Rugby World Cup Shorts: You've been to the gym, now it's pie time

Aaron Cruden being congratulated by Cory Jane. Photo / Doug Sherring

Gym bunny

Welsh prop Ken Owens looks as if he's seen more than his fair share of pies and pints of Brains than most of the Welsh squad - despite the booze ban and gut-busting conditioning foisted on the team during a trip to Poland by Kiwi coach Warren Gatland. The big man was at Les Mills yesterday morning where he attempted a few chin ups: One, two ... er that'll do. He then sauntered off, chest puffed out like a pigeon in search of refreshment. Can't think why he's had only one outing in the World Cup thus far.

Gym Bunny II

A bunch of All Blacks including Richard Kahui, Sam Whitelock, Sonny Bill Williams, Tony Woodcock , Andy Ellis and Corey Flynn were also spotted at Les Mills pumping iron taking a different approach to preparation than Cory Jane last week.

Keeping it simple

Here's hoping the IRB crackdown on oversized messages on wristbands won't interfere with Aaron Cruden's running of the ship. Last year he came off the bench in the All Blacks' 29-10 victory over Wales in Hamilton with the useful reminders "direction, workrate, belief" plastered on his arm. FYI Cory Jane hasn't got the directions to some Victoria St watering hole on his, but the name of his son, Cassius.

King Crudo

Cruden's mercurial streak has been compared to another pivot with few self-confidence issues: Carlos Spencer. Los is remembered for a certain deed in the 2003 semifinal against Australia - that sweet pass he laid on for Stirling Mortlock.

Bet on it

The insurance industry has taken a battering this year but the brains trust at England's Rugby Football Union have done something to help balance the ledger. In the "more money than sense" category, the RFU paid $500,000 to insure itself against England winning the cup and having to pay out a $4.5 million bonus to players and staff. Any insurer with half an idea about rugby would have jumped at the chance of taking them on - that hapless bunch never had a shot.

IRB latest

"Saint" Mike Miller can easily dismiss we South Seas plebs as ingrates but he should be aware of disquiet among some powerful Northern Hemisphere corporate types now in town. Looking at empty seats at Eden Park last weekend there was murmuring about excessive ticket pricing compared with Fifa's showpiece and the IRB's late-night champagne glugging at the SkyCity Grand.

Tweeting twits I

Former England hooker George Chuter tweets on Manu Tuilagi's evening dip:

"In an ironic twist, it appears Manu was thrown off the ferry by a group of dwarves indulging in a spot of'Tuilagi Tossing'."

Tweeting twits II

One Bok fan who maintains he's now a former die-hard reckons the following from Pierre Spies is a bit jolly hockey sticks for him, despite the new outlook on life. "Thx for all the support evryone!on our way back-42hours of traveling!!via Bangkok, Dubai then Jhb?? Yes I know..#positivethoughts," the big loosie felt driven to share.