Canada and Japan team announcements for their 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool A test at McLean Park in Napier on September 27 at 5pm. This will be Japan’s last game at the tournament and their last chance for the win that has so far eluded them. They had also targeted the Tonga game, but lost to in Whangarei. By winning Canada would most likely finish third in Pool A, giving them automatic entry into the next Rugby World Cup. They will play pool leaders the All Blacks on Sunday.

Pool A: Tues Sept 27 17.00 Canada v Japan Napier McLean …

Tonga and Japan team announcements for their 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool A test at Northland Events Centre in Whangarei on September 21 at 7:30pm. Both teams are yet to register a win in this year’s tournament, so this shapes as a pivotal match. John Kirwan has been very vocal about his team’s goal to win two matches at the World Cup, which means winning against Tonga then Canada.

Pool A: Wed Sept 21 19.30 Tonga v Japan Whangarei Northland Events Centre

Tonga Team to Play Japan:

15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 13 Siale Piutau, 12 Alipate Fatafehi, 11 …

UPDATE: Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Mils Muliaina have been scratched from the team due to injury. Israel Dagg also unavailable due to injury.

Richie McCaw becomes first All Black to play 100 tests

New Zealand and Japan team announcements for their 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool A test at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Friday at 8pm. The All Blacks have not played the Brave Blossoms since the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which resulted in a record 145-17 thrashing of Japan. However, the gap has closed considerably since then, with Japan having a much more professional set up and players. …

Schedule and results from the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

The 2011 tournament is contested by rugby teams from Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Namibia, New Zealand, Romania, Russia, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga, USA and Wales.

Friday September 9

20.30 New Zealand 41 v Tonga 10 POOL A Auckland Eden Park

Saturday September 10

13.00 Scotland 34 v Romania 24 POOL B Invercargill Rugby Park Stadium
15.30 Fiji 49 v Namibia 25 POOL D Rotorua Rotorua International Stadium
18.00 France 47 v Japan 21 POOL A North Shore North Harbour Stadium
20.30 …

France and Japan team announcements for their 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool A test at North Harbour Stadium on Auckland’s North Shore.

New Zealander Ryan Nicholas, former Tauranga Boys’ College student gets to play on his home soil for Japan in their opening World Cup match.

Pool A:
Sat Sept 10 18.00 France v Japan North Shore North Harbour Stadium

FranceRugby Team to Play Japan:

15 Cedric Heymans, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Fabrice Estebanez, 11 Maxime Médard, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Raphael Lakafia, 7 Imanol Harinordoquy, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Julien Pierre, 4 …