Magners round 5 preview

Posted on Sep 29, 2010 in Magners League

50,000 sell-out predicted for Dublin clash

The last round of Magners League games before the onset of European competition will see a record breaking crowd at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin to watch Leinster take on rivals, Munster, on Saturday evening. Leinster previously held the record for the League’s biggest gate, when 48,000 packed into the old Lansdowne Road to watch the ‘Last Stand’ game between Leinster and Ulster on New Year’s Eve 2006, and will better that if the game is, as expected, a 50,000 sell out.

On the pitch table topping Muster must begin as favourites following Leinster’s slow start to the season, but the hosts have won their last four games against their rivals, and will be anxious to continue their good record when playing at the national stadium.

In order to avoid clashing with another sporting spectacle, the Ryder Cup, Magners League Round 5 kicks-off with a game in Cardiff on Thursday night, the Blues hosting Connacht. Both teams have made a good start the season, with just one loss apiece, but Blues will be hoping to extend their perfect home record against the Irish Province.

Friday sees two games, Benetton Treviso against Newport Gwent Dragons and Ulster versus Glasgow Warriors. Treviso have made the better start of the two Italian newcomers, with a won two lost two record to date, and will be anxious to claim another Welsh scalp in front of their enthusiastic fans, having lost to Cardiff Blues in the last round but defeated Scarlets in the opening game.

Ulster’s perfect start to the season ended with the draw at the Sportsground on Saturday, and as The Warriors have a good track record at Ravenhill, their hosts will have to perform at their best to maintain their undefeated record.

The final two games of the round take place on Saturday, Airoini Rugby, who have not had the best of starts to their inaugural Magners League campaign, hosting Edinburgh Rugby, who themselves have only recorded one victory to date. Scarlets, currently sitting second in the table, welcome reigning champions Ospreys to Parc y Scarlets where the hosts will be keen to overturn Ospreys perfect two out of two record at their new home. Having scored 16 tries so far, narrowly missing out on their 4^th bonus point last weekend, Scarlets are showing the form to do so.

Leinster squad updates

Posted on Sep 29, 2010 in Irish Rugby, Leinster

The Leinster squad trained on Monday afternoon in UCD ahead of Saturday’s Magners League clash with Munster at the Aviva Stadium (KO: 7.30pm).

A decision on Jonathan Sexton (quad) will be made at the team announcement on Thursday afternoon, but Ed O’Donoghue (knee) has been ruled out for this weekend’s game. Other than that Leinster reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s derby and Nathan Hines is also expected to return to the panel this weekend.

Rob Kearney made his 100^th appearance for the province in the Edinburgh game and is now one of seven players in the current panel to have passed the century milestone.

Saturday’s clash in the Aviva Stadium will break the Magners League record of 48,000 which was previously set in Lansdowne Road at ‘The Last Stand’ on December 31^st, 2006. Just over 1,000 tickets are on sale for Leinster v Munster and are still available

Joe Schmidt’s preview and Leinster team to face Edinburgh

Posted on Sep 23, 2010 in Rugby News

The Leinster team to face Edinburgh in Friday night’s Magners League clash at Murrayfield (KO: 7.05pm, LIVE RTE 2) has been named.

Rob Kearney will make his 100^th Leinster appearance on Friday and the Cooley man will become the 17^th Leinster player to reach the landmark feat. Kearney is named in a backline which features seven Ireland internationals including Brian O’Driscoll and Jonathan Sexton, who makes his first appearance this season.

In the pack, skipper Shane Jennings forms a back-row partnership with Dominic Ryan and Stephen Keogh who starts at number eight, while second-row Devin Toner also makes his seasonal debut.

Isaac Boss, Jamie Heaslip and Cian Healy are all named amongst the replacements.

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Shane Horgan
13: Brian O’Driscoll
12: Gordon D’Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan
1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Ed O’Donoghue
5: Devin Toner
6: Dominic Ryan
7: Shane Jennings CAPTAIN
8: Stephen Keogh

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Jason Harris-Wright
17: Cian Healy
18: Simon Shawe
19: Mariano Galarza
20: Jamie Heaslip
21: Isaac Boss
22: Isa Nacewa
23: Eoin O’Malley

REFEREE:Tim Hayes (WRU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Iain Heard, Bob Nevans (both SRU), TMO: Ian Ramage (SRU)

Speaking ahead of Friday night’s Magners League clash in Edinburgh, Leinster Coach Joe Schmidt said:

On areas for improvement: “It will be a tough trip to Edinburgh because they haven’t had a win yet and they’ll be desperate to (do so). They’re a good side with quality right across the board.

“As was demonstrated last week against Treviso, all teams have their quality and if you’re not accurate enough on the night then all of the games will tend to be in the balance. We were disappointed that we didn’t create a great platform to play from, particularly in the conditions which were consistent rain throughout.

“Our defence was something else for us to improve on and we didn’t quite dominate them in the collisions.”

Early impressions of the Magners League: “I have been really impressed by the quality of all the teams in the Magners League so far. There’s no team that you can take for granted. Aironi, for example, have put up a really good fight so far and we know how strong Benetton Treviso are at home.

“It was great for Connacht to get their first away win in two and a half years (away to Glasgow) and they were very unlucky against the Scarlets the previous week. The Scarlets started with a loss away to Treviso on week one, but now they’re in third place, so we’d like to follow their lead having also lost to Treviso to hopefully push ourselves up the ladder as well.”

On Edinburgh: “They have a pretty tough pack and a solid set-piece. You have to have your discipline right because in Chris Paterson they have a very accurate kicker, kicking out of hand he’s very good as well. His counter-attack is also very strong.

“Tim Visser was named on the Magners League Dream Team last year and he has scored some very impressive tries – and I don’t think he’s finished yet either because he got a great one against Ulster last weekend beating four players down a five metre touchline.

“Across the board they’re pretty strong. Mike Blair obviously at 9 is a great director of play. He’s a very good defender and a very competent all-round player so he’s someone we’ve got to keep an eye on this week.”

On the short turnaround this week: “We put training back to Monday evening because of the late return from Italy and we wanted to give the boys a little bit more time to recover. It does affect your turnaround and your opportunity to recover so you really only get one good window to train, and that’s Wednesday for us.”

On Rob Kearney’s 100^th appearance: “I’m new to Leinster but to become the 17^th Leinster centurion at such a young age, when there’s so much more upside to come, is a great achievement. He’s a genuine athlete as well as a highly skilled player. Him being back on the field for us on Saturday night was a real positive and I think that he’ll get more and more comfortable and hopefully add more to our game.”

“Awesome” game in prospect: Warriors vs Munster

Posted on Sep 23, 2010 in Rugby News

Glasgow Warriors head coach Sean Lineen is anticipating an "awesome" game against unbeaten Magners League leaders Munster at Firhill on Friday night (24 September, kick-off 7.30pm) as his charges look to bounce back from last weekend’s loss to Connacht.
"Munster are all about momentum," said Lineen. "They are leading the Magners League and never play a bad game so I’m looking forward to what should be an awesome night."

The Warriors have made three changes – one in the pack and two in the backs – to the starting XV that lost to Connacht last weekend.
The only change up front sees prop Moray Low swap his place on the bench with Ed Kalman.
In the backs, Duncan Weir will make his first starting appearance for Glasgow in place of Ruaridh Jackson whilst Federico Aramburu returns in place of Hefin O’Hare who is on Scotland 7s duty ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
As Weir is handed his first start of the season, Lineen said: "Ruaridh has had three games in a row and I’ve been really impressed with how he’s played. He’s got the line moving in both attack and defence but Duncan really deserves his chance.
"I’ve been really encouraged by both players and how they are pushing each other upwards. It’s great to have two such ambitious 10s."

Glasgow Warriors team to play Munster in the Magners League at Firhill on Friday 24 September (kick-off 7.30pm)
15 Bernardo Stortoni
14 DTH van der Merwe
13 Max Evans
12 Graeme Morrison
11 Federico Aramburu
10 Duncan Weir
9 Colin Gregor
1 Jon Welsh
2 Fergus Thomson
3 Moray Low
4 Tom Ryder
5 Richie Gray
6 Robert Harley
7 John Barclay CAPTAIN
8 Richie Vernon

Substitutes from: Dougie Hall, Ed Kalman, Kevin Tkachuk, Aly Muldowney, Ryan Wilson, Calum Forrester, Henry Pyrgos, Ruaridh Jackson, Rob Dewey, Peter Murchie

Godman out for six months

Posted on Sep 23, 2010 in Rugby News

Phil Godman, the 28-year-old Edinburgh and Scotland stand-of, will be out of rugby for at least the next six months after he sustained a serious knee injury in training.
Godman tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during an Edinburgh training session yesterday. He underwent a scan at Spire Murrayfield Hospital last night and the results were reviewed by the Edinburgh and Scotland medical teams this morning.
Scotland team doctor James Robson said: "Phil sustained the injury in non-contact training yesterday. His rehabilitation starts now. He will have to undergo surgery in due course to repair the knee ligaments but the Edinburgh and Scotland medical teams will be working to deliver him ready to be considered for selection for the Rugby World Cup squad next year.
"I have seen Phil this morning and there are many examples of players returning to full international duty having sustained this kind of injury. From our own national squad Jason White and Nathan Hines have both recovered to play a full part in international rugby after ACL damage.
Edinburgh head coach Rob Moffat said: "It’s desperately bad luck for Phil who has just played his 100th Magners League game for the club and is a key player for us. Clearly, we wish him a speedy recovery."
Godman’s injury means David Blair is promoted from the bench to the starting XV for Friday’s Magners League match against Leinster at Murrayfield (kick-off 7.05pm).
Tom Brown, last season’s Scotland under-20 full-back, is enlisted to the bench and should he be called into match action would be making his Magners League debut.
Phil Godman, who won his 23rd and most recent Scotland cap in last season’s Calcutta Cup draw against England, said: "I have to focus on my rehabilitation and target being available to go to the World Cup, which is a massive ambition for me."