Planet Rugby

Hollywood hoping for Bokbuster

IT’LL be interesting to see how Hollywood “does rugby”, when a movie called Invictus comes out at the beginning of December.

It tells the story of the relationship between Nelson Mandela and the South African captain Francois Pienaar during the 1995 World Cup which the ’Boks won.

Few will forget that seminal moment in the country’s history of Mandela, dressed in a Springbok jersey, presenting the William Webb Ellis trophy to Pienaar.

Morgan Freeman (Mandela) and Matt Damon (Pienaar) are the leading lads, while Clint Eastwood – son Scott is also in the film – directed. The project is an adaptation of John Carlin’s book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela And The Game That Made A Nation. Damon prepared by training with a local rugby side.

The name Invictus refers to a poem by William Earnest Henley that was often recited by Mandela. The film has already been tipped for an Academy award.

Wilkinson gets tea with a kick

“I WAS busy trying to tell him (the referee) that I was waiting for the kicking tee but my pronunciation was marginally out because I was, in fact, telling him that I wanted a cup of tea.” – Toulon outhalf Jonny Wilkinson experiences a few issues with the language barrier in France’s Top 14.

“They haven’t built any statues for critics or wannabes yet.” – All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen borrows from former American Football coach Vince Lombardi to deal with critics of New Zealand’s lineout showing.

“After the All Blacks scored (Ma’a Nonu’s try) we rolled over and that was disappointing. The margins are small in Test rugby and as we alluded to prior to the game. You have to earn your stripes in every outing – we were looking for the next job when the first job hadn’t been done.” – Coach Robbie Deans can’t hide his frustration after watching his Wallbies side hammered by the All Blacks.

Dubai done good

BRIAN O’Driscoll, who will be in contention for a place in Leinster’s plans next weekend for the first time this season, paid a flying visit to take possession of his home on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.

Speaking of the development, O’Driscoll said: “It’s spectacular; having visited two years ago when it was still under construction you can’t get a real feeling from plans, but I think the finish is incredible, and am looking forward to spending time here.”

Deans must get hard, says Farr Jones

AUSTRALIA copped a great deal of flack, to use the local idiom, after their insipid performance in losing 33-6 to New Zealand in Wellington at the weekend. It came from all quarters, including the 1991 World Cup winning Wallabies captain Nick Farr Jones.

The former scrumhalf told Sky Sport: “This sets us back. Maybe this is the awakening that has to happen. Maybe it’s time he (coach Robbie Deans) reads the riot act.

“This might be the wake-up call where he basically says ‘enough is enough. You’ve got to perform, you’re professional players, we expect you to perform.’ How can [the Wallabies] not get up, they haven’t won here in (eight) years – it beats me. I think Robbie has got to get hard.”

Stade continue Top 14 recovery

STADE FRANÇAIS, who are in Ulster’s pool in the Heineken Cup, continued their remarkable climb up the French Top 14 Championship with a 20-6 victory over Bourgoin, continuing the unbeaten start to the new coaching regime under Jacques Delmas and Didier Faugeron.

The decision to sack the previous coaching axis of Australian Ewen McKenzie and former French international wing Christophe Dominici looks thoroughly vindicated as Stade have climbed from the relegation zone, where they started before last weekend’s game, to fourth in the table: that situation would change slightly after yesterday’s games.

The Parisian club had tries from Mirco Bergamasco, Julien Arias and replacement centre Mathieu Bastareaud. Brive, who are alongside the European champions Leinster, London Irish and the Scarlets, succumbed to a 15-12 defeat at home to Biarritz in a match without a try. Brive have now lost four of their opening seven matches in the French championship, not including a 9-9 draw with local rivals Clermont.