Coletazos del Mundial
Publicado: Mar, 25 Oct 2011, 10:31
Francia ha sido multada con 2500 libras por su actitud durante la Haka en la final del Mundial, el mánager de los All Blacks, Darren Shand cree que es una sanción totalmente injusta. Como siempre los de la IRB a su rollo.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 62,00.html
El equipo ideal de este Mundial según Planet Rugby:
15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand): If only all the selections were this easy! A unanimous pick amongst all the permanent staffers, freelancers, columnists, PR correspondents and readers. It was a brave decision by Graham Henry to drop veteran Mils Muliaina but from the very first game, when he scored the tournament's opening try, Dagg was on fire. The try he created for Ma'a Nonu in the semi-final against the Wallabies was breathtaking.
Next best: Kurtley Beale (Australia)
14 Cory Jane (New Zealand): This one caused a real fight (the editor is still sulking because Vincent Clerc didn't make it). There were plenty of right wings in the limelight - one swan-diving his way to six tries, a certain teenager in red smashing everything in his path - but Jane didn't put a foot wrong. He was tested under the high ball a number of times but, unlike some of his predecessors, Jane was unshakable. A mention must go to James O'Connor - his time will come as soon as he is moved closer to the action.
Next best: Vincent Clerc (France)
13 Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand): Yes, we've cheated a little bit here but, in our defence, Nonu did start at 13 in the opener and we couldn't leave him out. After a poor start to Super Rugby, Nonu's season gathered pace with every week until he peaked at the World Cup. His IRB Player of Year nomination was well deserved.
Next best: Manu Tuilagi (England)
12 Jamie Roberts (Wales): One of the real stars of the tournament, Roberts was back to the form that made him a hero on the Lions tour two years ago. Roberts crossed the gain line almost every time he touched the ball.
Next best: Frans Steyn (South Africa)
11 Shane Williams (Wales): Another tough one that caused a lot of friction. Unlike the men in the 14 jerseys, there weren't many standouts on the left touchline. The veteran's try-scoring instincts saw Williams grab a crucial five pointer against Samoa that went a long way to securing a place in the play-offs. Spare a thought for Digby Ioane, whose opportunities were limited due to injury.
Next best: Digby Ioane (Australia)
10 Rhys Priestland (Wales): THE revelation of the World Cup, Priestland was a popular choice. The youngster added the zip missing from the Wales attack during the Stephen Jones era. Based on the two games he did play, Dan Carter would have been a contender had injury not cut his tournament short.
Next best: Morné Steyn (South Africa)
9 Piri Weepu (New Zealand): As explained above, we tried to consider each player's overall contribution to the campaign and in that regard Weepu was brilliant, even if he didn't have a great final. "Mr Fix it" - as he became known in New Zealand - helped fill the massive gap left by Carter's absence, taking over part of the playmaker role and the kicking duties.
Next best: Mike Phillips (Wales)
8 Imanol Harinordoquy (France): The debate didn't last too long here, apart from the questions over how Marc Lièvremont could possibly have left the Basque hardman on the bench a few times. Harinordoquy's ball carrying was second to none. A special mention for Georgian charger Mamuka Gorgodze, who was phenomenal.
Next best: Sergio Parisse (Italy)
7 Sam Warburton (Wales): How do you leave out Richie McCaw, David Pocock or Thierry Dusautoir? With difficulty, that's how. We're ready to forgive Warburton for that fateful fraction of a second that ultimately cost so much because his intentions clearly were not malicious and the rest of his tournament was out of the top draw.
Next best: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
6 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand): Many people's pick for Player of the Year and certainly in the running for Player of the Tournament, the All Blacks blindside is consistently outstanding. Four tries - the most by any forward in the competition - were just reward for tireless graft.
Next best: Julien Bonnaire
5 Danie Rossouw (South Africa): With Bakkies Botha injured, Bok fans feared the worst but Rossouw stepped into the breach with a string of eye-catching performances and was arguably the outgoing champions' player of the tournament. Just when you thought he couldn't do any more, be bust clear on another barnstorming run or made another crunching tackle. Victor Matfield was at his brilliant best, but injury limited his contribution.
Next best: Luke Charteris
4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand): There's hard, then there is Bard Thorn. Rucks were ruthlessly cleaned and the hits kept coming as Thorn provided the muscle in the All Blacks engine room. He'll remember that last line-out catch in the dying moments of the final for the rest of his life. At 36, Test retirement is well earned.
Next best: James Horwill (Australia)
3 Nicolas Mas (France): Opinion was once again divided with Adam Jones and Owen Franks pushing hard but we settled for the kingpin of the French scrum. Mas was sorely missed in the pool game against New Zealand but showed his worth in final.
Next best: Owen Franks
2 Keven Mealamu (New Zealand): Despite a shaky performance in the final, where William Servat was probably better hooker in the set pieces, Mealamu contributed a lot more than most hookers in open play. Big Kev provides an extra attacking option rather just being the grunt to back up others' initiative. Next in line to reach the magic 100 mark for the All Blacks, he'll go down as one of the greats.
Next best: Bismarck du Plessis
1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (South Africa): The jury is still out on this one and Cian Healy missed out narrowly. The Springboks first-choice loosehead (keeping the "Beast" on the bench is a feat in itself) showed why he was SA's player of the year in 2010 by not taking a step backwards - ever. Healy did a job on the Aussie scrum and Tony Woodcock scored a try in the final so the choice was a tough one. But a certain guest columnist with some serious scrummaging credentials backed Toulouse-bound Steenkamp and we weren't brave enough to argue.
Next best: Cian Healy.
Nada de acuerdo con la nominación de Weepu, para mi Mike Philips ha sido el mejor 9 de este torneo.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 63,00.html
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 62,00.html
El equipo ideal de este Mundial según Planet Rugby:
15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand): If only all the selections were this easy! A unanimous pick amongst all the permanent staffers, freelancers, columnists, PR correspondents and readers. It was a brave decision by Graham Henry to drop veteran Mils Muliaina but from the very first game, when he scored the tournament's opening try, Dagg was on fire. The try he created for Ma'a Nonu in the semi-final against the Wallabies was breathtaking.
Next best: Kurtley Beale (Australia)
14 Cory Jane (New Zealand): This one caused a real fight (the editor is still sulking because Vincent Clerc didn't make it). There were plenty of right wings in the limelight - one swan-diving his way to six tries, a certain teenager in red smashing everything in his path - but Jane didn't put a foot wrong. He was tested under the high ball a number of times but, unlike some of his predecessors, Jane was unshakable. A mention must go to James O'Connor - his time will come as soon as he is moved closer to the action.
Next best: Vincent Clerc (France)
13 Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand): Yes, we've cheated a little bit here but, in our defence, Nonu did start at 13 in the opener and we couldn't leave him out. After a poor start to Super Rugby, Nonu's season gathered pace with every week until he peaked at the World Cup. His IRB Player of Year nomination was well deserved.
Next best: Manu Tuilagi (England)
12 Jamie Roberts (Wales): One of the real stars of the tournament, Roberts was back to the form that made him a hero on the Lions tour two years ago. Roberts crossed the gain line almost every time he touched the ball.
Next best: Frans Steyn (South Africa)
11 Shane Williams (Wales): Another tough one that caused a lot of friction. Unlike the men in the 14 jerseys, there weren't many standouts on the left touchline. The veteran's try-scoring instincts saw Williams grab a crucial five pointer against Samoa that went a long way to securing a place in the play-offs. Spare a thought for Digby Ioane, whose opportunities were limited due to injury.
Next best: Digby Ioane (Australia)
10 Rhys Priestland (Wales): THE revelation of the World Cup, Priestland was a popular choice. The youngster added the zip missing from the Wales attack during the Stephen Jones era. Based on the two games he did play, Dan Carter would have been a contender had injury not cut his tournament short.
Next best: Morné Steyn (South Africa)
9 Piri Weepu (New Zealand): As explained above, we tried to consider each player's overall contribution to the campaign and in that regard Weepu was brilliant, even if he didn't have a great final. "Mr Fix it" - as he became known in New Zealand - helped fill the massive gap left by Carter's absence, taking over part of the playmaker role and the kicking duties.
Next best: Mike Phillips (Wales)
8 Imanol Harinordoquy (France): The debate didn't last too long here, apart from the questions over how Marc Lièvremont could possibly have left the Basque hardman on the bench a few times. Harinordoquy's ball carrying was second to none. A special mention for Georgian charger Mamuka Gorgodze, who was phenomenal.
Next best: Sergio Parisse (Italy)
7 Sam Warburton (Wales): How do you leave out Richie McCaw, David Pocock or Thierry Dusautoir? With difficulty, that's how. We're ready to forgive Warburton for that fateful fraction of a second that ultimately cost so much because his intentions clearly were not malicious and the rest of his tournament was out of the top draw.
Next best: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
6 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand): Many people's pick for Player of the Year and certainly in the running for Player of the Tournament, the All Blacks blindside is consistently outstanding. Four tries - the most by any forward in the competition - were just reward for tireless graft.
Next best: Julien Bonnaire
5 Danie Rossouw (South Africa): With Bakkies Botha injured, Bok fans feared the worst but Rossouw stepped into the breach with a string of eye-catching performances and was arguably the outgoing champions' player of the tournament. Just when you thought he couldn't do any more, be bust clear on another barnstorming run or made another crunching tackle. Victor Matfield was at his brilliant best, but injury limited his contribution.
Next best: Luke Charteris
4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand): There's hard, then there is Bard Thorn. Rucks were ruthlessly cleaned and the hits kept coming as Thorn provided the muscle in the All Blacks engine room. He'll remember that last line-out catch in the dying moments of the final for the rest of his life. At 36, Test retirement is well earned.
Next best: James Horwill (Australia)
3 Nicolas Mas (France): Opinion was once again divided with Adam Jones and Owen Franks pushing hard but we settled for the kingpin of the French scrum. Mas was sorely missed in the pool game against New Zealand but showed his worth in final.
Next best: Owen Franks
2 Keven Mealamu (New Zealand): Despite a shaky performance in the final, where William Servat was probably better hooker in the set pieces, Mealamu contributed a lot more than most hookers in open play. Big Kev provides an extra attacking option rather just being the grunt to back up others' initiative. Next in line to reach the magic 100 mark for the All Blacks, he'll go down as one of the greats.
Next best: Bismarck du Plessis
1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (South Africa): The jury is still out on this one and Cian Healy missed out narrowly. The Springboks first-choice loosehead (keeping the "Beast" on the bench is a feat in itself) showed why he was SA's player of the year in 2010 by not taking a step backwards - ever. Healy did a job on the Aussie scrum and Tony Woodcock scored a try in the final so the choice was a tough one. But a certain guest columnist with some serious scrummaging credentials backed Toulouse-bound Steenkamp and we weren't brave enough to argue.
Next best: Cian Healy.
Nada de acuerdo con la nominación de Weepu, para mi Mike Philips ha sido el mejor 9 de este torneo.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 63,00.html