Tournament Briefs Corleto aims to burst Bok bubble

PARIS – South Africa’s belief in their invincibility could work in Argentina’s favour when they clash in a World Cup semi-final on Sunday, Pumas fullback Ignacio ‘Nani’ Corleto said.

Argentina will be playing the biggest game of their lives at the Stade de France (1900 GMT) against a Springbok side looking to reach the final for the second time since they won the trophy in 1995. Corleto said Argentina would look for chinks in the South African armour that might give the Pumas a chance of beating the Springboks for the first time.”They have perhaps that little weakness that they are so arrogant they think they can brush the world aside,” Corleto said on Wednesday.England can get even better: Catt PARIS – England’s surprise win over Australia in the World Cup quarter-finals was merited, but veteran centre Mike Catt believes there’s still room for improvement against France in Saturday’s semi-final.The 36-year-old World Cup-winning back admitted that while they had played a much more expansive game against the Wallabies, England had perhaps tried to be too ambitious.”Australia’s back three didn’t push up at all so we decided to run it which wasn’t exactly the tactics the coaches and us had planned prior to the match,” said Catt.Ellis happy to be in French ranks MARCOUSSIS – Defence coach Dave Ellis is the Englishman in France’s ranks who helped outwit the All Blacks in the quarter-final.Now he has turned his defensive radar on England in the World Cup final-four showdown on Saturday.The French team mustered up a staggering 178 tackles in the shock 20-18 win in Cardiff over tournament favourites New Zealand, part of a defensive effort that stymied the exciting All Blacks backline and outplayed its acclaimed backrow.”The planning in terms of everything worked out: defence, and attack as well,” Ellis said of the All Blacks game.Paris invasion set for semis LONDON – Trains and planes across the Channel are expected to be packed this weekend as hordes of England rugby fans head for Paris and a crunch World Cup semi-final clash with France.Tens of thousands of supporters are gearing up for the big day, hoping that by late Saturday night they will be partying down the Champs Elysee rather than drowning their sorrows and limping back home on the ferry.A last-minute scramble is underway for tickets to the match at the Stade de France in the northern suburbs of the French capital on Saturday evening, although those so who haven’t got one yet have few illusions.Nampa-Reuters and AFPCorleto said Argentina would look for chinks in the South African armour that might give the Pumas a chance of beating the Springboks for the first time.”They have perhaps that little weakness that they are so arrogant they think they can brush the world aside,” Corleto said on Wednesday.England can get even better: Catt PARIS – England’s surprise win over Australia in the World Cup quarter-finals was merited, but veteran centre Mike Catt believes there’s still room for improvement against France in Saturday’s semi-final.The 36-year-old World Cup-winning back admitted that while they had played a much more expansive game against the Wallabies, England had perhaps tried to be too ambitious.”Australia’s back three didn’t push up at all so we decided to run it which wasn’t exactly the tactics the coaches and us had planned prior to the match,” said Catt.Ellis happy to be in French ranks MARCOUSSIS – Defence coach Dave Ellis is the Englishman in France’s ranks who helped outwit the All Blacks in the quarter-final.Now he has turned his defensive radar on England in the World Cup final-four showdown on Saturday.The French team mustered up a staggering 178 tackles in the shock 20-18 win in Cardiff over tournament favourites New Zealand, part of a defensive effort that stymied the exciting All Blacks backline and outplayed its acclaimed backrow.”The planning in terms of everything worked out: defence, and attack as well,” Ellis said of the All Blacks game.Paris invasion set for semis LONDON – Trains and planes across the Channel are expected to be packed this weekend as hordes of England rugby fans head for Paris and a crunch World Cup semi-final clash with France.Tens of thousands of supporters are gearing up for the big day, hoping that by late Saturday night they will be partying down the Champs Elysee rather than drowning their sorrows and limping back home on the ferry.A last-minute scramble is underway for tickets to the match at the Stade de France in the northern suburbs of the French capital on Saturday evening, although those so who haven’t got one yet have few illusions.Nampa-Reuters and AFP