Rugby World Cup 2007 – Players to Watch

Editor’s Note: This is part of Viator’s ongoing series of posts about the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Ian has been tipping his favorite teams in Pools A & B and Pools C & D, and will report on matches live from France later this year.

Every sport has them, those characters that seem larger than the game itself. You could be in a pub somewhere talking to a total stranger, and all they would have to say would be, “How about that Michael Schumacher?”, and you would instantly know that the topic of conversation has turned towards Formula One racing. Other names ring similar bells, and you can instantly associate David Beckham, Lance Armstrong or Mike Tyson with soccer, cycling or boxing…

Viator’s intrepid rugby expert, Ian

So who will be the Superstars of RWC07? Read on and familiarise yourself with some of those players who will be showing their wares at this year’s tournament. Some of them you may already know, some of them may just be new on the scene with a long career ahead of them, but whoever they are, you can guarantee they will set stadiums alight with every touch of the ball this September and October.

Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland) – “In BOD we trust”. You’ll see this motto splashed on the front of Irish supporters shirts at any of the Ireland games. The talismanic captain of Ireland is considered one of the best rugby talents Ireland has ever produced, and he can turn the flow of the game in the blink of an eye.

Sébastien Chabal (France) – “The Caveman” will be one of the instantly recognizable faces of France’s campaign, with his long hair and beard. He has a cult following both in France and also in England where he plays his club rugby. Don’t get in his way when he is running with the ball (as Ali Williams of New Zealand can readily attest, having received a broken jaw after colliding with the “Caveman’s” shoulder last month).

Bryan Habana (South Africa) – Habana is lethal. He has been timed as the fastest winger in South African rugby, and with his ability to score long-range tries, he will be one of South Africa’s most potent weapons in the RWC07. He is my tip to be the top try-scorer in the tournament.

Victor Matfield (South Africa) – Considered one of the best locks currently playing for any country in the world. His skill in the lineout will be a major asset in South Africa’s campaign to win the tournament.

Dan Carter (New Zealand) – Regarded as the best five-eighth in the world for the last few years, his form has been a little off in his last couple of games this month. It is a testament as to just how good he is when the All Blacks can still win and win well, when he is having a bad day at the office. A big hit with the female fans as well, but I suspect that is just because of the underwear modeling that he does on the side…

Jerry Collins (New Zealand) – Jerry “The Hitman” Collins is known for his fierce physicality, and many an opposition player has been knocked out after one of his bone-crunching tackles. Seeing his peroxided blonde head coming at you on the rugby pitch would strike fear into most players. And it is not every rugby player that gets a cocktail named after them either. The “Jerry Collins” is a New Zealand variation on the “Tom Collins”, and is made from “42 Below” Feijoa vodka (45 ml), Elderflower Cordial (15 ml), Fresh lime juice (20 ml) and Soda water.

Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand) – One of the Flying Fijians in the All Blacks, Josevata Rokocoko is FAST. He has broken all sorts of try-scoring records since he started his international career, and I’m predicting that “Go Joe” will be setting new records in this years Rugby World Cup.

Lote Tuqiri (Australia) – Lote has the capability of lighting up the stadium whenever he gets his hands on the pill. Personally, I think he is a bit over-rated as a winger, and is probably more well-known for the massive contract he signed with the Australian Rugby Union this season, rather than any recent sparkling form on the paddock. Still “Costa-Lote” could go well at the RWC, if his wallet doesn’t weigh him down.

Matt Giteau (Australia) – They call him “Kid Dynamite”. Known for his ability to create something out of absolutely nothing, Giteau is an exciting playmaker, whether he is playing at halfback, five-eighth, or his preferred position of inside centre. As Wallabies backs coach Scott Johnson said, “Matt could beat you in a phone booth!”?

Gavin Henson (Wales) – The pretty boy of the Welsh backline gets his name on the list here, mainly because of his hair (entire hair product companies owe their profit margin to Gavin). And with his good-looking pop-star girlfriend, Charlotte Church, they are like the Welsh version of the Beckhams… Plus, he is a pretty handy rugby player…

James Hook (Wales) – James Hook is an up-and-coming player to look out for. This will be his first Rugby World Cup, but judging on his performances so far since he has emerged onto the Welsh rugby scene, he will be around for a long, long time…

Lawrence Dallaglio (England) – One of the elder statesmen of English rugby, hard-man Dallaglio has come out of international retirement to have another crack at making England’s squad. A lot of commentators are saying he is past his prime, but having been part of England’s 2003 World Cup winning team, his experience as to what it takes to win the tournament will be invaluable.

Johnny Wilkinson, MBE, OBE (England) – Famous for “that drop goal” in the 2003 World Cup, where he broke the hearts of 20 million Australians in extra time, Johnny has been plagued by injuries ever since, and has only played a few minutes or rugby here and there since the last 2003 world cup. However, his dedication and persistence to overcome these injuries has seen him named in England’s preliminary squad for this year’s tournament. England will be hoping he can capture some of the form that he showed four years ago.

Felipe Contepomi (Argentina) – A brilliant attacking five-eighth or centre, Contepomi has racked up more than 50 test caps for Argentina. He currently plays for the Leinster club in Ireland, and if Argentina go well in this tournament, a large part of their success will be because of his kicking boot.

Brian Lima (Samoa) – If he gets selected for the Samoa squad for this RWC, then “The Chiropractor” will be setting a record by becoming the first player to have played in five World Cups (spanning sixteen years), a feat which no other player has ever accomplished.

So, what do you think? Are any of of the above Superstars going to be your Player of the Tournament? And who have I missed that you think should be on this List of Legends?

- Ian Frentz