Captain Richie McCaw during the All Blacks team training session, at Sophia Gardens ground. Photo / Brett Phibbs
With the All Blacks playing their third pool game tomorrow morning - and a tonne of Rugby World Cup action in the two days that follow - Scott Yeoman looks at seven things you need to know going into tonight and the weekend.
The Pool C game between the All Blacks and Georgia kicks off at 8am tomorrow morning (NZ time) at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The men in black seem determined to improve on their last two performances and put together a complete package against the eastern Europeans.
One thing is for sure though, everyone's eyes will be on come-back winger Waisake Naholo. Will he be equally as impressive in this match as he was in his test debut against Argentina in July? My money is on yes. Justin Marshall's take on the role of the All Blacks wingers, and Naholo's place in that, is necessary reading before tomorrow. This piece outlining 10 things you need to know about Georgia is also helpful. Visit nzherald.co.nz tomorrow morning for extensive coverage of the game, as well as post-game analysis and reaction.
All Blacks
Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Charlie Faumuina, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Owen Franks, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Malakai Fekitoa.
Georgia
Beka Tsiklauri, Giorgi Aptsiauri, David Kacharava, Tamaz Mchedlidze, Alexandr Todua, Lasha Malaguradze, Giorgi Begadze, Lasha Lomidze, Mamuka Gorgodze (c), Shalva Sutiashvili, Giorgi Chkhaidze, Levan Datunashvili, Levan Chilachava, Shalva Mamukashvili, Karlen Asieshvili. Reserves: Simon Maisuradze, Mikheil Nariashvili, Anton Peikrishvili, Konstantin Mikautadze, Viktor Kolelishvili, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Merab Sharikadze, Muraz Giorgadze.
Scotland has named their team to play the Springboks on Sunday morning at 4.45am (NZ time). Coach Vern Cotter has made 10 changes to the Scottish team that beat the USA 39-16, including Duncan Weir being named at first five ahead of Finn Russell, who misses out due to an injured ankle. Lock Grant Gilchrist - who was ruled out for the rest of the World Cup with a groin injury - has been replaced by Richie Gray, and winger Tim Visser comes in for Sean Lamont. With John Hardie still recovering from a concussion, New Zealand-born flanker Blair Cowan is starting. Centre Mark Bennett was also ruled out and Richie Vernon named instead. Gordon Reid comes in at prop for Ryan Grant and Fraser Brown starts at hooker. Josh Strauss is also named in the starting line-up next to Cowan in the backrow. Tommy Seymour starts on the wing and Jonny Gray at lock. The TAB still has South Africa as the favourites, paying $1.11 to win. Scotland, meanwhile, are paying $5.75 to win. Both sides have a lot to play for - South Africa to stay in the tournament and Scotland to continue their winning streak and finish top of the pool.
The South African team to play the Scots was named yesterday.
South Africa v. Scotland, St James' Park in Newcastle, 4.45am Sunday (NZ time)
South Africa: Willie le Roux, JP Pietersen, Jesse Kriel, Damian De Allende, Bryan Habana, Handre Pollard, Fourie du Preez (captain); Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Francois Louw, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.
Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Frans Malherbe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Willem Alberts, Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie, Jan Serfontein.
Scotland: Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Richie Vernon, Matt Scott, Tim Visser, Duncan Weir, Greig Laidlaw (captain); David Denton, Blair Cowan, Josh Strauss, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Willem Nel, Fraser Brown, Gordon Reid.
Reserves: Ross Ford, Alasdair Dickinson, Jon Welsh, Tim Swinson, Ryan Wilson, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Peter Horne, Sean Lamont.
Both sides were named last night and as predicted England coach Stuart Lancaster has dropped Sam Burgess for Jonathan Joseph at centre. Billy Vunipola at No 8 and lock Courtney Lawes were replaced by Ben Morgan and Joe Launchbury respectively. Halfback Ben Youngs is also in the starting line-up, recovered from his injured ankle, and Owen Farrell stays at first five. Australia coach Michael Cheika has named the same Wallabies starting 15 that played against Fiji, but one that has 14 changes from their game against Uruguay last weekend. Most notably, David Pocock will start at No 8, Michael Hooper at open-side flanker and Quade Cooper has been replaced at first five by Bernard Foley. Matt Giteau starts at inside-centre.
England is still the favourites at the TAB, paying $1.70 for the win. Australia is paying $2.05 to win.
Have a look at these picks for the game from NZME's rugby experts.
Wales' 23-13 win over Fiji this morning makes this game even more interesting, as the Herald's Wynne Gray explains.
England v. Australia, Twickenham in London, 8am on Sunday (NZ time)
England: Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Brad Barritt, Jonny May, Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Ben Morgan, Chris Robshaw (captain), Tom Wood, Joe Launchbury, Geoff Parling, Dan Cole, Tom Youngs, Joe Marler.
Reserves: Rob Webber, Mako Vunipola, Kieran Brookes, George Kruis, Nick Easter, Richard Wigglesworth, George Ford, Sam Burgess.
Australia: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (captain), Scott Sio.
Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Dean Mumm, Ben McCalman, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale.
This game at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes at 2.30am on Sunday (NZ time) will be overshadowed by the two crackers that follow it but is still a must-watch, or a must-record at least. Japanese coach Eddie Jones has made five changes to the team that lost 45-10 to Scotland. Hiroshi Yamashita will be replaced at tighthead by Kensuke Hatakeyama. Kosei Ono starts at first five and Harumichi Tatekawa goes to inside centre. Hitoshi Ono will replace Justin Ives, starting in the second row. Ryu Koliniasi Holani is in at No 8. Kenki Fukuoka misses out, meanwhile, and Akihito Yamada comes in with Kotaro Matsushima switching wings.
Samoa has also made five changes to the team that lost 6-46 to the Springboks. Second row Kane Thompson starts for the first time as does Johnny Leota. Tusi Pisi, Fafili Levave and Ole Avei also come into the starting line-up. Tim Nanai-Williams, Ken Pisi, Paul Perez and Filo Paulo will all start for the third time this Rugby World Cup. The Samoan team for this game is the most capped ever, with the starting line-up having 346 caps combined.
Samoa are paying $1.27 to win at the TAB and Japan is playing $3.50.
Samoa v. Japan, Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, 2.30am on Sunday (NZ time)
Samoa: Tim Nanai-Williams, Ken Pisi, Paul Perez, Johnny Leota, Alesana Tuilagi, Tusi Pisi, Kahn Fotuali'i; Faifili Levave, TJ Ioane, Ofisa Treviranus (captain), Kane Thompson, Teofilo Paulo, Census Johnston, Ole Avei, Sakaria Taualofo.
Reserves: Motu Matu'u, Viliamu Afatia, Anthony Perenise, Jack Lam, Vavae Tuilagi, Vavao Afemai, Mike Stanley, Rey Lee-Lo.
Japan: Ayumu Goromaru, Akihito Yamada, Male Sau, Harumichi Tatekawa, Kotaro Matsushima, Kosei Ono, Fumiaki Tanaka; Ryu Koliniasi Holani, Michael Broadhurst, Michael Leitch (captain), Hitoshi Ono, Luke Thompson, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Shota Horie, Keita Inagaki.
Reserves: Takeshi Kizu, Masataka Mikami, Hiroshi Yamashita, Justin Ives, Amanaki Lelei Mafi, Hendrik Tui, Atsushi Hiwasa, Karne Hesketh.
Argentina play against Tonga at Leicester City Stadium at 2.30am on Monday and then Ireland and Italy kick off at 4.45am at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. Argentina and Ireland should both be relatively safe to win these games, but Tonga and Italy will be fighting hard for their second win of the tournament.
With all of the potential that comes with these kinds of upsets, and with the kind of rugby we have seen from Tonga and Italy in the past, both are very capable and determined opponents for the Pumas and Irish. The starting sides for these games should be named overnight or tomorrow.
After Fiji and Canada both lost their third game in a row this morning, there is plenty of interesting reading again around Rugby World Cup scheduling and how it can improve. Have a read of this piece by the Herald's Dylan Cleaver on exactly that. There is also this piece in the Guardian from a few days ago headlined: "Why the Rugby World Cup schedule is unfair, and how it can change". What are your thoughts? Email me here - scott.yeoman@nzherald.co.nz.
Former All Blacks' frustrations began before he coached his first All Blacks test.