Showing posts with label Six Nations Championship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Six Nations Championship. Show all posts

Wednesday, 28 June 2017

In Gatland We Trust - Brian O'Driscoll

BrianODriscoll
Gatland and O'Driscoll

Former British and Irish Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll has backed Wales coach Warren Gatland to lead the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand.

Gatland, 52, controversially dropped the Ireland legend from the decisive Test win against Australia in 2013.

O'Driscoll told the Daily Telegraph that Gatland and Ireland boss Joe Schmidt are the best options for 2017.

The 37-year-old added Gatland's style "is probably something that lends itself to the short lead-in time".

The Lions face New Zealand three times in a five-week tour in 2017, with the first Test coming after six build-up games over three weeks.

British and Irish Lions chief executive John Feehan has said Gatland is the leading contender to take charge again.

The Welsh Rugby Union would again back their national coach, who was assistant to Ian McGeechan for the 2009 tour to South Africa that ended in a 2-1 defeat.

Gatland selected Wales' Jonathan Davies ahead of O'Driscoll to partner Jamie Roberts for the crucial Test in Sydney three years ago.

Former Ireland captain and Lions hooker Keith Wood described the decision as "a terrible mistake".

The Lions won 41-16 without O'Driscoll, but Wood stood by his comments.

O'Driscoll says he would partner Davies with England's Manu Tuilagi were he selecting the team now.

"I will get absolutely lambasted in Wales for not picking Roberts, but I think you have to have Manu in there and I don't think you play him and Jamie together," said O'Driscoll.


Saturday, 14 May 2016

Racing 92 v Saracens - Preview


Owen Farrell says Saracens' preparation for Saturday's European Champions Cup final in Lyon has been "spot on".

Saracens were beaten 23-6 by a Jonny Wilkinson-inspired Toulon team in their last European final two years ago.

But the Aviva Premiership title holders face Racing 92 hoping to become the first team in history to win all nine games in a European campaign.

"We have done our preparation now, and we've just got to relax," said England fly-half Farrell.

"Since two years ago when we played in that last final, we've grown a lot as a team."

Wasps were the last English European title holders in 2007, while they also achieved a domestic and European double three years earlier, which are both feats that Saracens could match during the next fortnight.

"It is not about what's happened for the rest of this year, or what's after Saturday. It is about Saturday," added Farrell, one of eight remaining players who started the 2014 loss.

The 24-year-old is likely to line up opposite New Zealand international Dan Carter, but says the final will not be about "fly-half versus fly-half".

"There is no doubt he is a brilliant player," Farrell added. "I am sure that any fly-half would look up to him. It's about the collective effort from both teams, and who comes out on top there."

All Black great Carter is aiming to cap a "special 12 months" by adding the Champions Cup to October's World Cup victory.

Carter spearheaded New Zealand's march to back-to-back Webb Ellis trophies, and the 34-year-old says this season has been one of the best of his illustrious career.

"It's right up there," he said. "It's been a pretty special 12-14 months with certain things that I have achieved."

The international world-record points scorer added: "I'm just lucky to be a part of a couple of pretty special teams, obviously with the All Blacks and what they achieved, and now to be involved in another very special team in Racing.

"So I just find myself pretty lucky to play alongside some great players and in some great teams."

Carter says playing in a European final was one of his motivations for moving to France, and believes the magnitude of the game rivals any other he has played in.

"It's obviously the pinnacle of European rugby, and a big part of the reason why I wanted to come here and play," he said.

"To reach this stage is a highly proud moment for me, and more importantly this team.

"But we haven't won anything yet and we are up against a very good Saracens side. We've done well to get here but the hard work starts now."

Racing 92
B Dulin; J Rokocoko, J Goosen, A Dumoulin, J Imhoff; D Carter, M Machenaud; E Ben Arous, D Szarzewski (capt), B Tameifuna, L Charteris, F Van der Merwe, W Lauret, B Le Roux, C Masoe.
Replacements: V Lacombe, K Vartanov, L Ducalon, M Carizza, A Claassen, M Phillips, R Tales, H Chavancy.

Saracens
A Goode; C Ashton, D Taylor, B Barritt (capt), C Wyles; O Farrell, R Wigglesworth; M Vunipola, S Brits, P du Plessis, M Itoje, G Kruis, M Rhodes, W Fraser, B Vunipola.
Replacements: J George, R Barrington, J Figallo, J Hamilton, J Wray, B Spencer, C Hodgson, M Bosch.

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland) and Leighton Hodges (Wales).


Saturday, 26 March 2016

Connacht v Leinster - Preview


Peter Robb will make his Pro12 debut for leaders Connacht while Luke Fitzgerald returns for Leinster for Saturday's top-of-the-table contest.

Connacht's two changes from the win over Edinburgh see Robb, 21, and Niyi Adeolokun replacing Craig Ronaldson and Danie Poolman in the backs.

Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw is named in the Connacht replacements.

Fitzgerald's inclusion after injury is one of eight Leinster changes from last Friday's defeat by Glasgow. The wing missed Ireland's entire Six Nations campaign because of a medial ligament injury.

Fitzgerald is joined in the backline by Ian Madigan and Fergus McFadden who both featured as replacements in Ireland's win over Scotland.

Richardt Strauss, Cian Healy and Rhys Ruddock will also start for Leinster in Galway after being introduced by Ireland last weekend while another of Joe Schmidt's Six Nations players Josh van der Flier is named in the back row.

A strong Leinster bench includes Ireland players Jamie Heaslip, Jack McGrath, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Sean Cronin and Eoin Reddan.

Henshaw is joined in the Connacht replacements by another Ireland squad member Finlay Bealham.

Nathan White, who featured in all five of Ireland's Six Nations games, will start in the Connacht front row while youngster Sean O'Brien is again named in the back row alongside Jake Heenan and skipper John Muldoon.

Connacht go into the Sportsground contest a point ahead of Leo Cullen's Leinster side.

Connacht
T O'Halloran; N Adeolokun, B Aki, P Robb, M Healy; AJ MacGinty, K Marmion; D Buckley, T McCartney, N White; Q Roux , A Muldowney; S O'Brien, J Heenan, J Muldoon (capt) 
Replacements: D Heffernan, R Loughney, F Bealham, A Browne, E McKeon, C Blade, S O'Leary, R Henshaw.

Leinster
I Nacewa (capt); F McFadden, G Ringrose, B Te'o, L Fitzgerald; I Madigan, L McGrath; C Healy, R Strauss, T Furlong; R Molony, H Triggs; D Ryan, J van der Flier, R Ruddock
Replacements: S Cronin, J McGrath, M Ross, D Toner, J Heaslip, E Reddan, N Reid, Z Kirchner


Monday, 29 February 2016

Citing Commissioner Clears Brown

Getty Images 
Mike Brown has escaped being cited for kicking Conor Murray in the Six Nations victory over Ireland.

Brown had protested his innocence after making contact with the Ireland scrum-half’s head while trying to kick the ball free during Saturday’s 21-10 win, tweeting: “Video ref clearly showed I didn’t [do anything wrong] and kicked the ball.” 

The referee Romain Poite judged the contact was accidental, though Murray required stitches for a head wound. The citing commissioner agreed.

The Ireland coach, Joe Schmidt, absolved the full-back of blame: “I know Mike Brown wouldn’t have done it on purpose, he was trying to connect with the ball, but it’s not something for us to influence whether he was culpable for being reckless or whatever.”


Sunday, 14 February 2016

Italy Win Keeps England on Course


England Women stayed on course for their first grand slam in four years with a five-try, 33-24 win over Italy in Ivrea.

A week after their 32-0 win in Scotland, England were made to work hard but triumphed thanks to tries from Lauren Cattell, Katie Mason, Lotte Clapp, Abbie Scott and Bianca Blackburn.

Italy, who had never scored more than one try against England, crossed four times themselves and led after 30 seconds, with Maria Grazia Cioffi poaching a try that Veronica Schiavon converted.

Cattell converted her own try to bring England level before Mason nudged the visitors ahead with a second try, which was also converted.

Wing Sofia Stefan cut the gap to two points with Italy’s second try, but Clapp went over to give the Red Rose a 19-12 interval lead.

England had to stay focused, particularly when the margin was again trimmed to two points early in the second half after Cioffi scored again.

Scott charged over for a converted try to hand England a 26-17 cushion, which Blackburn stretched further after some incisive play – before Silvia Folli brought Italy closer on the scoreboard late on.

Sarah Hunter, the England captain, said: “All credit to the way Italy played today, they played some great attacking rugby. They’ve got some physical forwards and some really fast threatening backs.”

She added on the England rugby website: “Of course we are happy with the win but I think we didn’t manage to get full control of the game. We know we are going to have to improve.”

England, who won only twice in last year’s Six Nations campaign, next face Ireland at Twickenham on 27 February, in a match scheduled to take place after the men’s fixture.



Monday, 23 March 2015

Ireland Defend Six Nations Title


Ireland have won the RBS Six Nations trophy after a 40-10 win over Scotland put them top of the table.

Earlier in the day Wales dismantled Italy 61-20, which gave Ireland the task of needing to beat Scotland by at least 21 points in order to top the table with only the England-France game remaining.

Tries from Paul O’Connell, Jared Payne and two from man-of-the-match Sean O’Brien gave Ireland a 30-point win, which meant they ended the game at the summit of the Six Nations table.

England came close to closing the gap as they beat France 55-35 at Twickenham in the final fixture of the day, but it was not enough to overhaul Ireland's lead, meaning the trophy will be displayed in Dublin for another year at least.

Ireland could not have orchestrated a better start to the game. Within four minutes captain Paul O’Connell took the ball from the base of a ruck and crashed over for the opening score which Johnny Sexton duly converted.

What followed was a period of Irish dominance which resulted in Scotland infringing, and Sexton stepped up to make it 10-0.

Greig Laidlaw drew back with a penalty but an Irish lineout ended with Sean O’Brien galloping clear to extend the Irish lead. His effort was matched by Finn Russell, which made for a 20-10 scoreline at half time.

The second half produced plenty of drama. Four minutes into the second period Sexton extended Ireland’s lead to 13 points. Ireland held onto the ball well during the period that followed, but seemed unable to punish the Scottish defence.

A lineout was then set up close to the Scottish line and a driving maul resulted. Ireland spread the ball well and a deft switch pass to Jared Payne meant the outside centre was able to cross right under the poles, giving Sexton a regulation kick to make it a 20-point lead.

Sexton then had an opportunity to extend the lead, and top the table, with a kick at goal, but by his own high standards he missed the effort badly; the ball crashing back off the right-hand upright.

Minutes later he was given another chance to further his team’s title hopes but this time missed it wide to the right.

It seemed like a nervy time for Irish players and fans, but in the 61st minute he finally bisected the poles with his third attempt and Ireland were crucially in front by enough.

It was not deemed enough, though, by Sean O’Brien in particular, who managed to avoid the efforts of two defenders as he went over for his second of the match.

Scotland had a chance to make it an interesting final four minutes when Stuart Hogg went over the line but the TMO spotted that he had knocked the ball on in the act of scoring, and as a result Ireland we able to hold onto a big lead ahead of England’s showdown with France.


Wednesday, 21 January 2015

Jackson Out of 6 Nations


Ireland are likely to be without Ulster fly-half Paddy Jackson for the entire Six Nations tournament after he suffered a dislocated elbow.

The 23-year-old requires surgery which will keep him on the sidelines for 10 to 12 weeks after he was hurt during Ulster’s European Champions Cup defeat to Toulon on Saturday.

"Paddy Jackson suffered a dislocated elbow in Saturday's defeat to Toulon at Stade Mayol," said an Ulster statement.

"A scan on Monday revealed that he has an unstable joint and that he will require surgery. He is expected to be out of rugby for between 10 and 12 weeks."

Ireland will also be without Jonathan Sexton for their Six Nations opener against Italy on February 7, leaving Leinster’s Ian Madigan, who has played mostly at inside centre this season, as the most likely starter at No 10 in Rome, although Munster's Ian Keatley is another contender.

Sexton has been advised to rest for 12 weeks after being concussed for the fourth time in a year in November's win over Australia. He should be available to play against France in Dublin on February 14.

Ulster centre Stuart Olding, 22, is also expected to be out of action for a similar period to Jackson because of an elbow operation after he was injured against Toulon.

Meanwhile, Ireland's long-term absentees Sean O'Brien and Cian Healy are closing in on a return to action, but Leinster have ruled out either facing Wasps in the Champions Cup this weekend.

O'Brien is battling back from two consecutive shoulder operations, while prop Healy is nearing a return after a severe hamstring tear.

Leinster are hopeful they will be available to face the Dragons on February 15, but they may still struggle to feature for Ireland in the Six Nations.



Cipriani Set for Lancaster Call


England head coach Stuart Lancaster is set to name Sale fly-half Danny Cipriani in his extended Six Nations training squad.

Cipriani will be confirmed in the wider national squad on Wednesday to prepare for the championship opener against Wales in Cardiff on Friday, February 6, along with Harlequins' 36-year-old back-rower Nick Easter.

Cipriani could still, however, officially remain in England's second-string Saxons squad, with George Ford, Owen Farrell and Stephen Myler the senior playmakers in Lancaster's thoughts.

Easter will earn a first squad call under Lancaster, and has not featured for England since the 2011 World Cup.

Bath's rugby league convert Sam Burgess will be named in the Saxons squad as he continues his quest for a place at this year's World Cup.

Lancaster could promote a number of Saxons stars into his Six Nations training squad, but crucially choose not to add them to his senior elite player squad (EPS).

The England boss adopted the same tactic last season, in a bid to counter a lengthy injury list and keep his options open for as long as possible.

Though Cipriani comes into the senior training squad, the 27-year-old could yet feature in the Saxons' one-off clash against Ireland Wolfhounds in Cork on January 30.

Cipriani has been mulling over a move to French and European champions Toulon this summer at the end of his current contract with Sale.

Sale boss Steve Diamond has previously admitted fears the nine-cap fly-half will leave for France if overlooked once more for England action.

Cipriani remains fourth in England's pecking order, but now has the chance he has craved to prove himself a tangible World Cup option in upcoming training sessions.

Lancaster would prefer Cipriani to remain in the Aviva Premiership, with England still adhering to the policy of not selecting overseas-based stars save for "exceptional circumstances".

The former Wasps fly-half could still view being fourth in England's pecking order as enough motivation to seek a new challenge in France next season.

Easter will slot into the extended training squad to offset the loss of Gloucester number eight Ben Morgan, who has suffered a broken leg.

Morgan ended the autumn Test series England's form loose forward, but will be replaced in England's starting line-up by Saracens' Billy Vunipola.

Talisman centre Manu Tuilagi could miss the entire tournament as his recovery from nagging groin trouble continues to lag.

Northampton lock Courtney Lawes is also out of the running for the first two rounds with an ankle injury.