Planet Rugby

Gallaher honoured: New Zealand dedicated their stunning 47-3 win over France in Lyon on Saturday night to the Donegal-born former All Black Dave Gallaher.

The match fell on Armistice Day and the management and team considered it an appropriate gesture to remember Gallaher, who died at Passchendaele in 1917.

Gallaher led the All Blacks on their first tour to France and they also dedicated the victory to the other 12 All Blacks who fell in World War 1.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry said: "We as management are exceptionally proud of the way the boys performed today.

"They performed for their country and for the people who lost their lives in two world wars. They showed great courage and backbone and I'm sure the country is proud of them too."

Every one else in world rugby is probably just plain scared of them following their demolition of the Six Nations champions. It will be interesting to see what happens when the teams meet again next Saturday in Paris.

As of now, next year's World Cup is already looking like a potential "Blackwash".

Namibia first up

Ireland's first opponents in the World Cup will be Namibia, who qualified on Saturday by following up their 25-7 first-leg triumph over Morocco in Windhoek with a 27-8 victory over the same opposition in Casablanca.

Namibia became the 16th of 20 teams to qualify for the 2007 World Cup, and their reward is to be grouped with France, Argentina, Ireland and a yet-unidentified European qualifier.

Namibia will play Ireland on September 9th.

Their win over Morocco might have been harder had the home side not been reduced to 14 men after the sending off of captain Jalil Narjissi after 39 minutes following a dangerous tackle on Jaques Burger when the scores were tied at three-all.

Morocco must play either Portugal or Georgia for a chance to take on Uruguay for the first repechage qualifying place.

White's coke habit

Our thanks to Clinton van der Berg and Simnikiwe Xabanisa for this interesting aside in their humorous look at the world of rugby in the South African Sunday Times.

"Last week we revealed that Springbok coach Jake White drinks brandewijn and diet coke. This week we'll tell you how it came to be. A few years ago when White was a Transvaal schools selector, he visited a trial in the Platteland.

"He was asked by the teachers: 'Wat wil oom drink?'(What would you like to drink, sir?) His reply: "n bier asseblief.' (Beer, please).

"Then he was told: 'Daar's geen bier, oom, net brandewijn en coke of brandewijn en water.' (There's no beer, sir, just brandy and coke or brandy and water)."

Useful phrases there perhaps for those planning to visit South Africa in the near future.

Richie worth a punt

This column likes a punt and despite his 26 points against England and his obvious stellar qualities we feel the bookmakers Ladbrokes may be a little wide of the mark in making Dan Carter an odds-on favourite to win rugby's World Player of the Year for a second successive year.

We'd favour a few euro on Richie McCaw, but it's definitely between the two Kiwis.

Just a note of caution: there are very few bookmakers riding pedal cycles, but this time they might have got it wrong.

Ladbrokes betting on the IRB World Player of the Year: 2 to 5 Dan Carter, 7 to 2 Richie McCaw, 6 to 1 Paul O'Connell, 16 to 1 Chris Latham, 25 to 1 Fourie Du Preez .

Rugby speak

"Firstly, the swirling wind is a hooker's nightmare, dogleg left and dogleg right, depending on which side you are throwing in from. Secondly, for the calls it's a nightmare because the crowd, unlike other grounds, is right on top of you so the noise is infernal and you have to get your calls to the first three players in the lineout - no-one else can hear."

- South African captain and hooker John Smit before Saturday's Test at Lansdowne Road. He'll no doubt be an enthusiastic supporter of the redevelopment.