From the Touchline

A look at the lighter side of Rugby World Cup 2011.

The numbers

2 - On Friday, Papua New Guinea-born Will Genia will captain Australia and Australia-born Tim Usasz will captain USA in the first RWC match featuring two foreign-born captains since 1999 (Samoa v Japan).  

16 - On Saturday, England's Jonny Wilkinson will make his 16th start at fly half in a RWC match, a competition record for starts in that position, beating the 15 registered by Australia's Michael Lynagh.  

He said it

“I always look fairly angry - on a good day."
Asked at a press conference why he appeared so furious when speaking about his team's performance against Georgia, England manager Martin Johnson suggests he may be a tricky poker opponent.   

Family Matters  

All Blacks coach Graham Henry is never short of advice when it comes to matters of rugby, but there are some armchair experts he actually listens to.

He says his mother has just one recommendation ahead of Saturday's clash with France: "Win."  

"It's harder on mums and wives than it is on the people who are involved in the job, because they've got no control over it and they've got probably more time to worry about it," Henry said.

"She worries about her little boy! She is quite emotional about those things."  

As for his own three offspring, Henry revealed that one had delivered some unexpected feedback about Ireland's victory over Australia.  

"My eldest son went to the game, I rang him the next day and he said it was an outstanding occasion - probably the best sporting occasion he's ever been to. I thought, 'Well, that's an interesting statement from a New Zealander'."  

Did he personally enjoy Australia's defeat?  

"I thought it was a particularly good game of footy. I enjoyed watching the game."

Captain Castro

Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni was able to celebrate his 80th appearance by captaining the Azzurri for the first time towards the end of the 53-17 win over Russia on Tuesday.  

The front rower took over from Sergio Parisse when the number 8 went off around the hour mark, but he had to find a unique way to overcome his initial nerves and help his side see out the match.  

“For a moment I thought I must have been the most stupid captain in the history of Italy, but then I remembered that Fabio Ongaro had also been captain and I told myself that there had been at least one worse than me,” 'Castro' said after the match.  

“Joking aside, I feel honoured and delighted, even if I don’t have the intelligence to do the job for more than 20 minutes.”

Threw a glass darkly  

One hapless photographer pushed things just a little too far as he strove to get the perfect shot at a South Africa press conference in Auckland.  

Crawling up to the edge of the table where scrum half Francois Hougaard was seated, the lensman attempted to stack several water glasses for an artistic shot - only to knock them over and spill Hougaard’s water all over himself.  

Refusing to compromise his creativity, the damp photographer patiently restacked the glasses and got the picture he was after.  

An unimpressed Hougaard was left to pour himself another glass.

Scrums, hems and haws

Scotland hooker Ross Ford caused a few chuckles during a team press conference when it was put to him that many people these days are confused about the scrum.  

“Half the time I’m the same,” he said with a laugh.  

The game they play in the heavens

Australia's "Mr Rugby" Gordon Bray does not usually restrict his TV commentaries to merely what he sees on the pitch.  

But his background colour when Russia took on Italy at Trafalgar Park, Nelson, was from another orbit entirely.  

His prize obscure fact of the evening was the revelation that Russia's list of famous rugby enthusiasts included none other than cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space.  

Research reveals that Gagarin was so keen on the game that he insisted it be played at the Gagarin Academy, the military college that took his name after his successful flight into the cosmos in 1961.  

There is no evidence to prove, however, that he was a particular fan of the floated pass or even the grubber kick into space.  

Spooning with George

As a teenager playing on the world stage, you would think Wales wing George North has enough weight on his shoulders.  

But as the youngest member of his 30-man squad, he is also entrusted with carrying its 'mascot', a beautifully carved piece of wood that is about one metre long and hangs from a cord around his neck.  

“It’s a traditional Welsh love spoon,” explained the 19-year-old.  

“It was carved by a man from a single piece of timber, to give to the woman he loves. Different parts have different meanings: there are chain links, to indicate the bonds within the touring party, there’s the Welsh dragon, a harp because music is so much a part of Welsh culture, and a daffodil which is so much a part of Welsh national day celebrations.”  

Quite an honour then? 

“It’s a good conversation starter,” he said. “But it is awkward to carry around.”