Notebook

Practice helps Quesada lead all scorers

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Posted: Monday October 11, 1999 03:20 PM

Despite his lack of quality kicking time, Gonzalo Quesada leads the World Cup scorers' standings with 45 points. Clive Mason/Allsport

LONDON (AP) -- All but five of Argentina's 50 points in two World Cup games have come from the boot of Gonzalo Quesada -- thanks to a little bit of extra practice.

Due to the demands of his studies and his work for a cosmetics company, the 25-year-old fly-half says he only get one hour, one day per week to practice his kicking.

Despite his lack of quality kicking time, he still leads the World Cup scorers' standings with 45 points.

Quesada says his recent success is due to the fact he's been able to practice more frequently on tour, something he'd like to get used to.

Pumas coach Alex Wyllie said Quesada had been training hard on tour.

"He practices his kicking a lot and all his efforts have paid off."

Despite rejecting offers in the past, Quesada said he'd love to turn full-time professional with a European club.

The Pumas pivot racked up 27 points via eight penalties and a drop goal in Sunday's 32-16 win against Samoa and slotted six penalties in the opening 23-18 loss to Wales.

No singing yet

Bryan Williams added a new twist to a well-worn cliche when he described Samoa's chances of advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals following Sunday's 32-16 loss to Argentina.

"It's never over until the fat lady sings and while she may be getting fit to burst forth into tune, she hasn't sung yet," said the Samoa coach after the Llanelli defeat.

The Samoans, who face Group D leader Wales in the Welsh capital of Cardiff on Thursday and must win to advance, have a bit of history on their side.

The last Samoa vs. Wales World Cup clash in Cardiff resulted in a 16-13 boilover as the South Sea Islanders won and eliminated the host from the 1991 tournament.

Dream team

Dave Waterston said Tonga's World Cup dream is still alive following Sunday's last-ditch 28-25 win against Italy.

Tonga takes on England at Twickenham on Thursday, where a win could propel either team into the quarterfinal playoffs.

Fullback Sateki Tuipulotu landed a long-range drop goal in injury time to secure the victory but despite the close shave, coach Waterston said Tonga's worst game was over.

"Our World Cup dream is still alive," he said. "I do not believe Tonga will ever play as badly as that again and come through with a win."

"I'm glad it's out of the way."

The Tongans held New Zealand to 13-9 at halftime in their World Cup opener at Bristol before losing 45-9. New Zealand beat England 30-16 on Saturday to clinch top spot in Group B.

Record tickler

Close but not loud enough.

A bid to set a new world record for producing the loudest stadium cheer failed by a fraction of a decibel Sunday during Ireland's 23-3 loss to Australia at Lansdowne Road.

The Irish set the record when the decibel reading for a roar in last year's Ireland vs. Scotland Five Nations game reached 125.4 decibels. But they couldn't go any better on Sunday.

Despite World Cup sponsor Guinness distributing 12,000 megaphones around the 49,000-strong crowd, the best cheer reached 124.6 decibels.

Over and out

United States' captain Dan Lyle has been ruled out of the Eagles last World Cup game against Australia.

The inspirational flanker sustained a shoulder injury Saturday after diving over for a try which put the Eagles 10-3 up against Romania at halftime.

The Americans extended their lead to 17-3 soon after Lyle's departure but then conceded three tries as the Romanians edged to a 27-25 victory. ---

Anthem blast

Allowing the All Blacks to perform the Haka -- a Maori war dance -- before a game seems acceptable to New Zealanders, but singing their national anthem in Maor apparently isn't.

Hinewehi Mohi performed God Defend New Zealand in Maori before Saturday's New Zealand vs. England game at Twickenham.

But the bulk of the 10,000 New Zealanders in the crowd couldn't understand the words and didn't sing along.

New Zealand Rugby Football Union chief executive David Moffett said he had spoken to World Cup organizers and had received a guarantee that the anthem would be sung in English before the All Blacks next game against Italy.

Mohi said the decision to sing in Maori had been hers.

 

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