October 15, 2010

Blues wait on Drico's fitness

Friday October 15 2010

Leinster may take a wait and see approach without regard to injured Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll ahead of tomorrow evening's Heineken Cup group match against Saracens at Wembley.

O'Driscoll suffered a hamstring injury during the weekend victory over Racing Metro and the centre will not line out unless he is fully fit.

Leinster skills coach Richie Murphy said: "Brian's recovering well. He's been in rehab all week and there is a chance he will be there. But what's best for us and for Ireland is that if there's a doubt at all -- he'll know that and so will the medical staff -- they'll pull him."

Irish coach Declan Kidney will be hoping the injury is nothing more severe than a strain, with a four-match autumn programme starting with South Africa on November 6, the official opening of the Aviva Stadium.

Thomond a sell out

RUGBY: Munster have sold all the tickets for tomorrow's Heineken Cup clash against Toulon at Thomond Park in a game that will have a bearing on what is expected to be this season's tightest group.

Jonny Wilkinson has been Toulon's match-winner this season, with 149 points in all competitions, and he believes that his move to France last year did not so much prolong his career as save it. "For a long time rugby just meant fighting against injuries and media pressure, the weight of the 2003 and 2007 World Cups," he said. "It wasn't rugby anymore, but maybe just work. I am enjoying my game again with Toulon and I am a different player."

July 21, 2010

Irish rule out Madejski euro switch

Scrum.com

July 21, 2010

A general view of the Madejski Stadium, London Irish v Northampton, Tetley's Bitter Cup Semi-Final, Madejski Stadium, Reading, England, April 8, 2000

London Irish's Madejski Stadium home is set to welcome some top-class European action next season © Getty Images

London Irish have rejected any thoughts of moving their high-profile Heineken Cup ties away from the Madejski Stadium in the hope of creating a hostile home environment.
The Exiles open their daunting campaign in the so-called "group of death" at home to two-time European champions Munster on October 9. Jonny Wilkinson's star-studded Toulon are in Reading on December 12 with London Irish to host Magners League champions Ospreys due on the second weekend of January.

Saracens, who face French champions Clermont Auvergne, Leinster and Racing Metro, are currently in negotiations about which games they can take to Wembley Stadium this season. But London Irish will not be moving any of their group matches to Twickenham in the hope of maximising home advantage at the 24,000-capacity 'Mad Stad'.

"We are relishing the challenge of the Heineken Cup. Doing battle with the best of the best on our own turf guarantees a true test of how far we have come in recent years and some great rugby," said director of rugby Toby Booth. "We need to leave our visitors in no doubt that the Madejski is a London Irish stronghold. I ask all of our supporters to get behind the squad, fill the stadium three times over and show that we are a true force to be reckoned with both on and off the pitch."

Sale Sharks' summer recruiting drive has now seen them turn cross-code raiders with the Aviva Premiership club swooping to capture Iain Thornley from rugby league neighbours Wigan Warriors.
The 18-year-old Thornley, who plays at centre for the Warriors, is a product of Wigan's Academy and has already represented England at Academy level and, in spite of his tender years, at 6ft 4ins and weighing in at more than 15 stone he will offer both bulk and power in Sale's back-line.

"Iain's name was brought to my attention shortly after arriving at the club and after having a look at him play and talking to him, I decided to sign him up," Brewer revealed. "Iain is one of the hottest young properties in both codes of rugby. He has chosen to move to rugby union although he was a member of the Wigan first team squad and was attracting interest from Australian Rugby League sides.

"He is a big lad in peak condition who has pace, great handling skills and is very strong defensively. "He will have to work hard but I have every confidence in him."

The South African Rugby Union have suffered a financial setback with the loss of sponsor Sasol from 2011.
The Guardian reports that the energy and chemicals company has announced it will not renew its £2.5m-a-year contract, covering the Springboks, SA Sevens, the Emerging Springboks and the U20s, when it expires next year, despite the fact the Springboks will be attempting to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups. The association with Sasol dates back to 2004.

Television match officials (TMOs) will return to New Zealand's national provincial championship - the ITM Cup - beginning next week.
Budget cuts last year saw the use of TMOs discontinued, but the New Zealand Rugby Union's professional rugby general manager Neil Sorensen said feedback from unions and fans had been clear: "They wanted us to find a solution."

A sideline match official will take on the role of TMO and have use of a television monitor for replays if required by the match referee. The match official with the TMO role will be appointed jointly by provincial union hosting the match and the NZRU.

Guy Richardson is to step down from the role of Scotland team manager next month after more than seven years in the post. Richardson, 45, is to take on a new role within rugby which will be announced in the coming weeks.
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said, "The work that Guy and his team have put into Scottish Rugby over the last few years has been hugely appreciated by the players. We wish him well in his new role and we will be considering the recruitment process for his successor over the next few weeks."

via scrum.com

June 13, 2010

Look who's back

June 13, 2010 - 2:46pm

Story by: ARU

England super-boot Jonny Wilkinson is set to take on the Wallabies in Sydney

The Qantas Wallabies 2003 Rugby World Cup nemesis Jonny Wilkinson is set to make a dramatic return to the England No.10 jersey next Saturday at the ground where he broke all Australian hearts and booted his team to Rugby World Cup glory.

England coach Martin Johnson, Wilkinson's captain that fateful day, blasted his team after the match and left little doubts the golden-booted Wilkinson would start at ANZ Stadium in Sydney in the crucial second Test of the Bundaberg Red Rugby Series (Kick off: 8pm AEST)

"I think that is as harsh as I have been with them," Johnson revealed after scalding his players in the changing room.

"You have to be very good down here to win games. We didn't help ourselves. We had enough chances to put ourselves in the game. Their composure on the ball was better."

Wilkinson would clearly add that much needed composure.

"It is accuracy and execution" he continued, "Their line speed was better and took away our time on the ball. We have got to be better. We can't expect to get two penalty tries every week."

The way to give his side that "accuracy and execution" is to recall Wilkinson to the starting flyhalf spot.

The now Toulon based flyhalf came on late in the game at inside centre to try and give the team some structure, something lacking under the No.10 in Perth, Toby Flood.

Johnson was particularly harsh on Flood's kicking out of hand and his failure to put any positional pressure on the Wallabies, especially with England so dominant at scrum time.

If as expected Wilkinson does don the No.10 jersey at ANZ Stadium next Saturday in Sydney it will be the first time he has ventured on to the hallowed turf since that infamous night back in 2003 when he snuck England to victory with a late drop goal.

And the Wallabies, and Wallabies fans, will finally be given a perfect chance for revenge. How sweet that would be for the Men of Gold - and all the Men of Gold supporters.

via rugby.com.au

June 13, 2010

Sniper Carter breaks magical 1,000 test points

via allBlacks.com

Star All Blacks rugby first five-eighth Dan Carter was relieved to put an average Rebel Sport Super 14 behind him with a flawless goalkicking display to move to third on the all time test pointscoring list last night.

Carter kicked eight from eight for a 17-point haul in the All Blacks' 66-28 win over Ireland at Yarrow Stadium before making way for young debutant Aaron Cruden in the 54th minute.

It saw Carter become the fourth member of the 1000-club, with his haul of 1011 moving him past Diego Dominguez (1010) and leaving him behind only Jonny Wilkinson (1175) and Neil Jenkins (1090).

Carter's goalkicking had its moments for the Crusaders during the Super 14, while his general play was worryingly off key at times.
Last night he defied the greasy ball and tricky wind to nail seven conversions and penalty.

"I remembered last year that I'd missed out on 1000 points so I wasn't too far away. I'm happy to reach that milestone," he said.

"It's always what you strive for to have a flawless night with the boot like that. It's been pretty challenging with the wind so I those training sessions really paid off. I struck it well and it was a good confidence booster."

Carter said the extended buildup, including a three-day camp in Auckland, helped the All Blacks hit the ground running last night as they scored nine tries to four, albeit against a depleted Ireland whose No 8 Jamie Heaslip was marched for kneeing in the 15th minute.

"We haven't started all that well the last couple of years but the way we played that first 30 minutes was fantastic. I was extremely proud of the boys and the way we started the game.

"All the guys that got on for their first caps were brilliant. Benson (Stanley) and Izzy (Dagg) played extremely well, played with confidence and you wouldn't know it was their first game."

List of record pointscorers in test rugby:-

Jonny Wilkinson (England/Lions) 1175 points (85 tests)
Neil Jenkins (Wales/Lions) 1090 (91)
DAN CARTER (New Zealand) 1011 (67)
Diego Dominguez (Argentina/Italy) 1010 (76)
Andrew Mehrtens (NZ) 967 (70)
Ronan O'Gara (Ireland/Lions) 963 (101)

March 18, 2010

Lievremont admits Wilko shock

via skysports.com

France coach Marc Lievremont has expressed his surprise at England's decision to drop fly-half Jonny Wilkinson to the bench for Saturday's RBS Six Nations game in Paris.

The World Cup winner has been replaced by Toby Flood in the starting line-up, one of six changes made by England manager Martin Johnson after the 15-15 draw in Scotland last weekend.

While Lievremont was expecting Wilkinson to start if fit, he has warned his side to not be complacent ahead of their tilt at the Grand Slam in the Stade de France.

He said: "I was expecting Wilkinson to start if he was fit, or not to take part at all if he hadn't recovered from his head injury.

Changes

"I haven't forgotten however that Wilkinson was not playing last year at Twickenham and Toby Flood was at fly-half.

"It didn't save us from conceding 30 points.

"And we know that if the match is in the balance, Wilkinson can come on and that could be decisive."

England's other changes see winger Ugo Monye replaced by Northampton's uncapped Chris Ashton, full-back Delon Armitage gives way to Ben Foden and outside centre Mathew Tait is dropped as 31-year-old World Cup-winner Mike Tindall makes his first appearance for a year.

In the pack, Simon Shaw comes back in place of Louis Deacon while Lewis Moody, dropped against Scotland, returns at openside flanker and Joe Worsley switches to blindside with James Haskell dropping to the bench.

Cornerstone
Lievremont added: "We were expecting the return of Simon Shaw who is the cornerstone of the English pack.

"We were also expecting England to beef up their backline with a player like Tindall even if I appreciate Mathew Tait is more creative and unpredictable.

"Through the selections of Shaw and Tindall, England have unveiled their game plan."

Lievremont also agreed with counterpart Johnson's assessment that the home team have more to lose and could be affected by the pressure of playing for a Grand Slam.

"It's true," he said. "We will be playing for high stakes and it could inhibit our players but we know it and we'll take it into account before the game."

March 17, 2010

Wilkinson out, Flood in for England

17th March 2010 13:04

To direct: Toby Flood

Jonny Wilkinson has been dropped by England for only the third time in his twelve-year international career.

Toby Flood will start at fly-half against Grand Slam-chasing France on Saturday after Martin Johnson made six changes to the side which drew 15-15 with Scotland.

The only previous occasions when Wilkinson was dropped from the England team were for Paul Grayson at the 1999 World Cup and for Danny Cipriani in the 2008 Six Nations.

Wilkinson suffered a heavy blow to the head at Murrayfield and was forced from the field, but has been passed fit after monitoring from the England medics and is named on the bench.

Flood made a difference to England's laboured attacking game when he came on at Murrayfield and will look to unleash a revamped back line which features Ben Foden, debutant winger Chris Ashton and Mike Tindall.

Foden gets his long-awaited chance to start at full-back after two eye-catching cameo appearances off the bench. The off-form Delon Armitage has dropped out of the squad altogether.

Ashton has scored 19 tries in 25 games for Northampton this season and will make his Test debut on the wing in place of Ugo Monye, who damaged his neck at Murrayfield.

Tindall, who has made three starts for Gloucester after four months out with a hamstring injury, returns to the England team in place of Mathew Tait at outside centre.

England will expect Tindall to provide a physical midfield presence opposite the potentially destructive French centre Mathieu Bastareaud.

The axe has also fallen on James Haskell, who slips to the bench with Lewis Moody back in the starting XV at openside flanker with Joe Worsley moving to blindside.

Simon Shaw reclaims his place in the second row from Louis Deacon after missing the Scotland game through injury.

England have beaten France in each of their last three meetings, including twice in Paris in the 2008 Six Nations and the 2007 World Cup semi-final.

But the French have been comfortably the best team in the championship this year and can wrap up a Grand Slam with a win on Saturday evening.

England: 15 Ben Foden (Northampton), 14 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), 13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester), 12 Riki Flutey (Brive), 11 Chris Ashton (Northampton), 10 Toby Flood (Leicester), 9 Danny Care (Harlequins), 8 Nick Easter (Harlequins), 7 Lewis Moody (Leicester), 6 Joe Worsley (Wasps), 5 Steve Borthwick (Saracens, capt), 4 Simon Shaw (Wasps), 3 Dan Cole (Leicester), 2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton), 1 Tim Payne (Wasps).
Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson (Brive), 17 David Wilson (Bath), 18 Louis Deacon (Leicester), 19 James Haskell (Stade Francais), 20 Ben Youngs (Leicester), 21 Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon), 22 Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks).

Date: Saturday, March 20
Venue: Stade de France, St. Denis (Paris)
Kick-off: 20.45 (19.45 GMT)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

via planetrugby.com

February 24, 2010

Contepomi briefs Wilkinson on ‘enormous talent’ Sexton

via irishexaminer.com

By Julian Bennetts

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

JONNY WILKINSON is a self-confessed obsessive, so it should come as no surprise that his preparations for facing Jonathan Sexton in Saturday’s clash with Ireland at Twickenham began well before the Six Nations even started.

Yet what may be more of a surprise is that the man who has been marking Wilkinson’s card is Argentine legend Felipe Contepomi, Sexton’s former mentor.

Sexton was only yesterday handed the No.10 shirt by Declan Kidney for this weekend’s game with England, yet Wilkinson is not a man who likes to leave anything to chance. So it was that he spoke to Contepomi, the Argentine fly-half who spent three years grooming Sexton for stardom at Leinster before moving to join Wilkinson at French side Toulon, allowing the youngster his head.

While Wilkinson has his sympathies for Ronan O’Gara, the man Sexton has replaced, he has made it plain that he is wary of the danger posed by Sexton, especially after he calmly guided Leinster to Heineken Cup glory last season after Contepomi suffered a knee injury in the semi-final.

"I haven’t played against him but I’ve seen Sexton play and he’s obviously an enormous talent who has shown he can play well in the massive games," said Wilkinson, who himself held off a challenge – albeit media-led – by Toby Flood to retain his fly-half spot.

"I’ve had a chat with Felipe Contepomi about him and he speaks very highly of him. There’s an enormous amount going for him. He’s clearly a very good player, and the competition and work he will have done with Ronan will be a massive aid, the fight for that position will have been enormous.

"I know Ronan well (from the 2001 and 2005 Lions tours) and he is a fantastic talent as well, he can pull teams apart by himself. I may have more sympathy for him because these things come about for reasons I’m not sure of. I guess I’m not surprised because these things happen and it doesn’t mean that Ronan is a bad player.

"I know he will still give his all and will want to play well when he’s given his chance – the selection (of Sexton) doesn’t change my view that it will still be a hell of a game."

And there are other views on which Wilkinson is just as intransigent, such as the fact that he is not reaching his own high standards and can constantly improve. In fact, listening to Wilkinson talk about his own game is enough to sap the strength of even the cheeriest personality.

He added: "I am never satisfied with my game, my dissatisfaction remains undiminished. I will retire the game’s most dissatisfied player. Being dissatisfied makes me happy. Having said that, I am enjoying my career at the moment. The pressure on myself is always there, but I will aim to enjoy it on Saturday."

He said: "You play for a team cause. If you took everything personally we’d all be quivering wrecks on the floor.

"You have to get on. You put everything into everything you do and that has to be enough. Give everything to every decision, every play to get the best result. You can’t ask for any more.

"Everything traces back to the number 10 because the call stops there. It doesn’t make for comfortable living all the time but the pressure I put myself under is more than enough, believe me."

Full back Jack Wallace, prop Lee Imiolek and No.8 Alex Gray all come into the England starting line-up as their three changes for the RBS Under 20 6 Nations game against Ireland at Kingsholm on Fridey.

ENGLAND U20 (v Ireland): J Wallace; W Hurrell, J Joseph, T Casson, J May; F Burns, S Harrison; L Imiolek, J George, S Knight, D Wright, C Matthews, J Wray, J Rowan (capt), A Gray.

This story appeared in the printed version of the IrishExaminer Wednesday, February 24, 2010

February 24, 2010

Jonny Wilkinson revels in guarantee of personal dissatisfaction

Jonny Wilkinson trains with his England team-mates after being named in an unchanged side for this weekend's match against Ireland. Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Professional sportsmen react to criticism in different ways but Jonny Wilkinson is one of life's one-offs. Not for him an angry two-fingered response, nor a hastily booked flight to Australia. Instead England's fly-half, having clung on to the No10 jersey in an unchanged starting XV for this weekend's Six Nations game against Ireland, stood before a politely sceptical audience today to insist that media flak effectively keeps him sane.

Initially, Wilkinson's logic was impeccable as he reflected on the unflattering reviews of his performance against Italy last week. "If you took everything personally, I think we'd all be quivering wrecks on the floor," he said, sounding as if he was talking from experience. When someone asked, however, whether he had found the Rome post-mortems tough to deal with, his reply betrayed a man whose relentless self-criticism will always outweigh external opinions.

"In a masochistic way, I enjoy that that's what life does to me," said Wilkinson, offering a glimpse into the grim underworld of a tireless perfectionist struggling for form. "As much as you might find it difficult to sleep for the first night or two, that drives me. Over the years that's maybe been my advantage over other players. Once I'm out on that field I've got a really deep desire. If I threw that away I don't know what I'd become. I don't think I'd be where I am now. I think the injuries would have killed me off a long time ago."

The chances of Wilkinson throwing in the towel are non-existent. True happiness, he argues, is never being totally fulfilled. "I'm as unsatisfied as I've ever been, in the sense that in every game I've ever played I've never been satisfied. I've been at the same level of dissatisfaction throughout my career. I'll probably retire as the most unsatisfied player in the world. I don't mind coming off the field saying: 'I think I could have done that better.' "

As far as England's management are concerned, the message is loud and clear. Martin Johnson reiterated his belief that Wilkinson – now recovered from the muscle soreness which restricted his training earlier in the week – has been unfairly blamed for the collectively scratchy Italian job. His attack coach Brian Smith went further, claiming certain former players are pursuing "agendas" and that some general sportswriters "don't have the expertise to be critiquing Wilko". In Smith's view, English rugby should be less dismissive of their World Cup winner. "I don't think people have given Wilko credit for his performances. I'm not sure he's being analysed properly. Some of it's driven by people with their own agendas, some of it's bandwagon stuff. The story is either 'Bring back Wilko, he's going to be our saviour' or 'They didn't win by 50, let's hop into Wilko'."

It is a decisive weekend, either way, for Wilkinson and the coaches. In maintaining the status quo, the management are banking on England clicking in a way which has rarely been evident to date. The only changes to the matchday squad are on the bench where flanker Joe Worsley, hooker Lee Mears and full-back Ben Foden replace Steffon Armitage, Steve Thompson and Matt Mullan, with Tim Payne retaining the starting loosehead jersey. There remains a continuing desire to play some rugby if circumstances permit but Johnson is not going to be bullied into doing so. "We're not trying to make up for what people think we didn't do in Rome," said the manager. "This is a new game and we need to approach it that way."

Wilkinson's retention will inevitably invite comparisons with Danny Cipriani's bravura performance in this same fixture two years ago when England romped to a 33-10 win. With Ireland picking Johnny Sexton ahead of the more experienced Ronan O'Gara, Wilkinson's response will be eagerly awaited. Smith suggested the door was still open for Cipriani to return to Test rugby but admitted he would have preferred him to stay at home. "The disappointment is that by going down there he's almost taking himself out of the running. You don't want to see any of your positions diluted of talent. I'd personally prefer our players not to play in France either but it's something we live with."

As an ex-pat Australian, Smith does not rule out Cipriani flourishing in new surroundings with the Melbourne Rebels. "I did the same thing 20 years ago and I thought I was a better player for it. We hope he comes back a better player because he's got talent. We've all got a stake in Danny Cipriani." France's wing Benjamin Fall, meanwhile, will miss Friday's match against Wales after spraining his left ankle. Fall will be replaced by Julien Malzieu with Marc Andreu added to the bench

via guardian.co.uk

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