What’s bugging you? Should the All Blacks follow the Wallabies’ twin flanker plan? Herald rugby writer Wynne Gray canvasses this and other issues with former All Black loose forward Richard Turner.
With two Rugby World Cup games tomorrow morning - and the All Blacks side to play Tonga set to be named - Scott Yeoman looks at seven things you need to know going into tonight.
1. The All Blacks
The All Blacks team to play Tonga on Saturday morning was due to be named tonight around midnight, as has been the routine these past couple of weeks. However, the team naming has been delayed until tomorrow morning (NZ time) with no official reason given. It is almost certain that such a delay is down to a late fitness test or to see if a certain player/players make it through training. The All Blacks have a training session overnight tonight at 3.30am (NZ time).
Reaction and analysis from that training, as well as the team naming, will be up online at nzherald.co.nz tomorrow morning. The side to play Tonga should be named by midday our time. Read this piece by the Herald on Sunday's rugby writer Gregor Paul about what you can expect from the team naming.
South Africa will play the USA at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London at 4.45am tomorrow. The Springboks have made only two changes from the side that beat Scotland 34-16 three days ago. Frans Malherbe starts at prop ahead of Jannie du Plessis and Lwazi Mvovo starts on the left wing, with Bryan Habana moving over to the right wing and JP Pietersen missing out. Morne Steyn is in the squad for the first time this World Cup, sitting on the bench alongside halfback Rudy Paige - who could make his test and World Cup debut if called upon.
The USA has made 12 changes to their side following their 39-16 loss to Scotland. Phil Thiel, Samu Manoa and Blaine Scully are the only three to stay in the starting line-up. Louis Stanfill, Matthew Trouville, Niku Kruger, Zach Test and Andrew Suniula will all be taking the field for the first time this World Cup.
Head-to-head live betting on South Africa to win is suspended at the TAB but the USA are paying $21 to win.
South Africa: Willie le Roux, Bryan Habana, Jesse Kriel, Damian De Allende, Lwazi Mvovo, Handre Pollard, Fourie du Preez (captain); Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Francois Louw, Lodewyk de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Schalk Brits, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pieter-Steph Du Toit, Willem Alberts, Rudy Paige, Morne Steyn, Jan Serfontein.
United States: Blaine Scully, Brett Thompson, Folau Niua, Andrew Suniula, Zach Test, Shalom Suniula, Niku Kruger; Samu Manoa (captain), John Quill, Danny Barrett, Matt Trouville, Louis Stanfill, Chris Baumann, Phil Thiel, Olive Kilifi. Reserves: Joseph Taufete'e, Zach Fenoglio, Matekitonga Moeakiola, Titi Lamositele, Cameron Dolan, Al McFarland, Mike Petri, Chris Wyles.
Namibia has their last realistic chance this tournament to secure the nation's first ever Rugby World Cup win when they take on Georgia at Sandy Park Stadium in Exeter at 8am tomorrow. There are seven changes to the side that lost to Tonga 35-21. PJ van Lill replaces Janco Venter, Tinus du Plessis will start at flanker ahead of Rohan Kitshoff and Johnny Redelinghuys will start at prop instead of Casper Viviers. Raoul Larson will also replace Aranos Coetzee. Halfback Eneill Buitendag is out of the starting team to make way for Eugene Jantjies and Darryl De La Harpe will start at centre. David Philander will also come in for Johan Tromp, who has been moved to the reserve bench. Namibia still has a game against Argentina on Monday morning at Leicester City Stadium.
Meanwhile, New Zealand-born Georgian coach Milton Haig has gone back to his strongest starting line-up for his side's last game of the Rugby World Cup, with 14 of the starting players having played against Tonga and Argentina. Haig made 10 changes to the side that lost to the All Blacks 43-10. The Georgian starting forward-pack has been overhauled, with captain Mamuka Gorgodze the only player to remain. He moves to No 8.
The TAB has Georgia as the obvious favourites, paying $1.13. Namibia is paying $5.25 to win.
Namibia: Chrysander Botha, David Philander, Danie van Wyk, Darryl De La Harpe, Russel van Wyk, Theuns Kotze, Eugene Jantjies; Renaldo Bothma, Tinus du Plessis, Jacques Burger (captain), Tijuee Uanivi, PJ van Lill, Raoul Larson, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Johnny Redelinghuys. Reserves: Louis van der Westhuizen, Jaco Engels, Johannes Coetzee, Wian Conradie, Rohan Kitsoff, Johan Tromp, Damian Stevens, Heinrich Smit.
The Wallabies have some serious injury concerns with explosive fullback Israel Folau possibly missing this weekend's big game against Wales. The winner of the Pool A fixture will finish top of the pool and play either Scotland or Japan in the quarter finals, while the loser will likely go on to play South Africa. Folau went off in the second half of last weekend's England game with an ankle injury and is still in doubt. Aussie winger Rob Horne also missed training this week due to a shoulder injury and is a strong chance to miss the Wales clash. Meanwhile, star flanker Michael Hooper is also unavailable after he was suspended for one week for not using his arms when he charged into a ruck during the Twickenham game against England.
Samoan winger Alesana Tuilagi will miss his side's last game against Scotland on Sunday (NZ time) after he was suspended for five weeks for hitting Japanese centre Harumichi Tatekawa with his knee during last weekend's game. Tuilagi denied it was an act of foul play.
It is still uncertain whether leg knocks picked up by Richie McCaw and Waisake Naholo during last weekend's game against Georgia will rule them out of the upcoming game against Tonga on Saturday.
5. Player rankings
6. Team rankings
7. Standings
EXTRA TIME
My favourite Rugby World Cup-related video this week comes out of South Africa, and despite being a commercial for Land Rover (I know, sorry) it manages to capture a really unique perspective on the game we love. The one minute 40 second clip is part of the Land Rover Rugby Grassroots Stories series and is filmed inside the urban residential area of Soweto in Johannesburg. It profiles the Soweto Rugby Club and the "The Soweto Rugby Club Haka" - a war cry performed by the players.
One of the club members explains that it is a war cry that was used by the Zulus during the war with the British. "It's a war cry that states who we are, where we come from, and do we intend to do," the young male says, rugby ball in hand. It is these kinds of grassroots stories that I love - small town players putting everything into their local club and displaying a clear passion for rugby and their culture, while standing proud next to their team mates . It is so important to remember these kinds of clubs - of which there are plenty here in New Zealand - when most of the attention is focused on a select few competing in England and Wales.
