Despite late support for Lewsey, Rougerie and Heyman there wasn’t enough there to challenge the pace and tryscoring ability of Joe Rokocoko.  “Smokin’ Joe” has the knack of finding the tryline despite looking almost nonchalant at times.  That’s just fine with me!
He’s big, he’s fast and he rocks. 
I must admit I thought long and hard […]

The last instalment of my World XV pick got me thinking…who is the dirtiest, most vile player in world rugby?
There are many contenders - including Earl Rose (a flee who consistently nips away at bigger and better players) - but the most under-handed, un-wanted and pathetic of all the thugs must be Simon Shaw and […]

I’m fairly confident that I’ve got this here competition in the bag. The only worry was at tighthead, but the news yesterday that Pieter de Villiers is fit and raring to go was yet another blessing in a trail of good fortune.
Mind you, Scrumfan’s suggestion I should have considered Greg Sommerville on the loosehead side […]

It is no secret that Fourie du Preez is the best scrumhalf in the world.  I was in awe of him this weekend as he slotted straight back into top form against Scotland and was easily the best player on the field. 
In fact, I don’t think much of the other scrumhalves that will be heading […]

I just thought I’d let everyone know that this morning Gareth called Fourie du Preez ‘the best scrumhalf in the world without doubt’…
It was a small, but significant joy that interrupted my coffee making routine…as if God had chosen today as a special blessing for me…then, just to be sure I double checked the number […]

The biggest blow to France’s chances of winning the World Cup in front of their home crowd is the lose of prop Sylvain Marconnet. I wanted him badly. I even waited until the very last moment to select my frontrow - hoping that he would return to fitness in time. It wasn’t to be.
In truth, […]

With Dave having picked Matt Giteau a while back in his All-Australian backline (what is up with that?) I’ve had plenty of opportunity to mull over the choice between Jauzion and D’Arcy at inside centre. 
D’Arcy is a special player with a good relationship with B’OD, but in the end - and particularly in light of Jauzion’s […]

Thanks to Nic Janse van Rensburg for sending in this clip…had a good chuckle!

The 1998 World Cup was credited with boosting consumer spending for the host country with the principle beneficiaries being hotels, restaurants, and sales of World Cup-related sporting products.
And this time around no stadia had to be built.
Organisers have calculated the economic spin-off at eight billion euros ($16 billion) over four years, of which half this […]

France’s demolition of England over the weekend (without Chabal mind you) has me seriously considering a number of Les Blues. England are supposed to have a powerful pack yet were completely and utterly destroyed by the rampant French. I’ve picked Ibanez this time out, but there are more Frenchies to come…
Ibanez is a robust and […]