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Tuesday, July 01, 2008


Dan Carter's skills are quiksilver...

As a herald of the All-Black, Dan Carter, is part of an elite bunch of superhero.

Possesing the power cosmic, the most powerful force in the universe, Carter is capable of a virtually incalculable number of effects with control over the four fundamental forces of the rugby universe - super strength, speed, endurance and skill.

The ability to bring earthlings up to his superhero status, Carter can make others play above their natural level. Phasing through tackles, the fly-halves cross-dimensional talent could transcend any generation, peeling back the layers of time and manipulate or absorb any threat of attack with his invulnerability and portal intelligence.


Francois Trinh-Duc avoids the axe...

Despite saying he wouldn't, Marc Lievremont just couldn't resist making sweeping changes to his starting lineup for the second Test against Australia in Brisbane,

Of the 11 changes, seven are new starters and three are positional with Francois Trinh-Duc taking the reigns at fly-half, Benjamin Thiery moving to full-back and Imonal Harinordoquy shifting to number eight.

Maxime Mermox and Thibault Lacroix form a new centre pairing while Marc's brother Matthieu Lievremont starts at six in place of Louis Picamoles.

France: 15 Benjamin Thiery, 14 Alexis Palisson, 13 Maxim Mermoz, 12 Thibault Lacroix, 11 David Janin, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Sebastian Tillous-Borde, 8 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 7 Imanol Harinordoquy, 6 Matthieu Lievremont, 5 Lionel Nallet (captain), 4 Sebastien Chabal, 3 Renaud Boyoud, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Pierre Correia.

Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Benoit Lecouls, 18 David Couzinet, 19 Louis Picamoles, 20 Yannick Caballero, 21 Dimitri Yachvili, 22 Jean-Baptiste Peyras.


Lachlan Turner: 'Won't be doing flaming sambucas again...'

Robbie Deans has given Lachlan Turner his full Australian debut as the Wallaby coach has made four changes for the second Test against France.

Stephen Hoiles, Phil Waugh and Adam Ashley-Cooper also get a recall giving George Smith, Lote Tuqiri, Wycliff Palu and Cameron Shepherd a well-earned rest.

Turner will become the 826th player to run out for the Wallabies in Test matches, only 15 months after making his first start for the Waratahs in the Super 14.

Deans' selections illustrate the his desire for versatility as Turner and Ashley-Cooper can both operate at full-back and on the wing.

Australia:
15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Stirling Mortlock (c), 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Lachlan Turner, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess; 8 Stephen Hoiles, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 James Horwill, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.

Replacement: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 George Smith, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Ryan Cross, 22 Cameron Shepherd




Calling all rugger fans. If you are already having withdrawal symptons of competitive rugby then fear not because our chums at Sports Illustrated have the perfect antidote for the summer bug.

The Tri-Nations fantasy league is completely free and takes about five minutes to pick your team and register.

It begins this weekend and even if you aren't that interested, you should be.

The ELVs get their first showcase on the international stage with New Zealand and South Africa, the chosen duo slugging it out this weekend. Plus it's also a perfect opportunity to have a look at this autumn's competition, if the summer tour battering wasn't enough for the northerners.

Click here to see if you can better the ScrumoftheEarth XV


Riki Flutey: 'Save me a spot on the bus mate...'

Martin Johnson has sent out a ruthless message by wielding the axe to a number of his senior World Cup winning soldiers in his first England squad.

2003 heroes, Mike Tindall, Joe Worsley and Ben Kay are the highest profile names to take the plunge while Charlie Hodgson's misery deepens by missing out entirely

PRA Player of the Year, Riki Flutey is one of four uncapped players in the party alongside promising hooker Dylan Hartley, London Irish lock Nick Kennedy and Leicester back-row forward Jordan Crane.

Josh Lewsey, Harry Ellis and Lewis Moody returns to the fold while Jonny Wilkinson is the only recognised fly-half with utility trio, Shane Geraghty, Toby Flood and Olly Barkley providing alternative options at ten.

Interestingly, three our of the 'Auckland Four' don't make the cut, with only Danny Care named in the 32-man squad, as Topsy Ojo, Mike Brown and David Strettle stick with the Saxons, as does Danny Cipriani, who is recovering from an ankle injury that rules him our of the summer tour to New Zealand.

Others including Michael Lipman, Richard Wigglesworth and Nick Easter also miss out.

England senior squad

Forwards: S Borthwick (Saracens), G Chuter (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), N Kennedy (London Irish), L Mears (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), L Narraway (Gloucester), T Palmer (Wasps), T Payne (Wasps), T Rees (London Wasps), S Shaw (Wasps), A Sheridan (Sale), M Stevens (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps).

Backs: O Barkley (Gloucester), D Care (Harlequins), H Ellis (Leicester), T Flood (Leicester), R Flutey (Wasps), S Geraghty (London Irish), D Hipkiss (Leicester), J Lewsey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), P Richards (London Irish), P Sackey (Wasps), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), M Tait (Sale), T Varndell (Leicester), J Wilkinson (Newcastle).

England Saxons

Forwards: S Armitage (London Irish), R Blaze (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins), J Forster (Gloucester), T Guest (Harlequins), J Hobson (Bristol), C Jones (Sale), B Kay (Leicester), M Lipman (Bath), D Paice (London Irish), G Skivington (Wasps), A Titterrell (Gloucester), J Ward (Wasps), D Wilson (Newcastle), N Wood (Gloucester), J Worsley (Wasps).

Backs: N Abendanon (Bath), A Allen (Gloucester), M Banahan (Bath), M Brown (Harlequins), D Cipriani (Wasps), B Foden (Northampton), A Goode (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), R Lamb (Gloucester), U Monye (Harlequins), T Ojo (London Irish), D Strettle (Harlequins), M Tindall (Gloucester), D Waldouck (Wasps), R Wigglesworth (Sale).


Jimmy Cowan: 'Right i'm off down the pub, anyone else?'

Anything Matt Henjak can do Jimmy Cowan can do better. The New Zealand scrum-half must be the luckiest man on the planet, even jammier than Tim Henman for somehow blagging a job with the Beeb despite not having a personality, after Graham Henry named him among the replacements for the opening Tri-Nations Test against South Africa.

Rugby's boozey image is giving Amy Winehouse a run for her money with Cowan's third misdemeanor in as many months.

Jerome Kaino was recently arrested for drink-driving, England's players toasted defeat in a lapdancing club after a humiliating Auckland defeat, Doug Howlett's Hilton Hotel hammering after the All-Blacks 'oopsy dazy' Rugby World Cup exit and now Cowan's third incident of disorderly conduct in the last few months has prompted the New Zealand Rugby Union to make an example of the 26-year-old.

Cowan's been slapped with a professional booze ban, meaning no sauce while he is contracted to the NZRU, a $3000 fine and ordered the to seek counseling.

Senior All-Blacks even pointed the finger at some of their teammates over their drinking debacles. Ali Williams and Dan Carter were reported to have been enjoying the scenery with some of the England players in the Pony Club that fun-filled night, so a whisky chaser is firmly off the cards before the Springbok clash.