RWC latest – Vito the bolter for ABs
23 Aug 2011
Keo.co.za brings you news related to the World Cup.
Vito the bolter for ABs – Victor Vito has been included in the All Blacks’ World Cup squad.
Graham Henry has also included lock Anthony Boric, and wing Zac Guildford. As expected, forwards Liam Messam and Jarrad Hoeata didn’t make the cut, but it surprised a few locals to hear that Hosea Gear, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Wyatt Crockett were omitted.
‘It’s got a lot of experience – it’s the most experienced All Black side in the history of the game – but we’ve also got a number of younger players we think give real vitality and enthusiasm and edge,’ said the All Blacks coach at the squad announcement. ‘They’re mainly in the outside backs.’
Backline coach Wayne Smith said it had been tough to pick the back three players.
‘We just pick the best players that play the best,’ said Smith. ‘You want people who can take the high ball, you want people who are able to chase, you want players with high work-rate who can counter-attack, and off phase play get from their side of the field to the other side. You want high number of touches and good ability in the backfield.
‘But you look at Siti who was another one who played really well for us this year, even Ben Smith in his cameo… they all put form on the track. We just had to make a judgement on who we felt were the best, and on balance we’re happy with it.’
Despite a shaky performance against the Springboks in Port Elizabeth, Colin Slade will go to the World Cup as Dan Carter’s understudy at flyhalf.
All Blacks World Cup squad:
Forwards: John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (c), Keven Mealamu, Kieran Read, Adam Thomson, Brad Thorn, Victor Vito, Sam Whitelock, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock.
Backs: Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Israel Dagg, Andy Ellis, Zac Guildford, Cory Jane, Richard Kahui, Mils Muliaina, Ma’a Nonu, Colin Slade, Conrad Smith, Isaia Toeava, Piri Weepu, Sonny Bill Williams.
Warburton to lead Wales – Sam Warburton will lead Wales at the World Cup in the injury-enforced absence of Matthew Rees.
Coach Warren Gatland has left veteran flanker Martyn Williams out of his 30-man squad. He has also omitted Dwayne Peel, Josh Turnbull, Jonathan Thomas and Gareth Turnbull.
Ron Hibbard, Gavin Henson and Morgan Stoddart were all unavailable for selection due to injuries. The good news is Gethin Jenkins is included and management is confident he will make a full recovery from a calf injury.
Wales World Cup squad:
Forwards (16): Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Lloyd Burns (Newport Gwent Dragons), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Paul James (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Craig Mitchell (Exeter), Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues), Sam Warburton (captain, Cardiff Blues), Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Danny Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), Toby Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Andy Powell (Sale Sharks).
Backs (14): Michael Phillips (Bayonne), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), James Hook (Perpignan), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Lee Byrne (Clermont Auvergne), Aled Brew (Newport Gwent Dragons), Shane Williams (Ospreys), George North (Scarlets).
Maka to spearhead Tongan assault – Finau Maka has been named captain of the Tonga side for the World Cup.
The powerful No 8 was one of the stars of the 2007 tournament, but the decision to pick him as captain for the 2011 competition has come as a surprise. Maka hasn’t competed at the top level as far as club rugby is concerned for some time.
Super Rugby players Taniela Moa and Fetu’u Vainikolo were also included in the squad.
Tonga World Cup squad:
Aleki Lutui, Ephraim Taukafa, Aloisio Ma’asi, Alisona Taumalolo, Kisi Pulu, Soane Tonga’uiha, Halani Aulika, Taufa’ao Filise, Kelekolio Hehea, Sione Timani, Tukulua Lokotui, Joseph Tu’ineau, Sione Kalamafoni, Finau Maka (c), Viliami Ma’afu, Samiu Vahafolau, Sione Vaiomo’unga, Taniela Moa, Thomas Palu, Samisoni Fisilau, Kurt Morath, Siale Piutau, Alipate Fatafehi, Andrew Ma’ilei, Sukanaivalu Hufanga, William Helu, Fetu’u Vainikolo, Alaska Taufa, Viliame Iongi, Vungakoto Lilo.
Clever to captain USA – Former Lions loose forward Todd Clever will skipper the Eagles at the World Cup. University of Cape Town loose forward JJ Gagiano is also included in the 30-man squad.
USA squad:
Forwards: Inaki Basauri (Perigueux), Chris Biller (San Francisco Golden Gate), Todd Clever (Suntory Sungoliath), Pat Danahy (Life University), Eric Fry (Las Vegas Blackjacks), JJ Gagiano (University of Cape Town), Nic Johnson (Unattached), Scott LaValla (Stade Francais), Mike MacDonald (Leeds Carnegie), Brian McClenahan (Olympic Club), Mate Moeakiola (Bobigny 93), Shawn Pittman (London Welsh), Hayden Smith (Saracens), Louis Stanfill (Unattached), Phil Thiel (Life University), John van der Giessen (Unattached).
Backs: Paul Emerick (Life University), Tai Enosa (Belmont Shore), Colin Hawley (Olympic Club), Nese Malifa (Glendale), Taku Ngwenya (Biarritz), James Paterson (Otago), Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club), Blaine Scully (Unattached), Junior Sifa (Nottingham RFC), Andrew Suniula (Chicago Griffins), Roland Suniula (Boston Rugby), Kevin Swiryn (Agen), Tim Usasz (Nottingham RFC), Chris Wyles (Saracens).
Cup organisers sweating ticket sales – Rugby World Cup organisers need 200 000 tickets to be sold in 17 days to make their revenue targets.
They are currently NZ$ 30.5 million short of their target (being NZ$219 million worth of tickets sold), but even if they manage that figure they will still be NZ$32 million short of breaking even. That deficit will then be met by New Zealand taxpayers and the New Zealand Rugby Union.
Rugby World Cup minister Murray McCully said on Tuesday that ticket sales are ‘pretty much on target’ and he was confident of the revenue target being met. There has been a concerted push to market the tournament in Australia, where interest in travelling to the tournament is high. It is estimated that 5000 South Africans will travel from the Republic to attend matches at the tournament, with more coming from the expat community.
355 Comments
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23 Aug 2011, 14:19 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-197: When was the last time:
1) you won a world cup
2) a world cup was won by a great tackle-offloader
3) you beat the Boks?
23 Aug 2011, 14:19 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-197:
sweet lord.
I thought my post was very simple and easy to read.
you seem to have the same comprehension issues as your china in china.
who is quite determined to prove himself cleverer than everybody else.
anyway, I’ll put a “lazy twenty ” on the all blacks scoring “the best” try of the tourney.
23 Aug 2011, 14:20 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-193: notice when we talk rugby Gunther disappears?
@Helen(Helen)-198: yep, because Morne Steyn has proven how effective he is in kicking for posts OUTSIDE of SA…
please, continue to pick him… thanks…
23 Aug 2011, 14:21 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-187:
That is it exactly it mate – You said SA Does not have the talent/Players!!!
I am saying that is BS it is the coach and the game plan that is the issue at test level.
23 Aug 2011, 14:21 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-188: Funniest thing ever!!!!!
23 Aug 2011, 14:22 pm
@Helen(Helen)-201: so, one win in 5 games and suddenly you bring out that old chestnut? bwahahah delusional… bye Helen..
@Gunther(gunther)-202: still cant answer the Question gunther? fair enough, prove my point that when it comes to rugby opinion you cant provide one…
23 Aug 2011, 14:22 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-203: I see you AGAIN refuse to answer MY questions. Not so brave now, are you? It takes a little lady with a size 6 shoe to shut you up. Typical kiwi. Imagine what our MEN will do to your precious team in a few weeks’ time!!! Just imagine!
23 Aug 2011, 14:23 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-206: When was the last time:
1) you won a world cup
2) a world cup was won by a great tackle-offloader
3) you beat the Boks?
23 Aug 2011, 14:26 pm
Notice how poop69 insists that we answer his questions, but refuses to answer ours. Such arrogance makes me believe that the Boks will win the cup this year. Such arrogance tells me the kiwis are very aware that when the chips are down, they choke on springbok droppings. Keep it up!
23 Aug 2011, 14:26 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-203:
stop being a brownose.
it’s unseemly in someone your age.
I gave a legitimate answer to your question.
I don’t give a toss about how “great” a try is.
I care about winning. If you want to wank on about it then that’s your business.
How thick is your skull?
Honestly?
23 Aug 2011, 14:26 pm
It doesn’t take much to get a kiwi off a blog, probably less than is needed to get them out of a tournament
23 Aug 2011, 14:28 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-210: HHhahahahahahahahahahahahhahahhahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
well said sweetie!
they’re running now, probably handing each off in the showers and offloading without a tackle
23 Aug 2011, 14:28 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-194:
Thats quite funny, there are actually plenty in the city where I live, it was a genuine question and not a *****, I’m lucky tonight thought he didn’t call me knobhead or some other school boy quip.
23 Aug 2011, 14:30 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-210: @Helen(Helen)-211: its always the female trolls that are so much worse, guess its because of the old adage, how do you trust something that bleeds but doesnt die?
anyways, in 46 games, youve won 14…
wonderful stuff…
@Gunther(gunther)-210: still cant answer the question can you Spider man? fair enough…
23 Aug 2011, 14:31 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-206:
I have given you two rugby opinions today and you have chosen to ignore them.
You would rather talk about child molesting and dutchmen.
Real rugby man you are.
Real man.
@Helen(Helen)-209:
poops likes to think he talks rugby.
the reality is he just wants you to tell him how great the all blacks are.
every day.
Play nice now poops you piece of ****.
23 Aug 2011, 14:33 pm
Man, I feel rough for Gear. I would have picked him over Guildford and it wouldn’t have been close. Maybe I’m old fashioned, but Gear to me is leagues better at the core job of a wing: beating your man one and one and putting the ball over the try line. His workrate has also improved vastly, and he’s solid under the high ball.
Also — with due respect to Woodcock — he got lucky. A couple of scrum penalties against Australia aside, Crockett has been the most destructive loosehead in NZ this year. He can feel genuinely unlucky.
23 Aug 2011, 14:34 pm
Aaaah…. The most opportune time to make my re-entry
My favourite subject….the almighty All Blacks
Two of my three favourite AB lambs to the slaughter brothers in full cry wrt the invincibles
My learned friend guntertjie retorting….
Just gotta figure out who the hell Helen is
23 Aug 2011, 14:35 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-215: poops, still no answers? FAIL!
Now, go back to the showers and treat your china in nz to a special hand-off ala SBW (but without the requisite tackle)
23 Aug 2011, 14:36 pm
@Bod(bod)-217: why so keen to figure out who I am?
Gunther, that last comment was for poops’ sake, so don’t jump on that high horse of yours again, you hear?
23 Aug 2011, 14:36 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-215: really? where? what was the answer to when last have the Bokke backs scored a decent try against decent opposition?
I cant see the answer, please point me to the post number?
please PETER PARKER, answer the question that was posed to you about 20 posts ago…. please dont prove your ignorance by not being able to..
are you sure you come here to talk rugby or do you just come here because no one in the real world will listen to your bullshit?
23 Aug 2011, 14:36 pm
Toeava to me is a tough call too. His talent is massive — he’s led the Super 15 in line break for two years in a row until his injuries, he’s got pace and a massive boot. But he always looks out of it in test match rugby. I think part of this may be that he’s a natural #15, not a wing.
ABs likely back 3 for elimination matches? Muliana, Toeava, and Dagg? With Jane on the bench?
23 Aug 2011, 14:38 pm
I have to run as this will turn into a bad attempt at comedy and at some stage Helen will post her/his dream Bokke side for the 97th time today.
23 Aug 2011, 14:38 pm
Fukkitpoeps, are you still going? Do you have a man from Guiness Records there with a clipboard and stopwatch?
Made any friends while I was gone? Made any since 1982? Well you’ll always have your cat.
23 Aug 2011, 14:38 pm
Are there any Kiwis here who can answer three questions?:
When was the last time:
1) you won a world cup
2) a world cup was won by a great tackle-offloader
3) you beat the Boks?
I will be nicer if you can just answer these questions. It’s not rocket science, but then again for kiwis everything that does not involve a solid four year old sheep and a bottle of KY is probably rocket science
23 Aug 2011, 14:39 pm
@Helen(Helen)-218: yawn?
another Saffa who thinks the WC is the be all and end all..
helen, how many test against NZ have you won in the last 20 years?
I know its more than 2 to 1 in our favour, but you do have 2 WCs 12 years apart to make you feel better..
perhaps you’ll be able to stir more n those 2 Wcs if you use any number of the many wodden spoons your team consistently wins..
now run along rag girl..
23 Aug 2011, 14:39 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-214: You should know that is not what SA rugby is about. Like Gunther said, artistic beauty doesn’t feature. Just to piss you kiwi’s off, I think we should go for a 4 try bonus point just with the rolling maul next time we meet. Why would you wanna know something so trivial anyway?
23 Aug 2011, 14:39 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-223: Usually, I think you’re an idiot, but that comment was priceless
23 Aug 2011, 14:39 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-220:
what is a decent try?
I told you I don’t care.
how stupid are you?
were you delivered anally as a baby?
shampies.
23 Aug 2011, 14:41 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-225: Still no answers??? Damn, it must be more painful than I imagined!
It can’t be easy being a kiwi at a time like this when everything points to a kiwi victory, but deep down inside, you just know it is never going to happen.
Be a dear and answer my questions?
23 Aug 2011, 14:41 pm
@Helen(Helen)-218:
not as much fun from a kiwi cos the pass is almost always forward and never on the ‘money’…
23 Aug 2011, 14:42 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-223:
the good news is that there is a man with a clipboard.
the bad news is that he isn’t from the Guinness Book of records.
23 Aug 2011, 14:42 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-220:
Pops buddy
I have to go with my learned friend here and answer your question with a question he has being trying to ask you the whole thread…. and a question that needs to be begged
Why and who cares???
23 Aug 2011, 14:42 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-228: hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
you’re a legend “delivered anally”!!!!! bwhaahahahahaha
23 Aug 2011, 14:42 pm
@Helen(Helen)-227: Usually I don’t think about you.
23 Aug 2011, 14:43 pm
@Bod(bod)-217:
Hola.
How’s the Costa Less?
23 Aug 2011, 14:43 pm
@we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-230:
The only place they’ll score with an offload at this RWC, will be in the showers!
23 Aug 2011, 14:45 pm
bwahahaha
helen and spiderman, how dandy…
the fact you cant remember when the Bokke backline scored a try is priceless..
23 Aug 2011, 14:45 pm
@Helen(Helen)-219:
Not keen, just curious
You scribe in a very similar way to someone from the past here…
23 Aug 2011, 14:45 pm
@Helen(Helen)-229: You and Poppa are at it again! I could swear that you two are going through the asset allocation phase of your divorce.
23 Aug 2011, 14:46 pm
Come now kids.
No fighting.
We are all here for poopers intervention.
Don’t make it about yourselves.
23 Aug 2011, 14:46 pm
oook look, the pack mentality is back..
womderful, SA’s are gutless…
23 Aug 2011, 14:46 pm
… methinks the kiwis will not answer my questions. I rest my case.
Now, poop and china in nz, go do your tantric, kama sutra stuff with those fluffy, white things trembling on the back porch!
23 Aug 2011, 14:46 pm
@Bod(bod)-232: Well well, if it ain’t Colonel Katemba himself.
23 Aug 2011, 14:48 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-241: answer the questions poop!
otherwise, go away
23 Aug 2011, 14:49 pm
@Bod(bod)-217:
welcome back bod bud…
been too long…
now we just need the katstaman to show up and join you and gunther and things are gonna get real funny real quickly…
23 Aug 2011, 14:49 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-241: sadly for you, there is a gutless pack waiting to beat you without scoring a single try.
23 Aug 2011, 14:49 pm
speak of the katman…!!
23 Aug 2011, 14:50 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-235:
¡hola! ¿Que tal?
Costa Crisis aqui a la momento
no wonder… six weeks and still no plucking adsl
23 Aug 2011, 14:52 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-241:
C´mon son…. you,ve got more in the tank than that
23 Aug 2011, 14:52 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-241: Indeed. But you’re a one-man poodle pack, poeps. You don’t need nobody.
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