Boks.

The midfielder admits that Little's absence is a huge loss to Fiji.

"We'll really miss Nicky, he's been playing so long for Fiji," he said.

"We have to be organised as Nicky has been playing in that position over many years. He's world class."

However, Bai insisted the game plan would be unchanged.

"Nothing changes. We have to stick to the game plan," said Bai, who will likely take over kicking duties, having successfully amassed 92 points in 25 Test matches for Fiji.

"At the moment South Africa are the form side of the competition - big forwards, fast backs.

"But now that we have reached our goal of making the quarter-finals we want to go higher. We will play our best and hopefully the outcome on Sunday will be good.

"The key for us will be the set piece. We had 39 per cent possession against Japan - and we won the game. We had 41 per cent against Canada -and we won the game.

"Against Wales we won 100 per cent of our line-outs and had 50 per cent possession, so if we can secure 50 or 60 or 70 per cent [possession] on Sunday we can beat them."

Luke McAlistar

Surely after this world cup Argentina have to be taken into either the six nations or the tri nations, as they are from the southern equator and there is only three teams in the tri nations they should go there. This would probably mean that the top 4 sides in the world would come from the southern hemishpere, also it would add a bit more spice to the tri nations. Going to Buenos Aires would be an extremely difficult task, even for the All Blacks.

On sunday if Scotland win then i would be delighted because my team won but if Argentina win it would be huge for the game of rugby in that it would show the tide is turning and that the Pumas need to be taken seriously.

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McAlistars the man

donnyboy

I have never doubted the Pumas, but they have shown after their first RWC game that they are a force to be reckoned with. Here is a graph outlining their ranking rise over the years in world rugby, they, along with Italy have made the most gains over the last 2 years whilst the other NH teams have stuttered or gone down.
If Scotland win, it would definately turn around their fortunes, but I think the Pumas have the momentum going into this game and series.
The graph also shows a huge gap between the ABs and the 2nd place team Australia, I dont think it is that great now.

donnyboy

donnyboy

heres one for you Luke,

We're simply the best

October 5, 2007 - 8:14AM

New Zealand inside centre Luke McAlister said the All Blacks had the "best players in the world" heading into their World Cup quarter-final against France at the Millennium Stadium here on Saturday.

Tournament favourites New Zealand are widely expected to get past a France team that has lost its last seven Tests against the All Blacks.

However, a calf injury which has placed a doubt over the participation of influential fly-half Daniel Carter has given some French fans renewed hope as has the memory of their side's stunning 1999 World Cup semi-final win against New Zealand at Twickenham.

But Blues back McAlister said that even if Carter was unfit at the weekend, New Zealand would manage just fine.

"Nick Evans can step in and he's a world-class player. I'm sure he can fit the bill.

"We are all professional players and probably the best players in the world. You get to adapt to one another throughout the last three years we've been together. It's no big deal.

"I think, at this level, the All Blacks you'd call yourselves, the boys, the best players in the world.

"That's my opinion anyway," the 24-year-old added of a team that came into this tournament top of the International Rugby Board's world rankings.

Having cruised through the Pool phase, McAlister said New Zealand were eager for the challenge of knockout rugby.

"I guess the feeling in the camp is just excitement. This is the big one, this is what we've been waiting for, for a long time.

"France are strong. They are a good all-round side and exciting. It's going to be a tough game for us. You only get one shot and we'll be giving it our all," he added.

Saturday's match will see McAlister paired with Mils Muliaina in a still developing midfield combination.

But McAlister played down the duo's lack of game time together as a partnership and that Muliaina had played a lot of his recent international rugby as a full-back.

"He's a class centre," said McAlister, who kicked 13 points on his Test debut in 2005 against the British and Irish Lions at Auckland.

"He's been around a long time. For him, it's just a case of getting used to that centre position again, the lines you have to run, but he's onto it."

New Zealand haven't won the World Cup since becoming the first team to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy, on home soil, in 1987. AFP

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Our turn Our time

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flyin Joe Rok the try scoin machine

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Luke McAlistar

Luke' the man

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McAlistars the man