Another one bites the dust

With World Cup stars currently dropping like flies and the depth of the top teams set to be tested someone should have told Mike Tindall just how dangerous watersports can be.

There have been a number of high-profile casualties in the last few days at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, with teamsheets seeming to be revised hourly as more world-beaters fall by the wayside.

England loosehead prop Andrew Sheridan and Irish hooker Jerry Flannery are already on their way home while Victor Matfield, Jean de Villiers, Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Kieran Read, Mils Muliaina and Digby Ioane are just some of the big names to have been left out of their side’s starting line-ups.

A new form of relaxation?

However, arguably the most damaging blow was felt by Tindall.

How do Royals prefer to do their sight-seeing? Well, by motorboat of course. Tindall – the most recent addition to the British Royal family, who also happens to play centre for England, got acquainted with the sights and sounds of Queenstown in fine style after captaining his country to victory over Argentina.

According to the UK Sun tabloid, Tindall and a couple of ‘the lads’ were attending a dwarf-tossing contest, as you do, and one of the local lasses clearly caught his eye.

Although the veteran midfielder was recently accepted into the, ahem, bosom of the Royal family when he tied the knot with Zara Phillips, he allegedly could not resist kissing and groping a blonde at the bar before going for glory and burying his head in her breasts, allegedly.

The RFU were quick to release a statement clearing the whole mess up which explained that he was merely “relaxing after a tough match”. With the job of explaining himself to the whole world out of the way, he now just has the small matter of explaining himself to his new wife. And her mother… And her aunt?

Rugby’s Cold War:

There was also some rugby played at the World Cup on Thursday when the eagerly-awaited ‘Cold War match’ sparked to life. The cliche merchants were in their element with questions over which side would blink first after standing eyeball-to-eyeball and even the irresistable possibility of a stalemate as the Russians stormed the Eagles’ nest while seven points behind and with minutes left.

In the end the Americans emerged victorious in a very wet New Plymouth, but it was a World Cup debut that the Russians can be proud of. Both teams put on a passionate demonstration of what has made this World Cup so special in the six days that it has been going.

The standard of rugby produced by the supposed minnows so far has captivated audiences this week and this was another great example. Another impressive aspect to the tournament has been the involvement and enthusiasm of the crowds.

Stadium Taranaki resembled some sort of dress-up party with bikini-clad girls (and boys?) enjoying the rugby in the driving rain next to Captain America and some cosmonauts. It all made for a great atmosphere despite the shocking conditions and it would seem that the Kiwis are intent on delivering on their promise of a six-week party, no matter what.

Some enthusiastic Russian fans getting into the spirit:

This was posted on USA fullback Chris Wyles’s Twitter page:

Last man standing:

The lengthening World Cup injury list has been the subject of intense scrutiny in the last few days with conspiracy theories and accusations flying thick and fast.

Bakkies Botha, who was declared unfit on Monday, has made a miraculous recovery and will don the Green and Gold No.4 jersey at least one more time when he squares up to the fleet-footed Fijians on Saturday.

This has prompted many sceptical fans to question whether he really is fit, while in the All Blacks camp the boot is on the other foot.

Talismanic skipper Richie McCaw and his old mate Mils Muliaina were withdrawn from the starting line-up to face Japan and there were immediate suggestions that they are not injured but are actually being rested while claiming ‘fake’ injuries.

As everyone is all-too-aware, Graham Henry and the rest of the 24-year-itch club would never insult the purity of Test rugby by selecting an understrength team, so it is hard to see what all the fuss is about.

We thought it would be interesting to see what kind of World XV we could put together of players who have missed selection for World Cup games due to injury, and we reckon our boys have the potential to hypothetically go all the way – even though we could not come up with a scrumhalf or tighthead prop.

But, then again, according to some pundits and fans, some teams are basically playing with 13 or 14 players at present, so maybe that’s the trend at RWC 2011?!

Let us know what you think, or if we have ommitted any obvious candidates. Have we, for instance, missed a scrummie or a tighthead?

Email us at rugby@sportsmedia365.com or leave a comment below!

rugby365s Crocked XV:
15 Israel Dagg
14 Digby Ioane
13 Mils Muliaina
12 Jean de Villiers
11 Bryan Habana
10 Dan Carter (Butch James)
9 AN Other
8 Kieran Read
7 Lewis Moody
6 Ryan Jones
5 Victor Matfield
4 Bakkies Botha (Johann Muller)
3 AN Other
2 Jerry Flannery
1 Andrew Sheridan

By Michael de Vries