Mar 18th, 2008 | RWC 2011, Test Rugby | 3 Comments | print
In the history of the Rugby World Cup (RWC), Russia has been mentioned only in whispers of the qualifying stages. With a recent, hard-fought win over Romania in the European Nations Cup (ENC or ‘Six Nations B’) and a world ranking of 16, Russia may finally have what it takes to squeeze past Romania and qualify for the first time for the Rugby World Cup in 2011.
Russia are now aligned to play Georgia in a show-down for European Nations Cup dominance. Georgia are likely heavy favorites, as they typically are at the RWC, but a strong showing by the Russians on the heels of 3 consecutive ENC wins could well make the 2011 RWC European qualifiers very interesting. Twelve of the 20 teams for the 2011 championship automatically qualified based on their performance at the 2007 RWC. Two and possibly 3 more European teams will qualify for the 2011 RWC.
Feb 25th, 2008 | Laws and Refereeing, Test Rugby | 14 Comments | print
For 65 minutes on Saturday, every English fan of rugby union watched with bated breath as two young, inexperienced French half-backs poked and prodded their countrymen to within 3 points of their opponents, the aging English juggernaut.
French scrum-half Morgan Parra and fly-half François Trinh-Duc, just 19 and 21 years of age with only 6 caps between them, showed courage and tenacity beyond their years. The young half-backs performed almost flawlessly with Parra testing the forwards at every opportunity around the break-downs/set pieces and Trinh-Duc slicing through the mid-field.
However, France could not convert these opportunities into enough points to take the lead. Although the midfield attack and defense in general were excellent, the wide French attack that has been so successful during this campaign for the likes of Cédric Heymans and Vincent Clerc sputtered frustratingly as the English slide defense grappled the players ‘ball-and-all’ into touch not less than four times. In addition to penalties, the typically reliable replacement fly-half David Skrela prevented a final French assault with a knock-on on the French 5 metre line with the scoreline in favor of England by just 6 points. → continue reading
Nov 7th, 2007 | Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 11 Comments | print
South African rugby: a nation in union? Not any time soon.
Since the end of the apartheid era in South Africa, racial quotas (whereby a specified number of each team must be non-white) were instituted in South African sports in an attempt to increase participation by non-white players. As in America, this type of affirmative action has been controversial primarily since it has led to team selections not being based on merit.
Unlike the non-elite teams, the South African national rugby team has been immune from racial quotas, but the lead-up to the 2007 Rugby World Cup intensified calls for quotas to reach all levels of sport, including the elite/national level. Parliamentary Sports Committee chairman Butana Khompela even suggested that passports might be confiscated if the Springbok world cup squad was not representative of the country’s demographic which is 8% white.
In the aftermath of South Africa’s Rugby World Cup victory, it seems that the focus has started to shift away from quotas to support player development. In October when presented with the Webb Ellis Cup in Pretoria, President Thabo Mbeki indicated that development should be built from below.
In Cape Town today, Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile officially endorsed this notion:
Quotas are out. We are not going to decide who must be on the team. All we are saying is expose everybody, give them an opportunity. […] Let us put our resources into the development of talent.
→ continue reading
Oct 29th, 2007 | Laws and Refereeing, Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 19 Comments | print
The best offense is a good defense.
by Yue-Houng Hu and Victor Drover
Much has been made of the Stellenbosch Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) which last week were given preliminary approval by the IRB to be more widely circulated and analyzed for further approval on 1 May 2008.
The IRB Council last week approved the ‘experimental law variations’ (ELVs) be circulated to all unions and returned with comments by January/February. The council will then vote on 1 May whether or not to bring them into worldwide rugby for a year’s trial. South Africa, Australia and New Zealand have also been asked to trial them in the Super 14.
The ELVs remain controversial as they amount to a revolution in the way rugby is played. Aimed to render rugby faster, more exciting, and simpler for both fans and officials, it is clear that the IRB is attempting to create a more ‘viewer friendly’ sport. What is not apparent is the dirty little secret exposed by the proposed law changes:
rugby as we know it, may be dying. → continue reading
Oct 11th, 2007 | Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 14 Comments | print
Only four matches remain in the 2007 Rugby World Cup and following last weeks results there is currently no clear favorite for even the semi finals, let alone who will be crowned champion. The early exit of Australia and New Zealand has effectively debunked all pundits and experts, leaving predictions for the finals anyone’s best guess.
Rather than speculate wildly as to the results of this weekends games, let me make a case for the best possible result for Saturday’s semi finals: France over England and Argentina over South Africa. This sets up a repeat of the epic championship opener of France v Argentina. Even if beleaguered England managed a place in the final, the ‘down-and-out team does good’ story will not have the drama of the first and final matches of the tournament featuring the same 2 teams. → continue reading
