Now Rugby » Alex Grove http://www.nowrugby.com The Best Rugby site on the Internet Fri, 18 May 2012 08:36:56 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Fortey set for two hundred http://www.nowrugby.com/fortey-set-for-two-hundred/798.htm http://www.nowrugby.com/fortey-set-for-two-hundred/798.htm#comments Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:34:03 +0000 NOW Rugby http://www.nowrugby.com/?p=798 Hooker Chris Fortey is set to join the exclusive ’200 Club’ in the Guinness Premiership when Worcester Warriors entertain table topping Saracens at Sixways Stadium on Friday evening (kick-off 8pm).

Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock has selected the same starting line-up that drew 12-12 on home soil with Bath Rugby just seven days earlier as he looks for Warriors to secure a third home win of the campaign.

Fortey is named among the replacements and if he plays a part in the encounter will hit the magical 200 game mark in the English top-flight and move to fifth in the all-time league standings for games played.

“Chris is about to hit the 200 Club in the Guinness Premiership and this is yet another example of the durability, professionalism and skill of this Warrior over an extended period,” said Ruddock.

The only change to the 23-man squad comes on the bench where back row James Collins replaces Jake Abbott, currently away on England Sevens duty in Dubai.

Ahead of the game, Ruddock has admitted ‘it doesn’t get much bigger than this’ as his team face the undefeated league leaders.

However, he insists the excitement in the Sixways squad could not be any greater as Warriors prepare to challenge that proud record.

“It would have been good to get four points last week and we felt on balance we just deserved to edge it against Bath. Ultimately it’s gone now, it’s our fault we didn’t nail it down,” he said.

“Now we have got to learn from that and face a really big challenge against Saracens.

“They are undefeated and very difficult to break down. They are not only top of the league but they have also beaten the world champions, South Africa, so it doesn’t get much bigger than this.

“But it’s a game we are all quite excited about and can’t wait for the game to come around.”

Ruddock admits Saracens have fast become the experts of putting pressure on teams to make mistakes and fully expects his side to face a big examination under the Sixways floodlights.

“They are the masters of putting the ball in the corners and squeezing you until you give away points or field position. It will be a tough day for our back three, they will see plenty of the ball,” he said.

“But I’m encouraging my backs to run the ball, especially off first phase because that is the time when most of the forwards are in one huddle, be it a scrum or lineout.

“The only person that will be missing for us is Jake Abbott who is away with England Sevens, which is great news for us and great news for him,” added Ruddock.

“He is another one of our Academy prospects that has achieved international honours. It’s fantastic news so close to Alex Grove, who is set for his third cap for Scotland against Argentina this weekend.”

Tickets remain on sale for the Guinness Premiership clash with Saracens at Sixways Stadium. Call the Warriors Box Office on 01905 454183 or visit the online Tickets section at www.warriors.co.uk

Warriors vs Saracens

  • 15 Chris Latham
  • 14 Marcel Garvey
  • 13 Dale Rasmussen
  • 12 Sam Tuitupou
  • 11 Miles Benjamin
  • 10 Willie Walker
  • 9 Ryan Powell
  • 1 Callum Black
  • 2 Aleki Lutui
  • 3 Tevita Taumoepeau
  • 4 Greg Rawlinson
  • 5 Craig Gillies
  • 6 Tom Wood
  • 7 Pat Sanderson (c)
  • 8 Kai Horstmann

Replacements

  • 16 Adam Black
  • 17 Chris Fortey
  • 18 Olivier Sourgens
  • 19 Graham Kitchener
  • 20 James Collins
  • 21 Jonny Arr
  • 22 Calum MacRae
  • 23 Rico Gear
]]> http://www.nowrugby.com/fortey-set-for-two-hundred/798.htm/feed 0 Scotland side to play Argentina named http://www.nowrugby.com/scotland-side-to-play-argentina-named/767.htm http://www.nowrugby.com/scotland-side-to-play-argentina-named/767.htm#comments Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:07:58 +0000 NOW Rugby http://www.nowrugby.com/?p=767 Scotland have made three changes and one further positional switch in their team for Saturday’s Murrayfield meeting with Argentina.

Following the 9-8 victory over Australia last weekend, head coach Andy Robinson describes the changes as “subtle”. They see 24-year-old Edinburgh flanker Alan MacDonald introduced for his first cap, alongside the return of Ben Cairns (his fellow Royal High School former pupil) and Thom Evans in the back division, with Alex Grove moving to inside centre.

Tickets are on sale now from £10 for adults and £5 for under-18s and students and can be bought online until 12 midnight on Friday at www.scottishrugby.org.

The alternations have been undertaken with a view to delivering a win against Argentina who are above Scotland in the IRB world rankings.

Robinson said: “We do have competition for places and last weekend was about two international victories at Murrayfield against Australia and at Netherdale against Tonga. Australia was a very physical international and that is now history. This selection is about the management of our squad and giving players that performed in the A team an opportunity to deliver a win for Scotland.”

On the new cap Robinson said: “Alan MacDonald has been playing well for Scotland A. His continuity skills are very good and he deserves this chance.”

Scotland team (sponsor Murray) to play Argentina in the Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Test on Saturday 28 November at Murrayfield (kick-off 2.30pm)

  • 15 Rory Lamont (Toulon)
  • 14 Sean Lamont (Scarlets)
  • 13 Ben Cairns (Edinburgh)
  • 12 Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors)
  • 11 Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors)
  • 10 Phil Godman (Edinburgh)
  • 9 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) CAPTAIN
  • 1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh)
  • 2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh)
  • 3 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors)
  • 4 Nathan Hines (Leinster)
  • 5 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors)
  • 6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester)
  • 8 Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors)
  • 7 Alan MacDonald (Edinburgh) *

Substitutes

  • 16 Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors)
  • 17 Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh)
  • 18 Jason White (Clermont Auvergne)
  • 19 Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors)
  • 20 Rory Lawson (Gloucester)
  • 21 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh)
  • 22 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)

Discounted through injury: Mike Blair (Edinburgh)

*= New cap

Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland). Touch-judges: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) and Stuart Terheege (England). TMO: Tony Rowlands (Wales)

]]> http://www.nowrugby.com/scotland-side-to-play-argentina-named/767.htm/feed 0 Robinson names his first Scotland selection http://www.nowrugby.com/robinson-names-his-first-scotland-selection/630.htm http://www.nowrugby.com/robinson-names-his-first-scotland-selection/630.htm#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:37:00 +0000 NOW Rugby http://www.nowrugby.com/?p=630 Head coach Any Robinson has named one new cap in the Scotland team to play Fiji in the Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Test at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Alex Grove, the Worcester Warriors outside centre, who celebrates his 22nd birthday on St Andrew’s Day, will make his debut, while Robinson also lists Moray Low, 24, at tight-head prop to make his first international start and his first cap appearance at Murrayfield.

In all there are ten changes in personnel from the Scotland team that started their last international against England at Twickenham last March for Robinson’s first match as Scotland head coach having been appointed in June.

Robinson told NR: “We have selected a side that’s full of power; that has the pace but also has the skill level to break down the Fijians.

“Fiji are above us in the IRB rankings. They are a very dangerous team to play against. They are a very strong, powerful side who also hit very hard (in the tackle). We have to match fire with fire.”

Scotland team (sponsor Murray) to play Fiji in the Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Test at Murrayfield on Saturday 14 November (kick-off 2.30pm)

  • 15 Rory Lamont (Toulon)
  • 14 Sean Lamont (Scarlets)
  • 13 Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors) new cap
  • 12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors)
  • 11 Simon Danielli (Ulster)
  • 10 Phil Godman (Edinburgh)
  • 9 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) CAPTAIN
  • 1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh)
  • 2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh)
  • 3 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors)
  • 4 Nathan Hines (Leinster)
  • 5 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors)
  • 6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester)
  • 8 Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors)
  • 7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors)

Substitutes

  • 16 Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors)
  • 17 Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh)
  • 18 Jason White (Clermont Auvergne)
  • 19 Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors)
  • 20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh)
  • 21 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh)
  • 22 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)

Referee: Chris White (England). Touch-judges: Carlo Damasco (Italy) and Simon McDowell (Ireland). TMO: Guillio De Santis (Italy)

Not considered through injury: Ben Cairns, Alasdair Dickinson, Max Evans, Jim Hamilton, Ruaridh Jackson and Euan Murray

]]> http://www.nowrugby.com/robinson-names-his-first-scotland-selection/630.htm/feed 0 Garvey returns to Warriors starting lineup http://www.nowrugby.com/garvey-returns-to-warriors-starting-lineup/614.htm http://www.nowrugby.com/garvey-returns-to-warriors-starting-lineup/614.htm#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:09:17 +0000 NOW Rugby http://www.nowrugby.com/?p=614 Wing Marcel Garvey returns to the Worcester Warriors team as the club launches its LV= Cup bid against Newcastle Falcons at Sixways Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 12.30pm).

Speedster Garvey is back in the starting line-up for the first time since injuring his hand against Montpellier in early October.

New Zealand ace Rico Gear moves to outside centre to join forces with Sam Tuitupou, with Alex Grove not considered for selection after an intensive three-day training camp with Scotland this week.

Full back Chris Latham returns to the side after being ruled out for the league game in Newcastle last week with illness.

Three changes in the pack hands recalls for back row Netani Talei, before he links up with Fiji for international action, lock Will Bowley and prop Jack Gilding.

Academy prop Michael Hill and talented young scrum half Ollie Frost are two new faces on the replacements bench for Mike Ruddock’s men.

Tickets remain on sale for the cup clash. For more details call 01905 454183 or visit the online Tickets section at www.warriors.co.uk

Debenture and Season Ticket holders are reminded that their tickets are valid for this fixture. All fans are invited to watch the England versus Australia match in bars around the stadium after the cup game.

Warriors vs Newcastle Falcons

  • 15 Chris Latham
  • 14 Marcel Garvey
  • 13 Rico Gear
  • 12 Sam Tuitupou
  • 11 Miles Benjamin
  • 10 Willie Walker
  • 9 Ryan Powell
  • 1 Callum Black
  • 2 Aleki Lutui
  • 3 Jack Gilding
  • 4 Greg Rawlinson
  • 5 Will Bowley
  • 6 Tom Wood
  • 7 Pat Sanderson (c)
  • 8 Netani Talei

Replacements

  • 16 Michael Hill
  • 17 Chris Fortey
  • 18 Adam Black
  • 19 Craig Gillies
  • 20 Jake Abbott
  • 21 Ollie Frost
  • 22 George Crook
  • 23 Calum MacRae
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