Lightning strikes twice!

How unlikely is a drawn Test match? No, we’re not talking cricket either? And in a World Cup where ultimately it’s do or die. Yet Canada and Japan have achieved the impossible and played to a World Cup draw not once, but twice!

On Tuesday Canada and Japan drew their Pool A match 23-all thanks to a late penalty by Canadian flyhalf Ander Monro. In 2007 they ended up with 12 points apiece in a dramatic affair in Bordeaux.

Bizarrely the referee on both occasions was none other than South Africa’s highly regarded official Jonathan Kaplan! No doubt he is welcome to holiday in either of the two countries, albeit without any special privileges.

The two minnows will have targeted each other as a match where victory could be achieved, and yet neither side will have the pleasure of toasting a rare World Cup triumph after a tough day at the office.

Between Canada’s bearded brigade and the combative group of unlikely sounding Japanese stars (are there many going by Webb, Nicholas, Thompson or Tupuailai in a Japanese phone book?) the match was unable to find a hero to score the winning points.

Is Cryptic Israel Dagg just a nutter?

New Zealand fullback Israel Dagg’s explanation of his unusual try-scoring celebration against France proved mystifying to both teammate Daniel Carter and assembled media.

During the match, Dagg marked one of his tries against France by bending his arm to form a shape of a cobra or something to that effect…

He refused to discuss his celebration when quizzed by journalists, other than offering two crypic clues – “a dog miaows” and “the laughing bear rides a motorcycle”.

Carter, sitting alongside, could offer no insight, telling reporters: “It makes no sense to me.”

There were suggestions Dagg’s unfathomable clues may have been inspired by French footballer Eric Cantona’s famously obtuse quote: “When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.”

Genius or nutter? You decide!

Record-breaking Habana thanks Joost for support:

Bryan Habana has thanked his record-breaking predecessor Joost van der Westhuizen for the late night phone call to mark Habana’s new Springbok try-scoring record.

Habana scored his 39th Test try against Namibia in Auckland last Thursday.

It moved him ahead of previous record holder, Van der Westhuizen, with whom he had shared the record for almost 15 months.

“It was very humbling and incredibly generous of Joost to take the trouble to call me and congratulate me on the new mark,” Habana said.

“He called just before midnight last night (Monday) from Dubai to pass on his best wishes and to celebrate the new record.

“It was a very thoughtful thing of him to do, considering his own health issues, and just shows what a great Springbok he truly was and is.”

Be kind and hug-an-Aussie:

Disturbed at reports of Wallaby fans receiving a hard time in New Zealand, a South Island town has declared Wednesday “hug-an-Australian” day.

The Wallabies play Russia in Nelson on Saturday and local mayor Aldo Miccio said he wanted the 10,000 Australians expected to flock to the town to feel welcome.

“A few kiwis have crossed the line a bit, only a small minority, but we just want to bring it back to the good old banter that we’ve always shared with Australia and give them a hug,” he told national radio.

However, Miccio said the trans-Tasman friendship would only extend so far, explaning: “We’re still going to support Russia of course.”

‘Stupid’ England annoy Moore:

Former England hooker Brian Moore has become exasperated by the number of penalties Martin Johnson’s men are conceding at the World Cup.

“To be a good rugby player, you can’t be stupid, Moore, in New Zealand as a commentator, told  Otago Daily Times.

“You can’t have nothing between your ears otherwise you’ll start playing like England and give away 15 penalties every game.

“One of the things about the All Blacks… is that when they get caught, they stop. That’s just smart play.

“Look at Richie McCaw (New Zealand’s captain). He just gets away with what he gets away with. And if he does get warned by the referee, he stops.”