England make one change for Australia game

Posted on Nov 10, 2010 in Rugby News

England Team Manager Martin Johnson has made one change to his starting XV to face Australia in the second Investec International at Twickenham on Saturday, November 13 (2.30pm).

Northampton Saints hooker Dylan Hartley, who scored a second half try against New Zealand as a replacement, comes in for Leeds Carnegie’s Steve Thompson at No. 2. The only other change in the match day squad comes on the bench where experienced London Wasps lock Simon Shaw replaces Gloucester Rugby’s David Attwood.

Bath Rugby’s Lewis Moody will lead the side out for the fifth successive game with the Cook Cup at stake.

England field 13 of the starting line-up that beat Australia 21-20 in Sydney in the last meeting between the two sides, with Sale Sharks loose head Andrew Sheridan coming in for London Wasps’s Tim Payne and Hartley in for Thompson as the only changes.

England team to face Australia

15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby)
12 Shontayne Hape (Bath Rugby)
11 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
10 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
5 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
7 Lewis Moody (Bath Rugby, captain)
8 Nick Easter (Harlequins)

Replacements:
16 Steve Thompson (Leeds Carnegie)
17 David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
18 Simon Shaw (London Wasps)
19 Hendre Fourie (Leeds Carnegie)
20 Danny Care (Harlequins)
21 Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks)
22 Delon Armitage (London Irish)

Wood brought into England setup

Posted on Nov 9, 2010 in Rugby News

Tom Wood (Northampton Saints) has been brought into the England Senior EPS today as injury cover for Bath Rugby’s Lewis Moody (general soreness – head).

George Chuter (Leicester Tigers) remains with his club and will play for them against Australia tomorrow night.

The England test team to play Australia in the Investec Internationals on Saturday November 13 (kick off 2.30pm) will be named via the news wires at 12.00pm on Tuesday November 9.

Ireland team to play South Africa

Posted on Nov 2, 2010 in Rugby News

The Ireland team to play South Africa in the opening game of the 2010 Guinness Series shows the return of several players who missed the summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.

Luke Fitzgerald starts his first international in nearly a year since playing in the Australia game last November and is named on the left wing, with Tommy Bowe and Rob Kearney making up the other back three positions.

Eoin Reddan has been given the starting berth at scrum half and Rory Best will start at hooker after missing the summer tour due to an ankle injury.  Best will pack down in the front row with Tony Buckley and Cian Healy at tight and loose head respectively, both of whom started the last international against Australia.

Donncha O’Callaghan and Mick O’Driscoll also both started the game in June against Australia and will again be the second row partnership for this game.  Both Stephen Ferris and David Wallace are named in the back row alongside Jamie Heaslip.

The final replacement spot will be decided later in the week with Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble and Keith Earls all in the frame.

Ireland Team (to play South Africa, Guinness Series 2010, Aviva Stadium, November 6th, 17:30)

15 – Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) Captain
12 – Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 – Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrcok College/Leinster)
10 – Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
9 – Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
1 – Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 – Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 – Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
4 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 – Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
6 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 – David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 – Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
17 – Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 – Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 – Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 – Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
21 – Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 – Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster) / Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) / Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

Ben Gollings Delhi Diary

Posted on Oct 8, 2010 in Rugby News

England, the 2006 silver medallists, play in the Commonwealth Games Sevens in India on October 11-12, starting with pool stage games against Sri Lanka, Uganda and Australia.

October 7: We had the best training session of our time in Delhi so far when we took on Scotland for some full-contact work out at Hindu College. Then we were able to unwind and watch the 100m finals in the main athletics stadium in the evening.

In our first warm-up outing against Canada on Tuesday we weren’t at our best and it forced us to be a bit more honest. We had to look at ourselves. You can cruise along in your own little bubble but if you don’t go out and try things and see if they make a positive change, then you never know.

In response to not getting things right first time the Sevens boys have done what they always do well – bounce back, raise the mood and relax a bit. We’re at the Commonwealth Games but what we do is still essentially the same. We enjoy the occasion and enjoy our rugby. We’ve had a pretty heavy week’s training and to finish on such a high, looking sharp and composed in defence and attack, was great. We have a well-earned rest day tomorrow.

The 100m finals were pretty impressive. In the men’s final, Lerone Clarke looked in great shape just warming up – casually cruising along but so sharp you kind of weren’t surprised he won it – while Mark Lewis Francis had a shocking start and then pulled things back, which was impressive too. They are just lightning and it’s pretty amazing to watch it live. You finally understand how quick it is – and there are guys like Usain Bolt who can go quicker…

To be able to pop out to the athletics and have a watch was exciting and the boys all enjoyed it. We’ll get to have a look at some more other sports tomorrow – with more athletics and hockey on the agenda, as well as some quality rest as things build up towards our game days on Monday and Tuesday.

New Zealand schools team to play Australia schools

Posted on Oct 5, 2010 in NZ, SANZAR

New Zealand Schools Coach Karl Jones and his Assistant Coach Andrew Douglas have named their team to play the one-off international against Australia Schools in Dunedin tomorrow.

Following last week’s resounding 65 – 3 win over Tonga Schools in Hamilton, the New Zealand Schools team battled against a solid Otago Under 19 side in Dunedin yesterday, winning 27 – 11.

Karl Jones said the game was just what the team needed heading into their match against Australia.

“Yesterday’s match was exactly the physical challenge we needed. We were tested in defence and had to launch a variety of attacks to penetrate the Otago line,” Jones said.

The team is expecting a tougher match against Australia but they will be looking to repeat their win against Australia last year.

“All the boys have put in some hard work and displayed some outstanding rugby in the past week. The number of quality players we had to choose from made selection of this team quite difficult.

“I’m confident that we have the team that will put us in the best position to take this game, but we’re not taking anything for granted. We know Australia will have a score to settle and will come out hard,” he said.

New Zealand Schools play Australia Schools at Otago Boys’ High School in Dunedin on Wednesday. Kick-off is at 11:45am. The match will be broadcast live on SKY Rugby Channel.

New Zealand Schools team to play Australia Schools:

1. Fraser Armstrong ~ Hamilton Boys’ High School

2. Gafatasi Su`a ~ Mt Albert Grammar School

3. Ofa Tuungafasi ~ Mangere College

4. Michael Fatialofa ~ Mt Albert Grammar School

5. Nick Ross, vice-captain Hamilton Boys’ High School

6. Tupou Sopoaga ~ Wellington College

7. Jacob Heenan ~ Whanagrei Boys’ High School

8. Adam Burn ~ Hamilton Boys’ High School

9. TJ Perenara, captain Mana College

10. Matt McGahan ~ Mt Albert Grammar School

11. Junior Tofa Va’a ~ Kelston Boys’ High School

12. Ope Peleseuma ~ St Patrick’s College (Silverstream)

13. James Lowe ~ Nelson College

14. Milford Keresoma Mt Albert Grammar School

15. Albert Nikoro ~ Mt Albert Grammar School

Reserves:

16. Michael Gardner ~ St Bede’s College

17. Tuki Raimona ~ Southland Boys’ High School

18. Joe Latta ~ Wellington College

19. Siulogo Fotofili ~ Wesley College

20. Doug Horrocks ~ Fielding High School

21. Bryn Hall ~ St Peter’s College

22. Scott Eade ~ Southland Boys’ High School

23. Jason Emery ~ Palmerston North Boys’ High School

24. Matt Proctor ~ St Patrick’s College (Town)

New Zealand Schools matches:

27 September: New Zealand Schools 65 v Tonga 3, Hamilton

1 October: New Zealand Schools 27 v Otago Under-19 11, Dunedin

6 October: New Zealand Schools v Australia, Dunedin