Wednesday, September 21

Fear of failure drives France and New Zealand - The Guardian - Graham Henry's All Blacks actually have the greater incentive to lose on Saturday. Not that they would ever entertain the thought

Samoa's Fuimaono-Sapolu just doesn't know when to stop - The Daily Mail - Controversial tweeter Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu has escaped IRB punishment for comparing his team's fixture list to the Holocaust, slavery and apartheid.

Mighty minnows - Sky Sports - James Gemmell praises the rugby from the smaller nations and looks ahead to the key games in round two

Consiracy theories wide of mark - Scrum.com - "The smaller nations are getting a raw deal but suggestions that it is to minimise upsets and preserve the status quo are rubbish," writes John Taylor

Intriguing Rugby World Cup contests - New Zealand Herald - Nervous, nervous, nervous. Forget the Webb Ellis - this is our Rugby World Cup. Just kidding, but Saturday night's game has an aura beyond all others. There is an assumption that all those dastardly past injustices will be put right.

The Cobus Visagie column - Planet Rugby - In this week's exclusive column, former Springbok prop Cobus Visagie highlights the importance of scrums at the World Cup.

Chasing the All Black dream - BBC - Ben Dirs discovers how a NZ school fosters future All Blacks stars...and the odd England one

Martin Johnson's Poor Defense - Daily Star - Only a fool would pick an argument with Martin Johnson, but, hey-ho, here goes

Welcome to the fly-half factory - Scrum.com - "Christchurch was robbed of a starring role at the World Cup but it will still have a say in the destiny of the title." Graham Jenkins visits Christchurch Boys' High School

England searching for another gear - BBC - England unconvincing despite Georgia win, says Ben Dirs

Ireland's greatest Test win? - BBC - Ireland 'sensational', Australia 'ambushed', says Alastair Eykyn

France's Maxime Mermoz hopes to be frequent flyer - The Guardian - Maxime Mermoz's France career has been hampered by serious injuries but this graceful centre wants to lose his fragile tag against New Zealand on Saturday

French B team? Far from it - New Zealand Herald - Expand Marc Lievremont. Photo / Getty ImagesApparently France coach Marc Lievremont has lost the plot because after four years of experimentation he still doesn't know his best team. Mad man that he is - he's selected Morgan Parra to play at first five. Imagine that...a coach reaching a World Cup and mucking about with his selections.

Tindall personifies everything that is wrong with England's attack at RWC - The Telegraph - England are struggling to break down the best defences in the world due to a lack of explosive game-breakers in key attacking positions.

I was petrified but at the same time relishing the adrenaline coursing through my veins - London Evening Standard - This week we have been based in Queenstown, a resort town in the Otago Mountains which prides itself on being the extreme sports capital of the world. We were given the day off on Monday and myself and Simon Shaw, Nick Easter, James Haskell, Dylan Hartley, Chris Ashton and Ben Foden took on the Awesome Foursome. This is a day of high adrenaline activities starting with a helicopter ride through a canyon, then rafting back down the river rapids.

Breakdown battle - Sky Sports - Dean Ryan looks at the most influential position at the World Cup and praises Ireland's coaching team

Zara is all smiles as she arrives in New Zealand - The Daily Mail - Wearing a little black dress and a wide smile, Zara Phillips seemed not to have a care in the world as she appeared at a charity fashion show in New Zealand today. The Queen's granddaughter has reunited with England rugby captain Mike Tindall, who is currently training for a World Cup match against Romania on Saturday, after footage emerged of his antics with a mystery blonde just seven weeks into their marriage