EMIRATES AIRLINES CUP OF NATIONS: Days 2 and 3

16.12.2011
Kenya 55, United Arab Emirates 17
Hong Kong 37, Brazil 3

13.12.2011
Hong Kong 44, Kenya 17
Brazil 66, United Arab Emirates 3

Reviews
This was a very innovative tournament set up by the UAERFU and Emirates Airlines. It was a great pity that the local side was not up to the standard of the other three teams. This may well place the tournament in jeopardy for the future.

Hong Kong was certainly the best team at this tournament. A suggestion has been made that their place is in the IRB Nations Cup.

This cross-continental tournament gives more meaning to the IRB ratings of teams.

These were the last rugby test matches for 2011. The next test matches are the Six Nations and ENC Division 1A matches due next February.

EMIRATES AIRLINE CUP OF NATIONS: Day 1 Results

10.12.2011
Kenya 27, Brazil 25 in Dubai (Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations)
Hong Kong 72, United Arab Emirates 14 in Dubai (Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations)

Briefly
Kenya and Hong Kong registered wins on the first day of this rugby test match tournament held in Dubai.

In the first game Kenya scored a last minute try to clinch a close encounter.

The main game saw the visiting Hong Kong side score an emphatic victory over the hosts. The result was much of a repeat of the May test match between these two nations in which Hong Kong won easily.

It would appear that Hong Kong is a level above the other teams.

Day 2 Fixtures
13.12.2011
Hong Kong v Kenya
Brazil v United Arab Emirates

The day 2 fixtures will determine the real strengths of Brazil and Kenya.

Emirate Airlines Cup of Nations Test Rugby

10.12.2011
Hong Kong v United Arab Emirates

Venue: The Sevens

Preview
This tournament is an innovative move to bring like-ranked rugby nations from different continents to one venue to test their playing strength.

The Emirates Airline is the main sponsor and brings together Brazil (an up-and-coming South American rugby nation), Kenya (2011 Africa Cup winner) plus Hong Kong.

Once part of the now defunct Arabian Gulf Rugby Union, the UAE lost heavily (3-62) to Hong Kong in Hong Kong back in May. This will be their chance to gain revenge for that humiliating defeat.

The first UAE team for 2011 v Sri Lanka

Hong Kong will blood a number of new players.

The UAE team has yet to be published on the web.

GWC Rugby Rankings
Asia Table-Hong Kong 2nd, UAE 3rd

IRB Ranking Points Do not apply. UAE needs to play 10 tests to be ranked.

Prediction: Hong Kong by 15 points

Teams

Hong Kong
15. Rowan Varty (DeA RFC)

14. Thomas McQueen (Valley RFC)

13. Alexander McQueen (Hong Kong Cricket Club)

12. Lee Jones (Valley RFC)

11. Yiu, Kam Shing Salom (Valley RFC)

10 Keith Robertson (DeA RFC)

9. Cado Lee (Kowloon RFC)*

8. Pale Tauti (captain) (DeA RFC)

7. Nicholas Hewson (Valley RFC)

6. Terence Montgomery (Valley RFC)

5. Michael Waller (DeA RFC)

4. Daniel Watson (Hong Kong Football Club) *

3. Stephen Nolan (Hong Kong Football Club) *

2. Alexander Harris (Kowloon RFC)

1. Andrew Li (Kowloon RFC)

Replacements

16. Thomas Bolland (Hong Kong Football Club) *

17. Alexander Ng (Pontypool RFC, Wales)

18. Ian Ridgeway (Hong Kong Football Club) *

19. Charles French (Hong Kong Cricket Club)

20. William Brant (Hong Kong Cricket Club) *

21.Timothy Alexander (Valley RFC)

22. Edward Haynes (Hong Kong Cricket Club) *

*  First caps

Head Coach: Dai Rees

United Arab Emirates Team not yet available

Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations: Test Rugby Day 1

10.12.2011
Brazil v Kenya in Dubai

Venue: The Sevens

Referee:

Preview
These two teams have never met before. This will be a most interesting encounter. South America’s up-and-coming team verses the Africa Cup holder.

This is the first time Brazil has played outside the Americas. Kenya travelled to Bahrain in 1995 to play in Rugby World Cup qualifying games.

Brazil is regarded as one of the up-and-coming teams in world rugby. They have a huge player base with new clubs emerging almost daily in this sport-made nation.

Kenya did well to defeat Tunisia to take out the Africa Cup for 2011. The victory was only slightly tainted by the fact that Namibia and Morocco no-showed

GWC Rugby Rankings
Do not apply yet but after this match both sides will enter the World Table.

IRB Ranking Points
Brazil 53.89, Kenya 50.19

Prediction: Brazil by 9 points

Teams

Kenya 2011 Africa Cup winners.

Kenya Squad
Edwin Achayo (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
Isaak Adimo (Kenya Harlequin FC)
David Ambunya (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Moses Amusala (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
Ken Andola (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
Calvins Biko (Nondescripts RUFC)
Lawrence Buyachi (Impala RFC)
Duncan Ekasi (Impala RFC)
Dennis Karani (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Humphrey Kayange (Mwamba RFC)
Daniel Kiptoo (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Curtis Lilako (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
David Mogere (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Vincent Mose (Impala RFC)
Matthew Musita (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
Antony Mutai (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Peter Mutai (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
Dennis Mwanja (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
Ronnie Mwenesi (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
Joel Ng’ang’a (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Anthony Nyandigisi (Impala RFC)
Brian Okwomi (Strathmore University RFC)
Kelvin Omiyo (Impala RFC)
Allan Omuka (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Vincent Ong’era (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Kevin Umbuge (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
Head Coach: Michael Otieno

Adapted from http://www.twitlonger.com/show/eibb3d

Image thanks to http://www.brasilrugby.com.br/

Brazil Squad

Felipe Claro (Sao Paulo Athletic Club)

Reges Comoreto (Desterro RC)

Lucas Croffi (Pasteur AC)

Mateus Daniel (São José RC)

Daniel Danielewicz (Desterro RC)

Henrique Dantas (São José RC)

Rafael Dawailibi (São José RC)

Jardel de Mendonça (Sao Paulo Athletic Club)

Lucas Duque (São José RC)

Moisés Duque (São José RC)

Júlio Figalo (Niterói RFC)

Eduardo Garcia (Bandeirantes RC)

Daniel Gregg (Niterói RFC)

Gustavo Krahembühl (Pasteur AC)

Danilo Lima (Rio Branco RC)

Diego Lopez (Pasteur AC)

Pedro Lopez  (São José RC)

Vitor Medeiros (Potiguar RC)

Julián Menutti (Bandeirantes RC)

Ramiro Mina (Bandeirantes RC)

Carlos Oliveira (São José RC)

Diogo Reno (São José RC)

Martin Schaefer (Rio Branco RC)

Nicholas Smith (Stockport RUFC, England)

Jardel Vettorato (Novo Hamburgo RC)

Felipe Zeni (Pasteur AC)

Head Coach: Rodrigo "Toto" Camardon

Adapted from http://www.brasilrugby.com.br/

Emirates Airline Cup of Nations Test Rugby Tournament

This is the last major international test rugby tournament for 2011 as far as I’m aware..

The teams involved are United Arab Emirates (hosts), Hong Kong, Brazil and Kenya.

Cross-continental test rugby tournaments are hopefully an idea that will spread. Bringing together like level teams from around the world is a great way for emerging nations to develop.

The Draw
10.12.2011
Brazil v Kenya in Dubai (Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations)
Hong Kong v United Arab Emirates in Dubai (Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations)

13.12.2011
Hong Kong v Kenya in Dubai (Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations)
Brazil v United Arab Emirates in Dubai (Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations)

16.12.2011
United Arab Emirates v Kenya in Dubai (Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations)
Brazil v Hong Kong in Dubai (Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations)

INTERNATIONAL TEST RUGBY RESULTS: 3 December

03.12.2011
Australia 24, Wales 18 in Cardiff
Solomon Islands 48, Vanuatu 20 in Port Moresby (Oceania Cup)
Papua New Guinea 36. Niue 7 in Port Moresby (Oceania Cup)

Briefly
Australia crashed Wales’ Shane Williams party by winning their test match 24-18 in front of a sell-out crowd. Shane Williams had the last say, scoring his 58th test try in the final play of the match.

Papua New Guinea retain the Oceania Cup. defeating Niue 36-7 in the final match. Solomon Islands finished off a very successful tournament with a 48-20 win over Vanuatu.

The future of Oceania rugby looks bright. These tournaments really need to have a future focus. The winners need more reward than just bragging rights. The results perhaps could go towards a Rugby World Cup qualifying  tournament.

TEST MATCH RUGBY: Australia v Wales

03.12.2011
Australia v Wales in Cardiff

Venue: Millennium Stadium

Referee:Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

Swansong for Shane Williams. Image thanks to terrynorm.ic24.net

Preview
This is the only major test match in the Northern Hemisphere following the great show that was the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Australia walked all over a disappointing Barbarians team last Saturday. Their disappointment of losing to New Zealand in the quarter final was offset by a 3 point win over Wales in the Playoff.

This match looms as a most enthralling encounter between these two teams. Australia defeated Wales in the 3rd-4th Playoff at the World Cup, ending an agonising Welsh campaign that saw them come close to playing New Zealand in the final. France defeated them by 1 point in a semi-final.

For Wales the match celebrates the career of brilliant winger Shane Williams. This will be his final test match.

Last Five Encounters
21.10.2011 Australia 21-18 in Auckland (World Cup, Playoff 3rd-4th)
06.11.2010 Australia 25-16 in Cardiff
28.11.2009 Australia 33-12 in Cardiff
29.11.2008 Wales 21-18 in Cardiff
15.09.2007 Australia 32-20 in Cardiff

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Australia 2nd, Wales 5th

IRB Ranking Points
Australia 87.42, Wales 80.18

Prediction: Australia by 10 points

Teams

Wales
15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Scott Williams, 12 James Roberts,
11 Shane Williams, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Tobias Faletau,
7 Samuel Warburton, Capt. 6 Daniel Lydiate, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Bradley Davies,
3 Scott Andrews, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements
16 Matthew Rees, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Ryan Jones, 19 Justin Tipuric,
20 Tavis Knoyle, 21 Daniel Biggar, 22 Alexander Cuthbert
Head Coach: Warren Gatland

Australia
15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Lachlan Turner, 13 Anthony Fainga'a, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 James O'Connor, 9 William Genia, 8 Benjamin McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Robert Simmons,
4 James Horwill, Capt. 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements
16 Stephen Moore, 17 Benjamin Alexander, 18 Nathan Sharpe, 19 Radike Samo, 20 Benjamin Lucas, 21 Benjamin Tapuai, 22 Nicholas Phipps
Head Coach: Robbie Deans

OCEANIA CUP RUGBY: Final Round

03.12.2011
Papua New Guinea v Niue in Port Moresby (Oceania Cup)
Vanuatu v Solomon Islands in Port Moresby (Oceania Cup)

Previews
Host nation PNG have dominated this tournament so far. Solomon Islands have been the dark horse to date, upsetting Niue in the first match and then pushing the hosts on day 2.

An unusual feature of these games has been the number of unconverted tries. On Day 2, only 1 of the 14 tries scored was converted.

Sadly not all of Oceania’s members fronted up to this tournament. Notable non attendees were Cook Islands, New Caledonia and Tahiti.

Excellent reviews can be found here
Day 1 http://www.oceaniarugby.com/111129_oceania_cup_png_and_solomon_islands_take_e.html/ref/267

Day 2
http://www.oceaniarugby.com/111201_oceania_cup_png_and_niue_win_round_2.html/ref/267

Onto todays games

Vanuatu v Solomon Islands in Port Moresby (Oceania Cup)

 

Previous Encounters
08.12.2007 Vanuatu 18-5 in Port Vila (FORU Oceania East)
29.07.2005 Solomon Islands 20-12 in Port Vila (WCQ Oceania R1, Pool A)
16.06.2001 Solomon Islands 11-3 in Honiara (WCQ Oceania 1B)

This Tournament
Vanuatu
v Papua New Guinea L 3-78
v Niue L 13-32

Solomon Islands
v Niue W 22-19
v Papua New Guinea L 15-33

GWC Rugby Rankings
Do not apply as neither teams played a test match in 2010

IRB Ranking Points
Solomon Islands 39.06, Vanuatu 34.77

Prediction
Solomon Islands by 40 points

Papua New Guinea v Niue in Port Moresby (Oceania Cup)

 

Previous Encounter
22.04.2008 PNG 46-27 in Paliati (FORU Oceania Cup Final)

This Tournament
Papua New Guinea
v Vanuatu W 78-3
v Solomon Islands W 33-15

Niue
v Solomon Islands L 19-22
v Vanuatu W 32-13

GWC Rugby Rankings
Do not apply. Only PNG is ranked

IRB Ranking Points
PNG 46.19, Niue 41.14

Prediction: PNG by 38 points