Ireland squad for NZ tour

Posted on May 21, 2012 in Ireland

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has named a 29 man squad that includes three uncapped players for the three test tour of New Zealand in June.

Declan Fitzpatrick and Mike Sherry are included up front while Simon Zebo is named in the backs as is Darren Cave, who won two caps on the North American tour in 2009.

There are a number of spaces left vacant with a further prop, second row, back row and scrum half to be added before the squad departs for New Zealand.

Brian O’Driscoll returns to the Ireland squad for the first time since the Rugby World Cup and has been confirmed as Captain for the tour.

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England women unbeaten in series win over NZ

Posted on Dec 5, 2011 in England, English Rugby, Women's Rugby

England Women’s had to settle for a draw in the final match of the three-test series against world champions New Zealand today (Saturday) with the Black Ferns denying England a clean sweep of wins as they held them to a 8-8 draw at Esher RFC.

The final Test, which saw England go in 2-0 up and series winners after a 10-0 victory at Twickenham Stadium seven days ago and a 21-7 win on Tuesday, was the closest of battles with New Zealand registering their best performance of the series.

The Black Ferns had led for most of the match with an early Renee Wickliffe try but England substitute Natasha Hunt levelled the score with a 55th minute touch down. Penalties from England skipper Katy McLean, on her 50th cap, and her opposite number Kelly Brazier equalled the score. New Zealand, however, have never lost back-to-back internationals or been nilled before so for England this autumn international series was sweet revenge after their Rugby World Cup final heartache in 2010.

England Head Coach Gary Street said: “If I had been offered two wins and a draw against the world champions ten days ago I would have happily taken that result, so even though today’s performance wasn’t our best, I am happy. I think maybe winning the series 2-0 on Tuesday may have taken the edge off us today but the players showed real resilience to level the match after going behind in the first half.

“We have learned so much about ourselves since the world cup final 15 months ago but really this is just the starting point of where this England team can go. Having 12 players in Dubai for the IRB 7s where the team got to the final and six of our first choice players out injured, means that we are starting to show the real strength in depth we have got. We have been able to give massive opportunities to some youngsters in this series who have come through with flying colours and with two months to go before the Six Nations starts we are in good shape.

“I would also like to pay tribute to our backroom staff that have done an amazing job and worked tirelessly in getting three squads out in seven days which is a real achievement.”

Just as they did four days ago England started today’s test match strongly, putting New Zealand under immediate pressure. An England line-out just five metres out from New Zealand’s try-line gave England the territory and although they lifted too early England forced a penalty. Skipper McLean couldn’t make the kick but soon had another chance on six minutes and put England 3-0 ahead.

The world champions were, however, a rejuvenated outfit today, and were clearly determined not to go home winless. They took their opportunities well and when a ball went loose after a crunching tackle on wing Katherine Merchant, Wickliffe picked up and sprinted down the left wing. Fullback Emily Scarratt put in a great tackle, but it was not enough to stop the Black Fern from touching down. Brazier couldn’t make the conversion, but the visitors led 5-3 after 12 minutes.

New Zealand were left battling with just 14 men after fullback Hazel Tubic was sent to the sin-bin for a late tackle on Scarratt but England weren’t able to take advantage of their extra man. In fact, it was the Black Ferns who, although they didn’t get near England’s try line, put England under real pressure with Brazier and Justine Lavea combining and then Brazier having a second shot of goal. This time she made no mistake with the penalty and put New Zealand 8-3 ahead at half time.

England made a raft of changes at the break to get some fresh legs on. McLean had another chance at goal early on with New Zealand being penalised for several offences, but the England fly half couldn’t make the kick. The Black Ferns then fell foul of the referee once again with flanker Lydia Crossman this time ending up in the sin bin. England, this time, did make the most of their opportunities. First a good line-out and drive saw England come close  and then moments later another well worked line-out saw England drive forward and scrum-half Hunt spotted a space to dive in and over the line. McLean missed the conversion but England were now back in the game at 8-8. 

From there on in, it was end to end action with both sides pushing forward but also being penalised for their mistakes. With nine minutes to go New Zealand went close when Tupic and captain Victoria Grant found space out-wide but Tupic’s pass was far too ambitious and a possible score went amiss. England clung on, however, and showed tremendous strength in their defence to keep a hurting New Zealand side at bay.

England 

15 Emily         Scarratt          (Lichfield), 14 Katherine     Merchant       (Worcester), 13 Rachael Burford (Richmond), 12 Alice Richardson (Richmond), 11 Kay            Wilson (Bristol), 10 Katy     McLean            (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) (C), 9 La Toya Mason        (Wasps), 1 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 2 Amy Turner (Richmond), 3 Sophie Hemming    (Bristol), 4 Rebecca Essex(Richmond), 5 Tamara            Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 6 Alexandra Matthews (Richmond), 7 Margaret Alphonsi        (Saracens) (VC), 8 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield). Replacements: 16 Victoria Fleetwood            (Lichfield), 17 Laura            Keates            (Worcester), 18 Rowena     Burnfield (Richmond), 19 Marlie Packer            (Bristol), 20 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield), 21 Kimberley     Oliver  (Bristol), 22 Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

Tries: Hunt

Conversions:

Penalties: McLean

Substitutions: Oliver for Richardson (30), Packer for Matthews, Hunt for Mason, Fleetwood for Turner (all HT), Keates for Purdy (48), Burnfield for Essex (63).  

New Zealand

15 Hazel Tubic, 14 Victoria Grant (C), 13 Shakira Baker, 12 Teresa Te Tamaki, 11 Renee Wickliffe, 10 Kelly Brazier, 9 Kendra Cocksedge, 1 Kathleen Wilton, 2 Karina Penetito, 3 Stephanie TeOhaere-Fox, 4 Vita Robinson, 5 Eloise Blackwell, 6 Lydia Crossman, 7 Justine Lavea, 8 Casey Robertson. Replacements: 16 Doris Taufateau, 17 Muteremoana Aiatu, 18 Amanda Murphy, 19 Rawina Everitt, 20 Emma Jensen, 21 Rebecca Mahoney, 22 Katarina Whata

Tries: Wickliffe, 

Conversions:

Penalties: Brazier

Referee:Ross Campbell

Assistant Referees:Ed Turnill & Peter Crouch

England Autumn International Series

Nov 26th England v New Zealand, Twickenham Stadium, WON 10-0

Nov 29th England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, KO 7pm, WON 21-7

Dec 3rd England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, DRAW 8-8

England women’s team for series finale with NZ

Posted on Dec 2, 2011 in England, English Rugby, Women's Rugby

England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street has made nine changes, two of which are positional, to the team that defeated world champions New Zealand for a second successive game on Tuesday for Saturday’s final match of the three-test series at Esher RFC, kick off 2pm.

Bristol’s Sophie Hemming returns to the starting line-up at tight-head prop while Sarah Hunter and vice-captain Margaret Alphonsi, who is set to make her 60th appearance for England, return to the backrow. 18-year-old Alexandra Matthews, who has registered two strong performances for England since making her debut against France earlier this month, meanwhile moves to blind-side flanker.

In the backs, La Toya Mason, Katherine Merchant and Emily Scarratt all return while Alice Richardson will play her first game of the series.  Darlington Mowden Park Sharks fly-half Katy McLean will captain England on her 50th cap.

“This is the strongest available 22 I have and I am determined that we will finish this series as strong as possible,” said Street. “The players have been fantastic so far but they need to continue to improve which is something that has been our statement of intent since losing the Rugby World Cup final 14 months ago.

“I would also like to congratulate Katy and Maggie for reaching these significant milestones in their rugby careers. Reaching 50 and 60 caps for your country is an amazing achievement and hopefully for us it is a good omen too. The last time our captain, then Catherine Spencer, reached 50 caps, she led England to victory over New Zealand and while Maggie ties in her 60th cap I’m sure we’ll see another great performance from our team leaders.”

England have made history in defeating the world champions in back-to-back games after Saturday’s 10-0 victory and Tuesday’s dominant 21-7 win. Saturday also represented the first time the Black Ferns have ever been nilled.

“New Zealand are a hugely competitive rugby country and I have no doubt that they will be chomping at the bit to take a win in the last game of this series,” added Street. “This will be a massively physical match in every department.”

England 

15 Emily         Scarratt          (Lichfield)

14 Katherine Merchant       (Worcester)

13 Rachael Burford (Richmond)

12 Alice Richardson (Richmond)

11 Kay            Wilson            (Bristol)

10 Katy           McLean          (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) (C)

9 La Toya       Mason            (Wasps)

1 Claire Purdy (Wasps)

2 Amy Turner (Richmond)

3 Sophie        Hemming       (Bristol)

4 Rebecca     Essex(Richmond)

5 Tamara       Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

6 Alexandra Matthews (Richmond)

7 Margaret     Alphonsi        (Saracens) (VC)

8 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield)

Replacements:

16 Victoria     Fleetwood     (Lichfield)

17 Laura        Keates            (Worcester)

18 Rowena   Burnfield       (Richmond) 

19 Marlie        Packer            (Bristol)

20 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield)

21 Kimberley Oliver  (Bristol)

22 Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

England Autumn International Series

Nov 26th England v New Zealand, Twickenham Stadium, WON 10-0

Nov 29th England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, KO 7pm, WON 21-7

Dec 3rd England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, 2pm, live on www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive

Tribute to Lewis Moody

Posted on Oct 24, 2011 in England, English Rugby, Lewis Mood

Following the announcement by Lewis Moody that he is retiring from international rugby, England Team Manager Martin Johnson said: “Lewis has been a great servant to English rugby and has literally put his body on the line more times than he can probably remember.

"To play in two World Cup finals and then lead his country in a third campaign is a great testament to him.

"He will be missed on and off the field and on behalf of everyone in the England squad, players, coaches and management, we wish him all the best for the rest of his career.”

Few players have won every honour in the game but Lewis Moody MBE, who led England to epic wins over Australia in Sydney in June last year and at Twickenham five months later, is not only among that elite group but also became the sixteenth player to make 70 or more appearances for his country against Scotland in Auckland in October.

He had broken Neil Back’s record for an England flanker against Wales at Twickenham last August and went on to lead his country for the eleventh time in the RWC quarter final against France after a knee injury forced him to miss two warm up games and the opening tournament match against Argentina. A medial collateral ligament injury sustained nine months earlier had prevented him from appearing in the 2011 RBS 6 Nations Championship. 

Audacious and athletic, he led England initially against France in March last year, having played in all seven matches in the 2003 RWC triumph. His longevity as well as his excellence was reflected by 2009-10 being his fourteenth and final season as a Leicester Tigers’ first team squad member.

Lewis made his senior debut against Boroughmuir while still at Oakham School in August 1996 and became the youngest Tiger to figure in a league match. He switched to Bath Rugby on a three-year contract last season but spent time on the side-lines after suffering a bruised eye socket in his fifth game, against Gloucester.

An incredible seven Premiership titles and three Heineken Cup finals are on his CV, along with his first time captaincy of the Tigers against Leeds Carnegie in 2007-08 and a joint benefit with teammate Geordan Murphy in 2008-09. The book closed on his Leicester career after 217 appearances that brought 32 tries.

Lewis also won three caps for the British & Irish Lions six years ago and would have made more Test appearances except for a series of injuries, including the broken ankle in January 2009 that restricted him to one start and three on the bench in the final four months of the season.

He went to Argentina with the England squad in June 2009 but did not appear in the Test at Salta. Lewis replaced the injured Tom Rees, of London Wasps, in the England Elite Squad that autumn.

Before his international debut against Canada ten years ago, he had represented England Under 18s, Colts and Under 21s and then first appeared for the A team alongside other debutants Steve Borthwick, Jason Robinson, Jamie Noon, Andy Goode and Tom May against Wales A at Wrexham in February 2001.

Ascot-born Lewis reached the 50-cap landmark when England beat Australia 12-10 in the 2007 RWC quarter final. He had appeared in all four Investec Challenge matches in the autumn of 2006 but missed the subsequent RBS 6 Nations Championship, having required shoulder surgery after Leicester’s historic Heineken Cup victory over Munster.

His first touring experience with England was to the Southern Hemisphere 13 years ago and he went on to figure in all seven RWC matches in 2007. Looking back, Lewis spent his early days with Bracknell RFC from mini level to his mid teens.

He said: “I started off in the centre when I was a kid and played there until I was 16 and loved playing Sevens and having a good run at defenders.” His scent for the try line was well illustrated with his maiden hat trick in Leicester’s 57-3 win over Bourgoin in the Heineken Cup at Welford Road in December 2006.

International Record

England: 45 points – 9T Lions: 5 points – 1T

England: 2001 C(1,2),USA, I(R), R, SA(R) 2002 I(R), W, It, Arg, NZ, A, SA 2003 F, W, F, F(R) World Cup – G(R), SA, Sam(R), U, W, F(R), A(R) 2004 C, SA, A 2005 F, I, It, S, A, NZ, Sam 2006 W, It, S, F, I A(1), NZ, Arg, SA(R), SA(R) 2007 W(R) World Cup – USA(R), SA(R), Sam(R), Tg, A, F, SA 2008 W 2009 A, Arg, NZ 2010 W, It, I, S(R), F, A(1,2), NZ, A, SA 2011 W, World Cup – G, R, S, F

Lions: 2005 Arg, NZ( 2,3)

Waldrom goes home to NZ

Posted on Sep 26, 2011 in England, English Rugby, rugby, Rugby News, Rugby World Cup

New Zealand born Thomas Waldrom has officially joined the England Rugby World Cup squad as a replacement for Andrew Sheridan.

The No 8 linked up with the squad in Auckland tonight and will train with them for the first time in New Zealand tomorrow.

Waldrom flew out as temporary cover for Nick Easter on Wednesday and although the Harlequins forward is recovering from a sore back it has been decided to add the Leicester Tigers back row and make the party back up to 30.

England Team Manager Martin Johnson said: “Nick is making good progress as is Matt Stevens but with Thomas now out here it makes sense to get him into the squad officially so he can join in with training. We also owe it to Leicester to make a decision so that they can plan accordingly without him.”