THIS WEEKEND JULY 8-9

New Zealand proved too strong for Australia in their opening Tri Nations match. They retained the Bledisloe Cup as well. Argentina cruised to a 26-0 win over Uruguay and won a place in the 2007 Rugby World Cup Tournament. Tonga walloped Cook Islands 90-0 and now proceed to the repechage round involving the No.2 Asia team.

Reviews

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/EN/RWC+Qualifying/News/060708+DR+arg+rwc.htm

 

Teams

 

Australia 'A' squad:

Adam Ashley-Cooper, Richard Brown, Al Campbell, Mitchell Chapman, David Croft, Matt Dunning, Gene Fairbanks, Nic Henderson, Josh Holmes, James Horwill, Digby Ioane, Drew Mitchell, Stephen Moore, Sam Norton-Knight, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, John Roe, Cameron Shepherd, Scott Staniforth, Morgan Turinui, Josh Valentine, Adam Wallace-Harrison

Coach:

 

08.07.2006

New Zealand 32, Australia 12 in Christchurch (Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations)

New Zealand won by 20 points. I predicted NZ by 30.

 

At this level of international rugby, the game is won when a team displays superior skill, pace and power and produces fewer mistakes. New Zealand displayed all of these qualities most of the time, Australia showed them occasionally. Thus the result. New Zealand were too powerful up front and Australia failed to show the back line domination that was predicted in other columns.

 

Last Five Encounters:

03.09.2005 New Zealand 34-24 in Auckland (Bledisloe Cup & Tri Nations)

13.08.2005 New Zealand 30-13 in Sydney (Bledisloe Cup & Tri Nations)

07.08.2004 Australia 23-18 in Sydney (Bledisloe Cup & Tri Nations)

17.07.2004 New Zealand 16-7 in Wellington (Bledisloe Cup & Tri Nations)

15.11.2003 Australia 22-10 in Sydney (World Cup semi-final)

 

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-New Zealand 1st, Australia 9th

                                      Pacific Table-New Zealand 1st, Australia 2nd

 

Teams

 

Australia:

15 Chris Latham, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Stirling Mortlock (vice-captain), 12 Mat Rogers, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (captain), 8 Rocky Elsom, 7 George Smith, 6 Mark Chisholm, 5 Dan Vickerman (vice-captain), 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Greg Holmes.

Replacements: 16 Jeremy Paul, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Scott Fava, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Matt Giteau, 22 Ben Tune.

Coach: John Connolly

 

New Zealand:

15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Mils Muliaina, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Chris Masoe, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Isaia Toeava.

Coach: Graham Henry

 

Reviews

http://www.planet-rugby.com/News/story_52330.shtml

http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/07/09/1152240546778.html

 

Argentina 26, Uruguay 0 in Buenos Aires (WCQ America South)

Argentina won by 26 points. I predicted Argentina by 70.

 

In appalling conditions Argentina did enough to win the game and qualify for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. They scored two tries in the second half and dominated territory throughout. Uruguay kept to its plan of upsetting their neighbours but tackling everything that moved and forcing their more fancied opponents into making errors. It wasn’t pretty but then it was for a place in the Rugby World Cup.

 

Neighbours and long time South American foes Argentina and Uruguay meet in a World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires.

 

 

Last Five Encounters

15.05.2005 Argentina XV 27-21 in Buenos Aires (Sth America Championship)

28.04.2004 Argentina 69-10 in Santiago (Sth America Championship)

27.08.2003 Argentina 57-0 in Buenos Aires (Pan American Series)

03.05.2003 Argentina XV 32-0 (Sth America Championship)

27.04.2002 Argentina 35-21 in Mendoza (Sth America Championship)

 

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-Argentina 3rd, Uruguay 21st

                                      South America Table-Argentina 1st, Uruguay 2nd

 

Teams

 

Argentina squad

Rimas Alvarez Kairelis,  Miguel Avramovic,  Marcos Iván Ayerza, Lucas Borges,  Pablo Bouza,  Rafael Carballo, Manuel Carizza, Agustín Creevy, Gastón De Robertis, Martín  Alberto Durand, Juan De La Cruz Fernandez Miranda, Pablo Gambarini, Mario Ledesma, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Agustín Pichot, Martín  Scelzo, Martín Schusterman,  Horacio   Agulla, Federico Serra Miras, Gonzalo Pedro Tiesi, Federico Todeschini,  Nicolás Vergallo

Coach: Marcelo Loffreda

 

Uruguay squad:

Sebastián Aguirre (Carrasco Polo), Diego Aguirre (Carrasco Polo), Juan Miguel Alvarez (Carrasco Polo), Rafael Alvarez  (Old Christians), Juan Alzueta (Trébol), Matías Arocena  (Old Christians), Francisco Bulanti (Trébol), Juan Campomar  (Old Boys), Federico Capo (Carrasco Polo), Rodrigo Capo (Castres – France), Ignacio Conti (Carrasco Polo), Alfredo Giuria (Los Cuervos), Nicolás Grille (Trébol), Nicolás Klappembach,  (Champagnat), Juan Labat (Carrasco Polo), Diego Lamelas  (Alumni), Juan Martín Llovet (Old Christians), Juan Menchaca  (Carrasco Polo), Juan Andrés Perez (Old Boys), Gonzalo Peyro  (Champagnat), Rodrigo Sanchez (Carrasco Polo), Guillermo Storace (Old Christians), Gustavo Voituret (Carrasco Polo)

 

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

 

Reviews

http://www.planet-rugby.com/News/story_52338.shtml

http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/07/09/1152383599831.html

 

Tonga 90, Cook Islands 0 in Nuku’alofa (WCQ Oceania Round 3, 2nd leg)

Tonga won by 90 points. I predicted Tonga by 45.

 

Teams

 

Tonga

15 Pierre Hola, 14 Tevita Vaikona, 13 Tatafu Na’aniumotu, 12 Kaiongo Tupou, 11 Hudson Tonga’uiha, 10 Fangatapu Apikotoa, 9 Tevita Palu, 8 Viliami Vaki, 7 Nili Latu (captain), 6 Rodney Mahe, 5 Chris Haalufia, 4 Paino Hehea, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Ephraim Taukafa, 1 Tonga Lea’aetoa

Replacements: 16 Feki Moala, 17 Peni Fakalelu, 18 Tanginoa Fosita, 19 Sione Onesi, 20 Soane Havea, 21 Villiami Hakola, 22 Sioeli Nau

Coach:

 

5 July: A squad of 22 Cook Islands players and five management personnel are on their way to Tonga for the second Rugby World Cup qualifier match on Saturday.

Limited changes have been made to add to the strength of the team while a couple have been necessary due to players not being able to get leave.

The squad has the determination to improve on their previous performance, according to CIRFU chief executive Ben Koteka.

The local contingent of eight players and three coaching and management officials left Rarotonga on Tuesday for Auckland where they were to meet up with the remainder of the squad and fly out that same day for Tonga. The local contingent will return to Rarotonga on Monday 10 July.

FORWARDS: Teokotai Rongo (Wellington), Len Toi (Auckland), Mark Charlie (Auckland), Joseph Marsters (Auckland), Antonio Diaz (Counties), Simiona Nicholas (Arorangi), Nicholas Connal (Counties), Gene Lutton (Wellington), Mike Toki (King Country), Tai Marsters (Counties), Tuainekore Herrmann (Tupapa), William Heather (Arorangi), Aaron Hansen (Avatiu).

BACKS: Nathan Robinson (Brisbane), Amosa Amosa (Auckland - captain), Adam Vardey (Wellington), Teokotai Benedito (Auckland), David Wichman (Arorangi), Jamie Tetevano (North Harbour), Duane Gukisuva (Avatiu), Teokotai Tuaivi (Avatiu), Robert Nicholas (Avatiu)

Head coach: George Metuarau. Assistant coach: Henry Heather. manager: Alan Stevenson. Assistant Manager: John Wichman. Osteopath: Blair Ingram. - CIRFU

Thanks to http://www.cinews.co.ck/sports.htm#6

 

GWC Rugby Rankings: Pacific Table-Tonga 4th, Cook Islands 6th

 

Previews

http://www.matangitonga.to/article/sports/rugby/cooks070706.shtml