Learn and talk about 2011 Rugby World Cup, 2011 Rugby World Cup, 2011 in New Zealand rugby union, 2011 rugby union tournaments for national teams, International sports competitions hosted by New Zealand 2015 → The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup , a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board (IRB) selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005. The tournament was won by New Zealand , who defeated France 8–7 in the final . [1] The defending champions, South Africa , were eliminated by Australia 11–9 in the quarter-finals. [2] The result marked the third time that the tournament was won by the country that hosted the event (following New Zealand in 1987 and South Africa in 1995 ).

It was the largest sporting event ever held in New Zealand, [3] eclipsing the 1987 Rugby World Cup , 1990 Commonwealth Games , 1992 Cricket World Cup and the 2003 America's Cup . [4] Overseas visitors to New Zealand for the event totalled 133,000, more than the 95,000 that the organisers expected. However, there was a drop in non-event visitors, meaning the net increase in visitors over the previous year was less than 80,000. [5] [6] The games ran over six weeks, commencing on 9 September 2011 with the Opening Ceremony showcasing New Zealand's history and diverse cultures. The final was played on Sunday 23 October 2011, a date chosen because it fell on a long weekend of New Zealand's Labour Day holiday. [7] The final was played at Eden Park in Auckland .

[8] After speculation that the number of participating teams would be reduced to 16, the IRB announced on 30 November 2007 that the 2011 tournament would again feature 20 teams. [9] Twelve teams qualified as a result of finishing in the top three in each pool in the 2007 tournament. The remaining eight berths were determined by regional qualifying tournaments. [10] Of the 20 countries that competed in the previous World Cup in 2007, there was only one change – Russia replaced Portugal. Host selection Three nations bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup — New Zealand, Japan, and South Africa. New Zealand had co-hosted the first Rugby World Cup with Australia in 1987, and had been set to co-host the 2003 World Cup with Australia before a disagreement over ground signage rights resulted in New Zealand being dropped and Australia became the sole host. The 2011 New Zealand bid contained plans to enlarge the size of Eden Park and other stadiums to help increase the commercial viability of the bid. Japan was bidding to become the first Asian nation to host the first Rugby World Cup.

[11] Japan had the necessary infrastructure already in place, by virtue of its co-hosting the 2002 FIFA World Cup . South Africa had hosted the tournament in 1995 . The 2011 South African bid, led by former national captain Francois Pienaar , had strong support from their national government. South Africa had also won the right to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The IRB Council meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005 announced that New Zealand had been selected after IRB inspections of each applicant host nation during June and July 2005. After winning the bid, the New Zealand Rugby Union , expressed disappointment towards their Australian counterparts who voted against New Zealand hosting the event, due to the misplaced expectation that the " Anzac spirit " would result in a vote for New Zealand.[ citation needed ] Contents Preparations[ edit ] Costs and benefits[ edit ] The event was expected to cost about NZ$ 310 million to run and to generate NZ$280 million in ticket sales.

[12] In Auckland , the city where many of the most important games took place, the costs to the local ratepayers alone was estimated at $102 million. [13] Ticket sales exceeding NZ$285 million, accommodation-related spending of another NZ$260 million, and NZ$236 million spent on food and drink was expected to provide a significant fiscal stimulus, of nearly 1.4% of the quarterly GDP. Concerns[ edit ] In the years between winning the bid and the staging of the event, New Zealand news media and social agencies cast aspersions on the nation's readiness and appropriate use of national funds for sports infrastructure, as has happened with most large, international, quadrennial, multi-location sporting events of recent decades such as the 2012 Olympics , 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2010 Commonwealth Games . Concerns were raised about the process of upgrading Eden Park to expand the capacity to the 60,000 required by the IRB. In late 2008 Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully said the remaining consent process might need to be overridden by legislation for the work to be completed on time.

[14] A July 2009 report by the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, released under the Official Information Act, warned of lack of readiness and complacency, despite the fact that "the levels of patron movement and operational standard [needed for the RWC] are in reality significantly above what is currently delivered." [15] The report was dismissed by Michael Barnett, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO and planning co-coordinator for RWC events in Auckland, who characterised it as a case of "a Wellington media organisation us[ing] an outdated report". [16] The nation's largest hospitality workers' union, Unite, which represents 25% of hotel, restaurant and casino workers in New Zealand, demanded that workers share in windfall profits and said there was the possibility of a strike during the tournament. [17] The construction of Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium , known during the tournament as Otago Stadium, was a source of concern as the project was operating in a tight time frame. An April 2010 progress report stated that the project remained on target for completion prior to the Rugby World Cup, although there was a medium level of risk with some significant and potentially damaging concerns.

[18] If the project had not been completed on time, organisers would have reverted to Carisbrook as the backup option. Forsyth Barr Stadium was officially opened on 6 August 2011. [19] Damage caused by the 2011 Christchurch earthquake forced the relocation of a number of cup matches, including the quarter finals. Warm-up matches[ edit ] The 2011 Tri Nations Series was shortened to include only six games instead of the usual nine. It served as the primary preparation for the tournament for Australia , South Africa and New Zealand . In the northern hemisphere, a series of friendlies played in August 2011 replaced the annual tours to the southern hemisphere. North American entrants Canada beat USA in two warm-up friendlies in August 2011. Main article: 2011 Rugby World Cup qualifying Twenty teams competed in the 2011 World Cup. Twelve teams qualified by finishing in the top three of their pool in the 2007 Rugby World Cup .

[10] [20] Twelve of the nations at this tournament had competed in every previous Rugby World Cup – Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Romania, Scotland, and Wales. All the other sides also had previous World Cup experience, except for Russia who appeared in a Rugby World Cup for the first time. Venues[ edit ] The 13 venues for the 2011 Rugby World Cup were confirmed on 12 March 2009. [22] A number of the venues were redeveloped to increase capacity for the event. The Government considered passing a law bypassing the consent process to allow all the stadiums' redevelopment to be completed in time. [14] Due to damage to Stadium Christchurch and many other facilities in Christchurch caused by the earthquake on 22 February 2011 , it was announced on 16 March that the matches to be played in the city would be relocated. The two quarter-finals scheduled would be moved to Auckland, while the five pool matches moved to other centres. [23] On 10 November 2006, the New Zealand Government announced plans for Stadium New Zealand in Auckland.

The proposal was to build the new stadium seating 70,000 on the waterfront. After much public outcry, and lack of support from the Auckland Regional Council , the proposal was dropped in favour of the redevelopment of Eden Park . The redevelopment of Eden Park's Southern and South Western stands was completed during 2010. Dunedin's new stadium, Forsyth Barr Stadium (known as Otago Stadium during the tournament), was completed in August 2011 and was used instead of Carisbrook. [24] Draw[ edit ] Seeding of teams for the 2011 World Cup was based on their respective IRB World Rankings . [25] The top four at the 2007 Rugby World Cup ( South Africa , England , Argentina , and France ) were not therefore allocated top pool spots, but "the rankings are now very well established and provide us with a credible and succinct way of seeding teams for the rugby World Cup pool draw", according to Rugby World Cup Ltd (RWCL) chairman Syd Millar.

[25] The draw was conducted in December 2008 and used the World Rankings as of 1 December 2008, [26] after the Northern Hemisphere Autumn internationals . [27] The teams were placed into three bands depending on their seedings at the time, with one team from each band in each of the pools. [25] The rankings and bands were therefore: New Zealand (1), South Africa (2), Australia (3) and Argentina (4); Wales (5), England (6), France (7) and Ireland (8); Scotland (9), Fiji (10), Italy (11) and Tonga (12). [26] The full draw and venues for the tournament were announced on 12 March 2009. [28] The opening match saw the hosts, New Zealand, take on Tonga . By coincidence, the final match and third-place playoff match were between the countries which contested the same matches at the first Rugby World Cup , which were also held in New Zealand, in 1987.

Main article: 2011 Rugby World Cup squads Each country was allowed a squad of 30 players for the tournament. These squads were to be submitted to the International Rugby Board by a deadline of 22 August 2011. [29] Once the squad was submitted a player could be replaced if injured, but would not be allowed to return to the squad. There is also a stand-down period of 72 hours before the new player is allowed to take the field. Hence, a replacement player called into a squad on the eve of a game will not be permitted to play in that game. Match officials[ edit ] On 8 April 2011, the IRB named ten referees, seven assistant referees and four television match officials to handle the pool stage games. Two of the seven assistants will also be reserve referees if required. [30] Namibia The first round, or pool stage, saw the twenty teams divided into four pools of five teams using the same format that was used in 2003 and in 2007 . Each pool was a round-robin of ten games, where each team played one match against each of the other teams in the same pool.

Teams were awarded four points for a win, two points for a draw and none for a defeat. A team scoring four or more tries in one match scored a bonus point, as did a team losing by seven or fewer points. The teams finishing in the top two of each pool advanced to the quarterfinals. The top three teams of each pool have automatically qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup . Tie-breaking criteria If two or more teams were tied on match points, the following tiebreakers would have applied: [31] The winner of the match between the two teams (would not apply if more than two teams were tied); Difference between points scored for and points scored against in all pool matches; Difference between tries scored for and tries scored against in all pool matches; Points scored in all pool matches; Most tries scored in all pool matches; Original courtesy of Wikipedia: — Please support Wikipedia. This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia . A portion of the proceeds from advertising on Digplanet goes to supporting Wikipedia. We're sorry, but there's no news about "2011 Rugby World Cup" right now.

Limit to books that you can completely read online Include partial books (book previews) Oops, we seem to be having trouble contacting Twitter Support Wikipedia A portion of the proceeds from advertising on Digplanet goes to supporting Wikipedia. Please add your support for Wikipedia! Searchlight Group Digplanet also receives support from Searchlight Group. Visit Searchlight Copyright © 2009-2017 Digparty. All rights reserved. RUGBY WORLCUP 2011 TEAMS NICKNAMES !!! | Qwophicedi's Blog Perspective, Lifestyle, An expression of Dexterity RUGBY WORLCUP 2011 TEAMS NICKNAMES !!! Posted on September 8, 2011 by qwophicedi In light of the up coming Rugby World in new Zealand 2011 in about a day or so, I decided to write up this article on the various teams that have qualified for the world cup. In relation to this article which is intended to create the awareness and euphoria around the sport in my dear country Ghana. So in little details you will get to know the nicknames of the various teams that has qualified for this year’s big event in the sport.

Aside the world cup there are other competitions like that of the Tri-Nation tournaments which is contested among Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and that of the Six Nations. It’s a lovely physical sport that for a minute through out the game you can’t avoid to take your eyes off . Well I start in no particular order here are the teams that has qualified for the world cup 2011 in New Zealand. Argentina Undoubtedly South America’s top rugby nation. The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed LOS PUMAS. The team, which plays in sky blue and white is currently the only International Rugby Board (IRB) tier one classed nation that has no regular competition, such as the Six Nations and the Tri Nations. Australia Double World cup winners Australia are always a team to watch. Commonly known as the WALLABIES the team compete annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the Mandela Challenge Plate with South Africa Canada The Canadian national side has competed in every world cup to date yet have only won one match each tournament with the exception of the 1991 tournament where they reached the quarter finals.

They are known as the CANUCKS which is slang for Canadians and also sometimes referred to as the MARPLE LEAFS. England The Only home nation to have won the World cup and the team that everyone hates losing to. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won the championship on twenty-five occasions that includes twelve grand slams. England also competes for the Calcutta Cup. They have as their nickname THE RED AND WHITE though not commonly used. Fiji An island nation who have enjoyed greater successes in the Sevens format but have also produced a number of All Black stars. There are approximately 80,000 registered players from a total population of around 950,000. Wondered what their nickname is, THE BATI. France France is a team that will always be unpredictable and can beat anyone on their day. France traditionally plays in white-trimmed blue shirts with blue shorts and red socks, and is commonly referred to as LES TRICOLORES. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. Georgia The Georgia national rugby union team represents the former Soviet Caucasian republic of Georgia in rugby union.

The team’s nickname, THE LELOS, comes from lelo, an indigenous Georgian sport with strong similarities to rugby. Ireland Ireland are currently enjoying what is arguably their best period in history. Ireland competes annually in the Six Nations Championship in which they also compete for the Triple Crown. They also provide players for the British and Irish Lions. And for their nickname, MEN IN GREEN. Italy Italy is always improving with 2007 being their best year yet in the Six Nations. The team is also known as the AZZURI (blues) and “THE GLADIATORS OF ROME“. Italy has been playing international rugby since the late 1920s. Japan Japan often known as “THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS” or more recently “BRAVE BLOSSOMS” are traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia and have both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years. Namibia Neighbours South Africa where many Namibians play their club game is one of Africa’s representatives at the 2011 World Cup. The Namibian rugby union team nicknamed the WELWITSHIAS.

Although they are a tier-three nation in the International Rugby Board (IRB) tier system, the team has become regular participants at the Rugby World Cup since their first appearance in 1999. New Zealand The ALL BLACKS which is their nickname are rugby’s most successful rugby team. Rugby union is New Zealand’s national sport. The All Blacks compete annually with the Australian rugby team, the Wallabies, and the South African rugby team, the Springboks, in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with Australia. They also compete for the Freedom cup against South Africa in the Tri-Nations. Romania Romania almost joined the Five Nations and probably enjoyed their best period in the 1980’s. The Romania national rugby union team, nicknamed The OAKS (Stejarii). At their best, during the 1980s, the national side defeated Wales (twice), Scotland (the 1984 Grand Slam side) and France (twice). In 1981, they lost to the All Blacks 14-6 but had two tries disallowed.

Samoa Samoa is another island nation with great potential and have also provided a number of All Black stars. The national rugby union team of Samoa is called MANU SAMOA (the name of a famous Samoan chief some 10 generations ago). They perform a traditional Samoan challenge called the siva tau before each game. South Africa THE SPRINGBOKS, Bokke or amaBokoboko are the South African national rugby union team. The Springboks (or Springbokke in Afrikaans), as they are commonly referred to, compete in the Tri Nations alongside the New Zealand All Blacks and Australia’s Wallabies. They are also the current world champions and go into this competition as the defending champions. Scotland Scottish rugby dates back to 1871, where they beat England in the first international rugby union match at Raeburn Place Edinburgh, Scotland (on March 27, 1871). They annually take part in the Six Nations which includes the Calcutta Cup. They are known as THE BRAVEHEARTS. Tonga The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed IKALE TAHI (Sea Eagles).

Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao (aka the Sipi Tau). United States of America USA Rugby’s national team is nicknamed THE EAGLES. The United States have always been considered a rugby union minnow. When America wakes up to rugby they will blow everyone away. Imagine a few of their track stars on the wing and you get the idea. Wales The Welsh Rugby Union is also known as UNDEB RYGBI CYMRU. The Welsh are passionate about their rugby but the most important prize remains beating neighbours England. Russia The Russian Union Rugby team which is one of the teams qualified for the World Cup in New Zealand this year are know as the RUSSIAN BEARS which is evident in their logo. Well I am sure that after this little information about the participating teams, your interest has at least been raised. Well if you happen to be in Ghana, you can get to watch most of the games if you have DSTV and I am sure you will enjoy the tournament. The reason is if you experienced the previous one that South Africa won, then this one should be more than a competitive one.

Share this: Rugby World Cup 2011: New Zealand 8 France 7, match report - Telegraph Watch: the World Cup lowdown in 100 seconds Rugby World Cup 2011: New Zealand 8 France 7, match report Read a full match report for the Rugby World Cup 2011 final between New Zealand and France at Eden Park, Auckland, on Sunday October 23 2011. Champions of the world: Richie McCaw lifts the Webb Ellis trophy Photo: GETTY IMAGES Winning feeling: referee blows his whistle to confirm NZ champions Photo: GETTY IMAGES Picture perfect: McCaw show off the trophy to his adoring public Photo: GETTY IMAGES Follow A nation would have gone into collective meltdown if this one had slipped by and, boy, it so nearly did. How close, how gripping and how utterly absorbing this match was, the best World Cup final there has been, full of character, sinew and dramatic uncertainty. And at the end, there was the promised land for New Zealand to claim, territory that this entire country has craved since the inaugural tournament was won at this venue 24 years ago.

If the 1987 final was the routine coronation of the finest side of that (and perhaps any) era, then this was a true contest. Any concerns that this game would be a one-sided dud were dismissed even before a ball had been kicked. From the moment that France advanced on the haka in an arrow-shaped formation, hands linked with Thierry Dusautoir as the spearhead, the underdogs played with deep-rooted passion as well as cleverness. They so nearly pulled it off . To the losers, the critical acclaim, to the victors the spoils. There is no doubt who got the better deal. There was little glory in the manner of the All Blacks victory but at the end they had the pot, and that was all that mattered. No wonder the New Zealand coach, Graham Henry, leant across to touch the cherished trophy when asked for his views on the match . He did not need to say anything. He touched the gleaming cup once again. That was what it was all about. It had taken graft rather than genius, fortitude rather than flair, proof that this was a team of many parts. In times past, the All Blacks had choked when the going got tough.

Twice in previous World Cups, France had proved the bogeymen. Here, New ­Zealand trembled but they did not collapse in a heap. Related Articles Let the celebrations begin 23 Oct 2011 The All Blacks were obliged to hang on grimly, and if Craig Joubert, the referee, had not been so generous to the host nation, then perhaps France might have completed the transformation from pool-stage chumps to champs. If François Trinh-Duc’s ­48-metre penalty in the 65th minute had not drifted just right. If Morgan Parra had not taken a knee to the head from Richie McCaw and been forced off. 'If only’, as ever, is the inscription on the medals of the losers. France’s back-row of Imanol ­Harinordoquy, Julien Bonnaire and the nonpareil Dusautoir trumped their celebrated counterparts, their set-piece became more and more dominant, and centre Aurélien Rougerie hammered every black shirt that came his way. But it was not enough, and given that Wales had fallen by the same margin to France last week in the semi-final in similar circumstances, perhaps there was a perverse justice in it all.

While France were the unlikely heroes of the match, those being acclaimed last night were the All Blacks, but this was not their finest performance. They lacked composure and were exposed at the line-out. They were fortunate to get an early try from the unheralded source of prop Tony Woodcock, who steamed through a gaping hole in the France line-out to touch down in the 15th minute. It was not so much that the All Blacks were on edge, paralysed by the expectation heaped on them, but that they were rocked by a France side that we had not seen for 18 months, never mind the past seven weeks. There was also a sub-standard showing from scrum-half Piri Weepu, who missed eight points through missed kicks. Their injury jinx at fly-half also continued as they had to use fourth-choice Stephen Donald after Aaron Cruden suffered a knee injury after 34 minutes. Bath-bound Donald kicked the winning goal from in front of the posts in the 45th minute. So often we have lauded the brilliance and sparkle of these All Blacks. Here it was time to salute their fibre and bloody-mindedness, their refusal to fold when under pressure.

All that was shown when France came at them with sustained ferocity early in the second half. New Zealand were on the ropes after Dusautoir touched down in the 46th minute, the try stemming from an opportunist attack triggered by an interception from Trinh-Duc. The replacement fly-half converted, and the comeback was in motion. The All Blacks still had a one-point advantage but they appeared flaky up front and vulnerable behind. France grew in stature, with Harinordoquy all-consuming and the scrum beginning to take a toll. Yet New Zealand survived. Perhaps the experience of 2007 helped get them through, the fear of feeling that desolation again. Perhaps it was destiny. More likely, it was a combination of good fortune and steadfast defence. France had minor openings but could not capitalise. New Zealand gained territory then ran down the clock with close-quarter drives. It was pragmatic, restrictive and negative yet the crowd, the country, did not give a damn. The time ticked past the allotted mark, a penalty was awarded, Andy Ellis booted the ball high into the stands and bedlam broke out across the land.

Match details New Zealand XV: I Dagg (Hawkes Bay); C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu (all Wellington), R Kahui (Waikato); A Cruden (Waikato) P Weepu (Wellington); T Woodcock (North Harbour), K Mealamu (Auckland), O Franks, S Whitelock, B Thorn (all Canterbury), J Kaino (Auckland), R McCaw (Canterbury, capt), K Read (Canterbury). Replacements: A Williams (Auckland) for Whitelock (48), A Ellis (Canterbury) for Weepu (48), A Hore (Taranaki) for Mealamu (50), SB Williams (Canterbury) for Nonu (75). Scores: Try: Woodcock. Pen: Donald.

France XV: M Medard; V Clerc (both Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont), M Mermoz (Perpignan), A Palisson (Toulon); M Parra (Clermont), D Yachvili (Biarritz); J-B Poux, W Servat (Toulouse), N Mas (Perpignan), P Pape (Stade Francais), L Nallet (Racing Metro), T Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), J Bonnaire (Clermont), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz). Replacements: Blood rep. Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier) for Parra (11-18) Trinh-duc for Parra (25). D Traille for Clerc (40), D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), for Servat (60), F Barcella (Biarritz) for Poux (60), J Pierre (Clermont) for Pape (65), J-M Doussain (Toulouse) for Yachvili 75. Scores: Try: Dusautoir.

Con: Trinh-Duc. Rugby World Cup 2011: South Africa team guide | Sport | The Guardian Rugby World Cup 2011: South Africa team guide Everything you need to know about South Africa's World Cup squad Bismarck du Plessis, left, and Bryan Habana share a joke during the ceremony to welcom South Africa's World Cup squad after their arrival in Wellington, New Zealand. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Rugby World Cup 2011: South Africa team guide Everything you need to know about South Africa's World Cup squad Tuesday 6 September 2011 11.00 EDT First published on Tuesday 6 September 2011 11.00 EDT Share on Messenger Close 24 years in 140 characters: Spent 87 and 91 claiming to be champions in absentia, got the All Blacks in a full Nelson to win the crown in 95.

Wrestled another win in 07 World Cup record 1987: Disallowed due to apartheid 1991: Disallowed due to apartheid 1995: Winners Record in 2011: P4 W1 L3 Coach: Peter de Villiers Captain: John Smit How are they likely to get on? The holders are far from fancied, which will suit a squad which contains 18 players who were part of the 2007 success. Set-pieces and the boot of Morne Steyn will be their staple diet, supplemented by a resolute defence – the duller the World Cup, the better their chances. The Springboks are favourites to top the group, but they have had three near-misses against Wales in as many years and four years ago no one caused them more problems than Tonga and Fiji. A team on the way down, bottom of the Tri-Nations again, but high on experience. A dilemma will be when, rather than where, to play their captain, John Smit. Key player: The lineout is integral to South Africa's strategy, not just in winning their own ball but in disrupting the opposition to augment a kicking game.

Victor Matfield is still the master of his art. Commentator's kit: Fearsome lock Bakkies Botha is really called John. His nickname derives from a "bakkie", the equivalent of an Australian "ute", a small utility vehicle or pick-up truck, used ubiquitously on South African farms.

Squad Jannie du Plessis, prop, age 28, caps 26 Tendai Mtawarira, prop, age 26, caps 28 Gurthrö Steenkamp, prop, age 30, caps 33 CJ van der Linde, prop, age 31, caps 72 Bismarck du Plessis, hooker, age 27, caps 38 Chiliboy Ralepelle, hooker, age 24, caps 20 John Smit (c), hooker, age 33, caps 106 Bakkies Botha, second-row, age 31, caps 74 Victor Matfield, second-row, age 34, caps 107 Johann Muller, second-row, age 31, caps 23 Danie Rossouw, second-row, age 33, caps 58 Heinrich Brüssow, flanker, age 25, caps 15 Schalk Burger, flanker, age 28, caps 63 Francois Louw, flanker, age 26, caps 7 Willem Alberts

, No8, age 27, caps 4 Pierre Spies, No8, age 26, caps 42 Fourie du Preez, scrum-half, age 29, caps 57 Francois Hougaard, scrum-half, age 23, caps 10 Ruan Pienaar, scrum-half, age 27, caps 49 Butch James, fly-half, age 32, caps 41 Morne Steyn, fly-half, age 27, caps 29 Juan de Jongh, centre, age 23, caps 8 Jean de Villiers, centre, age 30, caps 69 Jaque Fourie, centre, age 28, caps 64 Gio Aplon, wing, age 28, caps 15 Bryan Habana, wing, age 28, caps 70 Odwa Ndungane, wing, age 30, caps 8 JP Pietersen, wing, age 25, caps 38 Patrick Lambie, full-back, age 20, caps 7 François Steyn, full-back, age 24, caps 

43 Average age 27.8 Everything you need to know about Martin Johnson's men at the Rugby World Cup Published: 6 Sep 2011 Everything you need to know about the Romanian side at the Rugby World Cup Published: 6 Sep 2011 Everything you need to know about the improving Lelos at the Rugby World Cup Published: 6 Sep 2011 Everything you need to know about Andy Robinson's improving Scotland side at the Rugby World Cup Published: 6 Sep 2011 Ranking the national anthems of the Rugby World Cup quarter finalists - Telegraph Front Row Ranking the national anthems of the Rugby World Cup quarter finalists Eight countries, eight national anthems (and eight different languages in total) but who has the best pre-match song to get them going?

Send them victorious: which Rugby World Cup quarter-finalist has the best national anthem? By Telegraph Sport 12:55PM BST 13 Oct 2015 With the pool stage done and dusted - goodbye, Brave Blossoms of Japan and thanks for hosting, England - it's down to the do-or-die blood and thunder of the knockout stages. With injuries mounting and limbs aching, the eight remaining nations will need some pumping-up before their quarter-final clashes. Who boasts the most emphatic, adrenalin-pumping national anthem of them all? If England had progressed, would the much-maligned God Save The Queen have made our top eight anyway? Here's the best belters from what remains... 8) Australia Advance Australia Fair edged out Waltzing Matilda in a 1977 referendum to replace God Save The Queen but it hasn't become particularly dear to the Australian people. Both the lyrics and the composition have attracted criticism for being rather dull and superficial. In 2001, government senator Sandy Macdonald gave the anthem both barrels, branding it "boring", "impossible to understand" and calling for it to be abandoned "before we all go to sleep singing it".

Lyrics Our land abounds in nature's gifts Of beauty rich and rare; In history's page, let every stage Advance Australia Fair. In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair. Macdonald had a point. It's a national-anthem-by-numbers affair, and the tune is perhaps more suited to a tired Christmas carol. A proud sporting nation deserves more before its teams go into battle. 7) Ireland Ireland's Call was commissioned by the IRFU as recently as 1995, and - without the rich history of its counterparts here - struggles under the clichés of "power", "glory" and "standing shoulder to shoulder". Lyrics Shoulder to shoulder We'll answer Ireland's call. It was devised as an awkward compromise for united Ireland sports teams...and that's exactly how it comes across. Still can't get with that ersatz faux-anthem "Ireland's Call" but still... Getting excited now! #coybig — Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) October 11, 2015 Not everyone's a hater, though.

Our man Luke Brown described Ireland's Call as "a synths hook and sweaty beat away from being an absolute club banger" . That surely seals its fate. National anthems should either be rousing classics or interminable drawls. This is, somehow, neither. 6) New Zealand Another polyglottal affair, with the same verse sung in both Maori and English. With God done saving the Queen, for this tournament at least, His attention turns to defending New Zealand from the "shafts of strife and war". Lyrics God of Nations at Thy feet, In the bonds of love we meet, Hear our voices, we entreat, God defend our free land. Guard Pacific's triple star From the shafts of strife and war, Make her praises heard afar, God defend New Zealand. The full Maori version has historically staged a fascinating grammatical tug-of-war between "whakarangona" (to be heard), the passive form of the verb "whakarongo" (to hear) and an alternate passive form of the verb, "whakarongona". Truly, truly fascinating.

Otherwise, thanks to its hymn-like formality, God Defend New Zealand lacks the formidable impact of the All Blacks themselves. Still, there's always the haka . 5) Argentina Mercifully cut from the original, 450-word behemoth, the modern version of El Himno Nacional still has to be trimmed for use before matches. The 66-second instrumental intro is usually the easiest bit to jettison, leaving just a hasty leap into the chorus. That's a bit of shame, as it removes the traditional suspense over whether anyone is actually going to sing or not. Lyrics May the laurels be eternal that we were able to achieve that we were able to achieve Let us live crowned in glory Or let us swear in glory to die Or let us swear in glory to die Or let us swear in glory to die. Anyway, in the absence of the extended club mix, and with its awkward major-minor shifts, it's left to the melodramatic lyrics to lift things - and the players certainly sing those with genuine gusto. 4) Scotland Flower of Scotland is undoubtedly a very decent template for a national anthem, particularly one sung before a good sporting set-to.

There's no tricky chord changes, no unsettling shifts in tempo and the words are both meaningful and memorable. Lyrics Those days are past now, And in the past But we can still rise now, And be the nation again, That stood against him, And sent him homeward, To think again. It has the added bonus of accommodating crowd participation - fans will often call back after the words "stood against him" with "against who?"; and after the words "sent him homewards", you may hear "whit fur?". Makes you rather fancy a spot of fighting off southern invaders for a few minutes, at least. 3) South Africa Just the five languages to learn for this one: Xhosa (first stanza, first two lines), Zulu (first stanza, last two lines), Sesotho (second stanza), Afrikaans (third stanza), and finally English (last stanza). That's the result of the stitching together in 1997 of 19th century hymn Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika (God Bless Africa) and poem Die Stem van Suid-Afrika (The Call of South Africa).

Much like the Kiwi anthem, the players sing both languages with equal fervour, but this is the superior composition. Lyrics Ringing out from our blue heavens, From our deep seas breaking round, Over everlasting mountains, Where the echoing crags resound, Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land. Musically, it's drifting all over the place (ending in a different key entirely) but the words are unmistakably defiant and emotional - especially when the crowd takes over from the session singer and his microphone. 2) Wales We're getting to the business end of this now. Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of My Fathers) is best sung under a closed Millennium Stadium roof by 74,015-ish proud Welshmen and women. Gwlad! Gwlaaaaaaaaaad! Lyrics Land!, Land!, Pledge-ful I am to my country! While seas secure This land so pure, O may our old language endure. A great tune, inherently great voices behind it, and a smashing rugby team to sing it with. Do rugby's national anthems get any better than this? Well...

1) France This is the anthem of anthems. The easiest tune to remember and - regardless of your GCSE French - eminently hummable. Lyrics Arise children of the fatherland The day of glory has arrived Against us tyranny's Listen to the sound in the fields The howling of these fearsome soldiers They are coming into our midst To cut the throats of your sons and consorts To arms citizens

Question: Which national team won the 2011 Rugby Union World Cup?
Answer: New Zealand