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Check out what the rugby world is saying with our Quote Unquote feature
"If I wasn't playing for the All Blacks, if I was playing for Southland or maybe the Highlanders, maybe I'd have thrown a couple."
All Blacks scrum-half Jimmy Cowan owns up to a desire to come out swinging against England's merciless ball-killers at Twickenham November 30, 2008
"It has been the best four weeks of my life. To get that call to play against South Africa for my Test debut was something else."
Wales powerhouse Andy Powell will look back fondly on his first foray into Test rugby November 29 2008
"I was more nervous up there (on stage) than I was facing the haka yesterday!"
Wales winger Shane Williams speaking after picking up the IRB Player of the Year award at the IRB Awards ceremony in London. Nov 23, 2008
"Read the book, it's a good read apparently."
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen refuses to be drawn on claims in the book Seeing Red - a book detailing video analyst Alun Carter's nine-year association with the Wales Rugby Union in which he says Hansen organised the secret filming of a New Zealand training session six years ago while he was in charge of Wales. Nov 23, 2008
"They won this time but there will be revenge."
Argentina captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe issues a warning following his side's ill-tempered defeat to Ireland at Croke Park. Nov 22, 2008
"We don't like each other. They don't like us either. They're not totally at fault, at times we've given them reason not to like us. It's not one way, the trappiness. We're both passionate about rugby and it's not a bad thing to have teams who care about playing for their country."
Ireland's Donncha O'Callghan explains the ill-feeling between Ireland and Argentina following their latest clash in Dublin. Nov 22, 2008
"I didn't know when we were going to get started to be honest."
New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw recalls the haka 'stand-off' ahead of his side's clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium. Nov 22, 2008
"This is our stadium, our pitch, these are our fans and we were not going to give ground."
Wales skipper Ryan Jones reveals the intent behind Wales' stand-off with the All Blacks following the latter's performance of the haka at the Millennium Stadium. Nov 22, 2008
"Martin has a lot of character, I've a lot of time for him. He'll put his big chin out, take it on the chin and get on with it."
New Zealand coach Graham Henry has some words of support for under-fire England manager Martin Johnson. Nov 22, 2008
"Our aim is to be as good as we can be as quickly as we can. They've gone through three tough games and taken steps the whole way. This is another step. We have to go through it to get to where we want to be."
England manager Martin Johnson looks for positive following his side's mauling at the nads of the Springboks at Twickenham. Nov 22, 2008
"If I was in charge I would have put him in. The development of the England team and where they are at, I think you need someone in who has an iconic status for the coach's seat. He is different, he is very bright, very clever and he will pick things up very quickly. If he has the right coaching team around, sure, he'll do very well."
Former England boss Clive Woodward offers some support for the under-fire Martin Johnson. Nov 22, 2008
"When you're kicking, you try to zone out as many things as you can. It wasn't something that I took personally but I suppose it gives you a little bit more satisfaction when you do kick the goals."
Wallabies fly-half Matt Giteau reveals that instead of putting him off the 'boo-boys' at Twickenham inspired him to greater things. Nov 21, 2008
"Well it's nice to have a win but I think the occasion was more important than the win. It was a very special rugby occasion. They had a few guys away with the Irish side so for the other guys to step up and play with that sort of passion epitomises what this club is all about."
All Blacks coach Graham Henry pays tribute to the welcome his side were given both on and off the field at Thomond Park. Nov 19, 2008
"They gave it their all out there, they could have done it. They got to the stage where the crowd was helping them along like the 16th man and they nearly got there."
Former Munster and Ireland star praises the province's latest brave attempt to down the All Blacks following the tourists 18-16 win at Thomond Park. Nov 19, 2008
"I feel confident this role will provide an opportunity and challenge within one of the most passionately-supported rugby playing nations in the world. Just as it is in my hometown of Wigan, rugby in Wales is much more than a sport - it's a way of life."
Joe Lydon gets excited about his new role with the Welsh Rugby Union which will see him head up 'performance and development'. Nov 19, 2008
"For a rugby country such as New Zealand, one can only imagine how painful this defeat must have been...In the context of today's professional sport, Henry's dignity in defeat was a magnificent example of sportsmanship."
The International Committee for Fair Play (CIFP) general secretary Jean Durry praises the actions of All Blacks' coach Graham Henry following his side's 2007 Rugby World Cup exit - he made a beeline for France's dressing room to congratulate them - as he announced Henry as the recipient of the prestigious international fair play award. Nov 18, 2008
"Two referees would be good. I'm not blaming the referee for yesterday but the game has changed in so many ways. It's so much faster, there's so many more laws ... yet the one thing we haven't changed is the referee. He's still doing what he's always done. I think it might be time to look at saying, well, we might need two officials on the park."
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen calls a for a radical overhaul of officiating following his side's victory over Ireland. Nov 17 2008
"I apologised to the High Commissioner, John Dauth, as we sat watching the game and heard the noise when they lined up their first penalty. I wasted no time letting him know how sorry I was for what I regarded as very bad manners. They are letting England down. After the second Australian penalty, the noise gradually got worse. Real rugby supporters don't behave like that because they know it's wrong to show anything less than complete respect to the kickers from both sides."
Rugby Football Union President Brian Williams describes how he felt obliged to apologise for the treatment of Wallabies fly-half Matt Giteau at Twickenham. Nov 16 2008
"We know we always have the biggest challenge when international rugby is on."
London Wasps boss Ian McGeechan rues the absence of his international stars as his side taste defeat in the Premiership at the hands of Harlequins. Nov 16 2008
"It's a huge achievement to captain your country 50 times and it just shows the calibre of the guy. He leads by his actions and what he can do. He's a handful for anyone who he plays against. It's massive just to win 50 caps, never mind have 50 caps as captain."
All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw pays tribute to Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll ahead of their clash at Croke Park. Nov 15 2008
"It's difficult to explain how gutted we are at that, simply because of the amount of work that's gone in. I'm not just talking about last week, I'm talking behind the scenes, I'm talking over the years, the battle we've had since professionalism began to cling on to our place at the top table with our resources. It's a massive battle that we've faced over a last few years and I felt that, slowly but surely, we had been winning that battle."
An emotional Scotland coach Frank Hadden rues his side's missed chances following their narrow defeat to South Africa. Nov 15 2008
"It is the best way to ensure a high level of competition that will accelerate the development of young English players, coaches and referees, and Council decided that the journey should start as soon as possible. Clearly the league will not become fully professional overnight and there is much detail to be put in place but we look forward to doing so with stakeholders from First Division Rugby, the National Clubs Association [who represent levels three and four] and the Professional Rugby Players Association."
RFU chairman Martyn Thomas welcomes the RFU Council's backing for their National Leagues overhaul. Nov 15 2008
"Our team is very excited to be here today. We are looking forward to sharing our Olympic vision and setting out Rugby's unique attributes, which we firmly believe would make re-inclusion good for the Olympic Games and good for Rugby."
IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset presents rugby's case for re-inclusion in the Olympic Games to the IOC's Olympic Programme Commission in Lausanne, Switzerland. Nov 14 2008
"Nothing would happen before 2012 because they need that much time to get their house in order."
New Zealand Rugby Union Chief Executive Steve Tew dampens the Pumas' hopes of an immediate invite to join the Tri-Nations. Nov 13 2008
"New Zealand are the Tiger Woods of world rugby - they're the level that every team compares themselves to."
Ireland coach Declan Kidney talks up the All Blacks ahead of their meeting at Croke Park. Nov 13 2008
"Habana likes to talk himself up before games and then nothing happens. When you play as world champions, other teams will automatically lift their game. They are also aware of Habana. It's as if he is resting on his laurels."
Former Wallabies star David Campese lays into current Springboks' winger Bryan Habana. Nov 13 2008
"I was devastated for a moment. I wanted the ground to open up."
Wales' James Hook re-lives his gift of an interception that led to a a decisive try for South Africa's Jean de Villiers in their clash at the Millenium Stadium. Nov 13 2008
"I was devastated for a moment I wanted the ground to open up."
Wales' James Hook re-lives his gift of an interception that led to a a decisive try for South Africa's Jean de Villiers in their clash at the Millenium Stadium. Nov 13 2008
"My business is coaching, I'm like a player whose business is playing. We're professionals, we get all sorts of job offers, that's just the way it is," he said. "But for me right here, right now, my heart and soul is going into this campaign."
All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith plays down reports linking him to the Celtic League side Ospreys. Nov 13 2008
"The criticism doesn't really worry me. I've been a professional rugby player for coming up to 10 years now. I'm focusing on what I'm good at, which is playing rugby so I'm not reading the papers. It really hasn't affected how I'm preparing for this game."
Wallabies prop Al Baxter repsonds to the barrage of media criticism that he suffered in the build up to Australia's clash with England at Twickenham. Nov 12 2008
"I do get my photo taken. Public expectation has got to the extent now where you do worry about going out for a beer with your mates and you can't be yourself at some places at home. I tend to go to house parties and have a beer with your mates."
No, not England's Danny Cipriani but another No.10 with exciting potential - Australia's Berrick Barnes. Nov 11 2008
"The issue of the playing calendar is incredibly complex. It includes the requirements of the clubs, provinces and national Unions, the issue of separate playing seasons in two hemispheres, player welfare requirements, geographical and time zone considerations. Finding solutions that allow for growth, a balanced schedule and the promotion of meaningful matches has been a challenge."
IRB Chiarman Bernard Lapasset reveals that a return to traditional tours is in the offing in a bid to enhance the "meaning and value" of the problematic June window. Nov 11 2008
"The devil is in the detail. There is talk of salary caps, talk of minimum entry standards, the clubs haven't got any details about those. You would not sign business details without reading the small print would you?"
First Division Rugby Chief Executive Geoff Cooke joins the debate sparked by the RFU's announcement. Nov 10 2008
"We've laid out to the RFU Council our objections to these proposals and why we believe it would be asking our clubs to commit financial suicide. We don't understand why the RFU is in such a mad rush to try to force through a restructuring, particularly in such challenging economic times. ."
First Division Rugby Chairman Geoff Irvine doesn't take to kindly to the RFU's plans to re-structure English club rugby. Nov 10 2008
"For too long First Division Rugby has hovered between the community game and the Premiership, uncertain of both its standing in the structure and its future. Now is the time to establish its rightful place. The RFU is fully committed to funding and supporting a professional and robust league with minimum entry criteria and a salary cap that will support the Guinness Premiership."
RFU Management Board Chairman Martyn Thomas lays out the plan to re-vamp the English National Leagues. Nov 10 2008
"If I said what I thought I'd get fined"
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen leaves little doubt about how he rated referee Wayne Barnes' handling of their clash with Scotland. Nov 10 2008
"We've come a long way but we've got to win one of them."
Narrow losses are not good enough for Wales coach Warren Gatland who believes his side have to make a breakthrough against the southern hemisphere. Nov 9 2008
"They were chasing me, but my heart's in Australia."
Australia's Quade Cooper reveals some interest from the New Zealand Rugby Union following his debut for the Wallabies against Italy during which he scored the match-winning try. Nov 8 2008
"One of the best debuts I've ever seen. Delon was pretty outstanding."
England manager Martin Johnson - not renowned for handing out gushing compliments to individuals - heaps praise on debutant Delon Armitage following a sparkling display against the Pacific Islanders at Twickenham. Nov 8 2008
"Jason Robinson texted me before the match and that was a big lift. To have someone like him get in touch was great."
England's Delon Armitage reveals a pep talk from former Twickenham star Jason Robinson. Nov 8 2008
"We were definitely up to the task. I'm really proud that we stood up in front of 74,000 people and came out all guns blazing. Like brothers, they stood up together and they feel the heat together."
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers praises his side following their hard-fought victory over Wales . Nov 8 2008
"We had a bit of a rollocking, but that is a sign of how far we've come. Eighteen months ago, the boys would probably have been patting each other on the back and high-fiving each other after losing by just five points to a team like South Africa. We were told in no uncertain terms we should be disappointed with letting that one get away.
"That was the angriest I have seen Warren. He was very animated, and rightly so. When the top sides get chances, they put them away, and we didn't. We should be winning games like that one - we did everything bar score a try. At the key points, we weren't mature enough and we weren't clinical enough, so it is something we have got to get out of our game."
Wales' Martyn Williams offers an insight into their dressing room following their defeat to South Africa. Nov 8 2008
"Everyone will be able to imagine how frustrated we are after that afternoon. We seemed to dominate the territory and possession. We really turned up to play today and we played some good stuff. We created a lot of opportunities and won the line breaks nine to six but there's no denying that the All Blacks showed their class when it came to finishing."
Scotland coach Frank Hadden pays tribute to the All Blacks after they proved too good for his side at Murrayfield. Nov 8 2008
"I had a little bit of a brain explosion there."
New Zealand debutant Anthony Boric admits to a blatant infringement that saw him sent to the bin during the clash with Scotland at Murrayfield. Nov 8 2008
"I'm reasonably happy with that."
England manager Martin Johnson refuses to get carried away with his side's 39-13 victory over the Pacific Islanders. Nov 8 2008
"We don't take down the scrums, we try very hard to keep them up."
New Zealand coach Graham Henry is a little riled by an accusation that the All Blacks don't play by the rules. Nov 8 2008
"I think we are in a good place. Our coaching is some of the best I have been associated with. You are always learning. There are always situations you encounter every day which are new. You have that as a player and you have that as a manager."
England manager Martin Johnson is in positive mood ahead of their first clash of the autumn against the Pacific Islanders. Nov 8 2008
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