Rugby Game
Call goes out to Waikato rookies

Waikato will go into their biggest rugby game of the season so far on Saturday night with a rookie at first five-eighths and possibly another alongside him at halfback.

The one-match suspension of first five Stephen Donald by the New Zealand Rugby Union judicial committee in Wellington yesterday ruled him out of the top-of-the-table clash with Auckland at Eden Park.

Waikato coach Warren Gatland today confirmed Willie Ripia, who turned 21 last month, will start in the pivot position against Auckland in Donald's place with the experienced David Hill remaining at second five-eighths from where he will again be the goal-kicker.

There is still a chance halfback Brendon Leonard, also 21 and a starter in all six Air New Zealand Cup games to date, will not be fit enough to play.

Thursday night rugby confirmed

Controversial Thursday night rugby will become a reality when the national provincial championship enters its second phase this month.

Despite criticism from a number of provinces, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) last night confirmed Air New Zealand Cup matches would be played on Thursdays after a request from competition broadcaster Sky Television.

Southland and Taranaki will play the first match in the new slot when they meet in a repechage game at Invercargill on September 21.

The following week fellow repechage contenders Manawatu and Bay of Plenty meet at Palmerston North.

Both games kickoff at the earlier than usual night time of 7.05pm.

Major unions have sidestepped the Thursday schedule, according to the draw for the top six and repechage rounds.

Rugby: Haddington coach rewarded for US success

Eddie Pollock, the former Scotland Under-21 forwards coach, has been named American rugby's coach of the year for his achievement in leading the Californian club side OMBAC to provincial and national success this season.
Frustrated by the lack of opportunities available to progress his career in Scotland, Pollock joined the San Diego side – Old Mission Boys Athletics Club, to give them their full name – three seasons ago.
Once a dominant force in North American club rugby, they had struggled since the game went open, failing to win a title in a decade.
In Pollock's final season with them before returning to Scotland – he is now coaching Premiership 3 side Haddington – they won both the Southern California and pan-American US Super League titles.

Women's Team To Take On Wallaroos

In their final game at the IRB Women's World Cup in Edmonton, Ireland will face Australia, who are known as the Wallaroos, in Saturday's 7th-8th place play-off.

That clash will kick-off at Ellerslie Rugby Park at 12am Irish time and IrishRugby.ie will be running a live match tracker. A live internet broadcast of the gamewill also be availablethroughwww.rwcwomens.com and www.247.tv.

Ireland's narrow 11-10loss to Scotland on Tuesday, which ruled them out of contention for fifth place, came despite a brave last ditch effort from the girls in green. They came within a whisker of stealing the victory with a last-minute unconverted try from Jeanette Feighery.

The Walloroos lost 29-12 to theUSA in their play-off game on Tuesday.

For Ireland to beat Australia and finish seventh in the tournament, that would be some achievement, considering their two early losses and their initial seeding of tenth at the outset of the tournament.

Perfect timing by new hooker

You can get results from the Currie Cup games by sending an SMS with the message RCC to 34911 (R for rugby, CC for Currie Cup). This is a SuperSMS service and costs just R2 per SMS.

Not only did the team need an urgent replacement for Springbok hooker Hanyani Shimange but Currie Cup regulations also stipulate that a player who has moved must turn out in at least three matches for his new union to be eligible to play in the semifinals.

Former Griquas hooker Liebenberg arrived in Cape Town from Kimberley on Monday. On Wednesday, he had to find accommodation and start learning the WP lineout calls and tactical moves.

And at Newlands on Saturday, he will make his debut for WP, who have exactly three matches left before the semifinals are played.

Because it is impossible to get acquainted with almost a whole season's moves and variations within a few days, Liebenberg feels "simplicity" will have to be the watchword in the match against the Falcons on Saturday.