Fw: RWC Update from the Telegraph

-----Original Message-----
From: sport.bulletin@info.telegraph.co.uk <sport.bulletin@info.telegraph.co.uk>
To: Harper, Adam
Sent: Wed Sep 26 00:29:23 2007
Subject: Rugby World Cup Blackberry



Rugby World Cup 2007

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Rugby World Cup 2007

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Matt not finished

Possession may be nine-tenths of the law but Matt Stevens had every right to be mildly and pleasantly surprised when Brian Ashton today named the England team to play Tonga on Friday night.

The Bath prop had occupied the tight-head side of England's scrum while captain Phil Vickery had been serving a two-week suspension, but Ashton still left the Bull to rage among the replacements.

"You've got to prove that you are better than the captain," Stevens said proudly. "I was always told by the selectors that if I did that I would have been picked no matter what. Fair play to them, they've made good on their word."

England's backs remained untouched, but Ashton shuffled his pack, bringing in Lewis Moody and Steve Borthwick, while Joe Worsley dropped to the bench and Simon Shaw disappeared from the 22 altogether. Meanwhile, Lawrence Dallaglio's name reappeared among the subs, just in case England need to tighten it up in the second half at Parc des Princes.

The team: Lewsey; Sackey, Tait, Barkley, Cueto; Wilkinson, Gomarsall; Sheridan, Chuter, Stevens, Borthwick, Kay, Corry, Moody, Easter. Replacements: Mears, Vickery, Dallaglio, Worsley, Richards, Farrell, Hipkiss.

It's crunch time, too, for Ireland on Sunday, against Argentina. Full-back Geordan Murphy is back in the XV after all that talk about him walking out when he was dropped from the 22 against France.

"I don't know where it came from," Murphy said. "The first I heard of it I was having dinner last Monday and someone pulled me aside and said they'd heard I was heading home. I didn't take it too seriously at the time, I thought it's just a rumour until I got back to my room where my phone was and had I quite a few missed calls saying 'what are you doing?'."

Denis Hickie was also recalled to the wing - but Eddie O'Sullivan retained the pack that has been more powder-puff than Munster monster.

Australia's hopes of having Stephen Larkham back took a severe blow. The veteran stand-off has had another operation on his knee, which swelled up in training yesterday. The best case scenario is that he is back in time for the semi-finals, assuming the Wallabies get there.

Better news for South Africa, however. Rising star Francois Steyn has been cleared of his citing for biting against Tonga and is free to play.

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Results and fixtures

Today

Pool B: Canada v Japan, Bordeaux (Now on ITV4)
Pool C: Romania v Portugal, Toulouse (19.00, ITV4)

Tomorrow

Pool D: Georgia v Namibia, Lens (17.00, ITV4)
Pool A: Samoa v USA, Saint Etienne (19.00, ITV 4)

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Anecdote of the Day

George Gregan has been telling how he persuaded Springboks lock Victor Matfield to sign for Toulon during the Tri-Nations Test in Cape Town this year.

"During the match I said to Victor that I had a contract in my bag for him and that Toulon needed his response before the end of the day," Gregan said. "On the next line-out I insisted and he said, 'Get out of the way'.

"I told him I wanted his answer before the line-out was over, that he had to give me a sign with a nod of his head if he was OK (to sign it). "He nodded and three days later he had signed his letter of intent. So I believe that I partly had a role in the negotiations that got him."

Also on telegraph.co.uk/rugby

Blogs: Paul Ackford and Mick Cleary on referees and poodles
Live: Match scores, stats and commentary. Canada v Japan now!
Video: Doonbeg diaries. Brian Moore and Keith Wood on the greats of the game

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'Le bien'

Proof that rugby remains a game for all shapes and sizes, even at international level. Barry John wants Wales wing Shane Williams dropped in favour of Dafydd James, eight inches taller and more than a stone heavier. But backs coach Nigel Davies is having none of it. "Dafydd had a fabulous game against Japan... but just look at what Shane gives you. The number of line-breaks he makes is huge."

'Le mal'

The talk of RWC 2007 is all balls, rugby balls, and Jonny Wilkinson and Dan Carter say the brand-new Gilberts being used in every match aren't up to scratch. Neil Jenkins, the Welsh kicking coach and world record Test points scorer, said: "Kickers would always prefer to use a ball that has been kicked in a bit. You have to pump the balls up after each time you use them and by getting air back into it, the ball tends to take shape and is easier to control."

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Keep up-to date with all the latest news at telegraph.co.uk/rugby

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All these stories in full online at www.telegraph.co.uk.
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