“We were eight minutes short. We lacked concentration, fitness and technique towards the end.”
– Romania coach Romeo Stefan Gontineac is disappointed after seeing his side lose a three-point lead late in the match in a 34-24 Pool B defeat by Scotland.
“We played great rugby. We did not have anything to lose. We qualified for the World Cup out of nowhere, so we used it to our advantage. We enjoyed ourselves.”
– Oaks captain Marius Tincu is content after the underdogs produced a display full of courage and good rugby, despite the loss at Rugby Park Stadium.
“The match goes for 80 minutes, which is what you have got to play for.”
– Scotland head coach Andy Robinson (ENG) kept his cool – even though his team were trailing the Romanians 24-21 in the 67th minute in Invercargill.
“I’m fairly critical of myself. It would have been nice to score a hat-trick.”
– Wing Simon Danielli scored two tries for the Scots, but he wanted more.
“We kept on fighting, we can be proud of the tries on the field today.”
– Namibia centre Piet Van Zyl sees hope for his team after a battling second-half performance in the 49-25 Pool D loss to Fiji at Rotorua International Stadium.
“We have to make sure the guys keep expressing themselves on the field and play the rugby that we want to play. If that’s the free-flowing rugby we’re accustomed to, then so be it.”
– Fiji captain Deacon Manu expects his teammates to continue playing attacking rugby when they line up against reigning champions South Africa next Saturday at Wellington Regional Stadium.
“There are a lot of people back home supporting us today. They’ll all be happy, especially my mother and father. My mum is my biggest fan.”
– Fiji’s four-try hero, Vereniki Goneva, knows he’s in the good books of the people who matter most.
“It’s going to be a war. No doubt about that. They’ve got to win, we’ve got to win. So it’s one of those knife-edge games.”
– Canada defence coach Clive Griffiths (WAL) believes his team will face an almighty scrap against Tonga in their opening Pool A match on Wednesday 14 September at Northland Events Centre in Whangarei.
“We don’t play the All Blacks, so we’re not worried about what’s going on there. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
– Australia captain James Horwill might not be interested in discussing New Zealand right now, but is anticipating a clash in the near future.
“We don’t want to talk too much about that win over France. It was a great win and an historic occasion for Italian rugby, but we have to put it behind us.”
– Italy skipper Sergio Parisse is not interested in reliving past glories, including their historic 22-21 Six Nations victory over France this year.
“I think the girls were pretty rapt about that.”
– New Zealand scrum half Piri Weepu obviously heard the screams of delight from the Eden Park stands after teammate Sonny Bill Williams’ shirt was ripped during his side’s 41-10 win over Tonga on Friday.