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October 23 Archives

LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS... (posted 23rd October 2003)
In Sydney last night the Pumas posted a walloping 50 points to the Romanians 3 before a crowd of more than 30,000. Despite the score line looking like maybe the Romanian players went to the bar after 5 minutes of play and watched the Pumas keep scoring, the game wasn't as lopsided as it would appear. The Romanians gave it a good go - they just couldn't quite carry off the opportunities before them. No doubt the Romanians are learning a lot from their pool games which will stand them in good stead for future encounters. Got to admire their spirit and willingness to get in there and keep going despite some of the heart breaking score lines they've endured in this tournament to date. Match Round up

Four big birthday boys today! Happy Birthday to Victor Costello from Ireland, Ramiro Martinez from Italy, Lome Fa'atau from Samoa and Colin Lukes from the Canucks! Have a good one guys!

The Scots won't be celebrating much today though. Yesterday afternoon their flanker Martin Leslie had to face the tribunal in Sydney, and the news for him wasn't good! New Zealand born Leslie, son of former All Black Andy Leslie, was found guilty of kneeing the USA's Jason Keyter in the head. He has been given a twelve week ban. The ban means that he will miss the rest of the Rugby World Cup, and also the Heineken Cup comp in Edinburgh. Rumour has it that Leslie has been approached by English league clubs in the past - and that with the suspension he has received - may consider switching codes from union to league. I'd like to say I feel sorry for Leslie, but I don't! Mate - that's was low blow play on his part - he's made his own bed....

All those pro Chris Latham vibes I've been sending to Eddie Jones have paid off! Chris Latham gets to start in the Wallabies match against Namibia this Saturday afternoon. George Gregan, out with a corked thigh, is to be replaced as captain by Chris Whitaker. The appointment of Whits has created a bit of a kerfuffle in the media between the Wallaby coach and Chris 'Buddha' Handy who called it "tokenism". I won't pretend to know the ins and outs of Wallaby camp politics but I thought that with Giffen (the Vice Captain) on the bench as well, that perhaps Chris Latham or Elton Flatley (Queensland bias:)) would have been good choices - or Joe Roff! Anyway, I'm not the Wallaby coach so I don't get a say on that.. heh.. Lote Tuiqiri will also be starting this Saturday as will Stirling Mortlock (YAY!), Grey, Matty Rogers, Lyons, Croft, Smith (you couldn't ever leave him out though), Nathan Sharpe (YAY!), Harrison, Darwin, Jeremy Paul, and the big big boy Matt Dunning who plays for the Waratahs. I should think that the Wallabies will win very comfortably over Namibia - I'm hoping that Latham, Morlock et al will show Eddie Jones why they should be on the starting team for the remainder of the tournament.

Wonder what those French are up to... they're rather quiet. Makes me feel like they're just steadily going about their plan to steal Bill :)

Tonight Fiji take on Japan up in Townsville - reckon there could be an upset in this one. Don't miss it, should be a good game of rugby!

That's it for now! Cheers!