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The 'Still Playing Today' 2007 Rugby World Cup XV
With the recent retirement of All Blacks out-half Dan Carter, the list of players who competed at the 2007 World Cup and are still playing today has grown even slimmer. The legendary half-back was actually part of an even smaller group who also played in RWC 2003.
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That list is only made up of a handful of players, including Carter’s former All Blacks teammate and current Toulon centre Ma’a Nonu, who was actually overlooked by Graham Henry for the 2007 tournament.
With every season that now passes, the contingent that travelled to France in 2007 is declining and it has now reached a point where an XV of players who are still playing can just about be chosen:
1. GREG HOLMES (Australia)
The 37-year-old ex-Exeter Chiefs prop played two matches for Australia at the 2007 tournament. He is part of the Western Force squad in this year’s Super Rugby AU.
2. BISMARCK DU PLESSIS (South Africa)
The 36-year-old hooker came on from the bench in the 2007 final win for the Springboks. He is now playing for Montpellier in the Top 14.
The country-by-country breakdown in this Six Nations collection of oldies is revealing…
7 ???????, 5 ??, 1 ???????, 1 ???????, 1 ??#SixNations #WALvENG #ITAvIREhttps://t.co/sOQKBv6uK2
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 27, 2021
3. JANNIE DU PLESSIS (South Africa)
Bismarck’s 38-year-old brother was also on the bench in the 2007 final, although he didn’t come on. He also played for Montpellier but he returned to South Africa in 2020 to play for the Lions.
4. ALUN WYN JONES (Wales)
The 35-year-old is not just one of the few 2007 RWC players who are still playing, but he is also still playing Test rugby. Furthermore, he remains one of the first names on the Wales team sheet and this weekend he travels to Italy where his country will hope to take another step towards another Six Nations Grand Slam.
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5. VALENTIN URSACHE (Romania)
The 35-year-old Romania lock is still plying his trade in France’s Pro D2 with Oyonnax.
6. KANE THOMPSON (Samoa)
Although primarily a lock, the 39-year-old played all four matches for Samoa in 2007. He is now part of the New Orleans Gold squad for the upcoming Major League Rugby season.
7. JOE TEKORI (Samoa)
The 37-year-old Toulouse lock made his Samoa debut only months before the 2007 tournament. He played occasionally at flanker and is part of a sizeable back row in this ‘Still Playing Today’ team.
8. SERGIO PARISSE (Italy)
Still hoping for a possible international send-off with Italy, the 37-year-old – who has 142 caps – was also part of a group who played in the 2003 tournament.
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9. ANDY ELLIS (New Zealand)
The 37-year-old former All Blacks scrum-half is another MLR import having joined Rugby United New York after previously playing for the Kobelco Steelers in Japan.
10. LIONEL BEAUXIS (France)
The 35-year-old started for France in their legendary quarter-final win over the All Blacks in Cardiff. He is another member of the Oyonnax squad in Pro D2.
If you couldn't pick any of the current match-day team, who are the form picks?
Josh Raisey ??? has a go at choosing a XVhttps://t.co/lEqq1P7gO4
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 8, 2021
11. ISAIA TOEAVA (New Zealand)
Primarily now a centre with Toulon, the 35-year-old started on the wing for the All Blacks against Portugal at the finals in 2007.
12. TOBY FLOOD (England)
A replacement for Jamie Noon in 2007 who came off the bench for England in the final, the 35-year-old is still playing for Newcastle in the Premiership.
13. MATT GITEAU (Australia)
Another player who also played in 2003, the 103-cap 38-year-old recently signed for LA Giltinis in MLR.
14. ADAM ASHLEY-COOPER (Australia)
Another Australian centurion to sign for LA Giltinis in 2021, the 36 was at Austin Gilgronis last year.
15. FRANCOIS STEYN (South Africa)
He started at inside centre in the 2007 final as a 20-year-old and came off the bench in the final twelve years later. Now 33, he joined the Cheetahs in 2020 and still hasn’t made any announcement about his international future.
Finn Russell joins RugbyPass Offload EP 20 ?
We're joined by Scottish royalty this week!
Finn previews Scotland vs Ireland and gives us an insight into the Scotland camp ?
He also talks him & Gregor, the Lions Tour and his thoughts on England ?
?? – https://t.co/42nsDi8N6A pic.twitter.com/LCpcEzL81S
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 10, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
This sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
12 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
12 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
12 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
12 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
12 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
12 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to comments