Hamilton set for Gloucester debut at the Madejski

Posted on Sep 17, 2010 in English Rugby, Premiership

Scottish international second row Jim Hamilton will make his debut for Gloucester Rugby as they travel to the Madejski Stadium for Sunday’s Aviva Premiership Rugby clash with London Irish.

Hamilton has been sidelined with a virus leaving him a frustrated spectator for Gloucester’s opening two fixtures but now packs down alongside Alex Brown in the second row.

Also returning to the starting line up is fellow Scotland international Alasdair Strokosch who starts at blindside with Brett Deacon moving across to number eight.

Able to call upon Hamilton’s services for the first time, Head Coach Bryan Redpath explained what he (Hamilton) will bring to the side.

“Jim’s another lineout option. He’s obviously a big man, he’s called lineouts for Scotland and Edinburgh and he takes a little bit of heat of Browny and puts a bit of heat on them as well.”

“He’s a big angry man. He’s 130kgs which hopefully he’s going to throw around. He’s here to be physical and that’s what we want.”

Talking to the media ahead of the game, Redpath was quick to pinpoint the key area of improvement from the first two games.

“Too many individual errors. I think 25 against Exeter and 17 last Saturday. We’re creating a huge amount of scoring opportunities but not finishing them off.”

“We’ve been far better than we have been previously defensively and in terms of discipline but need to show a little more patience and composure.”

“Irish are a good side. We’re playing away from home, four yellow cards last year down there. They have a dangerous back three. You kick poorly, you kick loosely and you’re going to get punished.”

“We have to have a very strong disciplined game to play against them. It’s a big challenge for us this weekend. But we need to be up for it. It’s about us and not all about the opposition.”

Gloucester Rugby:

Charlie Sharples; James Simpson-Daniel, Mike Tindall (capt), Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, Lesley Vainikolo; Nicky Robinson, Rory Lawson; Alasdair Dickinson, Scott Lawson, Pierre Capdevielle; Jim Hamilton, Alex Brown; Alasdair Strokosch, Andy Hazell, Brett Deacon

Replacements:

Olivier Azam, Nick Wood, Rupert Harden, Dave Attwood, Luke Narraway, Dave Lewis, Tim Taylor, Tim Molenaar 

Connacht side to meet Warriors

Posted on Sep 16, 2010 in Irish Rugby, Magners League, Scottish Rugby

Eric Elwood has named his starting XV to play the Glasgow Warriors tomorrow evening (Firhill, 19.30)

The team sees just one change from the side that narrowly lost to Scarlets last weekend. Andrew Browne marks his return from injury and replaces Dave Nolan on the bench.

Ray Ofisa, Niva Ta’auso and Bernie Upton all passed fitness tests and travelled with the squad to Glasgow this morning.
Scrumhalf Frank Murphy continues to deputise for the injured John Muldoon.

Connacht v Warriors – Firhill, Friday 17th ko 19.30

1 Brett Wilkinson
2 Sean Cronin
3 Jamie Hagan
4 Michael Swift
5 Bernie Upton
6 Michael McCarthy
7 Ray Ofisa
8 Mike McComish
9 Frank Murphy (C)
10 Ian Keatley
11 Fionn Carr
12 Keith Matthews
13 Niva Ta’auso
14 Troy Nathan
15 Gavin Duffy

16 Adrian Flavin
17 Ronan Loughney
18 Rob Sweeney
19 Andrew Browne
20 Shane Conneely
21 Cillian Willis
22 Miah Nikora
23 Tiernan O’Halloran

Deacon makes first senior start for Gloucester

Posted on Sep 10, 2010 in English Rugby, Premiership

Brett Deacon, one of Gloucester Rugby’s summer signings, will make his first senior start for the club against Leeds Carnegie on Saturday (kick off 3pm) as Bryan Redpath makes five changes to his starting line up.

Deacon will make his first start in the number six shirt as Gloucester look to bounce back from last weekend’s opening day defeat at the Exeter Chiefs.

Further changes see Charlie Sharples come in for Olly Morgan at full back and Rory Lawson return at scrum half.

Alasdair Dickinson is named at loose head with Nick Wood moving to the replacements bench and Andy Hazell gets the nod at open side.

Redpath admitted that it’s not been an easy week following the defeat at Sandy Park but that the homework has been done and the side are ready for the visit of Leeds.

“Monday was tough because we reviewed the unedited video and went through the errors and mistakes. It needed to be looked at and it was pretty honest. Everyone has had their say.”

“There was some frustration but we have to move onwards and upwards. Training has been good this week, quite lively and we need to see a reaction this weekend and kick off the season properly.”

“I’m interested in our performance. If we get that right then we can beat anybody. We have to challenging in attack and aggressive in defence. Our core basics need to be better. We need to impose our game on them.”

“But talk is cheap and it will be tough. They’re an error free side who play very good set piece and are good in the contact area. We’ll have to be smart.”

“It’s a tough league and you can’t disrespect anyone. Leeds will be no pushover, they’re a dangerous outfit. But we need to get our performance right and the result will take care of itself.”

Gloucester Rugby:

Charlie Sharples; James Simpson-Daniel, Mike Tindall (capt), Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, Lesley Vainikolo; Nicky Robinson, Rory Lawson, Alasdair Dickinson, Scott Lawson, Pierre Capdevielle; Dave Attwood, Alex Brown; Brett Deacon, Andy Hazell, Luke Narraway

Replacements:

Olivier Azam, Nick Wood, Rupert Harden, Will James, Peter Buxton, Dave Lewis, Tim Taylor, Tim Molenaar

Exeter name strong sides for weekend double header

Posted on Aug 20, 2010 in Rugby News

Exeter Chiefs will kick-off their preparations for life in the Aviva Premiership Rugby with a double-header against Magners League outfit Cardiff Blues and Championship side Cornish Pirates at Sandy Park this weekend.

Having bolstered his squad with 11 new signings during the course of the summer, Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter admits he is relishing the two fixtures. He said: “The two games represent our first competitive outings since we won promotion almost three months ago – and although I know it has dragged on for some of our supporters, from the playing staff it seems to have flown by.

“The games against Cardiff and the Pirates, plus that of the Scarlets next week, are vital ingredients in terms of our preparation for the new season. As a club we deliberately looked for tough games as we need to learn as a team about the intensity that will be required in the top flight.”

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Andrew on dropped Borthwick

Posted on Jul 2, 2010 in Rugby News

Rob Andrew has saluted the leadership of Steve Borthwick and hailed the arrival of England’s new generation. On the day the England Elite Player Squads were announced, the RFU’s Elite Rugby Director told the RFU Podcast, “Steve’s done a fantastic job in a difficult period of rebuilding. “He carried himself and the England team well and it was a very tough call (to leave him out of the senior squad).”

With Borthwick recovering from injury, the door opened for the likes of Dave Attwood and Courtney Lawes to shine and Andrew added, “We’ve tried hard to create real competition and strength in depth. With so many young players coming through, all the players know they have to perform to hang on to their shirt.”

There have been 11 changes to the EPS announced in January, including the elevation of Attwood and Dan Cole and addition of Lawes, whilst Borthwick has been included in the England Saxons EPS.

England’s five-match Australasia tour included three midweek matches. “Those midweek matches were just as important – if not more so – that the Test matches because they gave that next level of player the chance to play in some very competitive games,” added Andrew.

The England Podcast can be downloaded here