Fiji’s Akapusi Qera passes the ball to Fiji’s full back Kini Murimurivalu. AFP Photo / Gabriel Bouys
It’s not quite the Rugby World Cup’s “night of nights” by any stretch, but I thought that it might be worth one last moment of levity before things start getting very, very serious this weekend in New Zealand.
The “Webbys” are of course named for young William Webb Ellis, as is the RWC trophy, and I figure this is appropriate since it seems that perhaps the whole “boy picks up football in schoolyard and runs” story perhaps can’t be taken as seriously as it once was.
So, without further ado.
Best headgear
Blokes who just sport garden-variety blue or black headgear could learn a lot here.
Initially, I thought Fijian flanker Akapusi Qera (photo above) had this well and truly sewn up, with his otherwise standard-issue headgear beautifully topped with a random array of colours that make his head pretty easy to recognise.
Of course, that could work against you when you’re a flanker, too.
However, when I saw the outstanding arrangement of flying United States winger, Takudzwa Ngwenya, I saw the error of my ways. Ngwenya’s superb showing of colour-coordination and sheer patriotism gets him the Webby on a countback.
US right wing Takudzwa Ngwenya (centre) is tackled by Italy’s scrum half Fabio Semenzato. AAP Image/AFP/Martin Bureau
Best beard:
Adam Kleeberger (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)
Canadian flanker Adam Kleeberger. Not even a contest. Hope he doesn’t carry through with threats to get rid of it.
Best playing strip:
Argentina’s sky-blue strip (AAP Image/AFP/Marty Melville)
Argentina, by a good margin.
In this day and age of space-age, streamlined, figure-hugging, supposedly-performance-enhancing hi-tech “jerseys”, it’s good to see that all this can – occasionally – still be made to look like a proper, traditional rugby strip.
And, it’s a pleasant removal from the block colours of 18 other teams! Now sure, block colours can look smart, but not so much when everyone else does it too.
Argentina’s traditional sky-blue and white hoops are instantly recognisable (who’s that black team, who’s that white team?) and they’re a welcome sight in international rugby.
Japan’s Brave Blossums (AAP Image/AFP, Gabriel Bouys)
Highly commended: Japan, who had a bit each way on whether to stay with their traditional cherry red and white hoops, or go with the hi-tech mostly blocked-out number.
BOO HISS!!:
England, not for their possibly ill-thought black alternate strip, but for the pathetic way the electrical tape numbers started disintegrating well before half-time.
England’s dodgy numbers on their dodgy black strip (AAP/NZN Image/SNPA, Ross Setford)
Best act of invisibility by an Australian journo:
Best streaker:
The 23 year-old Kenyan-born Dunedin local, dressed only in face paint, at the Argentina- England game at the new enclosed Otago Stadium in the first week of the tournament.
At the time, I opined to my diminutive Twitter following that he should be thankful the game wasn’t at the old, cold Carisbrook, but having reviewed the tape it appears that shrinkage probably isn’t something this guy had to worry about.
It gets better though, it seems the guy will escape conviction. Though originally charged under New Zealand’s new especially-minted Major Events Management Act, which says pitch invaders can incur up to three months in prison and a maximum fine of $5000, the man’s clean sheet may well see him let off, and instead making a donation to charity in lieu of the likely fine.
Most bizarre explanation to a post-try celebration:
Israel Dagg, after scoring in the New Zealand-France game last weekend, launched into some manor of hand and arm gestures that perhaps looked like a swan, but I’ve since heard described as being a “sock puppet”.
I wasn’t really fussed by the celebration itself, but then I read about his cryptic explanation in an All Blacks in the days that followed: “a dog meows” and “the laughing bear rides a motorcycle”.
Of course they do.
Explanations – I’ll even take smart-arsed guesses – are welcome.
Israel Dagg celebrates (AFP Photo / Franck Fife)
Best try
Well, where do you start? It’s honestly impossible to try and rank particular tries in any order, and believe me, I tried all weekend.
So this might be where the Webbys become a collaborative thing, and I’ll welcome suggestions from this point.
To get the ball rolling, two tries from “minnows” still stick out for me, the first being Romania’s pushover scrum try against Scotland in the first week. I mentioned this one last week too, but it’s still hard to top.
No.8 Daniel Carpo picked it up from the back and barged over, but it all came down to the second shove led by hooker and captain, Marius Tincu.
The second try was from Russia, in their loss to Italy in Nelson. Though well beaten by this stage, the Russians got a good attacking scrum on the Italian line, and flyhalf Konstantin Rachkov threw a pass easily forty metres to an essentially unmarked inside centre Alexey Makovetskiy to go over virtually untouched.
The try itself was quite simple, I suppose, but the vision to see the opportunity, and then the skill to get the pass there, well that’s just worth remembering.
And with that, I’ll turn discussion over to you guys.
The pool stage is done and dusted, and has been thoroughly enjoyable for way more than just the rugby itself. There’s no limit on how many Webbys The Roar hands out (I’ve checked the budget), so share your favourite RWC moments before things go all life-and-death on us.
2many1ndians
Roar Rookie
Here ya go. You can buy the famous mouthguard and his boots. http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/rugby-league/boots/auction-413077707.htm
Brett McKay
Expert
Certainly not, Chop, the IRB does actually make decisions...
Chop
Guest
Seriously? Fined for a branded mouthguard? Are the IRB moonlighting as the ICC as well?
Chop
Guest
How about worst attempt by a player to sing their national anthem? Adam Byrnes playing for Russia?
Brett McKay
Guest
And a bit of a general raspberry to the IRB for dealing out $10K fines for the crime of wearing a branded mouthguard, while gently slapping the wrist of England with a moist feather for the whole Ballgate affair, which is, you know, actually breaking a rugby law.... Just keep dealing with them big issues...
Brett McKay
Guest
Ben S, we're both overlooked Italian hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini for the silliest foul Webby - though to be fair, it wasn't actually picked up by the ref and touchies.. Either way, Ghiraldini's has copped 15 weeks for his disgraceful eye-gouging of Cian Healy, and rightly so... http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/news/newsid=2057297.html#leonardo+ghiraldini+banned+weeks
Ian Noble
Guest
Ryan You obviously havn't seen many Eng v Scot games in recent years. They are always the same; close, hard fought tests with the Scots playing out of their skins as they just love to beat the "auld enemy". The Scots are great spoilers if only they could score a try. Eng nearly always dog it out and score when the Scots run of steam. We shall see how Eng perform v the French, who have been so bad they are due a great performance. Knock out rugby is great and this weekend all the games will be close and very unpredictable.
Sprigs
Guest
Ha, ha.. But JOC showed real speed in addition to guts. Tommy is supposed to be fast. He certainly has something the ladies like. But JOC was faster on the night. I liked his attitude. "You are going to win but not by that much".
Dublin Dave
Guest
"Best stopper of almost certain try: JOC on T. Bowe." Actually I'd give that the "Most valiant act of defiance in a losing cause" award, Sprigs. The game was over by then and Ireland moving the ball down to within 5m of the Australian line was almost as good as a wrap-up score. But fair play to O'Connor for busting a gut to get across and make the tackle. He may look like Justin Bieber and prefer a night's drinking and tomcatting to posing for the sponsors but he's got real guts. I actually think the Best Stopper of Almost Certain Try award is more justifiably claimed by Sean O'Brien just a few seconds before for his one armed Stopped Dead in his Tracks arrest of Will Genia who had been put clear from a 5m scrum by a neat 8-9 move. Not many people could do that.
Dublin Dave
Guest
You're kidding right? You stay away from the record/MP3 player if you're ever at one of my parties!!!!
Who Needs Melon
Guest
Agreed! Wasn't that crazy?!?
DaniE
Guest
Very cool AussieKiwi
The Grafter
Guest
Is it me moment? Are the blokes blowing the horns/shells, actually blowing them? Should I say is the sound played coming from a p a system?
ChrisT
Roar Pro
Ryan. If the only point you were making was that England were terrible against Scotland, we’d be in violent agreement. The problem I have with you is your insistence they were ‘boring’ and the obvious inference that they chose to play that way. No mate, they were simply crap. There were a number of things not functioning properly, including the line out but the key was the front row were either out-cheated or out scrummaged for most of the game and Youngs had one of the worst performances in an England 9 shirt I can remember. Once those two elements go wrong I’d defy anyone to play attractive rugby. Strangely, your description of the Ireland Wallabies game isn’t a mile away from an accurate one of the England Scotland game – difference is, England took the points – and did it by turning down the pot, playing for position and spinning it wide. How dull of them. Likewise trust that clears things up.
AussieKiwi
Guest
I have a fascination with anthems . I like to think they reflect the national character of countries. I would add to/modify your list as follows: Most hubristic anthem: Australia: "Australians all let us rejoice for we are young and free...." - hardly a modest sentiment! Most religious anthem: New Zealand (go figure!) Most poetically beautiful anthem: Wales (Paul Robeson's version always brings a tear to the eye) Most eccentric anthem: England (though I think it is officially the anthem of the United Kingdom). Check out the second verse: O Lord, our God, arise, Scatter her enemies, And make them fall. Confound their politics, Frustrate their knavish tricks, On Thee our hopes we fix, God save us all. There was also a nice verse that was added at the time of the Jacobean uprising then (unsurprisingly) dropped: Lord grant that Marshal Wade May by thy mighty aid Victory bring. May he sedition hush, And like a torrent rush, Rebellious Scots to crush. God save the Queen! What has all this to do with the world cup? Nothing really, but I have to think of something other than Dan Carter's groin!
Scot Free
Guest
My nomination for "Hero Of The Tournament" so far goes to the dude (Kiwi, I gather) who organised the sausage sizzle to pay off the $10,000 fine the IRB imposed on the Samoan player for the non-regulation mouthguard. He, er...snagged it.
Sprigs
Guest
Agreed!
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Who’s ranting now? England were a disgrace on Sunday. That’s the point I was trying to make, and it’s one which you freely admit yourself. So what exactly are you arguing? That Scotland were just as boring, so go easy on England? If that’s the case, I actually thought Scotland played slightly better than England, and therefore deserved to win. My personal opinion is that England were both boring and bad on the weekend, and I think it’s unacceptable to be both. I’d find it hard to believe that anyone could disagree with that notion. The point about who was fancied to win simply provided an indication on how much better England are meant to be, which makes them playing bad even worse. Or a travesty, if you will. I hope that clears things up for you. And for the record, I thought Ireland played fantastic against Australia, who were very poor in their execution, along with being a touch ‘soft’.
Brett McKay
Guest
Wal, Theuns Kotze's your guy, and he had a good tournament. I think it was that same game against Fiji that he nailed a penalty from well beyond halfway too. Imagine how far he'd land them from if Namibia played in Pretoria or Jo'burg?!?
Wal the Hooker
Guest
Brett Nambibia's five 8th can't recall his name, for those drop goals against Fiji a 12 point hall in about as many minutes me thinks. And some of the tries in that game were absolute gems!