Dai Young previews Saracens clash

Posted on Mar 26, 2013 in London Wasps

London Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young previews this weekend’s Aviva Premiership game against Saracens (Saturday, March 30th, Adams Park, 15.00)

Wasps welcome table toppers Saracens to Adams Park this weekend aiming to bounce back from a last second heart-breaking defeat to Northampton Saints last time out.

Young conceded that a positive result last weekend would have given his side an unlikely win, but added that plenty of hard work this week will prepare his side well for the leading side in the league.

“We were out muscled last weekend and you can’t say that Northampton hadn’t done enough to win it. But we showed our ability to play some really high quality rugby to get back into it and we had our noses in front going into last few minutes. We couldn’t quite hold onto the field position we needed to win it, but after a rocky start we did get stuck in with a great crowd behind us.”

Young said that the hard work this weekend will start up front.

“We have had a tough time of it in specific areas up front in the last few games and teams are starting to target us. The boys were very disappointed with that in our review this week and we’re working incredibly hard to get that right because we know if we do we have a chance of winning any game with the kind of ability we have in attack when we get good ball”

He also praised the form of Saracens of late.

“They are going very well and are showing as well a real willingness to play wider. But we know as well they will be incredibly physical so the battle will start for us up front.”

Leinster Squad Update

Posted on Mar 25, 2013 in Leinster

The Leinster squad have stepped up their preparations for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash against Ulster in the RDS (KO: 6.15pm) with their first on-field training session of the week on Monday afternoon.

Unfortunately Jordi Murphy has been ruled out of this weekend’s fixture with a hand injury that may see him miss the next 4 or 5 weeks but apart from bumps and bruises there were no other casualties from what was a highly combative top of the table clash at the RDS last Saturday.

David Kearney received on field attention for a dislocated finger but the Cooley Peninsula outside back finished the game and is expected to be joined in the panel this week by his elder brother Rob and several other Ireland internationals whose return to provincial action were managed last week.

Amongst the possible returnees for Saturday’s interprovincial derby are Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien and Mike Ross while the province is hopeful that Fergus McFadden (rib) will also be available for selection. Naas man Heaslip’s next appearance will be his 160th for the province.

Gordon D’Arcy and Quinn Roux both successfully came through their respective comebacks after injury on Saturday. Second row Tom Denton is also available for selection.

The team will be named at midday on Friday.

McBryde Looking Forward to Summer Tour

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Wales

Fresh from witnessing Wales retain the RBS 6 Nations title, forwards coach Robin McBryde believes the success will breed new confidence in his side.

Wales lifted the RBS 6 Nations trophy for the fourth time in nine years on Saturday as they beat England 30-3 in a thrilling encounter at the Millennium Stadium. The victory meant Wales retained the title, winning it in back-to-back years, for the first time since 1979.

As he did back in 2009, McBryde will step up to lead Wales on their summer tour later this year and he will be in the stands at the Millennium Stadium on March 30 to run the rule over contenders for tour places as the Judgement Day encounters pit all four Welsh regions against each other. He believes the squad that heads to Japan will be brimming with confidence.

“The squad we take to Japan will head over there full of confidence and belief,” he said. “Players who played in the Championship will have the belief behind them but also players who maybe didn’t feature will be boosted as success breeds success. It was a very accomplished performance on Saturday.

“We spoke during the week that it was just another test match that we had to go out and win and that’s exactly what we did. We didn’t focus on the points difference or the advantage they went into the match with, we were focused on the 80 minutes in front of us.

“The side went out and started well, controlled the early exchanges and took us into the break with a small cushion. In the second half we stepped it up and showed the sort of performance we all knew we were capable of and it was a fantastic way to win the Championship.

“In was a huge day. The city and the stadium were packed and the crowd were at their best and it was great to put that sort of performance together to reward them. It was a very physical and I thought our defence and physically was fantastic. We were always on the front foot and the pack did really well at set piece and around the park and really gave us a really good platform.

“The squad worked extremely hard to retain the title. After the disappointment of the Ireland game to put themselves back in contention and to then go out and win the Championship was impressive and they deserved that reward.”

Wales head to Osaka and Tokyo on their two-test tour of Japan this summer and McBryde will announce his squad following the British and Irish Lions squad selection later this spring. The former Wales hooker is looking to blend experience and youth in his squad and believes it will be a valuable trip for less experienced Test players.

“For North America in 2009 we took a good mix of experience and youth and I’m sure that will be the case again this summer,” he added. “It’s a good chance to reward players with more international game time and give players the opportunity to play at this level.

“Back in ’09 we took boys like Sam Warburton, Jonathan Davies, Dan Biggar and Craig Mitchell with us and look at where they are now. It’s great to see how far they have come and what they have achieved since that tour.

“The Lions will obviously impact on selection but it will be taking experience out to Japan with us. We will also be looking to reward players who have performed for their regions week in and week out and who put their hand up towards the end of the season.

“There are some big games coming up and some very big head-to-heads on Judgement Day and it’s a chance for players to show us what they can do and to fight for their chance to play for Wales this summer.”

Glasgow Warriors team news: Townsend makes six changes for Leinster

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Glasgow

Gregor Townsend has made six personnel changes and one positional switch to the team that defeated Cardiff Blues earlier this month, as the Warriors prepare to travel to Dublin to face Leinster at the RDS on Saturday night.

The RaboDirect PRO12 returns after a three-week break and the Warriors are looking for their eighth league win in a row, which has seen them move to the top of the PRO12 on points difference ahead of Ulster.

Tommy Seymour, Rob Harley, Tom Ryder, Ed Kalman, Dougie Hall and Moray Low all come into the starting XV, while Jon Welsh, Pat MacArthur, Gordon Reid and Ryan Wilson drop to the bench. Byron McGuigan and Tim Swinson are not included in the 23-man squad.

Glasgow Warriors and Leinster are currently the form teams in the league, with the Warriors having dropped just one possible league point and Leinster only two in their last six games.

Warriors Head coach, Gregor Townsend said: “We have been on a fantastic run of form lately, but Leinster will provide an extremely tough challenge for us and we’ll need to be at our best if we’re to come away with a positive result.

“It’s been good to have our full squad back together again after the Six Nations and training has been very competitive and sharp this week. We travel to Dublin having put ourselves in a good position in the league, but nothing is won until May and we still have a lot of work to do.”

Matawalu keeps the number nine jersey and Weir is given the nod at fly-half ahead of Ruaridh Jackson, after starting the last two of Scotland’s games against Ireland and France.

Exciting youngsters Peter Horne and Alex Dunbar continue their centre partnership, with Peter Murchie once again deployed at full-back.

Canadian winger DTH van der Merwe starts on the left wing, with Seymour replacing McGuigan on the opposite side.

Low and Kalman make up the front row, with the experienced Hall coming in at hooker and captain Al Kellock starting alongside Ryder in the second row.

Josh Strauss moves from flanker to number eight, in place of substitute Wilson, while John Barclay continues at openside and Harley comes in at blindside.

It is a strong bench with Pat MacArthur, Gordon Reid, Jon Welsh, James Eddie, Ryan Wilson, Henry Pyrgos, Ruaridh Jackson and Sean Lamont all included.

It is an experienced Warriors squad to face Leinster, with 279 Scotland caps in the matchday 23.

Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland both miss the game after picking up knocks with Scotland, but are expected to return within the next week or two. Chris Cusiter has had an injury setback and may require an operation on his shoulder and Finlay Gillies requires neck surgery, with them both expected to be out of action for a number of months.

Gregor Townsend said: “Leinster are the only team to still have a 100 percent home winning record in the league and that shows just how difficult our task will be this weekend. For the past few seasons they have been the best in Europe at playing with pace, ambition and aggression.

“We have picked a team which we believe is capable of winning the game but we have a number of players who are unlucky not to be involved. Those selected must grab the opportunity to play in such an important fixture with both hands. They have to make it very difficult for me to leave them out next week.

“We are disappointed that both Chris (Cusiter) and Finlay (Gillies) will be out beyond the end of the season. It’s been a really frustrating time for both players and we wish them a speedy recovery.

“The game on Saturday represents a marker of where we are this season and we are fully aware of the significance of getting a result in Dublin. We will give everything we have to secure a win.”

Glasgow Warriors team to play Leinster in Round 18 of the RaboDirect PRO12, RDS, Saturday 23 March (kick-off, 7.45pm):

15 Peter Murchie

14 Tommy Seymour

13 Alex Dunbar

12 Peter Horne

11 DTH Van der Merwe

10 Duncan Weir

9 Niko Matawalu

1 Moray Low

2 Dougie Hall

3 Ed Kalman

4 Tom Ryder

5 Al Kellock (Captain)

6 Rob Harley

7 John Barclay

8 Josh Strauss

16 Pat MacArthur

17 Gordon Reid

18 Jon Welsh

19 James Eddie

20 Ryan Wilson

21 Henry Pyrgos

22 Ruaridh Jackson

23 Sean Lamont

Not available for selection through injury:

M Cusack (shoulder), C Fusaro (groin), F Gillies (neck), S Hogg (knee), S Maitland (leg injury), R Lamont (ankle), C Cusiter (shoulder)

Edinburgh Rugby rally for Ulster arrival

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Edinburgh

Interim head coach Stevie Scott today named the Edinburgh Rugby side charged with sparking an end-of-season resurgence against Ulster at Murrayfield Stadium tomorrow night (kick-off 7.30pm).

The Ulstermen enjoyed the top spot of the RaboDirect PRO12 since September however two losses and a draw in their last four matches saw them supplanted into second place on points’ difference in the previous round.

Their form still compares favourably to their hosts’ however, who go into the match seeking their first championship success on an eighth attempt.

Despite the difference in standings, Scott says the players and management are taking confidence from a quality week preparing for his first match at the helm.

He said: “The players’ reaction in training this week has been excellent.

“It’s been a tough season but their commitment to improving and getting results for the club and its fans has been superb.

“A lot of hard work has gone in this week but, importantly, the work done has also been of a very high standard.

“There’s a real will to do whatever it takes to get our results back on track.”

Scott has made three changes to the pack for the Ulster clash, with international back-row Ross Rennie making a welcome return from the shoulder injury he sustained in Scotland’s EMC Test match against New Zealand in November.

Netani Talei replaces the injured David Denton (knee) at number 8 and lock Grant Gilchrist comes back into the squad after his international debut against France in the RBS 6 Nations on Saturday.

Both Scott and interim assistant coach Duncan Hodge have seen enough of promising young scrum-half Sean Kennedy from his Scotland A success and loan spell at Glasgow Warriors to hand the 21-year-old his Edinburgh Rugby debut, where he’ll partner Piers Francis at half-back from the outset.

Ben Atiga returns to inside-centre for his 10th appearance in the competition alongside Dougie Fife, who has been moved infield to accommodate Tom Brown on the wing, with the back three completed by Greig Tonks and Lee Jones.

Of note is the firepower named on the bench, with an all-international front-row of Ross Ford, John Yapp and Geoff Cross ready to enter the fray as well as the division’s three-time top try-scorer, Tim Visser.

To herald the black and red return of the former favourites, Edinburgh Rugby have cut the cost of student tickets to £5, will hand out thousands of free flags to fans on arrival at the stadium, and have slashed the cost of a sit down bangers and mash in the supporters’ bar to five pounds!

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