This is Justin Mensah Cocker’s first selection for the rugby world cup. Sylvie Mathis gets the Canadian wing’s impressions.

FN How would you rate the cup’s organisers?
JMC The world cup is a big event, so players’ security and comfort are a big concern. The overall organisation is great. Players are provided with their own security team and bodyguards. The French gendarmerie escorts the bus when we go practising and so on. Everything is taken care of, so I think it’s great.

FN What about your relationship with other teams? Do you see each other after the games?
JMC No, we stay separate. But relationships are friendly. We exchange jerseys and show consideration for each other on the pitch.

FN How do you rate Canada’s overall performance?
JMC We came here to have three wins but things didn’t happen that way. We try our best but we’re still a young team.

FN What do you think about the other teams’ performance and what are your predictions?
JMC From what I’ve seen so far I’d say the top three are New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. New Zealand has shown very good performances. Then it’s hard to decide between South Africa and Australia. South Africa has very strong forwards and fast backs but Australia is very experienced.

FN Rugby is more popular worldwide than ever. Do you think professional rugby and all the money involved leads to more pressure, like in soccer?
JMC I wouldn’t say that. Soccer players are making millions of dollars, which is not the case even for big team rugby players. Of course these teams are under much more pressure because a lot of money is being put into them, but not to the same extent. Smaller teams don’t feel this pressure. At least I didn’t feel anyone outside the team was putting pressure on us. We come to a competition like this to play our best game.
Advertising is a distraction, except for a few players who might take the opportunity to get their name out of there. But for the time being, I think rugby is still unspoilt.

After a short summer interruption, Cédric Johner and Fréd Gruaz are back this month trying another great golf course.

This month we take you to the Auvergne, to the Golf de Montpensier, a course built in the grounds of the Château de Rilhat, only 10 minutes from the city of Vichy and 30 minutes from Clermont-Ferrand.
The directions to the golf course are easy to follow and there is ample parking a short walk from the entrance. The club-house is cosy with a large fireplace next to the bar and a spacious lounge. The pro-shop is basic but carries all the necessary equipment and the service is very friendly (all the staff speak English).
The driving range is well organised and fairly complete. The bucket of range balls will cost you €2 and gives you access to a pitching green, a green-side bunker and a very large putting green. For your swing warm-up there are about 15 hitting areas (on grass and mats).
The green fees range from €35 on weekdays to €50 at weekends. If you find walking the 18 holes a bit much, you can rent a golf cart for €25.

A horrible fate awaits some hunting dogs after their ‘hunt-by date’, as Beryl Brennan finds out.

Soutiers went to the dogs last month. About 25 of them, with their owners, of course. The occasion was the first annual meet of L’Europe des Levriers (EDL), an association set up in August 2006. Its aims are to work with like-minded organisations to persuade the Spanish government to ban greyhound racing and hunting with galgos – Spanish greyhounds. EDL’s petition already has more than 20,000 signatures and members plan to present this to the Spanish government next April.