From the Touchline

A lighter look at what is happening at Rugby World Cup 2011.

The number

1 - There is one man among the 600 squad members at RWC 2011 who played at RWC 1999 but was missing in RWC 2003 and RWC 2007. That is Romania's Nicolae Dragos Dima. If he takes the field at RWC 2011, he will become the third player in history to appear in World Cup matches 12 years apart. The other two are Scotland's Alan Tait and Wales' David Young, who both played in 1987, missed 1991 and 1995 having moved to rugby league, only to return in 1999.

He said it

"Look at David Pocock. He is the form No.7 of the world at the moment, a master."
- All Black legend Josh Kronfeld does the unthinkable by suggesting an Australian is better than New Zealand's Richie McCaw.

Smoke signals

Japan coach John Kirwan had good and bad things to say of a photo published in newspapers yesterday showing him smoking a cigar with Zinzan Brooke in 1987 when they were selected to represent New Zealand in the inaugural Rugby World Cup.

"It's been a great journey for me, starting way back then, sharing a celebratory cigar with Zinny, to today representing the Japanese team and playing back in New Zealand, so long may it continue," he said.

But when asked if the photo was a good example for his charges 24 years later, he declared: "Put it this way, if the boys have a cigar for getting selected this week I probably wouldn't pick them next week."

Aw, shucks

Fresh-faced Pat Lambie almost blushed when a female reporter suggested the 20-year-old Springbok fly half was one of the pin-up boys of RWC 2011.

"No, no ... I've got a very nice girlfriend. I'm not worried about any of that at the moment," he blurted.

All together now, ladies: "Aw, isn't that sweet."

Late maturer

Like most teams, Italy's players have some fairly predictable nicknames and Castro (Martin Castrogiovanni), Borto (Marco Bortolami) and Leo (Leonardo Ghiraldini) are not the greatest examples of Latin wit.

However, one player with a more cryptic sobriquet is scrum half Fabio Semenzato, who is called 'Mozzarella' by his nearest and dearest. Thankfully, the name is not a dig at his foot-related hygiene.

"When he was very young he was very white-skinned, like a mozzarella cheese," revealed one insider. "From about 12 he got a bit more colour, but by then the nickname had stuck."

Trademark defiance

England prop Andrew Sheridan is apparently not intimidated by the big guns on or off the pitch.

The 2007 World Cup finalist, who is studying a sommelier's course, has designs on making his own wine one day.

But when asked how he would avoid a dispute over trademarks - since Sheridan’s is already the name of a popular liqueur - the man-mountain was not giving an inch.

“I’ll call it Chateau Margaux,” he said, referring to one of the most famous Bordeaux wines and prompting chuckles among the French reporters in Dunedin.

Mark my words

Australian livewire James O'Connor still has some time to spend on the naughty step, according to Wallaby legend Mark Ella.

The 21-year-old is still omitted from Robbie Deans' starting XV after being suspended for a breach of team discipline during the Tri Nations.

And former fly half Ella, 52, is fully supportive of leaving O'Connor on the bench.

"Deans has done the right thing and rewarded the players for their gutsy win a couple of weeks ago,” said Ella. “I think James O’Connor will be back but I’d make him work his way in rather than just giving him carte blanche.

“He’s still the No.1 goal-kicker, so that’s a consideration and you need that X-factor. James O’Connor is a player with the X-factor.”

Ella, arguably the man with more of the X-factor than any other Wallaby in history, never had the chance to light up a World Cup. He retired, aged just 25, three years before the 1987 tournament.

Wish you were here?

The players of South Africa and Wales have had a taste of what it's like to live in the world's only capital city located in the Roaring Forties.

Gusts of 72km per hour whipped across Wellington harbour on Thursday as the teams attempted to enjoy a day off.

The New Zealand Weather Bureau advises visitors to the city to wear three layers of clothing this weekend and a temperature of 9 degrees Celsius is forecast for Sunday, the night the Springboks take on Wales in the Wellington Regional Stadium.

For the record, Johannesburg should enjoy a pleasant high of 26 degrees on Sunday while those watching in Cardiff can expect a balmy 18 degrees.

Skinning the opposition

Rugby strip will take on a different meaning at an unofficial curtain-raiser to the opening Dunedin Rugby World Cup match between England and Argentina at Otago Stadium on Saturday.

One team - all men - will turn out naked while the other team - all female - have yet to declare their clothing intentions.

The Nude Blacks, formed 11 years ago, play the Barcelona-based Spanish Conquistadores, from the Santboiana Rugby Club, at Dunedin’s Kettle Park, with organisers hoping to break previous attendance records for what has become a regular feature before international rugby matches in the city.

Asked if players would be capped like their counterparts in RWC 2011, organiser Ralph Davies said: "There will be a ceremony where kit will be issued to the Nude Blacks: team socks, scarf and beanie."

Hauled over the Cole

England wing Delon Armitage is set to win his first World Cup cap against Argentina on Saturday, but some of his teammates are less than impressed with his on-screen debut in Dunedin.

Prop Dan Cole overheard Armitage describing him as “greedy” while speaking to a reporter on camera at the team hotel.

A hurt-looking Cole assessed Armitage’s performance as the wing walked off. “That was a very boring interview, wasn’t it,” he sulked.