International Rugby Players
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*Marc Lieveremont has chosen to play 2 scrum-halves at half-back, Parra will be wearing the number 10 with Yachvilli at 9 against New Zealand.
World Cup
Tonga 31 - 18 Japan
Scotland training, Wellington
Samoa training, Auckland
England training, Dunedin
Australia training, Wellington
South Africa Captain's Run @ North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
XV SOUTH AFRICA vs Namibia - RWC 2011
15 Pat Lambie, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Willem Alberts, 5 Danie Rossouw, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit ©, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 François Louw, 19 Heinrich Brüssow, 20 Fourie du Preez, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Juan de Jongh.
Date: Thurday, September 22
Kick-off: (20.00 (08.00 GMT)
XV AUSTRALIA vs United States - RWC 2011
15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley Cooper, 13 Anthony Faingaa, 12 Robert Horne, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper 9 Will Genia
Rugby World Cup: France love their 'smouldering' skipper
Dusautoir was rated one of the most handsome men at the Rugby World Cup by the Woman's Weekly staff in a ranking this week for the Herald.
It noted the flanker's "chest-to-waist ratio," "smouldering eyes" and the fact he is a chemical engineer, as winning man-factors. Winger Vincent Clerc, 30, looked a shade gleeful yesterday when asked about what the team had made of that. Through an interpreter the chatty winger said the French were known appreciators of beauty. "I completely agree, the whole team thinks Thierry's one of the best looking guys in the world."
His captain wasn't around to hear that quip but it's one that Clerc as one of the few remaining Les Bleus members who played in the 2007 quarter final where France blasted New Zealand out of the tournament, probably has the seniority, and cheek, to do so.
The 30-year-old's a likeable guy. He dipped in and out of French and English during the interview and showed a sence of humour when asked about why his team had imported close too $16,800 worth of coffee for the tournament's duration. It wasn't just coffee his mates had shipped over, he said, but the esspresso machines too. Had he tried any New Zealand coffee? "Just Starbucks," he grinned.
The team were enjoying being based in Takapuna with the beach on their doorstep and had done a bit of paddleboarding which he'd enjoyed. But for teammate Imanol Harinordoquy the watersport wasn't up his alley. The 1.92m Bayonne-born Basque plays at the back of the scrum and speaks in a no-nonsense way about the sessions.
It almost looked like the hardman shuddered when he described the weather. It was cold, he said. "Only one in 30 [players] took pleasure from that. "I am not so bad but not so good."
Lots of things had to go right this Saturday for the French to win - for starters his team would have to be "heroic," he mused. But Cardiff four years ago was a clear reminder, even to their own fans Harinordoquy said, that it could be done. "It was special, I think they put this match there [in Wales instead of Paris] because nobody wanted to see us losing against New Zealand."
Still, if the French didn't win this weekend the remaining draw still might see them at Eden Park come October 23. A Gallic win then against the All Blacks, would be a nice slice of history, Harinordoquy said. "Not this week, but in the final - that will be good."
nzherald.co.nz
France training, Auckland
XV NEW ZEALAND vs France - RWC 2011
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Richard Kahui, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Richie McCaw (capt), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Anthony Boric, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.
XV ENGLAND vs Romania - RWC 2011
15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Mike Tindall, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 Alex Corbisiero, Steve Thompson, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Louis Deacon, 5 Tom Palmer, 6 Tom Croft, 7 Lewis Moody ©, 8 James Haskell.
Replacements:16 Lee Mears, 17 David Wilson, 18 Simon Shaw, 19 Tom Wood, 20 Richard Wigglesworth, 21 Toby Flood, 22 Delon Armitage.
Date: Saturday, September 24
Kick-off: 18:00 (06:00 GMT)
Venue: Otago Stadium, Dunedin
XV ROMANIA vs England - RWC 2011
15 Florin Adrian Vlaicu, 14 Stefan Eugen Ciuntu, 13 Ionel Cazan, 12 Iulian Dumitras, 11 Adrian Marian Apostol, 10 Marin Danut Dumbrava, 9 Lucian Mihai Sirbu, 8 Ovidiu Tonita, 7 Cosmin Aurel Ratiu, 6 Sandu Stelian Burcea, 5 Cristian Constantin Petre (capt), 4 Valentin Poparlan, 3 Silviu Florea, 2 Bogdan Zebega Suman, 1 Nicolae Nere.
Replacements: 16 Marius Tincu, 17 Paulica Ion, 18 Mihai Macovei, 19 Daniel Gabriel Ianus, 20 Valentin Nicolae Calafeteanu, 21 Csaba Minya Gal, 22 Catalin Marius Nicolae.
XV SCOTLAND vs Argentina - RWC 2011
15 Chris Paterson, 14 Max Evans, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Rory Lawson (capt), 8 Kelly Brown, 7 John Barclay, 6 Al Strokosch, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Nathan Hines, 19 Richie Vernon, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Dan Parks, 22 Simon Danielli.
Date: Sunday, September 25
Kick-off: 20:30 (08:30 GMT)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium