Bryan Habana taking a time out

”When you get greeted by the President (Jacob Zuma) and he tells you to bring the Cup back – he expects you to bring the Cup back.”
– There may be just a little pressure on the Springboks, concedes South Africa wing Bryan Habana.

“I hate saying the old cliches. I like to make my own ones up. You’ve just got to take each game as it comes.”
– Utility back Cory Jane shows the sort of verbal dexterity you’d expect from an elusive All Black runner.

“I’d be happy to take a punch in the face if the guy missed a month. It doesn’t bother me.”
– New Zealand prop Ben Franks isn’t worried about illegal play at this tournament.

“No, it was a centre.”
–  Argentina’s Manuel Carizza explains that the black left eye he received in training was not the result of an altercation with a fellow second rower.

”Because I’m a prickly old man.”
– USA veteran Paul Emerick reveals why his nickname is ”Cactus”.

”It gets intense sometimes. He gets angry when I beat him, which is more often than not, so it’s a good thing that we’re playing for the same team.”
– For the sake of family harmony, Canada’s Phil Mackenzie is happy his brotherJamie is also in the team.

”Back in the day, I wouldn’t have been messing with the Maori warriors, that’s for sure.”
– After the Canada team’s traditional Maori welcome in Waitangi, Mackenzie voices what many have thought.

“Obviously, he’s pretty precious and, if they want to wrap him up in cotton wool, I’ll be more than happy to stand in for him.”
-New Zealand fly half Colin Slade puts a value on the presence of Dan Carter to the success of the All Blacks.

“If we beat France, we’ll be making history. I’m not saying we can or that it will be easy, but I’m certainly looking forward to trying.”
– Japan wing Takehisa Usuzuki is most definitely gearing himself up for his country’s opening Pool A match.

“All the women of Wellington, we hear, are heading to the nightclubs speaking Spanish and Afrikaans looking for Argentine and South African rugby players. What wonderful looking men we have here for the women of Waitangi, who have been keenly awaiting your arrival.”
– National Trust dignitary Pita Paraone reveals that he isn’t the only person inWaitangi who has been looking forward to RWC 2011

“You don’t call us Australians and we won’t call you Americans.”
– Far North District Mayor Wayne Brown negotiates a cultural agreement with the Canada team at their welcome ceremony.

“Their passing is crisp and their general movement is just so fluid. I can learn a lot from them. But no, I have no idea what their names are.”
– Japan scrum half Fumiaki Tanaka knows a few things about the opposition – but not everything.