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☆ Ardie Savea named best rugby player of the year
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Final - New Zealand v South Africa - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - October 28, 2023 New Zealand's Ardie Savea in action with South Africa's Jean Kleyn REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 29 (Reuters) - New Zealand loose forward Ardie Savea was named World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year on Sunday, despite ending up on the losing side in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final. Savea was chosen ahead of Irish centre Bundee Aki, South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth and France captain Antoine Dupont, who won the award two years ago. Savea is the 11th All Black to win the award, which was first introduced in 2001. His award comes after a stellar season in which he helped New Zealand to win the Rugby Championship and a place in the World Cup final, which they lost 12-11 to the Springboks on Saturday. Ireland’s Andy Farrell was chosen as World Rugby Coach of the Year while All Blacks winger Mark Tele'a won the award for Breakthrough Player of the Year.

Persons: Denis, Africa's Jean Kleyn REUTERS, Sarah Meyssonnier, Savea, Bundee Aki, Eben Etzebeth, Antoine Dupont, Black, Ireland’s Andy Farrell, Mark Tele'a, Mark Gleeson, Clare Fallon Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, Stade de France, Saint, Africa's, Rights, Saturday’s Rugby, New Zealand, Rugby Championship, Springboks, All Blacks, Thomson Locations: Zealand, South Africa, France, Saturday’s, New

☆ Springbok hooker Mbonambi cleared to play in World Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

World Rugby were subsequently asked to review a similar incident in a match between the two teams in London last year. "Any allegation of discrimination is taken extremely seriously by World Rugby...," it said in a statement. World Rugby added that it accepted that Curry made the allegation in good faith, "and that there is no suggestion that the allegation was deliberately false or malicious." "World Rugby is also concerned by the social media abuse that both players have been subjected to this week. There is no place in rugby or society for discrimination, abuse or hate speech, and World Rugby urges fans to embrace the sport’s values of respect, integrity and solidarity."

Persons: Rassie Erasmus, Lorraine O'sullivan, Bongi Mbonambi, Tom Curry, Mbonambi, Curry, Tom Curry’s, Siya Kolisi, Kolisi, Nick Said, Jason Neely, John Stonestreet Organizations: Aviva, REUTERS, Rights, Saturday’s Rugby, Rugby, England, Springbok, New Zealand, South Africa, World Rugby, Rugby Football Union, RFU, Springboks, Twickenham, Thomson Locations: Africa, Ireland, South Africa, Dublin, New, Paris, London, Mbonambi

☆ All Blacks tweak team with one change for World Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

All Blacks coach Ian Foster changed his lock combination again with Brodie Retallick restored to the lineup and Sam Whitelock returning to the list of replacements in the only change to the starting team. New Zealand believe the 35-year-old Whitelock, playing his third World Cup final, is most effective coming off the bench, and could bring an injection of energy at a time when South Africa are refreshing their forwards. Six of New Zealand's matchday squad for the game are previous World Cup winners and the 23-man team has a collective total of 1,387 caps, making it the most experienced All Blacks squad for any of their record five World Cup finals appearances. "We've woken up this week to find ourselves in a World Cup final and we've worked to deal with all the distractions. They (South Africa) are great at their style, we want to be great at ours," added Foster.

Persons: Zealand's Brodie Retallick, Paul Childs, Ian Foster, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Whitelock, Retallick, Scott Barrett, Barrett, Nepo Lualua, Fletcher Newell, Foster, Sam Cane, We've, we've, Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Telea, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Shannon Frizell, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Nepo Laulala, Dalton Papalii, Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert, Mark Gleeson, Ken Ferris Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, Groupama, REUTERS, Blacks, Kiwis, Saturday’s Rugby, South, Springboks, Ireland, Argentina, New, Foster . New Zealand, Brown, Thomson Locations: Zealand, Italy, Lyon, France, South Africa, MALMAISON, Foster . New

☆ Springbok forwards know the stakes after final selection gamble
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PRESLES COURCELLES, France, Oct 26 (Reuters) - South Africa’s forwards know any successful outcome of Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final depends on how they dominate New Zealand upfront after the Springboks made a surprise selection gamble for the clash at the Stade de France. "It's going to come down to the forwards," said prop Steven Kitshoff, one of 15 players who were in South Africa's victorious World Cup final squad in Japan four years ago and who starts on Saturday. "We all know the brand and style that the All Blacks play and how dynamic they can be, but for us it’s all about work rate, the scrum battle, the lineout mauling. "It’s always big to play against the All Blacks, but to do so in a World Cup final is like a dream," he said. "I think for a player to play in a game like this, I don’t think it’s ever going to be any bigger.

Persons: Steven Kitshoff, Faf de Klerk, Cheslin Kolbe, Kwagga Smith, we've, De Klerk, Bok, Siya Kolisi, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Saturday’s Rugby, Springboks, Stade de France, New Zealand, Twickenham, Blacks, Ireland, All Blacks, Thomson Locations: COURCELLES, France, New Zealand, South Africa's, Japan, England

☆ Iconic All Blacks prepare to exit stage left but no time for sentiment
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

“We know that it’s the last game for some pretty iconic players but, quite frankly, we don't really want to talk too much about that. He was overlooked for selection for a second successive week with Foster picking Samisoni Taukei’aho as back up hooker instead. Telling Coles he would not get another chance to play for the All Blacks was hard for the coach. For Retallick, who has 108 caps, the chance to end his All Blacks career in a World Cup final was the ultimate. "You can’t put into words what it’s like being in World Cup final.

Persons: Ian Foster, Dane Coles, Brodie Retallick, Aaron Smith, Sam Whitelock, ” Retallick, Smith, Whitelock, Coles, Foster, Samisoni Taukei’aho, ”, “, “ He’s, He's, ” Foster, Scott Robertson, “ I’ve, Mark Gleeson, Ken Ferris Organizations: Rugby, Blacks, Stade de France, All Blacks, Thomson Locations: MALMAISON, France, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Pau

☆ Battered Basham on the bench for Wales against South Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CARDIFF, Aug 16 - Wing Alex Cuthbert and centre Johnny Williams return to the starting XV for Wales as they look to match South Africa’s physicality in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup warm-up clash in Cardiff, while loose-forward Taine Basham will be on the bench. A stringent three stage protocol was followed and Basham was given the all-clear this week. Hardy will have experienced flyhalf Dan Biggar alongside him, while Mason Grady partners Johnny Williams in the midfield. Elliot Dee is the starting hooker with rookie props Corey Domachowski and Keiron Assiratti either side of him. "We’re expecting confidence and physicality from South Africa.

Persons: Alex Cuthbert, Johnny Williams, Taine Basham, Basham, England flyhalf Owen Farrell, Farrell, Scrumhalf Kieran Hardy, Warren Gatland, Hardy, Dan Biggar, Mason Grady, Liam Williams, Cuthbert, Rio Dyer, Jac Morgan, Dan Lydiate, Aaron Wainwright, Ben Carter, Will Rowlands, Elliot Dee, Corey Domachowski, We’re, there’s, ” Gatland, Kieran Hardy, Sam Parry, Nicky Smith, Henry Thomas, Teddy Williams, Tomos Williams, Max Llewellyn, Cai Evans, Nick Said Organizations: CARDIFF, Wales, Rugby, England, ” Wales, Twickenham, . Wales, Thomson Locations: Cardiff, South Africa

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