Check out your 2011 Rugby World Cup Dashboard HERE
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by Rob Cowie | While Springbok supporters have renewed hope that their team can retain the Rugby World Cup, any number of potential pitfalls – some avoidable and some not – could derail the campaign. The top ten:
1. Playing John Smit at prop
If Gary Gold persists with this folly, expect the Bok scrum to be back-pedalling all the way home to South Africa without any silverware.
by Rob Cowie | Allister Coetzee believes the Springboks are stronger than they were in 2007, when they won the World Cup in France. ‘There are a lot of guys in that side that know how to play winning rugby, that know how to get to a final. And there are more than enough leaders. Back then we had to develop leaders, whom are now hardened players. As long as all of them play in New Zealand, we should do well.’
While 18 of the 2007 World Cup winners have been retained in the 2011 team, are they as good as they were in 2007? Age seems to have caught up with a lot of them, but in a short once-off tournament surely they can lift themselves for one last hurrah? The biggest difference in class and skill is clearly to be found in the management staff where the 2007 team had a clear advantage, especially in the coaching, psych, space and attack departments. I have a feeling that this is the area where the 2011 tournamnet will be won and lost.
Check out the direct comparisons below. What do you think?
by William Taylor | Johnny Wilkinson has heaped praise on England team mate, Manu Tuilagi following his impressive try against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday. The giant Samoan-born outside-centre powered his way through the Irish defences to give his side the perfect send-off ahead of their World Cup campaign.
