Random RWC 2011 Facts, Quotes and Bits
- The wind was blowing across the Porirua Park field so hard that several players found it easier to walk into it backwards, while Quade Cooper and James O’Connor had fun kicking into and slightly across the gusts, their efforts invariably resulting in the ball landing behind the line it was kicked from
- "It feels like they're cheering us. It's the first time I've been walking around New Zealand and everyone is saying 'good luck' and 'I hope you do well'. I think we might be favourites. I think they hate the Aussies more than they hate us." South Africa second row Victor Matfield, who is more is used to being heckled than cheered on the streets of New Zealand, has no illusions about what's behind his new-found popularity and figures it just might have something to do with who the Springboks are playing in Sunday's quarter-finals.
- "He was whitebaiting when I talked to him today. He's been running up and down the side of a river. One of the criteria of selection was two pound of whitebait. So there's always some benefits." New Zealand coach Graham Henry on the preparedness of fly half Stephen Donald, who is joining the All Blacks squad as a replacement for the injured Colin Slade.
- 20 - Mils Muliaina will become the 20th player - and second All Black - to earn 100 Test caps when he lines up for New Zealand against Argentina on Sunday.
- "He hasn't dropped one yet as far as I know and he's had a few. He catches them and everybody starts to wonder what he's going to do next, so maybe they won't kick it to him. He might embarrass them." New Zealand coach Graham Henry warns quarter-final opponents Argentina against kicking high balls to the unpredictable Sonny Bill Williams.
- Springbok wing Bryan Habana was singing the praises of 20-year-old full back Patrick Lambie at a press conference on Friday, saying not only was he a talented footballer but he was also afine young man off the field.
So much so that Springbok captain John Smit said Lambie was the only rugby player he would ever let his daughter go out with.
- 17 - of the 30 named starters in the Ireland v Wales quarter-final toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions in 2009.
- At a press conference on Wednesday, All Black second row Ali Williams was asked how different this week feels compared with the same point of the competition at RWC 2007: "It's a little different. Same weather though."The weather is quite similar, North Harbour and Wales."
Williams was also asked his opinion on the condition of captain Richie McCaw's injured foot at training."He went well. Full training. Brilliant. I've given him a medical pass.
- The Irish are getting plenty of opportunity to test their luck, as the team’s hotel in Dunedin is attached to a casino. One player who hasn’t had any good fortune so far is flanker Donnacha Ryan. “I’ve had a go at the slot machines, but the only machine I’m winning on is the ATM,” he said.
Asked if he had tried card counting as a way of beating the house, he replied: “I gave it a go and my understanding is that there are 52 of them.”
- Ireland full back Geordan Murphy was resigned to playing the gooseberry as journalists in Dunedin focused their attention on backs coach Les Kiss and back row Denis Leamy during a press conference on Wednesday.
The Leicester back was amusing himself by indulging photographers with various facial expressions when he was startled by a journalist’s ongoing question, which had apparently started with the word “Geordan”.
“I thought I was going to get through the whole thing without a question,” said Murphy, bolting upright from his slouched position.
- With all the talk of New Zealand being unkind to its cousins from across the ditch since their defeat by Ireland, Nelson mayor Aldo Miccio has come up with a novel way to show Australians that Kiwis love them really.
He has designated Wednesday as 'Hug an Aussie Day'. So watch out, all you gold-clad supporters when you turn up in sunny Nelson to support your boys against Russia. You could get mugged for a hug.
We love you Mills. You are fantastic and will be missed a lot. Good luck for your next adventure!
- "It feels like they're cheering us. It's the first time I've been walking around New Zealand and everyone is saying 'good luck' and 'I hope you do well'. I think we might be favourites. I think they hate the Aussies more than they hate us." South Africa second row Victor Matfield, who is more is used to being heckled than cheered on the streets of New Zealand, has no illusions about what's behind his new-found popularity and figures it just might have something to do with who the Springboks are playing in Sunday's quarter-finals.
- "He was whitebaiting when I talked to him today. He's been running up and down the side of a river. One of the criteria of selection was two pound of whitebait. So there's always some benefits." New Zealand coach Graham Henry on the preparedness of fly half Stephen Donald, who is joining the All Blacks squad as a replacement for the injured Colin Slade.
- 20 - Mils Muliaina will become the 20th player - and second All Black - to earn 100 Test caps when he lines up for New Zealand against Argentina on Sunday.
- "He hasn't dropped one yet as far as I know and he's had a few. He catches them and everybody starts to wonder what he's going to do next, so maybe they won't kick it to him. He might embarrass them." New Zealand coach Graham Henry warns quarter-final opponents Argentina against kicking high balls to the unpredictable Sonny Bill Williams.
- Springbok wing Bryan Habana was singing the praises of 20-year-old full back Patrick Lambie at a press conference on Friday, saying not only was he a talented footballer but he was also afine young man off the field.
So much so that Springbok captain John Smit said Lambie was the only rugby player he would ever let his daughter go out with.
- 17 - of the 30 named starters in the Ireland v Wales quarter-final toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions in 2009.
- At a press conference on Wednesday, All Black second row Ali Williams was asked how different this week feels compared with the same point of the competition at RWC 2007: "It's a little different. Same weather though."The weather is quite similar, North Harbour and Wales."
Williams was also asked his opinion on the condition of captain Richie McCaw's injured foot at training."He went well. Full training. Brilliant. I've given him a medical pass.
- The Irish are getting plenty of opportunity to test their luck, as the team’s hotel in Dunedin is attached to a casino. One player who hasn’t had any good fortune so far is flanker Donnacha Ryan. “I’ve had a go at the slot machines, but the only machine I’m winning on is the ATM,” he said.
Asked if he had tried card counting as a way of beating the house, he replied: “I gave it a go and my understanding is that there are 52 of them.”
- Ireland full back Geordan Murphy was resigned to playing the gooseberry as journalists in Dunedin focused their attention on backs coach Les Kiss and back row Denis Leamy during a press conference on Wednesday.
The Leicester back was amusing himself by indulging photographers with various facial expressions when he was startled by a journalist’s ongoing question, which had apparently started with the word “Geordan”.
“I thought I was going to get through the whole thing without a question,” said Murphy, bolting upright from his slouched position.
- With all the talk of New Zealand being unkind to its cousins from across the ditch since their defeat by Ireland, Nelson mayor Aldo Miccio has come up with a novel way to show Australians that Kiwis love them really.
He has designated Wednesday as 'Hug an Aussie Day'. So watch out, all you gold-clad supporters when you turn up in sunny Nelson to support your boys against Russia. You could get mugged for a hug.
We love you Mills. You are fantastic and will be missed a lot. Good luck for your next adventure!