Leinster squad update

Posted on Jan 25, 2013 in Leinster

The Leinster management hope to be in a position to welcome back several Ireland internationals into the panel for Saturday evening’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash against Cardiff Blues in City Stadium (KO: 6.15pm).

Following Sunday’s 15-13 victory over Connacht, the medical team reported that Richardt Strauss suffered an accidental blow to the face, though at this point he has not been ruled out of contention, with the team set to be announced on Friday lunchtime.

Aside from a number of niggles after the weekend’s arduous test there are no other major injury concerns as the squad shape up for the second match in a block of three successive away games.

Kevin McLaughlin, who was rested for the win in Galway, looks set to return to the squad alongside the likes of Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Rob Kearney, Eoin Reddan, Mike Ross and Jonathan Sexton.

Steven Sykes (knee) hasn’t been ruled out of contention and he too could make the trip to the Welsh capital.

Meanwhile, Isa Nacewa’s 100 percent 15-point haul took his overall season points tally to 87 in 13 games to date.

Nottingham winger Crane fit for Titans clash

Posted on Jan 4, 2013 in Nottingham

Rhys Crane returns to Nottingham’s wing for their first RFU Championship game of 2013 after being sidelined with a niggling calf strain in late December.

Crane’s inclusion for the trip to Clifton Lane to face Rotherham is one of three changes made to the Green and Whites starting side that overcame Moseley on December 23.

Tom Calladine’s impressive form as an impact player in recent weeks is rewarded as he takes his place at No. 8. Alex Shaw, who has started every league game to date this season, moves onto the bench.

Jonny Harris comes in for Matt Parr at loosehead prop.

England under-20 lock Tom Price joins the Leicester Tigers dual-registered contingent at Meadow Lane and is poised to make his debut off the bench.

Nottingham head coach Martin Haag anticipates a difficult trip to Clifton Lane to face the side that inflicted the first loss of the season on the Green and Whites at Meadow Lane in September.

“With every game we test ourselves, our skills, character and belief and that is what we will need huge amounts of at Rotherham. It is another game on our journey,” Haag said.

“We don’t read into what happened last time. That was a long time ago, they played well that day and a lot has changed since then.”

Nottingham starts the New Year sitting in third place on the Championship ladder, five points ahead of Cornish Pirates with a game in hand.

Haag is aware of the strong chasing pack just outside the top four, and chooses to ignore them to concentrate all attention on the short trip to Yorkshire.

“We can’t control what Cornish Pirates are doing, what Bristol are doing, Newcastle or Leeds or Doncaster, we can only control how we perform and the only thing we are concentrated on is Rotherham,” Haag said.

“The only pressure that we have is on ourselves, the pressure to perform, individually and collectively.”

Nottingham Rugby team to face Rotherham at Clifton Lane on Saturday, January 5 (2pm kick-off):15 David Jackson 14 Alex Lewington 13 Tim Streather 12 Joe Munro 11 Rhys Crane 10 James Arlidge 9 Sean Romans 1 Jonny Harris 2 Shaun Malton 3 Michael Holford 4 Dan Montagu 5 Nic Rouse 6 Rupert Cooper 7 Brent Wilson 8 Tom Calladine.

Replacements from: 16 Scott Wright 17 Ryan Bower 18 Tom Price 19 Alex Shaw 20 Finlay Barnham 21 Joe Cobden 22 Andy Forsyth.

Mallinder under no illusions as Saints face tough game

Posted on Jan 4, 2013 in Northampton Saints

The Northampton Saints team has been named for Saturday’s Aviva Premiership Rugby Round 13 trip to Exeter Chiefs.

Just one point separates the Saints from the Chiefs in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table, and director of rugby Jim Mallinder is under no illusions as to how tough tomorrow’s game at Sandy Park will be.

“Exeter like to play a good 15-man game,” he said. “We know how tough it is there and will have to be accurate in everything we do.

“We were a point away from winning away against the 2nd placed team in the league. That was positive, but we know that not many teams win in Exeter and we’ll have to play well on Saturday.

“It’s a very important game, but so is every game in the Aviva Premiership. They’re in a similar position to us in the table and we’ll have to play well to win.

“We’ve had some tough games which haven’t gone our way. But we’re still confident and know that what counts is where you finish at the end of the season.”

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Bedford Blues make three changes for trip to London Scottish

Posted on Jan 4, 2013 in Bedford

Bedford kick off 2013 with a short trip to the nation’s capital to face London Scottish at Richmond Athletic Ground on Saturday afternoon.

Despite running in seven tries during the 55-20 reversal at Goldington Road back in September, Mike Rayer’s men know that they will have to put in a huge effort to take anything from the Exiles who ran Newcastle Falcons close in the pre-Christmas Sky fixture.

Bedford are close to a fully fit squad with only long term casualties Sacha Harding and Henry Staff unavailable while dual registered hooker Scott Spurling also misses out. Ollie Dodge has recovered from the ankle injury which he picked up against Bristol two months ago but this weekend’s fixture has come a little too soon.

Bedford make three changes to the side that started against Rotherham on Boxing Day with Luke Baldwin starting at 9 in place of Darryl Veenendaal who moves to the bench while Ricky Reeves and Dan Seal get the nod in the front row in place of Darren Fearn and Phil Boulton who get the weekend off.

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Ulster team named for top-of-the-table clash

Posted on Jan 3, 2013 in Ulster

Ulster Head Coach, Mark Anscombe, has made eight changes to the team that lost to Munster at Thomond Park last Saturday for tomorrow night’s top-of-the-table clash against Llanelli Scarlets at Ravenhill (kick off 19:05).

In the back-line, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Paddy Jackson and Ruan Pienaar all return to the starting XV after missing the trip to Limerick.

Rob Herring and Adam Macklin are retained in the front row, while Tom Court starts at loose head. Dan Tuohy makes his first start after recovering from a torn calf muscle and joins Lewis Stevenson in the second-row. Chris Henry will captain Ulster and starts at openside, with Robbie Diack at blindside and Nick Williams at Number 8.

Callum Black drops to the bench, as does Neil McComb and Roger Wilson. Paddy Wallace and John Afoa are also named as replacements alongside Niall Annett, Michael Heaney and Ricky Andrew.

The game, which is sold out, will see RaboDirect PRO12 leaders Ulster take on the team immediately below them in the table, Llanelli Scarlets. Ulster won the previous encounter between the two sides 19 points to 12 at Parc y Scarlets last month.

A limited number of promenade tickets are still available for the Heineken Cup game against Glasgow at Ravenhill next Friday night and are available at SS Moore’s only.

Ulster XV & replacements to face Llanelli Scarlets, RaboDirect PRO12, Ravenhill, Friday 4th January 2013 Kick Off 19:05:

(15-9): A D’Arcy, A Trimble, D Cave, L Marshall, C Gilroy; P Jackson, R Pienaar;

(1-8): T Court, R Herring, A Macklin, L Stevenson, D Tuohy, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams;

Replacements (16-23): N Annett, C Black, J Afoa, N McComb, R Wilson, M Heaney, P Wallace, R Andrew