Tialata called into All Blacks squad

Posted on Nov 8, 2010 in NZ, Rugby News

Wellington prop Neemia Tialata has been called into the All Blacks squad for the remainder of the BackingBlack Tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland, with injured prop Ben Franks to head home.

All Blacks Doctor Deb Robinson said 26-year-old Franks had a scan in London today which had confirmed he had a small disc bulge in his lower back.  Franks was injured while taking part in a stretching session on Friday.

“The injury means that he would have been unavailable for the next two Tests against Scotland and Ireland and then only a possibility for the final Test against Wales,” she said.

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry said: “It’s obviously a huge disappointment for Ben but he understands that it’s in his best interests to go home and rehabilitate.  Neemia’s ability to play both tighthead and loosehead makes him the logical choice to replace Ben.”

28-year-old Tialata has played 43 Tests for the All Blacks since his debut in 2005 and last played for the All Blacks in the Steinlager Series Tests against Ireland and Wales in New Zealand in June this year.

England sevens get a good start with win over Sri Lanka

Posted on Oct 11, 2010 in Rugby News

James Rodwell’s hat-trick set England on the way to a 59-7 win over minnows Sri Lanka on the opening morning of the Commonwealth Games Sevens in Delhi.

The 2006 silver medallists breezed through their first Pool D game by scoring nine tries to register the biggest total of the day so far.

The try treble from former Moseley forward Rodwell was backed up by Ben Gollings, the Sevens world record points scorer, who touched down twice and converted seven of England’s tries for a 24-point haul.

There were two tries from Saracens scrum half Kevin Barrett and one apiece from the Army’s Isoa Damudamu and Kent wing Dan Caprice. Sri Lanka’s consolation came from Anuradha Sooriyabandara.

England face Uganda and Australia in today’s remaining pool games.

Elsewhere, Wales opened their account in Pool B with a 56-7 win over hosts India, Lee Williams and Tom Prydie both touching down twice, while Scotland beat Guyana 26-0 in Pool A with Lee Jones scoring a hat-trick.

England: Isoa Damudamu, Greg Barden, James Rodwell, Dan Norton, Dan Caprice, Kevin Barrett, Ben Gollings.

Replacements: Tom Powell, Simon Hunt, Mathew Turner, John Brake, Chris Cracknell.

Scorers: Tries: Rodwell 3, Barrett 2, Gollings 2, Caprice, Damudamu. Conversions: Gollings 7.

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.

England Commonwealth squad warm up against Canada

Posted on Oct 4, 2010 in Rugby News

England will test themselves with a warm-up game against Canada in Delhi as the countdown begins to next week’s Commonwealth Games Sevens.

Ben Ryan’s squad held a first rugby session at their Delhi University training ground on Monday, seven days away from the tournament which sees them take on Sri Lanka, Uganda and Australia on October 11 with the knock-out stages on October 12.

With 12 weeks of training behind them, the players led by 2006 silver medallist Ben Gollings are putting the finishing touches to their preparations.

And they arrived in Delhi in good spirits, made aware of the significance of the event by some high profile encounters en route to India and on arrival in the Athletes Village.

Head coach Ryan said: “Our journey was very straightforward – a seven and a half hour flight and only four hours of jetlag to get over which is simple compared to some of the journeys we’re used to.

“Daley Thompson sitting alongside us on the plane was pretty good – although some of the younger lads didn’t know who he was and we’ve had to put them right – then on our first day walking around the pool we ran into Prince Charles, Camilla and Prince Edward. It hits home to you that this is a pretty big event and there’s plenty of interaction with other athletes as well.

“We’ll have a blow-out at the beginning of the week as part of our heat protocols, finishing off the projects that we were doing at [the National Sports Centre] Bisham Abbey, then we’ll have a runaround against Canada.

“We might pick another team to have a conditioned game with and then it’s just a matter of keeping the players topped up. We’ve done a lot of good work now so we just need to make sure they’ll stay healthy and the training in India will supplement that.

“Everyone’s raring to go and in really good spirits, getting on well with each other and taking all the distractions in their stride. They’ve all done remarkably well so far.

“All the facilities are great and the training facilities are brilliant.

"In the gym we were sharing the space with the Australian female high jumpers and some of the England gymnasts. I looked out of the window and saw some of the Nigerian sprinters doing their starts and some of the hurdlers and pole vaulters doing their work too.

“We’re doing our best to make sure we get that valuable insight and interaction with the other teams – particularly within Team England – but also staying on task and it’s a good learning experience for everyone.”

Good news on Ben Lewis’s neck injury

Posted on Sep 29, 2010 in Ospreys, Welsh Rugby

The Ospreys are pleased to be able to confirm that Ben Lewis has been discharged from Morriston Hospital in Swansea after sustaining a neck injury during Saturday’s win over Aironi at the Liberty Stadium.

Head Physio Chris Towers explained:

“I’m pleased to be able to say that it’s good news regarding Ben’s recovery.

“After being admitted to Morriston Hospital on Saturday night and undergoing tests and examination, Ben has now been discharged from hospital, and fortunately, has no lasting damage from the neck injury sustained.

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