ARGENTINA September 7, 2011 Lowdown The surprise package in France four years ago, Argentina are unlikely to be underestimated this time around. Santiago Phelan has crafted a side that is more than just a powerful scrummaging unit, with full-back Martin Rodriguez one of several talented youngsters. Phelan believes he will have his strongest possible team available for Saturday’s crunch [...]
GEORGIA September 7, 2011 Lowdown Scotland might not have a Scottish coach these days but Georgia do in Richie Dixon, who coached his homeland in the 1990s before being sacked by Murrayfield chiefs – making for a clash between the two teams laced with subplots. Dixon leads the former Soviet state into their third successive World Cup, although they [...]
ROMANIA September 7, 2011 Lowdown The rank outsiders in this pool, Romania look set to vie with Georgia for the wooden spoon. Former centre Romeo Gontineac coaches a team that includes one of Europe’s leading hookers, Perpignan’s Marius Tincu. Key matches v Scotland, 10 September, 2:00am v Georgia, 28 September, 7:30am
IRELAND September 7, 2011 DESPITE their far from encouraging pre-tournament preparations only a series of freak results would see Ireland fail to reach the quarter-finals for the second successive World Cup. Declan Kidney’s side are rooted in a transitional phase with the stars of the 2009 Grand Slam-winning side on the wane, and the young upstarts vying to replace [...]
WALES September 7, 2011 THE TEAMS from the Pacific Islands, chiefly Fiji and Samoa, often provide the World Cup with plenty of footage for the highlights reels with their determination to bring a Sevens-style approach to the 15-a-side game. Often, however, their greatest moments have come at the expense of a Wales team who were no doubt less than [...]
Young rescues flat England September 6, 2011 Euro 2012 qualification now just a point away but little cause for enthusiasm from a lukewarm performance ENGLAND vs WALES MANAGER Fabio Capello admitted England got lucky after an Ashley Young goal salvaged a first home win for more than a year – and took them to the brink of qualifying for Euro 2012 – [...]
Capello must throw off the shackles September 6, 2011 IF Fabio Capello needs a clue as to how to get his lacklustre team firing on all cylinders again he need look no further than the recipient of last night’s man of the match award. Aaron Ramsey, the 20-year-old captain of Wales, took that honour and at once symbolised everything that was in such short [...]
HOW THEY RATED ENGLAND September 6, 2011 Joe Hart 6 Wasn’t required to make a single save of note and was nothing but a glorified ball boy throughout. Chris Smalling 6 Performed well enough against limited opposition but doesn’t look a long-term option at right-back. John Terry 7 Accomplished stuff from the skipper. Phil Jones will be waiting in the wings for [...]
Proud Speed takes the heat off Earnshaw after striker’s howler September 6, 2011 WALES manager Gary Speed refused to blame striker Robert Earnshaw for the astonishing miss which meant his side left Wembley without the point he felt their performance merited. Earnshaw, the veteran Cardiff striker, missed an open goal from five yards with just 13 minutes remaining of a game which had seen Wales more than match [...]
Scotland and Republic of Ireland keep hopes alive but Northern Ireland crash September 6, 2011 SCOTLAND gave their Euro 2012 qualification hopes a shot in the arm with a crucial 1-0 home victory over Lithuania, thanks to Steven Naismith’s second-half goal. Craig Levein’s men, who saw Darren Fletcher miss a penalty, hung on in a nervous finale for only their second victory of the campaign. Naismith (right) scored just after [...]