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The USA was too strong for
Barbados and broke a number of team and individual point scoring records in the
process. Argentina pushed Chile over as was expected, Fiji was too strong for
Japan who has now lost five in a row, Samoa unexpectedly thrashed Tonga in
Gosford, whilst Uganda and Tunisia provided the upsets of the weekend. The
South African Amateur side struggled in the Camerouns whilst Cambodia won the
Asia Tier 6 tournament being held in Phom Phen.
01.07.2006
United States 91, Barbados 0 in
San Francisco (WCQ America North)
USA won by 91 points. I predicted USA by 60.
Tiny Barbados found
Canada too strong last week at home and will struggle again away in San
Francisco.
These two teams have
never met before.
GWC Rugby Rankings:
North America Table-USA 2nd, Barbados 3rd
Teams
15. Paul Emerick. 14. Mike
Palefau/Brian Barnard; 13. Phillip Eloff; 12. Albert Tuipolotu;. 11. Jeff
Hullinger; 10. Mike Hercus; 9. Tyson Meek; 8. Kort Schubert (capt.); 7. Todd
Clever; 6. Mark Aylor; 5. Mike Mangan; 4. Hayden Mexted; 3. Chris Osentowski;
2. Patrick Bell; 1 Mike MacDonald;
Reinforcements:
16. Owen Lentz; 17. John
Tarpoff; 18. Scott Lawrence; 19. Tony Petruzzella; 20. Mose Timoteo; 21. Jason
Kelly; 22. Mike Palefau/Brian Barnard/ Vahafalau Esikia.
Coach: Peter Thorburn
Previews
http://www.usarugby.org/cgi-bin/02/press/display.pl?releaseId=1355
And more news items on
the Barbados v Canada game
http://classifieds.nationnews.com
Argentina 60, Chile 13 in
Santiago (WCQ America South)
Argentina won by 47 points. I predicted Argentina by 35.
Argentina will field a
strong side for this important World Cup qualifier in Santiago. It is blend of
overseas experience and ‘A’ squad players who won the IRB Nations Cup in Europe
last month.This is not good news for the locals as Chile has struggled even to
beat the Argentinean ‘B’ sides of the past.
Argentina has played
some exciting rugby this last month. They have defeated Wales 2-0 at home and
pushed New Zealand last weekend in Buenos Aires. Watch out Chile!
Last Five Encounters
08.05.2005 Argentina XV
48-13 in Buenos Aires (S.America Champ. Div.A)
25.04.2004 Argentina
45-3 in Santiago (S.America Champ. Div.A)
30.04.2003 Argentina XV
in Montevideo (S.America Champ. Div.A)
05.05.2002 Argentina XV
57-13 in Mendoza (S.America Champ. Div.A)
17.11.2002 Argentina XV
42-23 (S.America Champ. Div.A)
GWC Rugby Rankings:
South America Table-Argentina 1st, Chile 3rd
Teams
Rimas Alvarez Kairelis,
Miguel Avramovic, Marcos Iván Ayerza, Lucas Borges, Pablo Bouza, Rafael Carballo, Manuel Carizza, Gastón De
Robertis, Martín Alberto Durand, Juan
De La Cruz Fernandez Miranda, Pablo Gambarini, Agustín Guzmán, Mario Ledesma,
Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Agustín Pichot,
Martín Scelzo, Martín Schusterman, Hernán Senillosa, Federico Serra Miras,
Pedro Tiesi, Gonzalo Federico Todeschini, Nicolás Vergallo.
Coach Marcelo Loffreda
Jorge Pollack, Nicolás
Venegas, Sebastián García, Lucas Seccatore, Paul Marsalli, Nicolás Arancibia,
Sebastián Berti, Pablo Sepúlveda, Cristóbal Berti, Cristián Onetto, Felipe
Graell, Francisco Cruz, Alejandro Moreno, Cristián Emhart, Edmundo Olfos,
Alejandro Tocigl, Cristobal Westenenk, Carlos Morande, José Olave, Cristián
González
Coaches: Jorge Navesi, Cristián Jory
Previews
http://www.planet-rugby.com/News/story_52188.shtml
Fiji 29, Japan 15 in Osaka
(Pacific Five Nations)
Fiji won by 14 points. I predicted Fiji by 25.
Japan put up a sterner
fight against the New Zealand Juniors last weekend and may be on the way back
from a horror spell of international rugby. The big running hard tackling Fijians
will pose many problems for the brittle Japanese defence. These two teams met
during the 2003 World Cup in Australia when Japan was playing great rugby
during a very strong period. Not so nowadays.
Last Five Encounters
23.10.2003 Fiji 41-13 in
Townsville (World Cup Pool B)
20.05.2000 Fiji 47-22 in
Tokyo (Pacific Rim)
05.06.1999 Fiji 16-9 in
Lautoka (Pacific Rim)
16.05.1994 Japan 20-8 in
Tokyo
07.05.1994 Japan 24-18
in Matsuyama
GWC Rugby Rankings:
World Table-Fiji 7th, Japan 16th
Teams
Fiji
15 Norman Ligairi, 14 Sekove
Leawere, 13 Maleli Kunavore, 12 Kameli Ratuvou, 11 Seru Rabeni, 10 Seremaia
Bai, 9 Jacob Rauluni, 8 Netani Talei, 7 Semisi Naevo, 6 Aca Ratuva, 5 Simon
Raiwalui (captain), 4 Isoa Domolailai, 3 Ravuama Samo, 2 Suni Koto, 1 Jo Bale.
Replacements tba
Coach: Wayne Pivac
Hisadomi, Matsubara,
Yamamura, Ono (capt.), Sato, Kikutani, O’Reilly, Kiso, Ito, Ando, Oto, Yoshida,
Moriya, Endo, Miyake. Reserves: Yamaoka, Yamamoto, Kumagai, Nakai, Ikeda,
Imamura, Takei
Japan team thanks to http://www.dhs.kyutech.ac.jp/~ruxton/jprugby.html
Previews
http://www.planet-rugby.com/News/story_52155.shtml
Samoa 36 Tonga 0 in Gosford (Pacific Five
Nations)
Samoa won by 36 points. I predicted Tonga by 3.
Tonga’s international
rugby season is on track to be one of the best ever for the tiny Pacific Island
Kingdom. They easily disposed of the Cook Islands last weekend and before that
only a loss to New Zealand Juniors has spoilt the record. A win against Samoa
will ensure both second place and the best season ever.
Samoa lost narrowly to
Fiji last weekend and won well against Japan in New Zealand before that. Samoa
has been the stronger side over the last five seasons but I expect tomorrows
encounter to be very close.
Last Five Encounters
23.07.2005 Samoa 30-19
in Nuku’alofa (WCQ Oceania Rnd 3)
02.07.2005 Samoa 50-28
in Apia (WCQ Oceania Rnd 3)
29.05.2004 Samoa 24-14
in Apia (Pacific Tri-Nations)
29.06.2002 Samoa 31-13
in Apia (WCQ Oceania Rnd 2, Pacific Tri-Nations)
15.06.2002 Samoa 25-16
in Nuku’olofa (WCQ Oceania Rnd 2, Pacific Tri-Nations)
GWC Rugby Rankings:
World Table-Samoa 12th, Tonga 15th
Pacific Table-Tonga 3rd,
Samoa 5th-CHANGE
Teams
Tonga
15 Sione Mone Tu'ipoluto
(Yokogawa, Japan), 14 Tevita Tu'ifua (Counties Manukau, NZ), 13 Hudson
Tonga'uiha (Vaini, Tonga), 12 Tatafu Na'aniumotu (Nukunuku, Tonga), 11 Viliami
Hakolo (Spartan Club, Tonga), 10 Pierre Hola (Kobe Steel, Japan), 9 Sioeli Nau
(Metro Racing, France), 8 Lotu Filipine (IBM, Japan), 7 Viliami Vaki
(Perpignan, France), 6 Epeli Taione (Sanyo, Japan - captain), 5 Maama Molitika
(IBM, Japan), 4 Paino Hehea (Metro Racing, France), 3 Tevita Taumoepeau
(Worcester, UK), 2 Maafu Pale (Coventry, UK), 1 Tonga Lea'aetoa (London Irish,
UK).
Replacements: 16 Ephraim
Taukafa (Leicester Tigers, UK), 17 Peni Fakalelu (Pau, France), 18 Chris
Hala'ufia (NEC Harlequins, UK), 19 Nili Latu (Chiefs, NZ), 20 Soane Havea
(Stourbridge, UK), 21 Fangatapu Apikotoa (Marist, Tonga), 22 Kaiongo Tupou
(Kolofo'ou, Tonga).
Coach: Adam Leach
Uganda 32, Ivory Coast 7 Uganda
won by 25 points. in Kampala (WCQ Africa R 2 Grp A; Africa Cup Grp A)
Uganda won by 25 points. I predicted Ivory Coast by 12.
An unexpected win for
Uganda. Ivory Coast had drawn with Morocco 9-9 recently whilst Morocco had
crunched Uganda 36-3.
GWC Rugby Rankings:
Africa Table-Ivory Coast 4th, Uganda 7th CHANGE
Reviews
http://www.planet-rugby.com/News/story_52174.shtml
Tunisia 24, Namibia 7 in Tunis
(WCQ Africa Rnd 2 Grp B; Africa Cup Grp B)
Tunisia won by 17 points. I predicted Namibia by 16.
Namibia appears to have
emerged from their 2005 internal problems and a capitulation 0-49 to Morocco
with a fresh outlook. They disposed of Kenya 84-12 in style at home in May and
will be looking for a good away win in Tunis. It was Tunisia who very nearly
ended Namibia’s place in the 2003 World Cup.
Tunisia began their
World Cup campaign in England early last month losing to the Counties side
7-35. Their first World Cup against Kenya in Nairobi a week later was narrowly
lost 21-25. On that result I would not expect them to threaten the Namibians
even on their home soil.
Past Encounters
17.10.2002 Tunisia 24-17
in Tunis (WCQ Africa Round 4)
28.09.2002 Namibia 26-19
in Windhoek (WCQ Africa Round 4)
18.04.1998 Namibia 20-17
in Tunis (WCQ Africa Round C)
GWC Rugby Rankings:
Africa Table-Namibia 5th, Tunisia 9th- CHANGE
South Africa Amateur 30,
Cameroun 9 in Doula (Africa Cup, Group C)
SA XV won by 21 points. I predicted SA XV by 45.
Matches played by the
South African Amateur side do not qualify as World Cup matches. The Africa Cup
competition therefore includes the South African side.
This is the third
attempt to get this match started. The South Africans crushed Senegal by 80
points last month and look like doing similar to the Cameroonians, even playing
away from home. Cameroun were defeated by Senegal 20-16 in April
These two teams have
never met before.
Prediction: SA Amateur
by 45 points
Indonesia 32, Brunei 20 in Phnom
Phen (Asia Tournament Tier 6)
Indonesia won by 12 points. I predicted Indonesia by 8.
Indonesia lost to
Cambodia 7-30 but then defeated Laos 34-10 during the first two rounds. Brunei
defeated Laos 32-17 and then lost to Cambodia 10-41. This looks like it will be
a close finish.
GWC Rugby Rankings: Asia
Table-Indonesia 18th, Brunei 19th
Squads
Husni Hiduar, Styvan
Johannis, Uju Juhara (Balikpapan), Dwikie Pinotoan (Dubai), Fentje Lala,
Hardiyanto Bitjara, Iksan Robo, Made Palit, Markus Lahunde, Nurhalis, Yani
Alhabsi (Gosowong), Dave Letchford, Stephen Barber, Dave Keefe, Sebastian Sharp
(ISCI Jakarta), Daniel Nugroho, Fikri Al-Azhar (Jakarta Bantengs), George Deda,
Daniel Kobak, Nelson Joku, Niko, Willem Simopiaref (Kotekas), Andries Smallberger,
Warren Wilcox (Sumbawa Nagas), Fadin Purimahua, Rod Bridges, Putu Puswadi
(Sangatta Saracens), Kurt Arundale (MMU Cheshire, England).
Coach: Nicolas de Ribas
Cambodia 30, Laos 0 in Phnom
Phen (Asia Tournament Tier 6)
Cambodia won by 30 points. I predicted Cambodia by 60.
Cambodia have been the stand
out team at this tournament. They have won both games comfortably so far
whereas Laos has lost both and looks to have the wooden spoon well within its
grasp.
GWC Rugby Rankings: Asia
Table-Cambodia 17th, Laos 20th
Squads
Cambodia
Squad
Yun Sopha Garuda Lock
Uk Dara Garuda Hooker
Ralph McMilan Garuda Prop
Chey Sophal Hangsa No.8
Thang Chanda Preah Vihear Flanker
Phan
Sophear Stade Khmer Flanker
Chrou Kim Seing Sisowath
Prop .
Chhing Vesna Sisowath Lock
Kheav Khamara Sisowath Lock
Koeut Sovanreaksmey Sisowath Hooker
Andrew Preah Vihear Prop .
Out Vuthy Siem Reap Flanker
Yous Phearak Dragons Flanker
Pich Ratana Garuda Half
Lach Sopheara Garuda Centre
Noun Meng Garuda Back
Vannak Vireak Garuda Centre
Thach Va Garuda FB
Chan Samedi Garuda Centre
Sun Malen Hangsa Wing
Noun Leng Hangsa Half
Vin
Salin Hangsa Back
Run Saroun Preah Vihear Wing
Enn
Chanvuthy Stade Khmer Wing
Man Salida Stade Khmer Back
Bleriot Francios Stade Khmer Flyhalf
Heng Samnang Stade Khmer Wing
Vong Vannak Siem Reap Wing
Na Khim Siem
Reap Prop
Châk Somnang Sisowath Flyhalf
Chin Sahavitou Sisowath Wing
Yorn Vantha Sisowath Flanker
Chan Vanna Tep Pranam Lock
Coach: Laurence Karatau
1. Vong Sisimphou
2. Sod Viengsamphau
3. Vinay Inthavong
4. Thibault Ledecq
5. Bounnack Phommachanh
6. Andrew Dennis
7. Phomma Phommavongsa
8. Thomas Meadley
9. Anousith Chaleunsouk
10. Patthana Pankhamfong
11. Somphone Vongvilay
12. Phenglamphong Nachanthi
(captain)
13. Kongsavanh Sihalath
14. Soulivo Amphaiyavong
15. Sin Phommahaxay
16. Thiphavong Somphoucnanh
17. Bounthanh
18. Makala Luangrath
19. Sayasouk Southakakoumal
20. Viengkhone Vonphengsy
21. Mit Oudone Keohanam
22. Chansadeth
Soumphonphakdy
23. Vilasack Vongsay
24. Lee Sheridan