Rugby World Cup: While you were sleeping

NZ Herald

30 Sep, 2015 05:40 PM2 mins to read

Gregor Paul and Patrick McKendry are in Cardiff with the All Blacks and give their opinion and analysis on the AB's changes for the Georgia Rugby World Cup match. Sonny Bill Williams, Charlie Faumuina and Wyatt Crockett all find themselves in a starting XV that remains - everywhere else - absolutely the top side. Their form has been impressive in the first two games while the men they respectively replace - Ma'a Nonu, Owen Franks and Tony Woodcock - have either been quiet or a little bit off where they were expected to be.

All the latest news from the Rugby World Cup overnight including a man called Bingo who will face the All Blacks.

BOMBS AWAY...

And we're not talking about England's kicking game. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has dropped a bombshell or two, even if he is trying to give them a soft landing. He's promoted props Charlie Faumuina and Wyatt Crockett to start against Georgia on Saturday morning, a game in which the top lineup was expected to play. Hansen said "Woody and Owie" (that's Tony Woodcock and Owen Franks) had been going well. " It's just a swapping of the roles," Hansen said. Charlie and Wyattie (Charlie Faumuina and Wyatt Crockett) probably see it as a bit more than that.

NAMING WRONGS

Georgia team list had the World Cup news office guffawing. Instead of full names, it listed nicknames such as 'Bingo', and 'Chacooch' and 'Van Dam' (aka Giorgi Aptsiauri) selected on the wing.

SPEAKING OF NICKNAMES...

Australia's double openside combo of David Pocock and Michael Hooper goes by the handle of "Pooper" in some rugby circles across the ditch.

LIMPING

New Zealand's status as the least injured team is starting to slip. Ma'a Nonu, Beauden Barrett, Colin Slade and Liam Messam are on the casualty list.

DOWNTIME

There were no games overnight.

SHOWTIME

Tomorrow's big game: injury hit Wales play Fiji who have lost their talisman Nemani Nadolo to suspension. The Fijian captain Akapusi Qera will become only the third player to win 50 caps for Fiji, following Nicky Little (71) and Seremaia Bai (50). Tomorrow's little game: France should be too good for Canada.

NOT SUNK YET

Scary Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis will be desperate to show he's still the number one number two, having been named in the lineup to play Scotland on Sunday. Du Plessis was dropped for the return-to-form win by the Springboks over Samoa.