IRB World Rankings
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South Africa have reclaimed the second spot on the IRB World Rankings after their win over Australia 53-8 in Johannesburg. Australia can reclaim second spot with a win against New Zealand in Brisbane.
No other changes occured in the Top 10 due to a lack of international rugby matches.
The list of the top 10 are below;
New Zealand
Australia
South Africa
Argentina
England
Wales
France
Ireland
Scotland
Italy
IRB World Rugby Rankings
The IRB latest world ranking’s have been a major blow to the South African Springboks as they have dropped from No 1. at ths start of the year to No 3. behind the New Zealand All Blacks and Australian Wallabies.
South Africa have had a horror Rugby Tri-Nations series while Australia have improved dramatically after being fourth at the start of the Rugby Tri-Nations series.
The list of the top 10 are below;
New Zealand
Australia
South Africa
Argentina
England
Wales
France
Ireland
Scotland
Italy
McCaw sidelined
Richie McCaw the All Blacks captain and one of the finest No. 7’s in the game is likely to be sidelined for at least 6 weeks after being injured in the first half of the All Blacks win against England yesterday. McCaw was diagnosed today as having a high ankle ligament strain and is likely to miss as many as four matches in the Tri-Nations series.
The loss of McCaw is a big loss for the All Blacks as he is the only specialist openside flanker in the squad and his fearless leadership is at the heart and soul of the New Zealand team.
We wish Richie well in getting back on the track.
Toulon sign Jerry Collins
In another coup for the French side Toulon they have signed Jerry Collins the ex All Black who shocked New Zealand recently with his announcement he will not longer make himself available to play internationals for New Zealand.
Jerry Collin, 27, will join Toulon on a three year contract and will play and be coached by his former All Black captain Tana Umaga. Toulon have spent up big in recent times securing the key signings of Tana Umaga and George Gregan last year and other major All Blacks Andrew Mehrtens and Anton Oliver. Jerry Collins will be the sixth All Black at Toulon and with rumours of Daniel Carter considering an offer as well it could be the second home of the All Blacks.
Toulon have sepnt big and it has been successful with them being promoted from the second division to the first. All the major signings will give them a good start come the commencement of the 2008-09 season. Jerry Collins in expected to join Toulon in July.
Experimental Law Variations (ELVs)
With the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) due to be implemented to Rugby on 1st August for a 12 month trial, we at The Ruck and Maul thought it would be good to give you a brief update of those changes.
The 2008 Super 14 was played under the new ELVs and this resulted in a faster game with less full arm penalties and the sides who were able to adapt to the increase in speed and alteration to the rules dominated. The Canterbury Crusaders from New Zealand were the best at adapting and the mobile forwards they possessed and the dominance and aggression at the maul was a key aspect in them winning the competition.
The IRB are officially implementing the rules on 1 August, this will bring all nations into line and will change the face of the game we know now. Players will need to be fitter and more mobile but still maintain the same skill level they possess. Under the ELVs there is less room to hide on the field as the game is faster and more dynamic.
The Southern Hemisphere nations of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia will have an early advantage having experienced this since the last World Cup but the Tri-Nations is the first major test series that will be played under the new ELVs.
The IRB have produced an excellent guide to the Experimental Law Variations, click here to read the guide.
IRB World Rankings
The International Rugby Board (IRB) announced the latest rankings of all Rugby playing nations on 16 June 2008.
The only movement within the top 10 from last week is Scotland moving up one place after their surprise victory against Argentina and Fiji dropping back one spot as a result of the Scottish win. Among other major top 20 nations Samoa has moved from 13th to 12th spot and Japan from 16th to 15th after recent performances in the Pacific Nations Cup.
The top 10 are;
South Africa
New Zealand
Argentina
Australia
England
Wales
France
Ireland
Scotland
Fiji
A full list can be viewed at the Official IRB Rugby site.
All Blacks Team Announcement for English Test
Graham Henry has made two selection changes and several positional changes from the side that easily defeated England 37-20 last week. Richard Kahui and Rudi Wulf will make their debuts against England in Saturday, replacing Conrad Smith and Anthony Tuitavake respectively.
Leon McDonald replaced Mils Muliaina at fullback, Muliaina drops back to the bench which Sitiveni Sivivatu has swapped from the left to right wing. Adam Thompson has also been moved into the blindside flanker role allowing Rodney So’oialo to drop back to his favoured No. 8 role.
The All Blacks will be keen to cement a clear 2-0 victory over the English side in what have developed into quite heated build up to the second test on Saturday with a strong war of words between the two coaches with England putting pressure on the tactics of Richie McCaw at the breakdown during the first test victory to the All Blacks.
The New Zealand All Blacks team is;
Leon MacDonald, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Richard Kahui, Ma’a Nonu, Rudi Wulf, Dan Carter, Andy Ellis, Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw, Adam Thomson, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata.
Reserves: Kevin Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Anthony Boric, Sione Lauaki, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Mils Muliaina.
England make six changes for All Blacks
England have made six changes for their match with the All Blacks this weekend after a toothless performance in the 37-20 loss against the All Blacks in the first test.
Five changes were made to the English backline and one forced change to the forward with the withdrawal through injury of Andy Sheridan and inclusion Tim Payne in his place. The backline suffered heavily from the loss with only Topsy Ojo and Mike Tindall surviving the previous test. Rob Andrew will be hoping the revamped backline will add some much needed attacking spark after only Topsy Ojo was able to make any real impression against the All Blacks with two opportunistic tries.
The English team is;
Mathew Tait, Topsy Ojo, Mike Tindall, Jamie Noon, Tom Varndell, Toby Flood, Danny Care, Luke Narraway, Tom Rees, James Haskell, Steve Borthwick, Tom Palmer, Matt Stevens, Lee Mears, Tim Payne.
Reserves: David Paice, Jason Hobson, Ben Kay, Joe Worsley, Pete Richards, Olly Barkley, David Strettle.
Mark Gerrard ruled out
Mark Gerrard the Wallabies winger currently playing for Australia A has been ruled out for one month. Gerrard suffered a shoulder injury in a tough physical encounter against Samoa on the weekend.
The injury comes at a bad time as Gerrard would have come into calculations for selection in the Tri-Nations series against the All Blacks and Springboks. Unfortunately it will make it difficult for Gerrard to force his way back into the Wallabies side without any significant time under his belt on the field.
New Zealand vs England Preview
New Zealand will face a new English side when they meet tomorrow at Eden Park in Auckland. Both sides are barely recognisable from the sides they fielded in the Rugby World Cup less than 12 months ago. England’s only starting player from the World Cup final is Andy Sheridan as Rob Andrew looks to rebuild his side with a view to the next World Cup.
The All Blacks who beat Ireland at home last week have also had some changes but have amazing depth and as one star leaves it seems they have two emerging talents to replace them. The core of the side with Richie McCaw and Dan Carter are still in action and will hope to be getting into full swing to coincide with the upcoming Tri-Nations series against the Wallabies and Springboks.
The New Zealand team should have too much flair for the English with an accomplished scrum and dynamic backs likely to take any advantage of their inexperienced rivals. Nonu, Tuitavake and Sivivatu will take any chance they get in the backline and with Dan Carter driving them around the park they will get plenty of opportunities.
The New Zealand team have plenty of firepower in the forwards with Thorn, Hore, So’oialo, Somerville, McCaw and Williams forming a solid combination. The added aggression of the All Blacks will pressure the English early and they will have to be careful they do not fold under the pressure.
Despite the All Blacks being expected to win they have all the pressure. The All Blacks coach Henry is already under considerable pressure from the New Zealand media after the World Cup failure and any loss with put extreme pressure on him and the All Blaccks.
England have several debutants and will be hoping to see some signs that they are capable of stepping up against the All Blacks. For England at this point in the rebuilding stage they are facing a near impossible task of victory in New Zealand. Rob Andrew will be happy to see a solid performance from England and will be hopeful of a solid hitout but I can’t see England being a serious worry for the All Blacks. New Zealand by 18.
New Zealand
Mils Muliaina, Anthony Tuitavake, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Andy Ellis, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Rodney So’oialo, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Schwalger, Anthony Boric, Sione Lauaki, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Leon MacDonald.
England
Mike Brown, Topsy Ojo, Mike Tindall, Olly Barkley, David Strettle, Charlie Hodgson, Richard Wigglesworth, Luke Narraway, Tom Rees, James Haskell, Steve Borthwick, Tom Palmer, Matt Stevens, Lee Mears, Andrew Sheridan.
Reserves: David Paice, Tim Payne, Ben Kay, Joe Worsley, Danny Care, Jamie Noon, Mathew Tait.