Victor Vito hopes a few coffee dates with the injured Kieran Read will hold the key to him making the New Zealand No.8 jersey his own.
Fabio Semenzato, Tommaso Benvenuti and Tommaso D'Apice are three of Italy's new faces determined to make their mark at World Cup 2011.
England believe rising star Manu Tuilagi is a rare talent who has the ability to change the course of a game - and could become one of the sport's great players.
Despite a firm directive to referees to clamp down on breakdown transgressions, Wales are still having sleepless nights over South Africa's master poacher Heinrich Brussow.
Bath supremo Ian McGeechan paid tribute to his coaching team Martin Haag and Brad Davis after an impressive opening 22-9 win at Newcastle.
Wasps' new director of rugby Dai Young was delighted with the attitude of his players after their victory over Saracens at Twickenham.
Richard Cockerill refused to blame the mass of Leicester absentees due to injury and the World Cup as his side went down to Exeter on Saturday.
Worcester coach Richard Hill celebrated a winning return to the Premiership but said he was disappointed by the number of errors against Sale.
Hawke's Bay ensured they will play in the Premiership division next year, after the Magpies scored a nail-biting 35-30 win over Manawatu in the NPC Championship Final in Palmerston North on Sunday.
Senior members of the World Cup favourite All Blacks on Sunday denied that their Achilles heel was an inability to switch tactics mid-game if things are not going their way.
If the All Blacks end a 24-year drought and lift the World Cup on October 23, then the unglamorous club of Nottingham in England will have reason to celebrate their role in the success.
Sex workers in New Zealand expect to be rushed off their feet as 95,000 sports fans arrive for the World Cup, with brothels across the country doubling condom orders for the tournament.
International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset declared New Zealand ready Sunday to host an "extraordinary" World Cup despite questions about the tournament make-up and unsold tickets.
South Africa's players have carefully sidestepped the bait laid out by Welch coach Warren Gatland, just a week ahead of their opening encounter at the World Cup.
The Rugby World Cup 2011 referees have arrived in New Zealand and will be in peak physical condition for the World Cup, thanks to an innovative physical monitoring and conditioning programme.
