RFU Podcast featuring England vs. Wales

Posted on Aug 5, 2011 in England, Wales

Manu Tuilagi heads a stellar cast list as this week’s RFU Podcast goes inside the England training camp.

The Leicester Tigers centre speaks to us about winning his first cap and the battle to make it onto the plane to New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup.

And we hear from team manager Martin Johnson about the side for Saturday’s Investec International which includes Jonny Wilkinson in the starting line-up while rival boss Warren Gatland warns Wales will be a strong and highly motivated side.

Debutant England centre Manusamoa Tuilagi headlines the RFU.com podcast this week, chatting about winning his first cap against Wales this weekend and the battle to get to New Zealand. England Team Manager Martin Johnson talks about his new outside centre and Jonny Wilkinson, who starts at No.10 on the occasion of his 86th cap. We’ve also got centre Mike Tindall answering Twitter questions; prop Matt Stevens on the August 9 open training session at Twickenham Stadium; Defence Coach Mike Ford on the Rugby World Cup build-up; Peter Winterbottom previewing the finals of the JP Morgan Premiership; and Nicky Ponsford on the three series Test agreement between England Women and arch-rivals New Zealand.

Also in this week’s RFU Podcast:

Mike Tindall answers Twitter questions from England supporters

Matt Stevens looks forward to next Tuesday’s open training session at Twickenham

England legend Peter Winterbottom previews tomorrow’s finals of the JP Morgan Premiership Sevens at the Twickenham Stoop

RFUW Head of Performance Nicky Ponsford tells us about the importance of the new three series Test agreement between England’s women and arch-rivals New Zealand

For the full interviews, check out today’s RFU Podcast. Here you can listen to the weekly podcast.

The RFU Podcast takes you inside English rugby from the grassroots to the elite.

Click here to listen to the RFU Podcast

 

Tuilagi makes England debut against Wales

Posted on Aug 4, 2011 in England

MANUSAMOA TUILAGI will make his England debut against Wales in Saturday’s Investec International at Twickenham Stadium (2.30pm).

The Leicester Tigers centre will start at outside centre as England continue their Rugby World Cup build-up in the first leg of a home and away double header against the Welsh.

“I’m really proud to be winning my first cap,” said the 20-year-old Aviva Premiership Young Player of the Year, who impressed for England Saxons last season. “There is a lot of competition for places and I just want to take this chance and do the best I can for the team. The boys have worked hard during the camp but now we have to perform against Wales. ”

Tuilagi will partner London Wasps’ Riki Flutey, while flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson will win his 86th cap and Delon Armitage also gets a start at fullback.

Lewis Moody captains the side in a pack that also sees Matt Stevens start an international for the first time since November 2008, while there are bench call-ups for the uncapped Saracens lock Mouritz Botha and Gloucester wing Charlie Sharples.

England
15 Delon Armitage (London Irish)
14 Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
12 Riki Flutey (London Wasps)
11 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
10 Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)
9 Danny Care (Harlequins)
1 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3 Matt Stevens (Saracens)
4 Simon Shaw (Unattached)
5 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
7 Lewis Moody (capt, Bath Rugby)
8 James Haskell (Ricoh Black Rams)
Replacements
16 Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
17 Dave Wilson (Bath Rugby)
18 Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
19 Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
20 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
21 Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)
22 Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)

Wales vs. Baa Baas to be full cap international

Posted on Apr 1, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

The WRU has announced that the Wales versus Barbarians fixture at the Millennium Stadium on June 4 will be a full cap international which ensures the outcome of the game is vitally important for Rugby World Cup squad preparation.

The decision has been taken by the WRU Board of Directors in recognition of the status of the fixture and its importance to Welsh rugby history.

The match has been organised to commemorate the 130^thanniversary of the formation of the WRU as the governing body of the union game in Wales.

Wales coach Warren Gatland will be out to rewrite the history books which show that Wales have only beaten the Barbarians twice and have lost five times.

Caps have been awarded by Wales twice before in games against the Barbarians first in the Baa Baa’s centenary celebration match in 1990 and again in 1996.

The first Wales versus Barbarians game took place in 1915 when Wales lost by 26 points to 10 and the last encounter  between the two teams was in 2004 when Wales secured their second victory by a margin of 42 – 0.

The last capped international against the Barbarians in 1996 featured Rob Howley and Neil Jenkins, both currently integral parts of the Wales national squad coaching team, as half backs for their country

The match also marked the first cap won by Martyn Williams who has currently played 98 times for Wales.

On June 4 the Barbarians will bring a formidable side to the Millennium Stadium under a coaching team which will be officially announced shortly.

The Barbarians have already begun their match planning and are also seeking to name a captain soon for the match.

To mark the 130^thanniversary the WRU is inviting a 1,000 voice massed choir to sing at the stadium before and during the game to help create a unique match-day atmosphere for fans.

(more…)

The waiting is nearly over…

Posted on Feb 4, 2011 in Rugby News

The waiting is nearly over for Tom Wood as he prepares to win his first cap for England when the RBS 6 Nations kicks off in Cardiff tomorrow.

The Northampton Saints flanker was told he’d won his starting spot while England were training in Portugal and he can’t wait to get going.

"It was in a gym session in Portugal and Martin Johnson came over and gave me the nod," he told the RFU Podcast.

"I’ve struggled to wipe the smile off my face ever since and I think it was my best gym session ever. I feel prepared, I feel confident so I’m sure everything will go well on the day."

(more…)

Wales team to face England

Posted on Feb 2, 2011 in Rugby News

Wales assistant coach Rob Howley has predicted his side’s meeting with England in the RBS 6 Nations opener at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night will be “a battle of inches not yards.”

Howley is in charge of a back line which sees Scarlets wing Morgan Stoddart return to international duty for the first time since the Autumn of 2008 and finds a place for Osprey James Hook at full back with his regional colleague Lee Byrne on the bench.

(more…)