In an exclusive with Total Rugby, Richie McCaw interview, the brilliant flanker rates his toughest opponents and talks about the World Cup in New Zealand.

It use to be that the Springboks v All Blacks was rugby’s greatest rivalry. In this current age, that rivalry is still strong, but it may not be the most anticipated clash on the rugby calendar that South African fans like to believe.

Talking to Total Rugby, Richie McCaw rates his toughest opponents.

George Smith of Australia and one of the French flankers are rated by McCaw, but it is interesting to note that no Bok is in his top 2.

Smith has been one of the best over the last decade, and perhaps it goes to show the Boks have not had a true world class opensider, perform consistently for a prolonged period of time?

In 2010, one of the largest debates around the Boks was the position of fetcher flank, and the glaring ommision of someone who could perform the role in the absence of Heinrich Brussouw.

Certainly it would be a compliment to the Boks to have a player rated as being the toughest opponent to one of the most influential players on the player, and provides an insight to the Boks in one area they desperately need to improve.

ESPN’s spanish website, ESPN deportes scrum, has published their 100 most memorable rugby photos for 2010

There is a northern hemisphere bias, but there are some great moments, (not enough Springbok ones!) and some of the bizarre, funny and best action shots for 2010.

To view the photos, go to ESPN’s rugby top 100 photo page.

The public can now vote for the 2010 IRPA (International Rugby Players Association) try of the year, which has been narrowed down to 18 candidates from the original selection of 230.

In conjunction with the IRB, IRPA has an award for the best try of the year, as determined by the rugby public.

The tries are selected from the following competitions:
The Six Nations
The Tri Nations
Women’s Rugby World Cup
IRB Pacific Nations Cup
IRB Nations Cup
The June and November internationals

Fans can log onto the IRB Website , where they can view the tries and then vote for their favourite.

Voting closes on January 17, 2011.

The shortlist is:

1: Shane Williams, Wales v France
2: Ben Foden, France v England
3: Shane Williams, Wales v Scotland
4: Dan Carter, New Zealand v Wales
5: Felipe Contepomi, Argentina v France
6: Gonzalo Tiesi, Argentina v Scotland
7: Mils Muliaina, Australia v New Zealand
8: Israel Dagg, New Zealand v South Africa
9: James O’Connor, South Africa v Australia
10: Danielle Waterman, England v USA
11: Cobie-Jane Morgan, Australia v Wales
12: Huriana Manuel, New Zealand v Australia
13: Chrysander Botha, Georgia v Namibia
14: Nikola Matawalu, Fiji v Japan
15: Juan Jose Imhoff, Argentina Jaguars v Italy A
16: Chris Ashton, England v Australia
17: James Hook, Wales, v South Africa
18: Adam Ashley-Cooper, New Zealand v Australia


Last year’s winner of the award was Fourie du Preez of South Africa. In looking at the shortlist of nominees for 2010, a noticable feature is the ommision of any Springbok.

New Zealand’s men and women players have 5 tries in the shortlist, whilst Australia, Wales and England are represented 3 times each. Even Argentina feature twice!

IRB Player of the Year in 2008, Shane Williams (Wales) is the only player to have 2 tries in the shortlist (for the 2nd year running).

The lack of a Bok nomination highlights once again how impotent the Boks have been on attack this year, and in particular scoring tries.

Considering how dominant the Bulls and Stormers were on attack in this year’s Super 14, (with the Stormers scoring my try of the year with a wonderful full team effort against the Chiefs in Hamilton) and the potent attacking quality available, it is a tragedy the Boks have been unable to score quality tries this year.

Well done to the candidates, but I hope the Boks can be better in 2011 and once again show the world how good they can be on attack!

After losing 24-21 to Racing Metro, Saracens Director of Rugby Brendan Venter gave one of the strangest interviews ever!

Venter has a reputation for not holding his opinion back, and has been fined on mulitple occasions for expressing his views.

He was fined 22000 pounds for comments made after Saracens second round Heineken Cup match earlier this year and has not given an interview for 2 months.

Is he getting his own back with this interview? Either that or he is seriously strange!

I believe giving interviews is a mandatory requirement, in this interview, Venter appears to be mocking the interviewer and his questions, answering very sarcastically.

In the latest IRB World Rankings the Springboks will end the year in third position, with the Tri-Nations sides firmly entrenched as 1, 2 and 3.

The Springboks finish the year in third position, just over 1 ranking point behind Australia in second.

Considering the strong state South African rugby found itself after the Super 14, it’s a disgrace to the Bok coaching staff who have underperformed.

The All Blacks deservely occupy top position, as they finished the year with a solitary loss in 14 test matches.

France move out of the top 5, and it signifies to me the state of world rugby.

It is weak!

The Aussies are in second spot, but they’ve also been hot and cold all year, but being the best of a bad bunch they get second spot by default.

If sides wish to challenge the All Blacks for the World Cup in New Zealand in late 2011, they have 10 months to start turning things around!

IRB WORLD RANKINGS

Full IRB World Ranking list

South Africa’s most capped player, Springbok captain Victor Matfield, has been shortlisted for the 2010 IRB player of the year award.

The Southern hemisphere dominates the main award, the IRB player of the year.

The shortlisted candidates are:

Richie McCaw (All Blacks)
Mills Muliaina (All Blacks)
Imanol Harinordoquy (France)
David Pocock (Australia)
Kurtley Beale (Australia)

All Black captain Richie McCaw is the only player to have won the award twice, and can become the first player to win the award for an unprecedented third time.

The 6 were chosen by an independent panel chaired by former Australian captain John Eales.

The full IRB Awards independent panel of judges were John Eales, Will Greenwood (Eng), Gavin Hastings (Sco), Raphal Ibanez (Fra), Francois Pienaar (SA), Agustn Pichot (Arg), Scott Quinnell (Wal), Tana Umaga (NZ) and Paul Wallace (Ire).

“The IRB Player of the Year Award is the greatest individual honour presented annually in our game” said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset, in a statement issued on Thursday.

“The six players nominated have all enjoyed an exceptional year of international Rugby and have been judged on their performances in the RBS Six Nations, Tri Nations, June and November Tests.”

With Eales known to dislike the Boks immensely, I doubt Matfield will win the award.

Matfield was a colosus during the Super 14 and has produced some sublime moments such as his chip and chase in Bloemfontein, and his try against Wales.

The achievements of Matfield will no doubt be diminished by the poor season of the Boks.

Hardinordoquy, Pocock and Beale have been good at times, but lack the class, consistency and match winning ability required to win the award.

For that reason, I believe McCaw will win his third IRB player of the year award. He is consistently one of the best players in the world, and makes match winning contributions, whether for the All Blacks or Canterbury/Crusaders.

The winner will be announced on December 1, along with the coach of the year and team of the year winners.

Previous IRB player of the year winners:

2009: Richie McCaw (All Blacks)
2008: Shane Williams (Wales)
2007: Bryan Habana (Springboks)
2006: Richie McCaw (All Blacks)
2005: Dan Carter (All Blacks)
2004: Schalk Burger (Springboks)
2003: Jonny Wilkinson (England)
2002: Fabien Galthie (France)
2001: Keith Wood (Ireland)

With professionalism and advances in sport science, players and coaches are continually striving for the ‘edge’ that will make the difference.

There are a wide variety of products, techniques and beliefs that permeate throughout the rugby world, and the latest positive drug tests from Springboks Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bjorn Basson highlight the question of ‘just what should rugby players be doing/using?’

On Tuesday last week, Professor Tim Noakes stated that there are very few supplements that offer any significant value. He even mentioned that in the recent past a medical committee had recommended to the South African Rugby Union (SARU) that supplements should not be used by players.

Supplements have been popular since professionalism, with players using them to bulk up, maximise energy levels and the ability to train longer and harder for greater gains.

A few years back creatine was all the rage. From what I understand it helps players train harder for short duration exercise, and maximise gains. Why is it not as prevalent now?

OTHER PRODUCTS

Other ‘scientific’ products have also been popular. Take the pain gone pen, which is a non-pharmaceutical method to instantly cure pain e.g on the field.

But perhaps one of the biggest ‘crazes’ were the fingerless gloves. Designed to make handling the ball easier, they have even been promoted with the tag ‘the wetter the better’.

Rugby gloves

There have been other developments such as enhancements to the players’ jersey’s. Prior to the 2007 Rugby World Cup, the Boks had different tops for the different positions, with the prop forwards, even having 1 long sleeve and 1 short sleeve (for binding in the scrums). And the All Blacks had the ‘sticky’ panel on the front of their shirt (which looked awful!)

Springbok 2007 RWC strip

COMMON SENSE

At the end of the day, you can’t beat the tried and trusted ice packs, hard training and common sense.

With professionalism and players able to concentrate exclusively on rugby, all sides and players train hard. Science may help give you that 1% difference but at the end of the day it’s the uncoachable factors that make the difference.

When I look at the best rugby players in the world, the Victor Matfield’s, Richie McCaw’s, Fourie du Preez’s etc, I see players that are not necessarily the biggest or fastest. I see the smartest, most determined players with the biggest hearts.

The awareness, the ability to read a game, the willingness to train hard and push oneself, and the desire to win. Most people will agree, defence/tackling is all about attitude. It doesn’t matter how big and strong you are or what supplements you have taken, when you are required to perform it’s the will to succeed that will make the most difference!

In the latest IRB World Rankings the Springboks have slipped back to third place whilst allowing Scotland move into the top 6.

The Springboks had briefly regained second spot last week, courtesy of Australia losing to England rather than proving their pedigree.

With a loss to Scotland, the Springboks move back to third, and a further loss this weekend to England leaves them dangerously placed to fall down the ladder.

The Boks, are losing further ground over the All Blacks who by beating Ireland have opened a larger lead at the top.

Scotland move into the top 6, not sure if that is the first time they’ve enjoyed such a high ranking, back if they can display their passion and determination as they did against the Boks on a consistent basis, they can remain there.

The Scots pushed Ireland and Argentina each down a spot.

IRB WORLD RANKINGS

Full IRB World Ranking list

The autumn internationals have shown that the new law interpretations have changed the way rugby is being played, and the Boks have failed to adapt.

The Boks need to embrace running rugby

In an effort to create greater attacking rugby, and more tries, the laws were re-interpreted. The 2010 IRB Tri-Nations report, showed that the ball is in play longer, there are more tries (especially compared to penalties), and the rules favour the attacking side.

All 4 home nations, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England have shown so far this autumn, they have adapted their game plans and are favouring holding onto possession and trying to run the ball more (The All Blacks and Wallabies generally do this regardless of the rules).

They’ve outplayed the Boks, looking more decisive on attack, having more options, and creating more space and opportunities.

It’s stretched the Boks, who despite having one of the most feared packs in world rugby with great set-pieces, have generally come off second best in the possession stakes this year.

It’s not because the set-pieces are so poor, and the Boks struggle to win any ball, it’s because they Boks only ever kick it away, and fail to take it through phase play.

That was find in 2009, you could kick for field position, and wait for penalties to come with strong defence and getting your hands on the opposition ball.

In 2010, it’s a struggle to turnover the ball as the laws favour the side on attack, and sides can build phases and test the defence multiple times, sapping the energy out of the opposition. At least that’s what all the sides are doing to the Boks, and it’s working.

THE BOK BLUEPRINT

The Boks conversely have gone back to 10 man rugby. Whenever the Boks fall under pressure, it seems they revert to tight, unimaginative, ‘percentage’ rugby.

Look at Nick Mallet, Harry Viljoen, Rudolph Straeuli and even Jake White. When the going get’s tough, it’s back to big, strong forwards, and crash and bash rugby.

Unfortunately it doesn’t work. The opposition know what’s coming, and if they can defend like trojans, they can negate the Boks. By ‘playing’ rugby, and running the ball, building phases, they can keep it away from the Bok forwards for long enough periods to ensure their defence has time to get organised, and is not subject to long periods of pressure.

To be a successful sportsmen requires having multiple strings to one’s bow. A cricket batsmen must be able to play all around the wicket and have a shot for every delivery. It doesn’t mean they have to play every shot in the book, but when you only play the one shot, the opposition can make plans to counter it.

Rugby is not dissimilar, the Boks are failing to utilise 15 men, and pacy, skilful players out wide who can vary the Bok attack, and create confusion and unpredictability to the opposition defence to allow it to be penetrated more easily.

The Bulls and Stormers showed in the Super 14, South Africa has the players to not only play the expansive game, but lead the way. Unfortunately for the Boks, we may have the wrong coaches with Peter de Villiers, Gary Gold and Dick Muir.

Until we get someone strong enough, intelligent enough and determined enough, we may find ourselves left behind like we did at the 2003 World Cup.

In the latest IRB World Rankings the Springboks have moved back into second position in what was 1 of 3 changes to the top 10.

The Springboks win over Wales, has seen them leapfrog the Wallabies who slip back to third after their loss to England.

England meanwhile have overtaken France for 4th spot. They have finally started to look dangerous under Martin Johnson, built around a strong forward pack. If they can get Jonny Wilkinson fit again, they’ll be a real threat to the top 3 sides.

Argentina’s narrow victory over Italy has seen them move past Scotland who somehow still remain ahead of Wales.

The Weekend’s results did bring about change to the top 10, but highlighted for me the difference in class and consistency between the top 5 and the top 10 and then the rest.

Sadly in my view the only sides capable of winning the Rugby World Cup in 2011, are the top 5.

There may be the odd upsets, but realistically the semi-finalists will be 4 of these 5.

World Cup matches are typically tighter affairs, with defence predominating over attack, thus I question the ability of the Australians to win 3 play-off matches with their powder puff forward pack.

That leaves just 4 contenders for the 2011 Rugby World cup!

IRB WORLD RANKINGS

Full IRB World Ranking list