The News Review:
- Cueto will miss New Zealand clash
- Henson & Shanklin return for Wales
- New caps to face All Blacks
- Ireland wait on Trimble fitness
- Cockbain stamp leads to suspension
Cueto will miss New Zealand clash
RTE.ie – Oct 31, 2006
Sale Sharks wing Mark Cueto is out of the team after failing to recover in time from an ankle injury sustained during his side’s Heineken Cup defeat against the spreys 11 days ago. Uncapped Wasps wing Paul Sackey has been drafted into the side as a third debutant joining Gloucester centre Anthony Allen and Bristol scrum-half Shaun Perry. Sackey 26 has amassed a half-century of Premiership tries during his career while his previous representative experience included appearances for England Saxons during the Churchill Cup in Canada earlier this year England Under-21s and England Sevens. Cueto becomes the latest player to miss out with the likes of Josh Lewsey lly Barkley Jonny Wilkinson James Forrester and Steve Borthwick already sidelined. So bad is Robinson’s injury situation that he called up three players from outside his squad to join training earlier today – Bristol number eight Dan Ward-Smith Castres centre Phil Christophers and Wasps full-back Mark Van Gisbergen.
Henson & Shanklin return for Wales
RTE.ie – Oct 31, 2006
So too does spreys number eight Ryan Jones who is back near his best after undergoing shoulder surgery following the 2005 Lions tour. Kevin Morgan who suffered a foot injury last November and missed the 2006 Six Nations returns at full-back with former captain Gareth Thomas and Shane Williams on the wings. Up front tight-head prop Adam Jones has been named in the starting XV despite suffering an ankle injury playing for the spreys in the Heineken Cup against Stade Francais at the weekend. Ian Evans and Ian Gough are the chosen second-row partnership and there is no place in the squad for spreys lock Brent Cockbain who faces a Heineken Cup disciplinary hearing this week after being cited for stamping. Jenkins preparing for his first home Test in charge of Wales said: ‘We are blessed with an extremely strong squad in most positions and have had some tough decisions to make but have selected on form and form alone. ‘This squad of 30 or so players is the strongest that Wales have been able to boast for some time but we are at the beginning of a process as a management group and this is our first chance to get it right. ‘Past reputations have been disregarded and we have looked at the form players in Welsh rugby and overseas and selected the players that we feel are at the top of their game.
New caps to face All Blacks
TVNZ – Oct 31, 2006
GREAT START Livewire Allen has had a great start to the season withGloucester and scored two tries in Sunday’s Heineken Cup defeat byAgen. With veteran Mike Catt out of favour and Tait Mike Tindall andlly Barkley injured there is a great opportunity for him to stakea claim for the number 12 shirt. “Anthony has really come through this season and it is atestament to Gloucester and the RFU Academy system that he is nowready to play against the number one team in the world at themoment” Robinson said. Likewise at scrumhalf where Robinson is desperately short ofexperience since the retirement of Matt Dawson and where HarryEllis who has only just returned to action with Leicester hasfailed to make the position his own. Perry’s calm head and solid pass have helped Bristol to asurprise top spot in the Premiership and if he can link well withflyhalf Charlie Hodgson he has a real chance to establish himselfas the man in possession.
Ireland wait on Trimble fitness
BBC News – Oct 31, 2006
Trimble is due to be named in coach Eddie ‘Sullivan 22-man match squad on Wednesday and is expected to make the starting line-up against the Springboks. “At present Andrew is the only concern” the spokesman added. “The Leinster players spent Monday at rehab following their game with Edinburgh on Sunday while a number of other players had bumps and bruises from the Heineken Cup games.
Cockbain stamp leads to suspension
RTE.ie – Oct 31, 2006
An independent disciplinary committee this afternoon found Cockbain guilty of stamping on Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe during the spreys’ 17-16 Heineken Cup victory over Sale on 20 ctober. The 31-year-old’s ban ends on 20 November ruling him of the Tests against Australia the Pacific Islanders and Canada. He could return for Wales’ final match against New Zealand on 25 November but a lack of match fitness means he is unlikely to figure. Cockbain was omitted from the Wales squad to face the Wallabies on Saturday which was named today. He has not played Test rugby for almost a year because of a hamstring injury sustained against Fiji last November.