A selection of the best quotes from Rugby World Cup 2011 on Saturday, 3 September.
“Between us we have many moments of fun. We have Agustín Gosio, who is a very good singer and plays guitar. His favourite to play is I’m Yours by Jason Mraz.”
– Argentina’s Gonzalo Tiesi reveals how Los Pumas relax together away from the game.
”Rugby is like a sponge. It’s constantly soaking up knowledge acquired from other sports and other fields. Other sports tend to stay the same but rugby is ever-developing.”
– Veteran England second row Simon Shaw reflects on how the game has changed.
”I’m not telling them how to do things. I’ve never been one to tell other guys how to play. Plus, what am I going to say? Telling them things I learned from playing 10 years ago is completely irrelevant.”
– Shaw (ENG) may have played his first international in 1996 but, to him, experience is not everything.
“If you haven’t got the skills you have to outwork somebody and we want to do that. You have to work your guts out.”
– They may be RWC minnows but Namibia captain Jacques Burger understands the commitment needed.
“We’re not targeting one team to beat, we just want to win a game.”
– Burger (NAM) is hopeful his team can score a maiden RWC victory at this tournament.
”They’re so passionate, the Argentines. They’re going to go to the 80th minute. If you don’t get quick ball, or you don’t slow their ball down, they can be dangerous so that’s a focus for us.”
– England defence coach Mike Ford on the challenge facing his team in their first match.
”You can already feel it. The city of Auckland is buzzing and you realise as you step off the plane that this is a World Cup and it’s going to be great.”
– Hooker Lee Mears (ENG) gets into the World Cup vibe.
”Every World Cup is different and this one will not be like four years ago. I discovered world-class rugby first-hand last time and some of the experience was painful.”
– Japan centre Yuta Imamura recalls a tough RWC debut.
“I cut my hair just before I left Japan. I hadn’t cut it for a year, I wanted to feel lighter. Maybe I can run faster – no resistance.”
– Flanker Itaru Taniguchi (JPN) will try everything he can to improve his performance at RWC 2011.
”Such ceremonies make us love the people of New Zealand, make us love rugby. This country is where rugby is at home.”
– France manager Jo Maso feels a little love at the welcoming ceremony.
“They’re really tough. I broke my jaw in the first minute the first time I played them, so I know they’re a pretty physical side.”
– An individual insight into their first-round match from Wales captain Sam Warburton.