Sean, Morné and Hugo - three legends discuss

MORNÉ: It was nice to be at a rugby project here in London, with the excitement already taking place around the Rugby World Cup. We’ve all been visiting these Laureus projects for the past 15 years, it’s nice to come to a project involving our sport.

We often get asked that question; ‘is it really making a difference?  That's what really can change people's lives.  Seeing smiling faces this morning, I think every one of those boys and girls took away from today they don't actually know who we are but they are happier kids because of the coaches - I'm a converted disciple of sports for good.

SEAN: For me, this morning is what it’s all about. While the biggest event in world rugby is taking place in this wonderful city, it’s great to meet and speak with these youngsters who are being inspired by the power of rugby today. As Laureus Academy Members, it’s brilliant to give back and bring the Laureus message to life when meeting the youngsters.

MORNÉ: I was in Brighton and it was a dark day for the Springboks, but we’ve had dark days before. There will be a lot of reflection taking place in the Springbok camp this week, people back home have been talking about a Bokke-lash from the Springboks for the rest of the tournament.

SEAN:  I would be very surprised they didn't qualify.  But you have to say Japan is a real threat in terms of the way they beat South Africa.  But once again, South Africa has depth.  A lot of these teams, Japan, has got to back up.  They are playing Wednesday against Samoa, you know.

HUGO: It was an incredible atmosphere and a huge match for our sport, it’s great to see lower tier nations like Japan stepping up and beating one of the biggest nations in world rugby. Morne, do you think we’ll have another upset like that in this tournament?

MORNÉ:  I think in the quarter-finals, there's going to be some    I don't know if you're going to see a magnitude, I don't know what you call it, a magnitude nine upset.

SEAN:  Namibia beating the All Blacks!?

MORNÉ:  But I certainly think there are going to be, come quarter- finals, some interesting results.

SEAN:  Talking about contenders    I see Ireland as a contender.  They played very well against Canada.  They were smart enough, trying different things, especially against England in Twickenham; they tried a few things that didn't work. Obviously Canada are not in the best form of their lives at the moment but I thought the way Ireland played, they were very structured.  Sexton was very good, maybe Hugo would be best placed to talk about Sexton’s impact, though.

HUGO: Sexton is definitely the key man. I think 8, 9 and 10 are the key positions for any rugby team, regardless of the type of rugby they are playing. The All Blacks, they have the best 10 and probably the best player in the tournament. Things are happening around him on another dimension. Sexton was impressive against Canada, scoring a try as well as all his kicking. His kicking is very good, not only his place kicking but his tactical kicking.

SEAN: Although Ireland, they have only got 15 players, really, I think and they are only one injury away from not making it.  And if they lost Sexton, they can't replace him really.

HUGO:  It was the first game of the tournament.  They are the host nation.  There's a lot of pressure on the players. I think it's very important just to win the first game and then push on.

SEAN:  They did what they needed to do, get the game out of the way. They had the eyes of the world on them.  The Wales match will give us more of a sense of where they are. After all the talk in media about Sam Burgess in the lead up to the tournament, I thought he really performed well when he came on and put his hand up for the rest of the tournament.

SEAN:  I don't think they have any world class players at the moment    a player, I'm saying world class in terms of    world headlines, making it into a World XV team, but that remains to be seen.  That may change throughout the tournament. 

MORNÉ: In 1995, we as South Africa, we had gone into the tournament with a question around how many of the world's best players, I think that's what Sean is trying to say, not world class players.  Everyone who plays on the World Cup is a world class player.  It is who is the world's best player at each position, I think that's what Sean is trying to say.

In 1995, we probably went in with two, and as the tournament progressed, we turned out with more.  With England, if you go right through, it will happen, or Ireland if they do, or South Africa, or certainly the All Blacks, they will have world class players.

The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation believes that sport can be the catalyst to improve the lives of young people around the world. Since its inception, Laureus has raised more than €85 million to support projects which have helped to improve the lives of millions of young people in 35 countries. Currently Laureus supports more than 150 sports-based community projects around the world.

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